Ariana Nicole: “Everyone has their own biases and ways of thinking.”
“There were places where I had never seen a black person before.”
“When I started my digital nomad life, I was working at a UX design company. The biggest challenge was having enough Wi-Fi and a suitable space to work. Sometimes it was hard to concentrate. I've been to places, for example, when I went to Costa Rica, there was always so much going on that I had to work hard to stay productive instead of just relaxing on the beach. did.“As a black woman, it was difficult for me to get around the ignorance of others. People have their own prejudices and ways of thinking, and there were places where I had never seen a black person before. “Also, someone told me that as a digital nomad, my parents financed my travels and I was basically making a living with them alone while traveling around the world. That's not accurate. In fact, just trying to live as a foreigner in a country had all the bureaucracy in place: renting a bike, getting a SIM card, getting a gym membership, etc. It was really hard to do everyday things. I really struggled with it and wondered if it was the lifestyle for me. – Arianna Nicole, 32, North Carolina
Dr. Mark Walters: “It's even worse during the holidays.”
“I missed out on important family moments.”
“Everyone puts their good side forward. But the problem is that you get lonely. It's okay to eat lunch alone, but it's depressing to eat dinner alone. And do it for a long time.” One of my early big problems as a digital nomad was making actual physical friends. It's even worse during the holidays. Halloween and Thanksgiving. I got really homesick during the period.Halloween and Thanksgiving are traditionally American and not often celebrated around the world. “I lived abroad for 12 years and traveled to several countries, including Germany, Lithuania, China, and Portugal. When I was in my late 20s, I started thinking, 'When will I ever settle down?' Ta. “Who would you settle down with?” As I've gotten older, I've had to think about these things. ”“Worst of all, I missed important moments with my family. My grandma passed away and I found out about it in an email. I wanted to be there. But when they needed me, I wasn't there. Life events like this can separate you from your family.” – Dr. Mark Walters, 47, Illinois (USA)
Connie Biesarski: “I was often mistaken for a man.”
“Being queer and traveling to Asia, Arab countries, and even Latin America has made me more conscious of my gender.”
“Learning different things from different people has been great, but it has also come with a lot of challenges. Constantly moving from place to place and not having stable friends, family, and community took a toll on my mental health. It was putting pressure on me.“I am gay and my travels in Asia, Arab countries, and even Latin America have made me very conscious of my gender. I have short hair and lean toward a gender-male presentation, so I was often mistaken for a man. In Dubai, when I went to the bathroom, women looked at me and told me in Arabic to get out of the room. I had to point to their boobs. [and be like] “Look, I have breasts.”“I couldn't really be expressive and open about it. Even when I was talking to locals, I would end up talking about my partner and tailoring my responses. Even in Sri Lanka, I was in my home. The locals nearby knew about my wife, but they never really talked about it in conversation.'' – Connie Biesarski, 40 years old, Portugal
Danilo Sobgut: “Every time you arrive at a new place… you have to start all over again.”
“I was really tired from working and spending so much time planning.”
“I've been a digital nomad for a year and it's been really interesting with so many experiences. But every time I arrive in a new place, all the friends and connections I've made over the past few months are lost. It will be ignored and you will have to start over.“I work as an online Physics and Mathematics tutor, so it was sometimes difficult to balance work and travel. I always have plans and spend most of my time on it. I found myself feeling really exhausted from working and spending time planning. “I'm also a rapper, so working on music is important to me. But I felt like I didn't really have the time because I was bouncing around all over the place.” – Danilo Sobgut, 25 years old, Ukraine
Karen Aguayo Hernandez: “I missed the consistency and familiarity of a stable home.”
“I began to realize that constantly moving and adapting to new environments was taking its toll.”
“As a digital nomad, I have had the opportunity to embark on an amazing journey full of exploration and a minimalist, free lifestyle. However, I began to realize that constantly being on the move and adapting to new environments was taxing. I started missing the consistency and familiarity of a stable home, and while I had to work and meet project deadlines, I found myself not enjoying traveling enough.“This was especially evident on a recent bus trip from Colombia to Ecuador. It was a great adventure, but afterwards my partner and I found ourselves exhausted. I longed for the comfort of a base. This experience made me think about the importance of balancing travel and stability. Although I enjoy the freedom to travel and explore, I also have a place to call my own and maintain a healthier work-life balance.” – Karen Aguayo Hernandez, 33, Mexico
