My Journey to Becoming a World Explorer

As a child, I often felt homesick. Sometimes, I would cancel sleepovers at my friends’ houses. At the last minute, I preferred to sleep at home. Even today, I remember these moments vividly, the emotions, the uneasiness. I was filled with shame. I truly enjoyed spending time with my friends, yet I found it difficult to explain why I couldn’t stay the night. I was a rather shy child and I struggled to stand up for myself. Over time, I gained more confidence in myself and my surroundings. I collected positive experiences on school trips, at pajama parties and during adventures with friends.

Fortunately, I had a network of good friends at secondary school who I could trust. And I slowly began to trust myself and my capabilities more. By the end of my school years, a deep desire had taken root within me: I wanted to travel the world and learn new languages. I had no idea where to go, how to do it, or even if it was possible. Looking back, I realize that the trips and excursions with my parents and sisters had already helped me become more open and curious. And, apparently, my thoughts were already wandering beyond borders when I was just 15 years old.

Today, I travel the world alone. As a child, I would have never imagined this. But how did I transform from a homesick girl into an adventurer?

India – My First Solo Travel

My first solo adventure took me to India when I was 22. Today, I would even call it a turning point in my life. India overwhelmed me with its colors, scents, voices, abundance, poverty, and chaos. It was loud and quiet at the same time, sacred and worldly, overwhelming yet familiar. “That’s India, baby!” was the mantra of a local tour guide.

During this journey, I consciously shed my shy inner child for the first time. That felt incredibly good! I had to make decisions without the safety net of familiar faces. Back then, smartphones weren’t around yet, and the internet was only available in specific cafés or hotels for a fee. My body, too, was challenged: My first yoga session showed me how flexible I was and how stiff at the same time. Stomach issues and traveler’s diarrhea became unwelcome companions, and the never-ending bus rides tested my patience.

But these hardships were only a small price to pay for what I gained: freedom, self-confidence, and a new way of seeing the world. I knew this wouldn’t be my last adventure.

And So, I Kept Going

I traveled across six continents (Antarctica is still missing) and collected knowledge, experiences, and memories. Today, I roam the world, live in foreign countries, and feel at ease with the unfamiliar and the unknown. Travel and cultural immersion have become my passion, and I love embracing new places and stories.

Home will always be home and of course, I sometimes miss Switzerland: the familiar conversations with my parents, gatherings with friends, hikes in the Alps, and the reliability of my homeland. The homesickness has not disappeared, but it has changed. It has softened, become a quiet companion. It no longer overwhelms me as it once did as a child. Because I have come to understand: Home is not just a place. It is people, memories, and trust. I have given trust and received it in return.

The overwhelming feeling of homesickness has turned into wanderlust. The shy child has become a world explorer and I can’t wait for all that is still to come.