Digital Nomad Secrets with ChristabellaTravels

In this article, I interview my friend Christa Romano, a social media savvy, free-spirited world traveler, who is—without a doubt, the quintessential digital nomad.  She’s been traveling for 7 years, without an end in sight! 

We first met four years ago in Brazil, when we were both traveling. She’s actually the person who first introducing me to the idea of a digital nomad lifestyle.  At that time, I was still struggling to travel with 2 weeks vacation time….not realizing that there was another path that could potentially be more rewarding for me.  We kept in touch thru social media, and last year when I finally went remote (dream come true!) – I met up with her again in Lisbon for my first digital nomad adventure. She showed me the ropes and it marked the start of a new and exciting chapter for me.

I have no doubt we’ll continue to meet up in various places around the world and I will always be appreciative of her friendship, guidance, and unique outlook on life. I’m very excited to share her story.

I know you’re in Bali right now, can you start off telling us what it’s like to be an expat in Bali right now?  Especially during Coronavirus!

Well being in Bali is normally really amazing - there’s all kinds of community events and it’s a huge digital nomad hotspot.  If anyone has never been to Bali AND is a digital nomad, you gotta get here. That’s once coronavirus ends, of course! 

Obviously it’s a little tougher at the moment.  I haven’t put on a pair of shoes in 4 weeks.  Because we just haven’t left the property.  We left our shoes at the door 4 weeks ago and haven’t been out in the world since.  So just living in this little bubble…but it’s a beautiful bubble with amazing weather, pool, ocean view…all things considering it’s a good place to be quarantined.

I’ve heard a lot of stories of people being pressured to return to their country of origin with coronavirus going on….how did you make the decision to go to Bali?

Yeah, so that was a really tough decision at the time but now I’m so happy I decided to stay here. Deciding where to go in the world during a global pandemic, wasn’t something I had ever had to deal with.  

I was in Sri Lanka traveling when everything started getting crazy.  My options were stay in Sri Lanka—but I was traveling alone and if we are all having to go into isolation I wasn’t sure I wanted to be totally alone.  So I was like, I probably need to get out of Sri Lanka.  I had been planning Portugal but Europe was the hotbed at the time, so it didn’t seem like a good option.  Then there was the option to go home – my parents are in Boston, but I don’t have my own bedroom or personal space.  My mom works in a hospital so it didn’t seem the right choice to go there either.  So I had to think hard about where I could go, where I would be safe.  

I had a lot of friends in Bali at the time.  And I thought that at least if I go to Bali, I don’t have to make the decision alone. I thought maybe we would all leave and go somewhere else together.  But we decided to stay.  That’s the week when all the international borders were slamming down in our faces left & right.  I considered going to Australia and bought the visa, but then 12 hours later they closed the borders.  Coming to Bali sort of just happened.  But I think in the end it was a great place to get stuck.

How do you think coronavirus is going to change travel & the digital nomad lifestyle?

My guess is as good as anyone’s - so I’m not saying I have any special abilities to predict what’s going to happen.  But I would say that for me personally, I know that with every plane I take, I’m going to have to take that flight knowing that I might not be able to leave that destination for the foreseeable future.  And I’m ok with that personally, I’ve lived out of a suitcase for the better half of a decade.  If I go to Peru to see Macchu Picchu and get stuck there, I’ll just embrace it.  For some people, this kind of travel might feel like an adventure if they’re prepared for it.  If they have a remote job, don’t have rent to pay at home, etc. It might make us more like the true definition of a nomad.  

For people who travel more as tourists, it’s going to be really different.  There are going to be a lot more hoops to jump thru; but for people who really want to travel, they will make it work.

Can you tell me a little bit about how you got to where you are today?  How did you become a digital nomad?  Tell us about your journey.

So it started seven years ago. I had always wanted to travel, it was a strong desire.  I was in New York City trying to work in the travel industry, but I didn’t find it satisfying.  I didn’t want to go to Bermuda for a week and write about restaurant week and then go home…I wanted to go see the Sahara Desert….it was a different kind of travel I craved.  

So I hit a point where I realized I could find a new job, renew my lease and get on with life in New York City….or I could find another way to satisfy my travel desire.  I was doing a lot of research because I didn’t have a lot of money (I had been living in one of the most expensive cities in the world).  There was a lot less information out there back then.  But I decided teaching English abroad was going to be my best bet. So I booked a one way ticket to Thailand.  

Teaching English was the plan, but once I got to Bangkok I was able to get a job in marketing.  A job that ended up paying more money.  I worked in an office in Bangkok and had expat friends and my life fell into place there.  I loved living there.  I did the expat thing for 2 years.  It was so much fun, it was the best 2 years of my life.  

But while I was there, there were some challenging things that went on back home and being on the other side of the world made me feel disconnected and sad.  A big fire broke out at my parents house and then ended up having to move and eventually divorcing, and I had two aunts pass away that year.  I felt like people didn’t understand me being so far away.  I didn’t post on social media back then the way I do now, so people didn’t really know what I was up to.  Reluctantly I packed my life up and moved back to Massachusetts.  I knew I wouldn’t be living there long term, but I went back to reconnect with family and figure out my next steps.

After a few months of being home, I started freelancing online.  I knew I wanted to live abroad didn’t want to be as far away as Thailand.  Long story short, I ended up taking a trip to Costa Rica and during that trip I got a full time job offer from the company I had been freelancing for.  

I told them I was still in Costa Rica and asked them if I could start after I get back.  But my boss, who worked remotely anyways, said as long as I have good wifi, he didn’t care where I did my job from.  That was a mind-blowing realization.  The company was based in DC but I made it clear I was never going to move there and my boss lived in New York City, working remotely as well.  So I cancelled my return ticket home and I kept working in Costa Rica.  And that was the beginning of my nomad journey.

I didn’t know anyone who was a digital nomad at the time.  I didn’t even know what that term ‘digital nomad’ meant.   I was figuring everything out on the fly.  Every day I googled where to find good wifi, dealt with a lot of frustrating things - like sound in cafes - and ended up realizing you could go to 5 star hotels and work from their lobby for guaranteed good wifi.  

The whole time I kept thinking this wasn’t sustainable, but that I would do it for 6 months and then go back to New York City.  And then, I discovered the Wifi Tribe – a travel coliving community.

So they had just launched their website and I went on their inaugural chapter – which was super cool and I absolutely loved it.  I realized that if I can spend a month in a different place with people with the same lifestyle as me, I can totally do this for longer.  So I kept going.  That was four and a half years ago.  And that’s my story.

And you have something exciting brewing….what’s your latest endeavor… 

So I’ve had the same job for four and a half years and in the meantime I’ve picked up a couple side hustles, as I’ve developed a love for social media and sharing the digital nomad lifestyle.  

I just gave my two weeks notice at that company, as one of my side hustles has turned into a full time income and commitment!  

I have a group mentorship & mastermind program for people who know that they want to have a nomadic lifestyle but don’t know how to get started getting there.  The program essentially starts people from the very beginning—you don’t have to have any knowledge or direction.  That’s the point of it . To introduce options and what the different types of career options are.  We look at what you’re good at, what are the first steps, and offering a support system along the way.  

The other big thing the program does is create a community of people who are all in the exact same situation.  The reason I wanted this to be a community vs just one on one mentorship – is that I think the biggest thing holding people back is that they don’t know anyone else living a digital nomad lifestyle personally. They don’t have anyone to ask questions to, so they end up telling plans to other people who think in a traditional way, who judge them and make them second guess their desires.  Not having anyone in your immediate circle who understands and wants the same things as you can be a big obstacle.  

In your opinion, what are some of the best cities for digital nomads?

Well where I am right now – Bali, and specifically Canggu, Bali is the nomad Mecca.  There’s also a great community in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Lisbon is fantastic – awesome place for nomads with many weekly meet up events.  Gran Canaria, Spain is another hotspot….it’s the closest time zone in Europe to the US (4 hours ahead of New York City).  And finally Medellin, Colombia.  Every one of these cities has a strong community…you can google city name + digital nomad and find meet ups and facebook groups and people are really communicative on those groups and actually show up in real life to the events.

I think those are places people tend to go to and stay there for a while.  So you can create relationships with people that last longer than a weekend.

The only one I haven’t been to is Gran Canaria.  But will have to check that out!  How do you stay focused on the road – with constant temptation to explore?

I believe slow travel is the key.  But I know it’s sometimes unavoidable to end up somewhere for a week….maybe you’re using it as a layover, en route to another destination.  In that case, be prepared by looking up places with good wifi ahead of time and a choose a place to stay that is centrally located so you can take an hour lunch break and use that time to explore.  

But when you are staying somewhere for 4, 5, 6…8 weeks – that’s perfect….then you have a lot of weekends to do whatever you want and you don’t have to feel bad about working a 12 hour day.  The slower you travel, the more focused you can be.

But for times when you don’t have as much time, practicing gratitude helps a lot.  Remind yourself that if you didn’t have this job that is paying you, you wouldn’t be in this beautiful destination in the first place. Be grateful for your job and don’t take it for granted. 

I assume that not everyone in your life understands your choices and life setup, how do you deal with people who don’t get it?

Luckily I don’t run into this as much anymore….but I’m so public about my life now and I’ve reaped so many benefits from it and can afford my lifestyle.  Often I get it from a person who is so in love and happy and can’t understand why I don’t want the thing that brings them so much joy.  So it’s often coming from someone who feels so lucky and just wants me to have what they have.  But on the opposite spectrum, it can come from people who are just insecure about their own choices.  But whatever people judge you on, I remember that it’s a reflection of what’s going on inside their head….good or bad.  At the end of the day, I know my life rocks and I’d never change it for one random dude at a bar who doesn’t “get it.”  It’s hard when you don’t have anyone in your life that is doing this too—when you’re alone in your lifestyle choices.  But I think eventually you come to a point where you are ok doing your own thing.

So when we met in Portugal, you introduced me to a lot of other nomads and I got a sense of how strong the Digital Nomad community was there.  Is that community something that has always been there or is that something that has developed over the years?  And secondarily, how has community played a role in your travels and day to day life?

The digital nomad community in Lisbon was very intentionally created.  I went to an event on Nomad Cruise where the founding member of the community in Lisbon gave a talk on steps you can take to establish a digital nomad community, when you find a city you love and want to spend more time there. Her name is Rosanna Lopes and she’s amazing. I’m grateful to her and to know her….and the key members of that founding community. It’s non-profit, they just see the social benefits of having a community. Now like 200 people are at the meet ups every time.  So yeah, the Lisbon community was very intentionally created, as well as the other big ones.

I would say for the last 3 years, about 7-8 months of the year I will be entirely dedicated to being a part of the digital nomad community….go out of my way to go to community events, travel with people in the community, join co-living houses, etc.

It has made my life sustainable.  People who are nomads are independent by nature—they tend to be solo travelers….but eventually they decide they need community.  And when you go to these events people are so open and friendly because they’ve been craving connection. You end up developing deep and lasting relationships with people in hyperdrive.  But eventually you can get burnt out on that as well….and go do the solo thing again.  And it cycles around again!

Any tips for making friends when traveling solo?

Yes!  I actually just put up a video on TikTok around this topic – I’m obsessed with TikTok.

Knowing where to meet people is key….hostels are great – lots of people eager to make friends there. Even if you aren’t staying at the hostel, go there to hang out or book a tour. The destinations you choose is always important – when you don’t look like the locals, it’s easier to pinpoint other travelers and strike up a conversation, you have something in common right off the bat (you’re both travelers). 

Knowing how to approach people and how to be approachable is also important.   Don’t have your head buried in your phone, don’t have your hands crossed, use open body language.  Don’t have your jacket on because this could signal that you’re on your way out the door. There are small things you can do to make yourself more open.

You need to do the work to meet people to.  Don’t assume you’ll just show up and it will happen.  Be brave enough to invite someone to lunch with you or on a walking tour. Sometimes it’s all about treating it like you’re a 5 year old in kindergarten….wanna be friends?  

That’s how we met!  I was in Northern Brazil and hadn’t met anybody! Then I walked into the hostel and was hoping there was a bar and you were sitting at the table and you seemed like a nice friendly, approachable person.  I don’t remember what my opening line was but probably something along the lines of “can I join you?”  And obviously you said yes and here we are today.

What are the best parts and hardest parts of being a digital nomad?

Best part is absolute freedom.  Freedom to choose the relationships that I want to prioritize.  For me it’s always been mostly about the people. When I went to Thailand for the first time, there were all these people who immediately got me – they weren’t interested in having a traditional life either.  I have my family in the US, I have friends in Thailand, Bali, Lisbon, etc.  So if I want to go to a wedding in Brazil, I can.  If I want to go to a reunion my friends are having in Spain, I can.  If I miss my friend from Israel, I can go visit her and spend a month with her.  So I know it sounds counter-intuitive….but it’s actually been a way for me to have deeper and stronger relationships.  

The worst part is a regular feeling of unsettlement.  It’s easier the slower you travel.  But it can get tiring not having a home sometimes.  I go thru periods of feeling homesick.  But I’m not homesick for Massachusettes….or any place really….I’m homesick for the feeling of home.  This is my place, with my stuff….these things bring back memories, this makes me comfortable, this is my routine.  

How do you deal with homesickness?

With homesickness, I think t’s important to figure out what’s making you feel sad and break it down. Is it that you miss your mom? Miss your friends?  Miss the routine of waking up and getting a cup of coffee from your favorite local spot?  Is it that you miss your gym class?  

If it’s people you miss, call them….and be more regular about calling them.  Don’t wait until you get homesick to call.  Get ahead of it so you don’t get to that point.

Sometimes I just miss the culture of the United States.  But when that happens, I just give myself the option to go home.  And after I think about it for a minute, I usually decide I’m good where I am.  

When I was living in Thailand and I had an office job – it was harder to go home and I found myself getting homesick as a result.  When you can go home, it’s easier to cope with homesickness.  It helps though having the option.

What about FOMO as a digital nomad?  Do you ever feel FOMO for things going on at home?

I used to get FOMO when I was newer at traveling.  But the longer you are away and traveling, your surface-level friendships fade and eventually become nonexistent - so you just care less about not being invited to events by people.  You definitely realize who your real friends are when you aren’t around all the time. 

The good thing is - I will know about weddings and reunions with enough notice that I just plan my year around those events.  I know I can see a lot of people there and I prioritize them because I can.  I don’t have to have FOMO about the big stuff.

Do you foresee yourself putting down roots at any point or you think you will wander lifelong?

It’s hard to say.  I never would have guessed I was still doing this 7 years later, but here I am.  I’m constantly having an internal battle about that specifically.  Part of me likes the idea of being a little normal….or at least wants to want normal things.

Slow travel definitely feels better for me now vs being constantly on the move. Maybe I will stay in Bali for 6 months after quarantine ends.  It’s great here, I always have friends here.  I guess when I think about settling down, it has more to do with finding someone to settle down with….but if I found someone as nomadic as me, maybe I would be fine to just keep living this way.  It’s been 7 years and I don’t see any reason to stop….so I’m taking it one day at a time.

What are your top recommendations for someone who wants to become a digital nomad?

Research your options and choose a direction to move in.  Put blinders on and only look in the direction of your dreams.  There will be a lot of things in your way….financial challenges, judgement from family and friends, obligations at home, etc.  And you have to put in the work to make major change in your life—it won’t just be given to you.  Chose a direction and pursue it relentlessly and then focus on community once you got the gig 

For more info on Christa’s digital nomad mentorship & mastermind program, be sure to join her mailing list HERE. You can also follow her adventures on Instagram at @christabellatravels.

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