The Empowering Experience of Travelling Alone and Trying New Things

In March 2024, I was 25, had been working at my job diligently and uninterrupted for 4 years. I had dreams of travelling and experiencing the world as a young adult but felt stuck in my professional life and lacked a passion for adventure. At the time, I did not have the courage to take true advantage of my youth out of fear of being judged, putting myself in a difficult position at work, or, simply, because I wasn’t sure if I could do it alone.

I had originally discovered Bonanza in 2023 online, thinking to myself, “wow, it would be so amazing to do something like that, but it could never be me.” A year later, I found my soul aching with the desire to try something new: a new place, a new language, a new hobby. Around this time, Bonanza was preparing for their summer sessions, posting tons of content and links to their sign-up pages, and I had a feeling that this was the “new” I was searching for. 

In June 2024, I hopped on my first plane to Paris from Newark, NJ, another plane from Paris to Biarritz, then, suddenly, was picked up in Biarritz by Theresa, on my way to what would be the most transformative experience of my life. The first day, I quickly made connections with all the girls, who were kind, friendly, and fun to be around. I could not imagine my experience with any other group of people. Over the course of the week, I learned so much from the people around me, who shared their stories and their lives with so much care, love, and passion, and I carry these relationships with me daily.


I had mostly wakeboarding/wake surfing experience coming into this trip but was so eager and excited to learn about surfing in the ocean and the surf community. Amanda, Elin, the Experience Surf School, and all the girls made this not only educational, but incredibly safe and inviting; it felt like everyone belonged in the water despite their experience. Admittedly, I was timid at first, trying something so new with a group of people that I didn’t know well, but that timidity was quickly snubbed when I realized how accepting and loving the Bonanza community is. 

While I would never consider myself to be shy socially, I have always been shy in approaching new things, new places, or new challenges. I like to have things in order and tend to strive for perfection, whether that be personally or professionally, and while the idea of travelling to France for a surf and yoga retreat was far out of my comfort zone, it was something that I knew in my bones would sate my appetite for adventure and experience. I am so grateful to Amanda, Elin, Theresa, and Frida for cultivating a community that is so rich in love and girlhood, and for teaching me that travelling alone does not necessarily mean you are alone at all.

Girlhood and Roommates Turned Best Friends

I started playing lacrosse at the age of 12 and ended up playing for 10+ years through college. Throughout my life, team sports was the ultimate form of girlhood. No matter what, you had your teammates back, and they had yours. You accepted your teammates unconditionally and they accepted you in return. After graduating from college, I felt like even though I had amazing experiences with lacrosse that I deeply cherished, those experiences were nothing more than memories, and that I would never be able to even come close to replicating those experiences. Ending your career in a sport marks not only the loss of the sport itself, but the loss of the community, the culture, and, in many ways, your own identity or sense of self. 

I arrived in Biarritz with the intent of searching for a new form of this “girlhood” that I previously knew so well. I was hopeful that being united by a common activity would allow me to make connections with other girls and relate to everyone in at least one way. What I did not expect, however, was to feel united by sport but also in spirit and soul.

As someone who typically finds it difficult to feel accepted or truly seen, I found a connection with every single person on this trip. Whether it was through a common interest, a shared experience, or simply through conversation, I felt like I could be my authentic self and only be met with kindness and love. 

I would be remiss not to give a special shoutout to my roommate, Carly, and my dear friend, Maria, who I formed an instant friendship with. We shared so many laughs in the water, had many glasses of wine together, and stayed up late talking and giggling about nothing for hours. I feel so lucky to be seen and cared for by these girls. Carly is only an hour away from me in New York City and we continue to share lots of surfs and bottles of wine with hopes to visit Maria in Italy VERY soon. 

Bonanza Community

Upon meeting Theresa, Frida, Amanda, and Elin, I knew they were all special people. All these amazing women have such a pure passion for what they do, and they continue to spread their kindness, love, and joy. From Theresa, I learned to have enthusiasm and fearlessness in everything I do. From Frida, I learned how to be a better listener, which has ultimately made me a better friend, and how to make the best scrambled eggs you’ll ever have. From Amanda and Elin, I learned that girlhood comes from the heart, not from a place, an activity, or a thing. The Bonanza community is one that I am so proud to be part of, and I am endlessly thankful for this experience. If I had to give away one piece of advice, it would be to BOOK THE TRIP!

words by Riley Bannatyne, pictures by Yaya and Elin