Unlocking the Secrets of Travel: The Power of Asking for Help
It’s been almost 3 years on my solo nomad journey.
This ENTIRE solo nomad thing is NOT possible without a network. Network of friends and strangers, information, connectivity online and off line. It is how we solo nomads can travel plan, get in and out of places and trouble.
I am a pretty independent, self-sufficient person and traveler. I figure stuff out, things go wrong, you don’t always have control.
Two health issues set me back, torn things seem to be my theme. Torn retina last Fall and torn ligament in my right leg couple weeks ago. These gave me pause - are these signs to slow down (yes)? Stop traveling (no).
To give my leg the best time to heal, I stopped walking and doing anything for two weeks. Doctor’s orders.
I asked for help - in South America where I know no one….sort of.
I needed transport to and from the airport, hotels, hospital. My hotel in Santiago arranged for pick up upon arrival and Patricio became my dude! He or his son, Lukas, have taken me anywhere I needed to go including waiting at the hospital while I saw the doctor. Always willing to help and with a smile. If you need transportation and more in Santiago Patricio has a network!
I needed to get out of an Airbnb that was 33C with the portable air conditioner going full blast as the sun set in the windows. I couldn’t carry my luggage with my leg brace, would a taxi take me less than 2 blocks? I opened the door to go downstairs and ask the front desk. Miracle, Esperanza was in the hallway with a shopping cart. Could we use it to take my luggage to my new apartment? YES! We both shared how the world works in mysterious ways.
I needed laundry done but the steps were too much on one leg with bag of laundry and soap. I asked David, my new Airbnb host, if I could pay the Haidee his housekeeper to do it. Of course! Leave the bag and $10 in the apartment and in less than two hours I had clean clothing.
I needed translation and navigation at the hospitals in Cuzco and Santiago. The tour company arranged for Melissa in Cuzco and she arranged for transport back to the hotel with her friend’s Dad, Carlos. She went above and beyond, following up and making sure I was ok.
Before arriving in Santiago, I had reached out to Host a Sister on Facebook to see if anyone would be interested in a coffee or museum visit while I was here. Sofia responded immediately and once here, with my leg brace, we met at a Starbucks nearby. Three hours later we were fast friends. I asked if she could help arrange a doctor’s appointment for me. I was on Zoom, she was on the phone, using her email and phone to navigate the system. Listo! I had an appointment. She would be out of town and wasn’t available to translate at the appointment. But sent me all the confirmations from the hospital and checked in with me.
At my Airbnb, I had seen a gentlemen at the pool and later we ran into each other at Starbucks. I said hi, we started chatting. Eugenio is a medical student who will be spending two months at University of Chicago with a Chilean orthopedic surgeon. I shared a bit of my travels and we exchanged WhatsApp info. We may be in Chicago at the same time. When I had the appointment confirmed, I texted asking if he or anyone he knew could translate for me at the hospital. Thirty minutes later he connects me to Natalia!
Natalia and Eugenio met in the States and been friends for decades. She arranges J-1 visas for Chilean students who work their college summers in the US. Yes she’s available and delighted to help! She confirmed with me and helped from checking in at the hospital throughout the appointment. We enjoyed some Starbucks after.
(Don’t ding the Starbucks overseas - everyone here loves it and it was 20 yards from my building.)
The appointment with the orthopedic surgeon Dr. Barrios goes great (he is not bad to look at either). He provides me with some physical therapy exercises to strengthen my legs, Celebrex, ice and heat for pain. He also clears me to go on the Antarctica expedition on March 3. But no 10k walks or up and down hills for a little bit.
Oh yay! Antarctica expedition! But, I have to rent some clothing which I arranged on a visit to Ushuaia in January. I remember walking up and down a hill (easy) to get to Dr. Snow Rental. Oops can’t do that now. I WhatsApp Dr. Snow. No problem! Happy to meet me at my hotel for drop off and pick up before and after expedition. So thankful and his response,
“The thing is Barbara, if you are asking for it means that you really need it 😉.”
And you know what, he is right!
In the midst of two weeks of healing, thanks to Erin Fernandez Austin and her husband Stan who are connected through the Senior Nomads Facebook group. We kept missing each other as we crossed South America. We finally connected in Santiago my second time here. It was good to meet in person and have a chat about life.
I have thanked all these people in person, texting, tipping, paying, hugging - any gratitude I could find and is meaningful to them.
Thank you South America for bringing us all together on purpose or serendipitously. It takes a village wherever you are.
