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Dámi | Solo Travel & Lifestyle | TCK 🇳🇬🇨🇦

@missjunaid

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💬 Travel | Culture | Mindset | Lifestyle
📍🇳🇬>🇳🇪>🇬🇧>🇺🇸>🇨🇦>🇬🇧
💡Sharing how I navigate change w/o losing myself
🫠 6th country move from Toronto 🇨🇦👉🏾UK 🇬🇧

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For a long time, I thought I was behind.

I had an idea of what life was supposed to look like by certain ages: career figured out in my 20s, first property by 28, marriage by 27, children by 29, financial stability not long after.

But my life didn’t follow that order.

I started my first real corporate role at 28. I bought my first home at 31. I’ve built my career through multiple pivots, lived across five countries, and at 35, I’m single and genuinely enjoying the life I’ve built.

I’m stable but still working towards financial freedom. I still want things I haven’t experienced yet. But I’ve stopped treating the gap between where I am and where I thought I’d be as proof that I’m behind.

Maybe the timeline was never the point.

There are things I’m still waiting for, but I’m learning to be at peace with the life I have while I’m building the life I want.

Because a life that looks different from what you imagined isn’t necessarily a life that went wrong.

Sometimes it’s just your life.

And if you’re looking at your own life wondering whether you’re behind, maybe you don’t need to catch up. Maybe you need to stop measuring your life against a timeline that was never yours.

You’re allowed to build a life that makes sense for you, even if it looks nothing like the one you imagined in your 20s.

#trustthejourney #lifeabroad #singlehood #30something #storytellingcontentchallenge

@jun_yuh @creatorcollege_ by @missjunaid

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25 days ago

3 Tips For The Drive To The Antelope Canyon:

a. The drive is really long - it was 4.5 hours for us (from Scottsdale), so go to the toilet before hand. Unlike in Nigeria where you can stop to relieve yourself when traveling, we weren’t about to test the boundaries of possibly doing something illegal in the desert area. Plus there’s not a lot of privacy or pit stops on the way. So take a bottle of water with you BUT for the sake of your bladder, drink little or none until you get to your destination. @kenstours had portable potties on site for visitors
b. The time zone will change from Mountain Standard Time (MST) to Daylight Savings Time (DST) on your way there. With most tour companies, once you miss your tour, that’s it - no refunds. So when the time zone changed we thought we were late and had miscalculated. The stress! 😅 But no worries, the time will adjust itself once you get closer to the Navajo Nation area
c. It gets cold in the canyons, so dress warm! Most people were dressed up like it was fall/winter. I did too, but I’m willing to adjust for a mini photoshoot 😎

📸 @double.deeeee_
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#TravelTipsAndTricks #TravelDiary #SoloTraveler #ExploreTheOutdoors #SheExplores #AntelopeCanyon #LowerAntelopeCanyon #VisitArizona #ExploreArizona #ExploreUSA #IGArizona #IGSouthWest #BucketListAdventures #NavajoNation #ArizonaHiking
#BlackTravelers #GirlGoneInternational #ExploringTheWorld #TravelTherapy #Wanderlusters #TravelGrammers #TravelingGram #BlackTravelFeed #BlackTravelClub #TravelNoire #BlackTravelBlogger #TravelBucketList #LivingMyBestLife #WorldIsYourOyster #COVIDTravel taken in Lower Antelope Canyon by @missjunaid

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5 years ago

You deserve to take up space ~ Chimamanda Adichie

#HappyAfricaDay
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#TakeUpSpace #IAmNotAMonolith #Unapologetic #YouMatter #RadicalSelfAcceptance #RepresentationMatters #Inclusivity #GlobalNomad #AfricaDay #BlackQueen #AfricanPride #BlackExcellence #ProudAfrican #AfricanHeritage #CulturalHeritage #TCK #BlackIsBeautiful #NaijaModel #AfricanQueen #NigerianCanadian #MelaninLove #QueenBehavior taken in Toronto, Ontario by @missjunaid

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5 years ago

We all have a cultural default.

It’s the set of assumptions we learn about what’s normal, polite, respectful, professional or “good manners” without always realising they’re culturally shaped.

It’s also easy to confuse cultural intelligence with emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence helps us understand and respond to another person’s emotions. Cultural intelligence asks us to go one step further:

Could my own cultural lens be shaping how I interpret this behaviour?

That matters when we encounter things like accents, direct communication, food or different ideas of hospitality.

Someone’s accent doesn’t tell us how educated they are. Directness isn’t automatically rude. Food that smells unfamiliar isn’t automatically unpleasant or inferior. And a practice that feels unnecessary to us might have a completely different meaning in someone else’s home or culture.

Sometimes we don’t just judge the behaviour. We judge the person because of it.

And this isn’t something that only people from one part of the world need to work on.

As a Nigerian, I’ve had to question my own assumptions too. I grew up with ideas about respect, particularly around elders, that can feel very different in other cultural contexts. That doesn’t make those norms wrong. It means they aren’t universal.

That’s the part of cultural intelligence I find most interesting: catching yourself before “different from me” becomes “wrong.”

So instead of asking: “Why are they behaving like that?”

Try asking: “What am I assuming about this behaviour, and where did that assumption come from?”

Living across five countries has given me plenty of opportunities to ask myself that question. And I’m still learning.

What’s a cultural norm you grew up with that you later realised wasn’t universal?

#culturalintelligence #bias #criticalthinking #lifeabroad #accents by @missjunaid

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a day ago

There are a lot of things women are expected to know to survive this world.

And when we’re living in a time of Epstein PDF files and the Cornell 7, where women’s safety and consent can be treated as negotiable (the kind of crimes worthy of being boiled in hot oil for, so to speak), I think self-defence belongs in that arsenal too.

For me, that’s meant taking self-defence classes on and off since I was growing up. Anytime I get the opportunity to try martial arts, boxing or anything that teaches me how to use my body to protect myself, I’m usually in.

Which is how I ended up doing Muay Thai in Bangkok.

If you’re ever here, add a Muay Thai class to your itinerary. You might leave with more than just a good experience.

📍@fitfac Bangkok 🇹🇭

#selfdefence #muaythai #bangkoktravel #femaleempowerment #muaythaiclass taken in Bangkok, Thailand by @missjunaid

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2 days ago

This isn’t an argument against marriage, weddings, babies or celebrating those milestones.

It’s a question about what we teach people to value, often without even realising we’re teaching it.

We’ve created elaborate rituals around relationship milestones, while other meaningful moments in a woman’s life can pass almost unnoticed.

Leaving a toxic relationship. Starting a business. Moving abroad. Buying a home. Choosing a different life.

Why don’t we celebrate those with the same enthusiasm?

The question isn’t whether marriage deserves to be celebrated. It’s why we’ve made it feel like the ultimate milestone.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

#relationships #singlehood #advice #criticalthinking #sexandthecity taken in London, United Kingdom by @missjunaid

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4 days ago

Does this ever happen to you?

You move to a new country, and you’re excited to explore it and see all the sights.

Then life starts happening. You have work, responsibilities to tend to and you repeat the same routines trying to keep up. And before you know it, you’ve lived somewhere for years without actually experiencing much of it.

I’ve moved countries six times, so I’ve repeated this pattern more than once. And whenever I’ve gone back to places I’ve lived before, I’ve ended up doing the touristy things I somehow never got around to when I actually lived there.

Now that I’m back in the UK 🇬🇧 I’m trying to give myself a do-over and be more present.

I want to experience this country, not just live here.

Because sometimes you don’t need another flight. You just need to look at where you are with a little more curiosity.

So in case you need a reminder, don’t get so comfortable that you forget to be a tourist in your own country.

📍Natural History Museum, London 🇬🇧

#visitlondon #touristinmyowncity #lifeabroad #londontravel #museumofnaturalhistorylondon taken in Natural History Museum, London by @missjunaid

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5 days ago

Planning a trip to Thailand? Add a traditional Thai photoshoot at Wat Arun temple to your Bangkok itinerary. 🇹🇭✨

I almost talked myself out of this experience because the photoshoot couldn’t be booked online. So I had to show up at Wat Arun in person and figure it out on the day.

I’m very glad I did.

For ฿1,500 (about £34), I got the full traditional Thai outfit, accessories and a photographer who took me around the temple grounds for an hour, including all the photos.

Wat Arun (also known as the Temple of Dawn) is one of Bangkok’s most iconic temples. It’s famous for its intricate porcelain-covered architecture overlooking the Chao Phraya River.

If you’re looking for something a little different from simply sightseeing, this was such a fun way to experience the temple and culture.

Would you try this?

📍Wat Arun, Bangkok 🇹🇭
🛍️ @littleprincess_watarun

#bangkoktrip #watarun #thailandtravels #solofemaletravel #bangkok taken in Bangkok by @missjunaid

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7 days ago

Have you been thinking about moving abroad or to another city, but keep finding reasons why it might not work out?

Maybe you’re worried you’ll move and regret it.

Maybe you’re scared you won’t find a job, or you’ll struggle to make friends, or you’ll realise that the life you imagined doesn’t actually exist on the other side.

I understand that.

When I moved from the UK 🇬🇧 to the US 🇺🇸 for university, I left my family behind and built a life in a country where I knew very few people. I had plenty of questions I couldn’t answer in advance and a lot of uncertainty around whether things would work out the way I wanted.

8 years later, I had the same thoughts when I decided to move from the US 🇺🇸 to Canada 🇨🇦 , and then eventually in my recent move from Canada 🇨🇦 back to the UK 🇬🇧.

I realised that what I could do was prepare for the things within my control and get more comfortable with the things I couldn’t control.

That distinction changed the way I made the decision.

Because there will always be a risk attached to doing something unfamiliar. The goal isn’t to eliminate every possible way it could go wrong before you move.

It’s to ask yourself: Is this a risk I can prepare for, or is this a fear I’m allowing to make the decision for me?

Those are two very different things.

You don’t need certainty before you make a big move.

Sometimes you just need enough preparation, enough self-trust, and a willingness to figure things out as you go.

If moving abroad is something you’ve been considering, save this for when the “what if” thoughts start getting loud, and send it to someone who needs the reminder.

#moveabroad #lifeabroad #anxiety #fearoftheunknown #trustyourpath by @missjunaid

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8 days ago

During my solo trip to Thailand, I almost talked myself out of this experience.

I got to dress up in a traditional Thai ceremonial outfit and have a photographer take me around Wat Arun temple for an hour.

At first, I was hesitant because the photoshoot couldn’t be booked online. So I had to show up at the temple, figure it out and trust that it would all work out.

Beyond just seeing the sights, being able to immerse myself in a culture is one of my favourite parts of travelling solo. Sometimes that means saying yes to something that feels a little outside my comfort zone.

And this one was definitely worth it. ✨

Did I represent well? 🙃

📍Wat Arun Temple, Bangkok 🇹🇭

#watarun #bangkok #thingstodoinbangkok #thailandtravel #solofemaletravel taken in Bangkok by @missjunaid

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10 days ago

For a long time, I thought I was supposed to follow the version of life that had already been laid out for me.

Basically, make the “right” choices and eventually arrive at the life everyone told me I should want.

But my life hasn’t really worked that way.

At 19, my dream job was to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. Then I won an entrepreneurship competition in university and ended up starting a public health nonprofit in Nigeria 🇳🇬 instead.

That work experience eventually led me to question my career path as I discovered my other strengths and myriad of opportunities to make impact.

So I made a career pivot from medicine → MBA → Tech

I’ve also lived in 5 countries (TCK), which has meant starting over more times than I expected to.

Those experiences have taught me adaptability, how to navigate unfamiliar environments, build relationships from scratch and become comfortable with uncertainty.

They’ve also given me perspective. Living in different places makes it much harder to believe there’s only one way to live, work or build a life. It’s why I’ve become so comfortable questioning the assumptions I grew up with.

These days, I’m building a life beyond my 9–5 and also making room for creative work that matters to me.

I’m still figuring it out. I just don’t feel the same pressure anymore to make my life fit someone else’s definition of what it’s supposed to look like.

Besides all that, a few fun facts about me:

🎬 @iamsrk is bae, and will always be one of my favorite actors of all time!

🇰🇷 I’ve temporarily capped my number of Korean “husbands” at 10. I thought my criteria was strict enough but clearly not 😅 And yes, I’m a big fan of kdramas.

🥋If I ever reach a “f*ck it” moment in life, I’ll probably disappear to China for a few months to learn Kung Fu.

🙄 My pet peeves: Cowardice, entitlement and not keeping your word.

🤝 My word is my bond. If I say I’m going to do something, I will. And if I can’t, I’ll tell you.

That’s me, in a slightly larger nutshell. Your turn.

PS. No this is not AI content @instagram wrong tag.

#aboutme #lifeabroad #careerpivot #womenintech #trustyourjourney taken in London, England by @missjunaid

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11 days ago

For the past 21 days, I’ve been taking part in a storytelling content challenge.

I’ve been creating content on social media for years, but consistency has always been one of my biggest struggles. My account had been sitting under 1,000 followers all these years, and I kept finding myself starting, stopping and getting frustrated with the algorithm.

Although there have been plenty of opportunities to take shortcuts along the way, I’ve always wanted to build this the right way because integrity matters more to me than the number next to my name.

So I joined the challenge to get better at telling my story, but made consistency my measure of success. Not the views. Not the follower count. Just showing up every day for 21 days.

And there were definitely days when that commitment was tested.

Sometimes I edited on the train to London before work. Other times I stayed up until 11:55pm to get a post out. One video took more than 8 hours to create and nearly made me want to give up 😱

But I kept going.

21 days later, I’ve posted every single day, gained 190+ followers, reached 95,000+ views and connected with people I probably wouldn’t have reached otherwise.

I’m also a much more confident storyteller than I was 21 days ago. I’ve learned how to tell my stories in different formats and, more importantly, how to make room for creating even when life is already full.

But the part I value most has been the messages and comments from people who told me that something I shared resonated with them or made them feel less alone.

That’s the kind of social media world I want to inhabit.

I want to share my stories, keep getting better at telling them and build a community around the things we’re all figuring out as we go.

So yes, I’m celebrating the numbers 🥳

But the bigger win is knowing that I can show up for something I care about, even when life is busy.

21 days. No missed posts. 🤍

PS. Shoutout to @jun_yuh and @creatorcollege_ for creating this challenge and giving me the push I needed to finally stick with it.

#storytellingcontentchallenge #9to5 #contentcreators #consistencywins #uklife taken in London, United Kingdom by @missjunaid

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19 days ago