Teena in Europe!

Teena is a SoCal native, who has been traveling abroad for three years, and has visited 34 countries. She indulges in the easy going European lifestyle, while learning about herself and other cultures.

We connected over the harsh reality of the American capitalist society- where the norm is to hustle and rarely have time to truly enjoy the life you’re creating.

Teenas journey;

Teena is an online university Professor, where she teaches international marketing. In addition, she teaches English to Business students who are based all over Europe. Her third stream of income comes from her e-commerce website called Teeluvstravel, where she sells essentials you’d need to make your travel journey run smoothly. All of her jobs are online based, which is how she gets to live financially unburdened in different parts of the world.

Trevi Fountain, Pont Alexandre, Piazza Colonna.

Teenas favorite adventure.

My favorite adventure so far was when I lived in Poland.

I lived there for about a year, in three different cities- Warsaw, Kraków and Olsztyn. Polish people are extremely kind and very curious. There weren’t that many people of color in Poland so I definitely stood out. Once I got comfortable with the staring, I actually felt like a celebrity!

Poland.

I was working for an English-speaking company where I would meet Polish students to speak conversational English with. We would immerse ourselves in the English language to further their English speaking goals. This was my first experience with teaching English, and it was incredibly fun.

The adventure began when we started meeting in different locations all over Poland to learn English. We would often meet at luxurious spas and beautiful ski resorts. We explored much of Poland while conversing in English, and I would say it's the best way to learn. Not to mention that all of these experiences were paid for by my job, I didn’t have to spend a dime!

I had the most amazing experience there and to this day I still have some great Polish friends. The beauty of Poland is within the hospitality of its people- they are remarkably kind.

Teena with Polish natives.

How do you get the confidence to travel solo to all of these places?

I’ve always been kind of brave in general but of course being abroad is totally different. When I stepped off the plane for the first time in Europe, is where I gained my biggest boost of confidence. I realized that traveling alone through Europe is a lot safer than traveling through the United States. The culture in Europe specifically- people tend to be more helpful when you’re solo and when they see you may be new to the country. Honestly, the more people you meet, and the more you learn about different cultures, the more confident you become within yourself. The more places you visit, the more you learn about your own internal powers and weaknesses. You learn to have more patience with yourself and others. You learn how to be independent- which to me is the greatest strength any woman can have.

Georgia.

Do you feel safe while traveling? What steps do you take to feel safe? Safety tips for women traveling solo?

Use your common sense, and follow your gut feeling. I would make sure that when you’re traveling solo you have your accommodations before you arrive at your location. Also, please make sure that you have a SIM CARD that works in the area of your destination, or a data plan where you always have wifi access. This will save you from getting lost and possibly kidnapped. Most importantly, always stay positive, don’t assume bad things will happen to you while you’re traveling. I can safely say that following these safety tips, I haven’t had any negative experiences when it comes to my safety.

Pamukkale, Turkey.

How do you feel now that you've visited 34 countries?

I feel really good about it. Even though it doesn’t seem like a lot- I want to continue exploring the world and seeing new places. The most empowering thing for me has been meeting all of the new people who have become dear friends of mine. Knowing I’m always welcome to come back to each country I’ve been to and a friendly face will welcome me with open arms, makes all the difference.

Batumi, Rome, Skoplje.

Teena truly inspired me. She gave herself permission to leave her entire life behind in order to find exactly what brings her joy. A brave action which requires confidence for the fulfillment of freedom.

Isn’t it a bit ironic that an American found freedom outside of America?