The Art Of Getting Lost | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

The Art Of Getting Lost

Forge your own path

284
The Art Of Getting Lost
Sim Tumay

Upon arrival in Sydney, Australia I expected to easily find my way around and to have a fairly effortless transition to this new environment. The thought of no language barrier and the anticipation that it was a small, beach place similar to my hometown in Florida were the thoughts that I kept repeating in order to feel comfortable and stress-free. However, the minute that I landed in Sydney those initial thoughts disappeared and I was faced with reality.

The Australian accent got a little bit difficult to understand at times and the phrases that people would use in Sydney were confusing and difficult to process. I was in a large, busy city just like NYC and it was nothing like what I had expected. I soon came to the realization that everything in Sydney is spread out, and all of the places that I had previously looked up and marked down were at least twenty-five minutes away.

It was moments like this where I wished that I was back in New York City where I could just leave my apartment to go grab coffee, food, or visit friends all within a short walking distance. This large, unfamiliar city initially seemed like New York, but it was much more complicated. This meant that it was time to face my fear and anxiety of learning to find my way around.

The first couple days with my roommates were difficult as we ventured out into the streets, looking like a pack of tourists with google maps pulled up. We would venture out for hours in the heat, looking for one specific place. We had spent half the day going in accidental circles because we couldn't figure out the streets and crossroads. We would stand in one spot for a couple minutes at a time to try and figure out to which route maps was recalculating us.

Once we accepted the fact that this was a chance to explore new things and new places, though, everything became so much easier. Instead of spending hours trying to find one specific place that we had initially added to our Sydney bucket list, we decided to let ourselves get lost. Once I had come to terms with the fact that getting lost was part of the complicated adjustment to a new place, I felt relieved and finally opened my mind to more exploration.

Let yourself get lost and forge your own path day-to-day as you walk through unfamiliar streets and meet unfamiliar people. Don’t set your mind to one specific plan or place to go, either. Rather, head out and walk in the streets for hours without opening google maps.This is how you’ll find your new favorite little shops, record stores, cafes, or hidden parks.

Ever since I've started wandering the streets with no specific destination or sense of direction, I've found my new favorite local coffee shop and some local boutiques. Don’t limit yourself to the places that you know because then you’ll never get to step outside your comfort zone and find other hidden gems. Being in a new country, surrounded by a new culture, is the best opportunity to let loose and wander the unfamiliar streets with an open mind.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190006
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14780
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457749
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26576
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments