18 Days in Europe: Lessons from the Road

Lisbon didn’t wait for instructions—skateboards, trolleys, and taxis collided in a dance only the city could understand. From our Airbnb window overlooking the streets, what looked like chaos was actually a rhythm all its own, each person moving instinctively, trusting their own pace.

Watching the street below, made me think about my own path—art, illustration, and fashion—and how I navigate life in much the same way. I move by intuition, trusting that pieces will fall into place. Since uprooting my life from Los Angeles a year and a half ago, moments have aligned in unexpected but perfect ways: from my best friend having an open room in Charleston to being accepted into Charleston Fashion Week just before relocating. It reminds me of the “orderly chaos” of the Lisbon streets—messy, unpredictable, yet functioning beautifully.

Before leaving on this 18-day trip to Portugal, France, and Italy, I worried about being away from home and all the things that could go wrong. But the moment I crossed the airport threshold, everything shifted. Stress fell away. Being away from home for nearly three weeks forced me to surrender control—schedules, routines, expectations—and simply experience. Eighteen days on the road would inevitably affect me, but I wasn't sure how.

Life on the road wasn't always romantic. Homesickness hit hard at times. The Eiffel Tower at midnight—surrounded by rap music, TikTok dancers, and the occasional rat—made us laugh at the absurdity of it all. Some encounters were challenging: the French weren’t always warm to English speakers, and Milan’s Duomo sat comically right next to McDonald’s and a Hard Rock Cafe. Museums brought similar surprises: the Mona Lisa drew a massive crowd while countless other masterpieces weren't as noticed.

What I didn’t expect became the most meaningful. Art and churches forced me to look up, shifting my focus away from daily concerns. The grandeur of the Louvre, Lady Liberty’s imposing presence, and the Dior exhibit’s beauty reminded me of passion, vision, and the power of creating something greater than yourself. Witnessing someone dedicate their life to celebrating beauty resonated deeply—I felt a kinship in purpose and a confirmation of my own calling.

Spending two days alone in Europe highlighted the weight of rootlessness. But traveling with others reminded me that home is not a place—it is the people who make your world whole. Relationships, laughter, and shared experiences anchor us in ways nothing else can.

Being away from my own work in fashion—illustrating and design—reinforced its importance. That feeling when the world pauses and I create, the gratitude for doing what I love and sharing it with others, feels profound, especially after being away from it for weeks. 

Traveling reinforced what I've found to be true the past few years: trust intuition, embrace the unexpected, notice what’s overlooked, look up, and pursue your calling with passion. Europe reminded me that the leap is always worth it—and that in the midst of chaos, life can be beautiful beyond expectation.