100 Days of a Watson Fellowship

“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again."

— Abraham Maslow

November 8th marks 100 days since I began my Watson Year. These days have offered endless adventures, perspective-altering experiences, and opportunities to see the world differently. I’ve traveled to Malta, Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, Spain, and South Africa. I’ve tried new foods, learned words in new languages, met new people, and embraced new ways of thinking. Solo travel is not easy—each day it demands a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and courage, pushes me past previous limits, and necessitates personal growth. It is both a gift and a struggle to live outside of one’s comfort zone. Although a Watson Year is deeply challenging, it is also deeply fulfilling, inspiring, and affirming. I am full of gratitude for this experience—I am quite literally living the dreams that former versions of myself dared to imagine—and I cannot wait to see where this adventure takes me next.

100 Days in Photographs

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

— Mark Twain

Gozo, Malta

August 1—17

Thank you to my hosts, Mary Jo and Walter, for welcoming me with so much warmth and love!

Rome, Italy

August 17—September 1

Florence, Italy

September 1—8

Turin, Italy

September 8—12

Milan, Italy

September 12—22

Röslau, Germany

September 22—October 1

To my hosts, Karen and Reinhardt, thank you for making me feel so at home in Germany!

Eger & Franzensbad, Czech Republic

September 29

Berlin, Germany

October 1—10

Sevilla, Spain

October 10—24

¡Muchas gracias a mis anfitriones Jolee y Zak por las aventuras en Sevilla!

Castillo de Castellar & Tarifa, Spain

October 16—17

Cape Town, South Africa

October 25—29, November 6—Present

Thank you Les for giving me a place to land in Cape Town and for connecting me with so many wonderful people and valuable opportunities!

Vanrhynsdorp, South Africa

October 29—30

Thank you Salome for sharing your slice of paradise with us!

Hanover, South Africa

October 30—November 6

Thank you PC, Mariska, and the staff of New Holme Nature Lodge for going above and beyond for your guests! To the BDI Team and participants—thank you for being such fantastic company (more to come on your work soon)!

An Assortment of Lessons

I've recorded thoughts, advice, and wisdom on random scraps of paper and in the notes app on my phone over the past few months. Some of the following are direct quotes, others are excerpts from my journal, and some are simple yet important ideas that resonate with me.

Living your dreams feels different than dreaming your dreams.

Be grateful.

Saying yes to unexpected opportunities will bring you to unexpected places.

Move with curiosity instead of fear.

Comfort is not necessarily a good thing; you don't grow when you're comfortable.

No job is worth doing perfectly.

At some point you have to let go of what you thought should happen and live in what is happening.

You're probably going to be stared at and judged no matter what, so you might as well enjoy yourself.

Don't shy away from opportunities because you don't know what to expect from them.

Never put something off that you want to do now.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

Allow yourself to change your mind; why have a mind if you can't change it?

Worry is a waste of imagination.

Go elsewhere with an ear to listen and not a voice to tell.

The Traveler's Pathways

Traveling may be understood as a process of regression, maintenance, and transformation. These categories are not mutually exclusive, nor are they comprehensive. As a self-reflection exercise, I find it useful to think about these categories, where I fall on this scale, and what traits I aspire to embrace moving forward. This helps me hold myself accountable and understand if I am adopting fear-based assumptions and biases (regressing), living within my comfort zone despite being present in new places and circumstances (maintaining), or challenging my way of thinking and proceeding with an open mind (transforming).

Regress

This category is characterized by close-mindedness. These travelers tend to lead with judgement and invoke biases and stereotypes. They also tend to be fearful and negative, oftentimes preventing them from seeing the value in their experiences.

Maintain

This category describes those who stay inside their comfort zone when they travel. Maintainers are positive and somewhat open-minded, but travel does not push them to adopt new ways of thinking or behaving.

Transform

These travelers are exceptionally open-minded and view unfamiliarity and discomfort as essential parts of travel. They are not afraid to try new things, challenge their ways of thinking, and live outside of their comfort zone.

Every traveler experiences a mix of these categories, and much depends on the choices they make. Do they let their experiences (or preconceived ideas) have a negative impact on their perception of elsewhere (regress)? Do they allow their comfort zones to confine their travels and inhibit their ways of thinking (maintain)? Do they view travel as an opportunity to stretch their imagination, listen, learn, and try new things (transform)?

Lately my travels (and attitude about my travels) has fallen on or between maintenance and transformation. When I first left home 100 days ago, I think I was more of an even mix of the three. I am excited to see where the next months take me!

In Closing...

I am grateful for all of my friends, family, and supporters who are following along on my journey with a surprising level of diligence, care, and fascination. Thank you for listening to my stories, encouraging me on tough days, and reminding me why I was granted this opportunity. To the Watson Foundation, thank you for giving me the resources and support to embark on this adventure of a lifetime. Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone, for believing that I am capable of navigating this year, and for giving me the chance to explore my passion for community science across the world. Although there were growing pains involved, the past three months of my Watson Fellowship have changed my life. I know that if I can get through this year, I can overcome any obstacle, and I cannot wait for what happens next.

(For those curious about my itinerary—I am in Cape Town for the next two months!)