Hey Reader,

I’ve been at this travel thing for a while. But despite visiting dozens of countries, I'd like to remind you that I was a newbie once, too.

And by newbie, I mean it.

The first time I traveled to Africa, I felt so confident, but I was quickly humbled. I couldn't take local currency out of the bank, so I ended up trading my dollars with some guy literally in an alleyway. My first night, I ordered soup that was so spicy, tears were running down my face. And somehow, the next day I found myself in a minibus blaring deafening reggae, next to a plastic bag full of chickens, wondering what I had gotten myself into.

But I kept going.

First, I found food that I could manage. Then, I started making friends with people wondering what the heck I was doing there, and we ended up watching World Cup matches together. By the end of my trip, I ended up seeing the rest of Ghana - rainforests, waterfalls, historical landmarks - with some amazing people.

And now? Now I have trusted partners in Africa who make everything seamless for me and my clients.

I can confidently head to Morocco or Tanzania or Namibia, and know that there will be no alleyway black market exchanges, no bad food, and no minibuses. Plus lots of real life experience and local expertise to draw upon.

If you’re not already feeling that confident about traveling to Africa - or anywhere else in the world - I know you can get there too. I mean it. You just need the right connections, which is where I come in.

In the meantime, I’d love for you to hit reply and share a story about a disastrous "first time" traveling, too. I think we all have one, and I love getting to know people in the Windward Circle!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

-Carolyn

PS. Ready to step out of newbie mode and into expert level? My Signature Journey Design can help you travel anywhere in the world with confidence, style, and authenticity.