There is worse.

For some people doing nothing is a waste of time.
For me it is an activity : I DO nothing.
In french it is more complex : je ne fais rien instead of je fais rien. Means the French think doing nothing is a lack of activity since they add a negation.
Phew, I'm Belgian : ik doe niks... works.

Jeje, you will notice that old and supposedly grown up are also questioning each others instead of ourselves.

The Spanish have a saying that translates, "It is wonderful to do nothing. And then rest afterwards".

If the OP is planning to get ideas about what to do with her life while travelling aimlessly around Europe - what kind of ideas will she come up with?
The people she will meet will be waiters, bartenders, maybe some students, lots of tourists, salespeople, people who are unemployed...
What good will this do if she's trying to figure out what to do with her life?

There's probably a reason for all this anxiety on both sides, parental and filial.

Let's not discuss about what the OP will do with his/her life here, won't we? It's too big a subject and I feel we don't know the OP enough to lead the discussion.

If the OP wants a voyage, fine, there's nothing wrong with that. If the OP feel confused, it's normal. Better to be young and confused, than to be old and too sure.

Are you going, or are you going not, jeje? It doesn't matter which way you decide, as long as you are sure about your decision and take responsibility for it. That'll convince your parents.

Oh Kerouac, I applaud you!

I feel sure no one's criticisms have made you question your choice and you have earned the right to do as you please in your well earned retirement. My shameful decision was to dare to not have children! Oh, the wrath and judgement!

'Better to be young and confused, than to be old and too sure.'

Indeed ! Is it Descartes who said : Je doute donc je suis ?

And better rich and in good shape than poor and ill.

For the record, I meet an old friend in 2-3 weeks to discuss her son's decision to drop his studies (after a successful first year as a doctor, he just dropped it).

So I'll take the kid along to show him what kind of job I do since he said he would do soemthing similar to my job. And then he would go 3-6 months somewhere to learn another language and see something else.

kids... I'd like now to be young and unsure actually, but when I was, I didn't like it

All of the rest of us are disappointed when we know a young person who abandons his studies, but they are always right to do so. Why be miserable?

Sometimes the abandonment is just a suspension when you take the time to decide what you really want to do.

Frankly I wish I had abandoned my studies, but I adopted a different tactic -- I accelerated and even went through a university summer session to get my degree as fast as possible because I knew I would never make it to the end at normal speed.

And that's why I moved to France in February 1973 instead of June 1973. My degree turned out to be useless anyway except in terms of general culture.

Hello everyone!

New updates on this story... I was tired of feeling stressed out by the decision on wether I should go to France or not, so I made up my mind and bought the tickets last Thursday. My dad was with me, and I felt very happy about it, so did my mom afterwards even though she did cry because she was worried. Anyways, my mother said that she was happy for me, and my father said that he trusts and believes in me. The only thing is, ever since I bought the tickets and that I know that the trip is happening for real, I now realize that I am terrified of the idea of being alone in a foreign country for 3 weeks! My friends keep telling me that it is normal since I'm accomplishing something that is big, but when I'll get there I won't have time to worry.

Could anyone tell me if they felt the same way before travelling alone? I'm still excited to do the trip, but just scared at the same time.

Sweet, EVERYONE feels that way.

Us guys try not to show our terror, being guys, but believe me, if you didn't have that trembly little frightened person buried down there in the center of you, you wouldn't be human. Once you take those first step all others will get easier. The fear will come back from time to time, of course, but will be less next time,but I think you know you made the right decision in taking that first step.

Have fun!

Being afraid is absolutely normal and then things turn out to be laughably easy.

I also felt terrified at some points during my first trip alone.
Turned out the people I met in this uncivilized country were great... I can tell you it was quite an experience.
That i never regretted.

Terrified! But it all worked, and I've been addicted to solo travel ever since -- despite an occasional moment of serious anxiety. ;-)

Terrified is normal and once you land in a foreign place it may turn into sheer joy that you have had the courage to do it. Good luck and may it be everything you want it to be.

I left home when I was 20, by ship from Oz to England. I don't remember ever worrying about my big trip - alone. I was supposed to be away for 12 months. When that came and went, my Mum and Dad asked when I was coming home. I said if you want me come and get me. They did. We spent 6 months travelling around Europe in my little car. After we came home, I asked my Dad why he let me go - I was sooooo immature, not enough money (I worked for 12 months to make ends meet). He said that as it was something I had talked about since I was a little girl, how could he say no. I have travelled ever since, with my late husband, by myself and recently with a friend. I'm sure they worried about me, but then again my reason for travelling was not like yours. I have always known who I am. I look in the mirror and there I am.

This "disease" is called travel fever and it is perfectly normal. I'm in my 50s and still have it. The evening before any trip, big or small, while I'm packing my bags I desperately want to stay home. But it vanishes when I'm going and have caught the plane or train I needed to catch.
I think that if you lose travel fever completely, then travel will become "business as usual" and totally boring. It is part of the excitement.

One of my nephews went around the world twice before he was 30. He had a couple of girl friends that were Australian and he hooked up with them and off he went. First stop London where his passport was stolen the minute he got off the plane. LOL, live and learn.

He lived and worked in London for close to a year, lived above the pub where he worked and they paid him under the table.

I'm NOT advocating that behavior, just saying how it was. He was in Greece for quite a long time and also Australia. He was gone a long time.

The second trip found him in Zimbabwe when things were "going south" and he came home from there.

I don't know how he managed all of it, he didn't have money to last the whole time he was abroad but it was a great experience.

You will be fine for three weeks and it's wonderful you are starting your travels when you are young. I wish I could have but am grateful for every trip I get.

<the trip is happening for real, I now realize that I am terrified of the idea of being alone in a foreign country for 3 weeks>

<Could anyone tell me if they felt the same way before travelling alone?>

Sure, perfectly normal. And I've been traveling for a long time. Nothing too exotic, but going to Europe for 2-3 weeks, or often down to Mexico for a couple weeks, Hawaii, like that, usually alone.

Honestly I don't think I've ever planned a trip or bought a plane ticket that somewhere along the line I thought "what the heck have I done?" but once I got going, I have never had a single bad experience, yet alone a bad trip!

My best advice is try to think thru why you are "terrified". Is it about not speaking the language? You think you'll get lost or confused? Personal safety? If you break it down into specifics than you can think thru how you will handle things (keeping your passport and money safe, yourself safe, etc. etc.) as they come up.

jeje977--Our son is just a few years older than you and will graduate from college in just over a month. A few years ago, he was debating about doing a study abroad term,but was anxious about leaving all his friends etc behind. We were thoroughly behind him going, but understood how he felt. We knew he would regret it if he did not go, and thankfully we were able to convince him of that. He was the only student from his large state university to do a study abroad in Denmark that year, so he was definitely nervous as the time approached for him to leave. I have never seen him as nervous as the day he left. We got a text the day he arrived that he had made it there ok, and then a text the following day that he was all settled in, had made friends and loved it there, lol. He ended up with a girlfriend from Germany, and she has come to visit us here in the states already. Anyway, the rest is history and he had an amazing experience. I wanted to share this with you so that you could see someone very close to your age having the same pretrip jitters, and it all working out for the best. BTW, this was just over a year ago, so very recent. I admit there were times I as a mom was nervous, like when he was supposed to go to Brussels about 2 days after the attacks, etc. so I understand your moms concerns. Just stay in touch, tell her the good stuff, save the bad for after you get home

I wasn't terrified.. but I was nervous.. that little niggle in back of my head.. thankfully once in Europe I felt much better.. I just took everything one step at a time.. when I got off the plane and got my luggage and into town on public transport on my own.. hurdle one.. check into hotel , hurdle two, out to grab a bite to eat.. etc etc.. within a day or two I felt a lot more confident.. and really started to enjoy being on my own schedule.

One thing is.. I would actually go to a movie or out to lunch on my own at home, something I think a lot of north American females aren't comfortable doing.. or think is weird. I started doing that in high school.. so am pretty comfy going out at home alone.. but totally get that its different in a foreign country.

I love to read so always had a paper back( a few decades before ereaders etc lol ) on me for those down moments ( sitting at a café etc) and for the many hotel room evenings when I was too pooped to wander out but the tvs had no English channels..

You will be ok.. do lots of research, it helps.. and while I dislike and don't do hour by hour itineraries.. do list a few ideas of plans for each day. Gives you a goal each day.

Other things to give you confidence and the information you need:

Use maps. Whether on a device or old-fashioned paper ones. Get familiar with the area you are staying.

Carry the business card for your hostel or hotel in each city/town and enough local currency you could get in a taxi and easily return there (say you get lost, or freaked out about something for whatever reason).

If you are having some kind of a melt-down or losing confidence, stop, find a place to sit, go into a hotel lobby or a café. Order a cup of tea, coffee, wine whatever. Sit until you are calm. Don't stand out on a street corner feeling/looking confused.

It's funny because you started this thread about convincing your parents, now you have only to convince yourself!! I think you'll do just fine. Take it slow. Be patient with yourself.