u/LifeFamous8263

I’m 25 years old girl and this is my fourth time traveling alone—I’ve learned plenty about courage, independence, and finding my way around, but not about socializing. I can ask someone a question if I need to, but I’ll never be the one to start a conversation. I always stay in hostels, where there are plenty of opportunities to meet people, but I always choose to stay in my room. After my first two solo trips, I dared to spend time in common areas during my third and fourth trips, but what good did it do? I’m an introvert—I’m definitely not talkative—but I always feel jealous and frustrated when I see guys striking up conversations with other girls at the same hostel, or when they just start talking to anyone, while I don’t. I rarely exchange a few words with anyone, but it never leads to, for example, exchanging contacts.

I feel hopeless. I’ve always heard that solo travel teaches you a lot—that’s true—but every time I go somewhere, I end up feeling sorry for myself because of my lack of social skills. And I have in mind 2 types of relationships – romantical ones and just friendships. I've heard how other people made friends from solo traveling – again, I'm being jealous about it, because it does not look possible for me even after traveling the world.

That fucking Instagram algorithm keeps showing me how many of these solo-traveling girls are in all kinds of situationships when I’ve never had anything like that and probably never will. I know, I know—social media is fake—but that really doesn’t help me at all, because I’m definitely insecure about it.

Am I the only one like this? What could I do differently? I know it would take a lot of courage either way, but... I honestly feel hopeless and it takes the majority of joy from just being able to travel alone.

I’m 25 years old girl and this is my fourth time traveling alone—I’ve learned plenty about courage, independence, and finding my way around, but not about socializing. I can ask someone a question if I need to, but I’ll never be the one to start a conversation. I always stay in hostels, where there are plenty of opportunities to meet people, but I always choose to stay in my room. After my first two solo trips, I dared to spend time in common areas during my third and fourth trips, but what good did it do? I’m an introvert—I’m definitely not talkative—but I always feel jealous and frustrated when I see guys striking up conversations with other girls at the same hostel, or when they just start talking to anyone, while I don’t. I rarely exchange a few words with anyone, but it never leads to, for example, exchanging contacts.

I feel hopeless. I’ve always heard that solo travel teaches you a lot—that’s true—but every time I go somewhere, I end up feeling sorry for myself because of my lack of social skills. And I have in mind 2 types of relationships – romantical ones and just friendships. I've heard how other people made friends from solo traveling – again, I'm being jealous about it, because it does not look possible for me even after traveling the world.

That fucking Instagram algorithm keeps showing me how many of these solo-traveling girls are in all kinds of situationships when I’ve never had anything like that and probably never will. I know, I know—social media is fake—but that really doesn’t help me at all, because I’m definitely insecure about it.

Am I the only one like this? What could I do differently? I know it would take a lot of courage either way, but... I honestly feel hopeless and it takes the majority of joy from just being able to travel alone.