Iowa and Wisconsin. When people think of the Midwest they, rightfully, think of flat land. But Galena is an unglaciated area of the Midwest, meaning it has breathtaking, rolling hills that look like they fell out of California wine country. The town — home of Ulysses S. Grant — is 85% a historic district; so as you walk through the hilly streets, you are literally walking through history. Galena is the perfect reminder to me that travel can happen anywhere. You can see incredible and surprising things without ever leaving your country! What are your top three tips for women who are traveling or exploring a new location for the first time? First, do your research! Booking the trip is only the start. Look into the customs, cultural dos and don’ts, safe neighborhoods and transportation options. Find out about local scams, what to do in an emergency, what weather conditions you can expect. Learn a few words to be polite and ask for help, and of course, find the bathroom! Make sure you know how to take care of yourself, be respectful of the people welcoming you to their home and know how to give back to the community you are visiting. Second, trust your instincts. I can’t stress this enough. As women, we’re pushed not to listen to our gut, but it’s an
incredibly powerful tool. If something feels off, trust that feeling and remove yourself from the situation. Whether it’s a dodgy street, an uncomfortable interaction or a too-good- to-be-true offer, it’s okay to say no and walk away. Always prioritize your safety and well-being. Lastly, stay connected. Yes, use that sisterhood! Whether it’s Alpha Phi, Girls Who Travel or your book club, connect with your network. Ask for advice and recommendations, you never know who will be able to join you or support you along the way. And of course, always have a trusted contact at home that has a copy of all your important documents, knows your itinerary and stays up to date on your whereabouts. Have you traveled with any Alpha Phis? Yes, my mother! After I became an Alpha Phi, my mother went through Alumnae Initiation. She is the one who instilled the love of travel in me and encouraged me to think outside the box when it came to travel. When I was living in Japan, she came to visit me, and we explored the country together. While traveling solo has many benefits, being able to share your travels with someone else who you are close to is a gift that I would highly recommend. What advice would you offer younger Alpha Phis regarding life and traveling? On that first European trip I went on after college, my friends and I were in Rome for Christmas, so we took the train to Vatican City to see the pope speak. Afterward, we headed back to the train only to find out that all public transportation was shut down for the rest of the day. Not only that, but it started raining cats and dogs. Our hostel was miles from Vatican City, and this was back when you couldn’t just take out your phone and call an Uber. So, we pulled out our paper map (yep, it was that long ago), figured out which direction we needed to head, and just started walking. As the hours passed, “just keep walking” became our mantra as we made our way back to the hostel in the pouring rain. There were some tears along the way but we still managed to have fun together, and we made it back in time to dry off and have a delicious and well-deserved dinner. So, my advice to younger Alpha Phis is to just keep walking. Your travels and career will not always go as planned. But don’t give up. You can find joy, even in the hard moments, especially if you are surrounded by women who are in it with you. Girls Who Travel didn’t happen overnight. I had to keep walking, even when it was really hard to keep pursuing my dreams. I’m a published author, too, and guess what? I got rejected over 200 times before my book was published. Don’t ever give up. Whatever it is you want to do can only happen if you keep going. Photos on right, top to bottom: Arden ziplining in Costa Rica; Arden with her fellow members of Girls Who Travel.
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