Hi Reader!

I was browsing in a duty-free shop at a random airport somewhere in Africa, on my way to my boarding gate, when I overheard a woman talking to the shop attendant.

The way she spoke as she asked about the price of materials displayed on a stand made me pause, thinking: That language sounds familiar?!

Now, Kenyans apparently don't have an accent when we speak English. At least that's what we like to think.

Yet somehow from a mile away we can identify 'Ken-lish' just by listening to their expressions. 😂

So when the shop attendant walked away, I turned to the woman with a “Jambo!”

She replied without even looking up.

We both burst out laughing when I told her I knew she was Kenyan.

Naturally, the conversation moved on to the usual questions when people meet abroad.

“So, where have you been?”

I told her I was on my way home after a holiday.

“Alone?”

“Yes.”

She stopped browsing for a bit to look at me in shock...

“Peke yako? Huogopi?” (Alone? Aren't you afraid?)

I responded without much thought... "Eeeh, kuogopa nini?" (Er, afraid of what?”)

She went back to browsing, and mumbled something.

A didn't quite hear what she said and asked again, genuinely curious: “Kuogopa nini?” (Afraid of what?)

Instead of answering me, she suddenly called out to someone in the distance.

“Come and meet a lady who travels solo!”

Then, even more excitedly: “Coooome!”

I turned around.

Her friend was rushing over, and within seconds I had become some sort of airport exhibit...

“Wow! Ati, you're a solo traveller?”

“Yes.”

“Ebu gimme your contact!” 😂

I couldn't help laughing.

Because here I was, having just asked her what exactly she thought I should be afraid of, and rather than answer, she had decided that my solo travelling was something her friend absolutely had to see for herself.

But that little encounter stayed with me.

Because how often do we say “I'm afraid to travel” without actually asking ourselves:

Afraid of what?

Sometimes there is a very real concern behind the fear, something worth taking seriously and planning for.

But sometimes “fear” is just a convenient umbrella for a whole collection of things we:

• may not have experienced
• do not understand
• have been told or expect to worry about

Until we name the actual fear, it's difficult to know whether it really needs to stop us.

That day, my fellow Kenyan couldn't tell me what she was afraid of.

But she did something much more interesting.

She asked for my contact.

Maybe she wasn't looking for someone to tell her not to be afraid.

Maybe she had just met someone who showed her that travelling alone was, in fact, possible.

And perhaps that's sometimes what we need too. Not someone to tell us “don't be afraid,” but someone to help us figure out what we're actually afraid of, and what we can do about it.

That's a big part of what I do as a travel coach.

And sometimes, the conversation starts with just one question:

Afraid of what? (Do YOU know?)

Warmly,

Your Travel Lifestyle Coach,

Maria Kamau (aka Mkay)

Travel Enthusiast | Bodacious Adventurer |Travel Writer

I help women over 40 travel confidently, affordably and on their own terms, without relying on tour agents or on others to realise their dreams.

PS: If you are planning to Travel and could use some support, here are a few ways I can help you:

✅Book a check in chat so we can explore your travel plans and how I could help: https://tinyurl.com/check-in-chat-with-Mkay [FREE]

✅✅Work with me to get the support you need for a specific upcoming trip you are planning https://tinyurl.com/travel-support-options [Low Cost, High Value]

✅✅✅Work with me 1-on-1 for 4 or more sessions to equip you with the skills of travelling as a lifestyle and watch your travel dreams come true! https://tinyurl.com/travel-support-options [Affordable and Transformative]

------------------------------------------------------

OR Connect with me on:

​www.facebook.com/TravelwithMkay/​

​www.Instagram.com/Travelwithmkay​

​www.travelwithmkay.co.ke​

Tweeter: @Travelwithmkay

------------------------------------------------------