Traveller of the Month: Christina from Being Christina Jane

Welcome to May’s edition of Traveller of the Month! Each month I’m passing the mic to a fellow travel blogger and world traveller to help inspire you and introduce you to some of my best globe trotting friends.

Without further ado, let’s meet May’s Traveller of the Month, Christina (she/her)!

And if you missed April’s travellers, get to know Cam & Ana here!

Please introduce yourself! What’s your travel story?

I’m Christina, the creator of Being Christina Jane, a travel and lifestyle blog. I’m a 20-something-year-old, Haitian-American travel blogger from Fort Myers, Florida.

Being Christina Jane is my way of inviting others to join me on my travel ventures and where I aim to connect lifestyle topics like dating and mental health to travel.

My travel journey actually started in 2020 two weeks before the pandemic! At the peak of a depressive period, I took a 2-week solo trip to Thailand and Bali and from there I became hooked to the world of travel.

Something about knowing that I could get on a plane and land wherever I wanted in the world alone at that, was so freeing.

Now I love focusing on solo travel and cultural immersion in the places I am blessed to visit around the world.

How did you decide to start your travel blog and what sort of stories do you share there?

I started my first blog in 2018 after graduating highschool. It was solely focused on lifestyle topics, but after my first solo trip I became fascinated and obsessed with the online travel community.

I took my Bali and Thailand trip as a college sophomore and was earning most of my income through Doordash-ing. I was so proud that I was able to travel while being on such a limited budget and income that I wanted to share that knowledge with others and inspire them to do the same.

On my blog I share personal recounts of my travel and life experiences, travel tips, free travel guides, and more.

My blog is for people of all ages who appreciate transparency and gaining insight into various travel and lifestyle experiences. My hope is that everyone who visits my blog leaves feeling empowered and ready to embark on their own travel experiences.

What do you do when you’re not travelling or writing about travel?

When I’m not on a flight or writing I enjoy content creation, reading, practicing my photography skills, finding unique things to do in various cities, and engaging in international affairs.

What is the best piece of travel advice you’ve ever heard?

Jessica Nabongo, the first Black woman to document traveling to every country in the world, shared that one thing she has learned is that most people in the world are good.

That is something that has always stuck with me as I continue making my way to different countries.

When solo traveling, you are taught to be very secretive about your personal details, not to trust too easily, etc. All great things to keep in mind, of course, but it can cause you to be extremely guarded and miss out on people and experiences as a result.

Ultimately, you are always a stranger navigating unfamiliar territory when you travel to a certain extent. Jessica’s advice reminds me not to assume the worst automatically because most people are willing to lend a helping hand when needed.

(NB: Riana here, I read Jessica’s memoir/travel guide and highly recommend it as one of the best travel books!)

How does your race & identity impact the way you travel?

Traveling as a Black woman has some challenges and impacts on how I travel and see the world.

I can be celebrated in one place and discriminated against in another. It can be a constant battle hearing stereotypes of Black Americans abroad and understanding that I have to have the patience to stop and have open discussions to bridge those gaps, even while on vacation or what is supposed to be a leisure trip.

Another aspect of traveling while Black is the unfortunate reality that finding information on how Black people are treated in a particular region or country in the world is part of my research when choosing to travel. It can make or break a trip if I am constantly dealing with microaggressions and blatant racism.

Despite some of these challenges, the skin I’m in has and will continue to shape my experiences on this Earth, but I am committed to taking up space in this world.

What is your unpopular travel opinion?

Country counting is pointless. I feel like even if you’ve been to 50 countries, the reality is that you most likely have barely scraped the surface of those places.

I see no value in traveling to a place for a few days in one area just to add to the number of countries you have visited.

There is always so much left to explore and see. I see the fun in it, so it doesn’t bother me when I see people doing it! To each its own, of course, but I find it very pointless overall.

What’s something you do, pack or eat on every trip?

One thing I will do on every trip is visit a local market. Many markets give a unique perspective of the local and regional culture, history, and traditions.

It allows me to see cultural demonstrations, try local foods, speak to merchants, and see the people from the area in a different light.

Markets are a great reflection of the daily life of an area that always gives me a deeper appreciation for the culture.

What destination would you go back to over and over again?

Ghana 1000x over again! I studied abroad in Ghana in 2019 for two months, then moved to Ghana for two years from 2021 – 2023 to get my Master’s degree in International Relations.

As an American, studying on the African continent was priceless, as I got to study alongside students from neighboring countries and gain non-Western perspectives.

Ghana is a country that has given me so much as an individual. I have met some of my greatest friends from Ghana, found peace within Ghana, and learned how to be a better person in Ghana.

My time spent in the country has been invaluable, and I can say that I feel like I found a second home in Ghana.

What is the best accommodation you’ve ever stayed in?

When I was in Bali, I stayed in a boutique private wooden villa suite in the Ubud area of Bali. At around $66 USD/night, I had a gorgeous suite to myself with an outdoor shower, daily breakfast, pool, and views of a vast lush rice terrace.

There were only two other villas on the property, which were empty, so I practically had the property to myself. It was stunning and away from the tourist crowds in Ubud, so I loved it.

How do you keep your wanderlust up when you’re stuck at home?

I love playing tourist in my own backyard! Because my hometown is one that I am familiar with, it makes it even more enjoyable because there isn’t the added pressure of learning how to get around.

I have a list of places in my hometown that I’ve always wanted to visit, and I will make it a goal to check one thing off the list every week if I cannot get on a plane.

Do you have any goals for your travel blog?

I relaunched Being Christina Jane, my travel and lifestyle blog, in 2023, and since then have had an amazing time curating content for my audience that many people can relate to.

My goal is to eventually become a full-time blogger and monetize my blog to continue pouring into the space and make it one that people can visit at any time for inspiration.

What travel moment are you most proud of?

My first solo trip to Thailand and Bali originally started as a plan to do a group trip to Bali with a group of women. However, whenever I would bring up the idea to different people, they would immediately shut it down or doubt that it could happen.

Eventually, I decided to make it a solo trip and make it happen alone. I spent weeks DoorDash-ing, taking on random jobs like serving food at events and donating plasma to afford the trip.

It’s my proudest travel moment because it’s the one I made happen for myself. Bali was my dream travel destination, and it means the world to me that I could travel there.

How has your travel style changed and evolved over the years?

Since my broke college travel days, I have been fortunate enough to have different streams of income that now support my travels.

I started off really focusing on budget travel, but as I have made more money, I am able to have travel experiences that allow me to do more. I’m still not out here being bougie and spending unnecessarily, but it feels so good to be able to do more as I make more.

I was the girl who would stay in hostels and sleep at the airport for 10+ hours instead of getting a local hotel or Airbnb, so I have come a long way.

I used to not be able to afford accommodation stays over $40-$50/night, and now that budget has expanded, leading to more comfort. I would always sacrifice comfort for money, but now I can make both things work.

I still have budget travel experiences that my audience can relate to, but I have greatly evolved in that area with my travel style.

Lastly, where can we find you online?

Thank you for joining my Traveller of the Month series, Christina! I’m now moving Ghana up my must-travel-to list and love the idea of having a list of things to do in your hometown.

Head on over to Christina’s blog to check out more of her adventures and stay tuned for June’s Traveller of the Month here on Teaspoon of Adventure!