Lost But Not Forgotten
My most extreme lost item during my travels and the lessons I’ve learned
I got a lesson early on in keeping my belongings close when traveling.
Before I was 21, my few international trips were with groups or my family. So after I graduated college, I set off on my first big international trip with a friend. It was my first introduction to the world of backpacking.
Despite a rocky start — my bag was delayed and I wore my friend’s clothes for a few days — we spent the first week in an island paradise. Then, it was a hop, skip, and jump, and we landed in Auckland, New Zealand.
It was not one of my proudest travel moments and not one that my family will soon let me forget although it’s been 16 years.
So, you ask, what did I lose? It’s probably everyone’s travel nightmare: a lost passport!
Yes, I was stupid enough to lose my passport in New Zealand and not realize it for a week.
How could I not realize it was gone for a week, you ask? Well, I was a young and inexperienced traveler and did not periodically check my belongings.
Later, I realized I must have lost it at the airport when I first arrived. For a few days, I didn’t have to show my passport anywhere and so I didn’t realize I…
