While studying abroad in 2023, I created my travel instagram account as a way to share my experiences without constantly sending photos to family and friends. What started as a simple way to stay in touch with the people from home quickly turned into a personal travel diary. I used this account throughout my year abroad to document weekend trips, cafe reviews, and meaningful moments that shaped my experience living in another country.
I later returned to the account during my solo backpacking trip through Vietnam and Japan in 2025/2026. I wanted to continue to use it as a space to reflect on my independence and showcase my adventurous personality. This platform allows me to share my travels at the click of a button, but I needed to figure out how to utilize my page when I’m not abroad.
For my Giveback Project, I wanted to dedicate my series called “What Travel Has Taught Me” to the ongoing reflection travel has on me and how travel has changed my life. I want to use this platform more intentionally to reflect on my independence and share stories about navigating new environments, communicating across language barriers, and adapting to unfamiliar cultures. This project helped me reinforce global skills I obtained while abroad. By reflecting on my time abroad, I improved my communication by sharing my experiences through stories. I also learned more about different cultures, which has made me more open-minded in daily life and for future travel. Overall, this project has deepened my appreciation for different perspectives and helped me share my growth with others.
Happy scrolling 🙂
