Solo traveling: Finding self-assurance in cows and Canadian farms
The idea of seeing the world has always captivated me. I traveled when I was younger with the company of friends and family, but the trips were highly structured. There was always an itinerary of things we would see or do.
Last semester, I dreamt of taking these adventures independently. Unlike previous trips, I wanted room for a little more spontaneity. However, I am a terrible planner; I make split-second decisions and then have to stick with them. The whole planning ordeal stresses me out. I went for it anyway.
All the planning fell squarely on my shoulders for the first time. The planning and execution of my solo trip last summer taught me many things. I hope to share some of my experiences here and offer some advice to others who might want to take their own solo adventures.
I went to Ontario, Canada, through an organization called World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). This program connects hosts with volunteers globally. Hosts house and feed volunteers and, in return, volunteers work on farms. There are other programs such as Worldpackers, Workaway or Projects Abroad with similar structures depending on the activity you are interested in. As a sustainability studies major interested in food production, I felt WWOOF was best for me.
When deciding where you will travel to, it is essential to consider the kind of transportation available to you. Do you have a car? Is there a bus route near you? How far outside of the city is your location? It is also important to know what kind of work you want to be doing. Within WWOOF, I could have worked at a flower farm, a dairy farm or anywhere in between. I forced myself to spend time searching through reviews and descriptions of farms on the organization’s website to find a place that best suited my interests. The farm I chose was a cattle ranch (Scottish Highland Cattle, specifically), located about an hour outside of Toronto.
I flew in the day before and stayed in a hotel the first night, leaving room for any plane delays or mishaps. The first couple of hours in Canada were nerve-wracking, to say the least. I couldn’t figure out my way around the airport. I thought the hotel I had a reservation for was within walking distance of the airport. This was a mistake, as the hotel I made a reservation at had the same name, but was a 20-minute drive away. Then, I couldn’t see where my Uber driver parked and ran around looking while he waited for me. Once I made it to the hotel room, I crashed onto the bed in tears. It was not the greatest start.
I met with my host family when they were in Toronto selling their goods at the farmers market. I helped sell nettle (for tea), eggs and meat while the market wrapped up. Then, we drove back to the farm together.
A side note: Make sure you remember to get to know your host. You don’t have to find someone exactly the same as you; I sure didn’t. I talked to everyone from conspiracy theorists to holistic healers and mechanical engineers. Everyone I met was eager to talk and share advice. There is value in learning about different people, ideas and customs. However, it is essential to feel safe. Email back and forth, get on the phone or FaceTime if you have the chance. I communicated back and forth with several different farms before deciding on the one I ended up at.
When I made it to the farm, I settled into where I would spend the next two months. I walked around with the farmer and she introduced me to the cows. She then told me about her worldwide travels as a younger woman. She was glad I was traveling so far away from home and it felt like a full-circle moment.
Over the next few weeks, I learned a variety of things such as how to speak to a cow, run an organic farm and the correct way to plant asparagus. I became friends with the other volunteers while pulling weeds in the garden. We cooked meals together in the evenings and drank tea together in the kitchen after work.
When looking for a place to travel, think about whether you want to be working with other people or not. Plenty of places only ask for one or two volunteers at a time. It was important to me to meet new people, so I looked for a place that would have more.
I do not recommend beginning a trip with too many expectations. Nothing will likely happen as you expect, but this is part of the excitement. If you have preconceived notions about how your journey should go, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. None of my predictions truly prepared me for my trip.
I left the farm shedding happy tears and spent some time exploring Toronto before heading back to Texas. I visited Niagara Falls alone and taught myself how to use Toronto’s public transportation system. I enjoyed the experience of exploring Toronto by myself. It was fun to be able to make all the decisions, but I also took pleasure in a feeling of gratification when I overcame obstacles - like the transportation system, which I find intimidating in any city.
Not every moment of the two months I spent was magical. There were times when I was lonely and confused, and also times when the amount of physical labor I was doing grated on me. At the same time, I left Canada with more self-assurance. I see some things differently because of the people I met. While solo traveling was not easy, it was a wonderful experience and I can’t wait to plan my next trip.
Photos by Olivia Gerhart