Tessa Takash
On my fourth day abroad in Southeast Asia I left my phone on the beach while swimming and, surprise, it was stolen. After my initial mourning I adjusted to my technology-less life and found a silver lining: I learned how to be present.
Without my phone I:
- Was able to make profound connections with my peers by tagging along on all of their adventures and asking them questions about their culture
- Enjoyed sunsets on the Mekong River without feeling like I needed to capture the perfect picture (none could do it justice)
- Took in my new surroundings – the vast arrays of fresh tropical fruits, the colorful knickknacks on every street corner, and tuk tuks blazing by
- Put my control freak tendencies in check by letting go of planning every detail of my day
- Got lost in the pure chaos of New Year’s Eve in Bangkok
While I don’t recommend that anyone loses their phone abroad, living without mine for a few weeks gave me a new perspective. Fellow globetrotters, know that it is okay to enjoy your time abroad without constantly checking in with everyone back home. Let yourself go, live in the moment – be present.
Learn more about the Winter Break program to Laos, Thailand and Malaysia.