Tip #2- Restore Your Faith in Humanity

TIP #2:
Restore Your Faith In Humanity

Never doubt the kindness and generosity of those around you

                  In a world where there is a plethora of anger, violence, and fear, it is difficult to feel safe while traveling in a foreign country, especially for a female and a little person. However, I am here to tell you that through my experiences, my faith has been restored in the world and the people that inhabit it. For the past ten days, my friends and I have been exploring the Eternal City and the City of Peace (aka. Rome and Assisi). On this incredible  adventure I encountered over a dozen kind souls who went out of their way to assist me in everyday tasks and struggles.

                  Someone told me at the beginning of my trip that there are two people Italians will do almost anything for: babies and someone in a wheelchair. 

I saw this statement in action countless times over the course of my ten days in Italy. With the help of those individuals who crossed my path, I mastered the Roman subway and bus systems, climbed 330 spiral stairs to the top of the dome of Saint Peter's Basilica (for free), and sat mere inches away from Our Holy Father, Pope Francis. I made friends with the metro workers, the security guards at the Vatican, and several strangers who offered their direction and assistance on the metro, the bus, and walking down the street. I also learned how to say elevator in Italian!

Although those ten days were filled with surprises, growth, adventure, and memories, the one thing that had the greatest impact on me was the extreme and endless kindness of people every place I visited. So if you have plans to travel Europe or the desire is in you to one day travel abroad, never doubt the generosity of the world. Although there may be those who will not reach out their hand to you, show your appreciation for those who do show you kindness and generosity.

A special tip: Once you have your itinerary set and you decide where you are going to be traveling, take the time to look up how to say hello, goodbye, and thank you in the language of those countries.  People are much more willing to give you assistance if they see you are making an effort to reach out and understand them and their life as well. Don't forget to share a smile with the man who helps you onto the metro or the old women who gives you her seat on the bus. And never doubt that God will send you guardian angels to help you through the toughest traveling situations. 

Tip #1- The Faithful Four (Traveling With Friends You Trust)

TIP #1.

Tip number one and the most important tip, in my personal opinion, is as follows:

Always travel with friends you know have your back in every situation

Little people are difficult to travel with; this is a given. We can not walk long distances and are constantly going out of our way to find the elevator. But the one lesson I have learned through this experience is always travel with friends who know you, understand your limitations, and are willing to stick by you through all the obstacles. This is important for travelers of all shapes and sizes! Without my friends (I call them the faithful four), I never would have made it this far in one piece.

They went out of their way to help me in any and every way that I needed, including being separated from the group, pushing my scooter through the streets of MANY European cities/countries, and doing everything in their power to make me feel like I was always included and loved.

A note to the little people: Sometimes you may feel like a burden to your friends. You may feel like you are holding them back from what they want to do. I know I felt that way for the first few weeks of the semester and in a way I will probably continue to feel that way. But we always find a way to work it out so that every one can find something to do that they enjoy. And the best part is, so many times throughout the semester so far, my friends and I have had so many adventures we never would have had if I wasn’t a little person and if I didn’t have a scooter. We have made so many memories together that we will look back on and laugh about. We have stories of adventure and growth and maturity and laughter to bring back with us when we return home at the end of the semester.

By the end of our first trip of the semester, to a town in Austria called Salzburg, we had a phrase that we’ve used often over the past few weeks and will continue to use throughout the semester. My scooter died at the end of the day and we had to push it all the way from a European McDonalds in Salzburg, Austria to the buses parked on the other side of town, over a bridge of locks, in a steady rain.

Ever since this experience, we have said that “It’s always an adventure when we are with Emma!” And I am proud of this phrase! That isn’t a bad thing! We all know that when I’m around we are going to have adventures that turn an ordinary European trip into memories to last a lifetime. And we also know that none of those adventures would have happened if I wasn’t who I am.

So no matter who you are, always travel with friends that you know will have your back. To anyone who may be a little person or have a disability, don’t be afraid to travel just because you feel like you may be a burden to your friends or travel partners. If you work together, you can find a solution where everyone is satisfied with the arrangements. Just remember, there will be times when you think everything that could go wrong has gone wrong, and you want to have friends who will come in and save the day in your time of need.

And who knows, you might make some amazing memories along the way!

Unpack Your Heart In Austria- Travel Blog Introduction

My name is Emma Baugher, I am 19 years old, and I am studying abroad in Gaming, Austria with Franciscan University of Steubenville. I have been in Austria for 28 days and counting and it has been one whirlwind of an adventure. The most important fact you should know about me is that I am a little person. I have a form of dwarfism that effects my size, my mobility, and my life on a daily basis. However, against all odds I have made it to Europe and have experienced joys, struggles, wonders, and adventures for 28 unforgettable days.

            I had not planned to write a blog during my time in Austria. I intended to use my many photographs as my journal and travel log throughout the semester (I always take way too many pictures), but a broken scooter, a convincing professor, and two weeks of travel later, I have decided to create a blog. The purpose of this blog is not only to record my many adventures throughout these upcoming weeks, but to take time to reflect on the fact that traveling as a little person is difficult, however, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I want to take this space to show others that traveling with a disability is challenging, but possible, and definitely worth it. I want to inspire them to never give up on their dreams of one-day traveling to far off lands of culture and exploration. Each blog post will consist of an important travel tip that is applicable to both little and average sized travelers alike, but with a focus on the fact that although sometimes difficult and very stressful, traveling with a disability can be a successful time of learning, growing, maturing, adventuring, and making memories of a lifetime.