July marks the 10-year anniversary of my very first international trip. A whole decade. So much has happened since, but one thing’s for sure—nothing has ever been the same after that first flight.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Alice in Wonderland was playing on the screen, and I couldn’t understand a word. I sat there confused, thinking the movie was in some secret airline language no one told me about. Turns out, I was just on the wrong audio channel. A classmate of mine—who had changed her flight last minute to be on the same one as me and is now one of my dearest friends—explained that I had to switch the language on the armrest controls. I looked at her and said, “I thought that was for the volume.” She just stared at me. Later, she told me that was the moment she realized I was funny… or at least entertaining.

I was so green! Hilary Duff and Amanda Bynes did not prepare me for this. I had foolishly thought those old Disney Channel and Nickelodeon movies for “Europe specials” covered all that.I needed to survive in live out my 90’s dreams.

I was going to write a heartfelt, poetic post about the sacrifice that has led me towards this travel milestone—but after three failed attempts, I realized this is more my style. So here are some of the funny, awkward, and unforgettable moments from my travels over the years:

• Italy: My first brush with culture shock—literally. I couldn’t figure out why the sink was so low in the bathroom. In my head, I was like who would bend this low just to brush their teeth and rinse their mouth? Then, I thought well, how short are Italians?! Turns out… it wasn’t a sink. It was a bidet! Yep, a whole basin just to wash your booty. Luckily, I did not use it for what I thought It was designed for.

  
  

• Sweden: I walked into a restroom and saw a man at the sink and one about to enter the stall. I froze and slowly walk out to glance at the sign to see if I just walked into the mens restroom. Then realized the bathrooms were unisex. While doing my exchange there, I got used to it... until I did the same thing in Russia, but that time it wasn’t unisex. Awkward. And speaking of Russia—yes, I was taken aside by the police for being Black. Still don’t know the full story, but thank God for the group I was with—they ran and got the tour leader. Saved from Russian jail, and that is not on my travel bingo card.

  
  

• Turkey: One of my most memorable trips (thanks to Covid), despite the jump-scares I experienced every time I saw a cat or dog. And let me tell you, they are everywhere. Because it's culturally discouraged to keep them indoors, the streets of Istanbul belong to them. They literally own the city (or at least that is what I felt while there).

  
  

• Denmark: I decided to walk  in my friend’s shoes that were a tad bit small because I did not want to wear my heel boots. Well I gave myself blisters on every toe and had to spent two full days nursing my feet by staying at the AirBNB. On the bright side, I met a Portuguese girl who was in Denmark studying for her exchange program. Funny story, she is know my Portuguese friend who I later visited in—guess where—Portugal. So I would say the blisters were meant to be and worth the pain?

  
  

• Oman: I straight-up refused to use a public toilet because I wasn't about that "hole in the ground with a spray hose" life. But even with that traumatic restroom moment, Oman holds a special place in my heart to this day.

  
  

• Germany: I made the rookie American mistake of ordering more food than I could eat and asking for a doggie bag—only to be stared down like I’d asked them to box up the Mona Lisa. I quickly learned that taking food to go is very American. (Though apparently it's starting to catch on because I do it all the time in Switzerland now!)

  
  

• Europe in general: Asking for ice? Might as well be asking for a unicorn. I got a bowl with five cubes once—and I’m pretty sure they charged me for it. Also, that free bread they put on the table in Spain? Not free. I learned real quick to ask before touching anything. Still do. My best friend and I were traumatized over bread on the table for awhile. Also, it was not even fresh bread that they were putting out there in Spain and Italy.

  
  

• Amsterdam: Possibly my most humbling geography lesson. For an embarrassingly long time, I thought Amsterdam was a country. I was politely corrected—on a social media platform—and learnt my lesson. It’s the Netherlands, folks.

  
  

These are just a few of the many mistakes I’ve made while traveling—but they’re also the moments that have taught me the most. Not just about different cultures and customs, but about myself. You can’t learn these things from textbooks or movies. Travel is something you live. You stumble through it. You laugh at yourself. You grow.

I’m so thankful to God for that first opportunity 10 years ago. It opened a door I never want to close.

Here’s to 10 years of travel, and to many more “Wait, what?” moments ahead. 

Looking forward to checking many countries off of my bucket list and creating memories while doing so! 

XO - Dee @destinationdenetto & @deeinherswissera

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