Courtesy of Angela/@realphdfoodie
- Angela, an American academic, started traveling solo in November.
- Angela said she felt burned out after not taking any time off for many years.
- She felt tied down by expectations to get married, but solo travel felt freeing.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Angela, an academic and content creator in her early 40s who travels solo in Europe. Angela requested that her last name not be shared for privacy. This essay has been edited for length and clarity.