I’m excited to introduce you to our latest Woman of the Week: Jasmine! To date, I believe she is our first pharmacist interviewed in this interview series and I’m loving her new perspectives. In Jasmine’s interview, she talks about how her pharmacist-level attention to detail impacts her travel plans, overcoming language barriers, and balancing travel with her intensive schooling. Happy travels!
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Tell us about yourself?
Why do you travel?

How do you balance work and travel?
I am very lucky in that I only work 32 hours a week and I get a decent amount of hours off in a year. (Almost equivalent of 5 work weeks) That, along with weekends and holidays makes for a lot of short weekend trips and longer out-of-country trips. It works out for me because if I’m away from home longer than 2 weeks, I actually start to get a little homesick anyway. There are people who want to always be traveling and on the go, but I have actually settled quite nicely in a place I want to be, so I do like returning there! I can be quite the homebody when I want to be!
What’s the best lesson you’ve learned from your travels?
It’s okay not to have a plan sometimes. I’ll tell you an obvious secret–pharmacists are really OCD. And if they’re not, then they’re probably not very good. I used to be obsessive about every little detail and minute of my travels. Luckily, traveling with my husband has taught me to be a combination of well-prepared but sometimes spontaneous too. Some of the best travel days can just be simply roaming around lost in a new place (and then maybe have a backup for how you’ll return). For someone like me, learning to let life lead is a big step and travel helped me loosen up.
Hiking to Havasu Falls was one of my favorite travel memories because of all the hard work we put in to get there. I’ll never forget that sound of roaring, revitalizing water as we trudged around the bend, sweaty and achy from the hot Arizona sun and heavy backpacks we had carried for 10 miles. Looking down and seeing where the majestic falls pooled in the most beautiful aqua blue water surrounded by the red canyon was more unbelievable in life than any of the pictures could portray. I truly felt humbled by nature and proud of the journey we had accomplished. Getting there was a physical and mental challenge that was so rewarding to see come to fruition!
I think my tip applies to both men and women, but if you are a solo woman traveler, this could be helpful. It may seem obvious but learning to say “Hello” and “Please” in a foreign language goes a long way with locals. And being respectful goes without saying. People generally can tell if you’re a tourist, but a greeting and respect will usually win you sympathy and more willingness to help. Also, Google Translate has the option to download an offline version of translations from one language to another. I’ve found it very helpful in foreign countries!
THANKS FOR READING JASMINE’S STORY!
Looking for more interviews? Head to our Woman of the Week archives for the full library.
I’ve also created three freebies to help you plan your next adventure:
- 50 Practical Travel Tips from Solo Lady Backpackers (a 6-page PDF)
- 20 Tips for Sustainable Travel (a checklist)
- and 30 Jobs to See the World.
After you join the mailing list up, you’ll have access to all the freebies, AND get the password to the Global Directory! The directory will connect you to my recommended resources for each country and tons of travel topics. All blog posts I recommend are written by traveling ladies. From logistics to inspiration, the Global Directory will help you find the info you need no matter where you’re going.
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