Your social identities inform how you view yourself and how others will view you. For example, traveling while Black or traveling while a woman. I argue that it’s even more important to be aware of how you show up in the world as you go abroad. The familiarity of your home and comfort zone is gone. You may feel a bit exposed and be the odd one out at times.
As I’m interning in Berlin and traveling to smaller towns, such as Dresden and Potsdam this summer, the nuances of being Black and abroad in Europe are back on my radar. These are experiences I’ve noticed in my own behavior as I travel the world as a Black woman. Keep reading to find out what those experiences are!