1. Lewis win (Silverstone 24)

2. Lando win (Silverstone 25)

3. Lando dnf (Zandvoort 25)

4. Lewis win (Barcelona 26)

Solo travel has truly been the best decision I could’ve made for this summer. I’ve been on the road for two and a half weeks now traveling southern Europe, and I’ve met so many incredible people each of whom have taught me so much and kinda changed my life.

Even the fact that I’ve even gotten to know new people, strangers, has been ground breaking to me. I’ve been kinda isolated from the world for like a year prior, living in the small town I grew up in and not getting to know any new people. Every day I’m outside of my comfort zone, opening myself up to other people and the world.

In Porto I met a woman who dragged me out of my introverted shell by being so bright and extroverted herself, and we shared dinner and talked about our travels and even politics and just life. She was older than me, had a whole ass career, but could still travel and did travel as much as she could. She taught me to be open to my surroundings, to not let myself limit myself to what I’ve always been, and rather aim for what I could be. That a career and dreams can coexist, and life can be fulfilling once you find your thing.

With the newfound outgoingness, I pushed myself to try new things in Madrid. Joined a sangria class, met incredible people and had a blast on a pub crawl with them. Learnt that a lot of other people who travel in hostels share a similar story to mine, of being a little lost and wanting to see the world in their 20s before figuring out the rest. I met a woman who taught me that all the little bisexual voices inside my head can be loud and proud, and they’re not just voices, they’re me. I felt all the things and more with her than I’ve done with a man before. Never before had I known that being with a woman could feel so right and easy, so natural. I left the curious part of my bi-curious label on the streets of Madrid, and I’m forever grateful for the moments I shared with her, she truly changed my life.

In Barcelona, at the GP, I met a girl so bright and confident in herself that I sometimes just sat in silence, looking at her sparkle like a supernova. She was proud of her fangirl side, proud of her sexuality, proud of her confidence, future plans, dreams, ideas and ideals. She taught me that it’s okay that I’m talkative and loud when I get comfortable and when you’re both the same, interrupting isn’t taken as rude but as something fun, that it’s okay to be passionate about the things I like, that both my feminine and masculine sides are valid. She taught me that it’s okay to trust hard and fast, that it’s okay to accept help and kind gestures, that it’s okay to dream big and reach for those dreams with all you have. That it’s possible to have a career abroad, even entry level. That bigotry isn’t everywhere in the world, and the place I grew up in thankfully isn’t everyone’s experience. That families can be functional and truly healthy and loving. That I can get comfortable with new people easily when it’s the right person. That confidence can be shown and genuine.

No recognisable irl pics bc the internet and the people in it are scary but I’ll show you this, seen in a random southern european street seller booth <3