#btwr

Planning a trip can get really complicated when you’re traveling with a group, but it doesn’t have to be. Since almost all of my trips abroad have been successful girls-only ones, I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve learned. However, these tips can apply to any group of people so read on!

Know your audience. Whether you're going with a group of good friends or with a group of women you're meeting for the first time, traveling offers a new perspective on your relationships. You'll be in a new environment so the mood will be different. This can be a good thing but you still have to be aware of everyone's differences. Some folks will be night owls and others will be early birds. Some of you will be very opinionated while others will go with the flow. Some of you may have dietary restrictions. Regardless of the situation, make sure you're cognizant of other's lifestyles. That way you won't unintentionally step on someone's toes when making suggestions. Simply ask questions and get to know your buddies on a new level. Be sure your feelings are known as well.

Use organizational tools. Create a Whatsapp group and give it a creative name (I just thought of Chicks that Trip™, so don't steal it). Start a Google Doc of places to see and things to do and give everyone access. Haven't decided on an Airbnb? Create a spreadsheet where you all can contribute and then vote on a place to stay. There are so many online tools you and your crew can use to help the trip planning go smoothly.

Birds of a feather...

Stick together. If you're traveling to a new place with your crew, always move around in groups. There's no need to go anywhere alone when you're on a girl's trip, especially for safety reasons. It's not a good idea to plan a rendezvous with a hot stranger because it's unsafe and that's not what the trip is for! But if you decide to do that anyway make sure the squad knows where you are at all times.

Be fair. If you plan to split the bill at a fancy restaurant, make sure everyone is on board with the cost. While it's easy to divide the cost evenly, it gets tricky when one person adds an expensive drink to their order. That person should be prepared to throw in a little extra money. Alternatively, she can cover the tip for everyone if the bill is divided equally. If it turns out you're the only one who didn't order something extra costly, it may be helpful for you and the others to ask for separate bills altogether. Sometimes restaurants aren't equipped to accommodate this method so try to be prepared with some cash so you're only paying exactly what you owe. Otherwise, be flexible! To even it out, you can order something pricier the next time.

Have fun! Don't over think it! Girl's trips are one of my favorite social activities, even if they end up comparable to that damn Tiffany Haddish movie. You end up creating a unique bond with your travel buddies that make it all worth it. So do yourself a favor and chill out with your homies, wherever you are. The most important thing is that you enjoy yourself.

Now, I consider myself a smart person but deciding to rent a car for a trip to Cambridge was not a good idea. So how did I end up with one?

First, let's rewind for a bit. Last summer, the company I work for acquired another company that has offices in England. I got the opportunity to work out of their Cambridge office for two weeks. The idea was for me to get to know a new team, learn about their product and process, and take ideas from them that could be used on my team. The benefit was seeing the beautiful city of Cambridge on foot.

The entryway to Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge

I started every morning with a 20-minute walk from my hotel to the office. On the way, I saw old, beautiful college buildings, cute boutique shops, and a hoard of cyclists that didn't stop for anything (or anyone for that matter). At the end of my walk each day, I enter the office feeling refreshed, alert, and ready to code.

This trip gave me something I didn't even realize I was missing: curiosity. I wanted to know how everything worked in and out of the office. In the office, I wanted to peek over everyone's shoulder and see what they were doing. Outside, I wanted to look through every shop window even if I wasn't interested in what they were selling. For some reason, everything fascinated me.

And I didn't need a car for any of it.

So how did I end up with one? I was influenced. Someone who lives in England told me I would need a car and I passively agreed. I even tried to justify it to myself. But the car was a burden and a source of stress.

In my opinion, the only time you need a car in Cambridge is if you work there but live elsewhere. The roads were too small and complex for the relatively large Kia I ended up renting. It made me wonder, "what was I thinking?"

Thank you, Charlie Brown

Despite my doubts, the car served me well. I arrived in the UK from DC at 9:30 pm. By the time I picked up my luggage, it was after 10. Cambridge was 1.5 hours away by car. Driving seemed like the safest and fastest option as a result. I used the car to visit family, which I probably would not have done without it. So it wasn't completely useless. On my way back to Cambridge, I returned the car. Doing so took a huge weight off my shoulders.

Pictured: Joyfulness.

A lesson came out of this experience; I should always follow my gut and do what I need to do for myself. No one else is living my life so I shouldn't let anyone influence it. While the car did get me where I needed to go, it was not a requirement. While seeing my family was pleasant, the trip took away a weekend of exploring Cambridge. I have no idea when I'll be getting that time back.

Overall it was a pleasant experience and next time will be even better knowing what I know now. Swap the car keys for a comfy pair of sneaks.

Now get back to work!

It’s been two weeks since my last post and it’s because of two very good reasons:

1. I had no idea what to write about and, 2. I’m building a more permanent home for my blog elsewhere.

My second reason is what lead me to write this post.

I learn by doing. What this means is everything I’m taught or any knowledge shared with me only sticks when I actually applying that knowledge. For example, I’m desperate to become more comfortable with using React. React is a component-based javascript framework. It’s used to build many things such as web applications, blogs, and so much more. It is also one of the many things that keep me up at night. I understand the concept, but when it comes to the details and inner workings of this framework, I still generally struggle.

To combat this challenge I’m currently facing, I have tried many things; I’ve taken on tasks at work that involve React, I completed Wes Bos’ React tutorial, and now I’m building my own blog from scratch. I have made a lot of progress in the past few months but the most progress I’ve made, in my opinion, was the couple of weeks I’ve spent working on my blog.

I’m using yet another framework called GatsbyJS, which is based on React, to build my blog. Additionally, I’m using a Wordpress backend so I can write and format my posts properly without having to use markdown. This way I can fully customize my blog in a way that I can understand as well as become well-versed in React. This way I can learn by doing.

Roast me.

Things are going slowly but they are going. I’m starting to understand how to use functional components and how to query APIs using GraphQL. Two things that I didn’t even remotely understand two months ago. I’m also learning how to build a blog from scratch. I completely understand the struggle now. But I’m determined to continue working on this for a while. Until that’s complete and ready for viewing, all of my posts will be hosted here on bassandmellow.com.

Now, please, get back to work.

-H

PS. I finally have my next couple of trips planned. My next post or two will likely be based on that!

If you plan on going to Philadelphia for a day, you probably have a couple things in mind: Rocky Balboa and cheesesteaks. Perhaps that’s not true for you, reader, who actually planned your itinerary but, even though I lived in the city for four years, that is pretty much what came to mind.

But I should have known better, of course. Philly is rich with culture and each neighborhood has something to offer. In my opinion, it’s a severely underrated city. Hopefully, this post will give you some ideas of how to “just wing it” in the City of Brotherly love. 

So what happens when you don’t plan?

Cheesesteak for breakfast.

After about a 2.5 hour drive, a friend and I parked in Old City across the street from Sonny’s Famous Steaks. We were starving and it checked a glaring item on our short list of things to do: eat a Philly cheesesteak.

Sonny’s Famous Steaks — 6/10 (not greasy enough)

That was the fuel we needed to make our way to the famous Liberty Bell exhibit. If you decide to do this and there is a line, do not stand in it. You can see the bell through the clear glass walls surrounding it. I didn’t take a photo of this though.

We still had just under two hours left on our parking spot so we walked for a bit until we ended up at the Reading Terminal Market. I managed not to purchase any of the sweets on display. I think the cheesesteak played a role in that.

I did take this shitty photo though.

Once we left Reading Terminal, I realized we weren’t too far from the famous LOVE sculpture designed by Robert Indiana, so we decided to head there for the photo op. 

LOVE and Protest

On the way, we witness a protest regarding the crisis in Venezuela. This stood out to me because it really highlights the multiculturalism and passion of Philadelphia that everyone should be aware of.

We observed the peaceful protest briefly and continued on to our destination. The LOVE sculpture is meticulously placed; it’s positioned perfectly where you can see the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art in the background, all the way on the opposite end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

I promise, my photo quality will improve in future posts!

We still forgot to eat a proper lunch.

All that walking took ENERGY so we were soon hungry again. However, we weren’t the kind of hungry that required another huge meal, but just something to tide us over until a proper lunch. So we got Federal Donuts. They were delicious (even after we forgot to eat them right away).

Because I’m a villager, I didn’t even know they also sold chicken.

Our two hours were up on our parking spot so we grabbed a Lyft back to pick up the car and move on to our next spot. I decided to park in my old neighborhood on the outskirts of Drexel University’s campus because it was free.99. It was perfect because it put us in walking distance from the art museum. Naturally, we made a beeline to the Rocky Balboa statue at the base of the museum where there was another line for photos. It was short but I don’t remember ever having to wait in line to take a photo with a statue and this was a cold Saturday in February. The warmer weekends must be insane. Luckily Rocky wasn’t in any rush to be anywhere because he doesn’t exist.

We concluded our trip by walking alongside the Schuylkill River until we reached South St. We found a Starbucks where we were able to sit down and reflect on our day. 

We arrived with no plan and we still hit most of the basics. You can too!

I hope this post inspires you, reader, in the sense that you don’t always need a detailed plan to enjoy a new city. Sometimes the city plans you instead.

Bass and Mellow is now The Back to Work Report.

The Back to Work Report is a blog focused on travel, life, and inspiration (and where they intersect).

The meaning of the title is essentially me reporting back on my adventures—similar to an employee updating their manager after a business trip. My dad gave me the idea, although he thinks it’s a ridiculous name for a blog. He’s absolutely right!

- H