’Pack Light’ Is a Lie: What a 16-Year-Old Learned About Travel (and Life) in Guatemala

When 16-year-old Jayla Nicholas from New York City packed her one carry-on suitcase for Guatemala, she thought she had everything figured out. A seasoned city kid who loves the smell of airports and dreams of seeing the world, Jayla was ready for her second international trip, an adventure through Afar's Learning Afar program with Global Leadership Adventures.

But Guatemala had lessons she never expected—from the vibrant yellow and purple buildings that felt "more real" than NYC's concrete jungle, to zip-lining through mountain canyons in a sudden downpour, to discovering that "pack light" advice might be the biggest travel myth of all.

In this episode, we follow Jayla's journey from pre-trip excitement to post-adventure wisdom, as she learns about leadership, gratitude, and what it really means to be prepared for the unexpected.

Don't miss these unforgettable moments:

• Why Jayla loves the smell of airports and considers flying a gift
• The colorful contrast between Guatemala's vibrant buildings and NYC's concrete jungle
• Working with elementary school kids who copied her every move (including snack time)
• An epic zip-lining adventure that turned into a rain-soaked truck ride sing-along
• The tamale that challenged her Chipotle-loving palate
• How flushing toilet paper became a luxury she'd never considered
• The floating egg chair moment overlooking volcanoes that perfectly captured her gratitude
• Why she's officially converting from underpacker to overpacker (and her advice for fellow picky eaters)

Resources

• Learn more about Learning Afar and how to support future student travelers

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our other podcasts,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Unpacked⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View From Afar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, where we spotlight the people and the ideas shaping the future of travel.

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