Christina Jane is a U.S. diplomat and travel lifestyle blogger and writer from Fort Myers, Florida. Her exploration of everyday topics on her blog, “Being Christina Jane,” such as relationships, mental health, and more, through travel, allows readers to dive deep into her personal development journey as she explores more of the world. She enjoys telling the real, behind-the-scenes stories of the destinations and local people of the places she visits.
As a travel writer, Christina has written for Business Insider, Fodor’s Travel, Lonely Planet + other great publications.
- How has travel impacted your life and how has it changed you?
Traveling has truly been a transformative journey for me that has shaped my understanding of the world as I try to figure out who I am in it, a forever-ongoing journey in itself.
I started traveling in 2020 as a naïve and what I like to call “heartbroken by the world” college sophomore and have been on the go ever since. It’s always been amazing to me how different life can be in another corner of the world, and I want to see as much of that as I can.
With each destination, I take a valuable lesson or practice to incorporate into my everyday life. Travel has given me various experiences that contribute to my personal growth, from studying and living abroad in Ghana for two years to navigating Thailand and Indonesia all on my own.
Travel has made me more patient as an individual. I used to be impatient and short-tempered, but seeing how others live worldwide has inspired me to focus on the things I can change, lean more into human connection, and be patient with the people and environment(s) around me.
2. Where was your most recent travel experience and what did it teach you?
My most recent travel experience was to Toronto, Canada, with someone I never met before on Instagram! It was a quick trip to another city during a long weekend.
My travel journey started with me traveling to other countries alone: Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, Costa Rica, and more.
However, recently, I have wanted to share my experiences with someone else on my trips, which inspired me to start inviting other people.
That was the lesson on this trip for me. Not to be scared to put myself out there and invite people on my travels. There was a lot of hesitancy there for me, but what was on the other side was beautiful.
3. What has been your most favorite travel experience and why?
My absolute favorite was my first solo trip to Bali and Thailand in 2020 for my birthday.
I was a broke college student at the time, going through a major depressive period. I was donating plasma and Doordashing to make ends meet and decided to visit my dream travel destination to get myself excited about life again.
I worked hard for months to save up money for this trip to prove to myself that I could do it, and I did.
It means the world to me that I made that trip happen for myself. It set the tone for how ambitious I would come to be and what I can accomplish when I put my mind to it.
4. Do you have any tips or advice for people who want to travel more?
Don’t ever try to convince yourself that there will be a better time or more money to start. There will always be things that come up, but if you want to travel, you simply have to make it a priority.
Set money aside every paycheck specifically for travel, stretch your travel days out if you work a 9-5 job by utilizing those holiday days off to your advantage, plan trips within your budget, etc.
One of the best things about travel is how diverse it can be. There’s budget travel, educational travel, historical travel, luxury, and more. There is travel out there for every single person, so you can decide what experiences you want to have and then make it happen for yourself.
Also, never count domestic travel out! There are likely so many stunning attractions and landscapes to see right in your own home country.
5. What are the must have items in your packing list?
Portable charger
Electric outlet adapter
Macbook adapter kit
External hard drive
A good read to get through long flights
Noise cancelling headphones
6. Where can people follow your travel journeys?
The best place would be my blog, beingchristinajane.com. I recap my travels there with tips, free travel guides, and the lessons I have learned.
Instagram: @beingchristinajane
TikTok: @beingchristinajane
Twitter: @beingcjwrites
Youtube: Christina Jane
LinkedIn: Christina Jane
7. Why do you think is it important for Black women to travel?
Existing in this world as a Black woman can be extremely difficult, and that’s putting it in the most basic terms.
We are belittled, disrespected, and disregarded in so many different spaces on the daily and throughout our lives.
Travel for Black women is one of the ways we get to reclaim space, rewrite the narratives out there about us in the world, and embrace who we are. Black women deserve to see the world, and especially how embraced and celebrated we are in certain places. So many of us coming from the Western world need to experience what that is like, even if it is temporary.
It is important for Black women to travel because it allows us to get a personal refresher, but also share our stories and experiences around the world and challenge the many stereotypes out there about us.
8. Can you tell us a little about yourself and what inspires you to travel?
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I am a travel blogger, travel content creator, and freelance travel writer. I love sharing my personal travel and lifestyle experiences through blog posts and video content for others to see and learn from. I lived in Ghana for two years while getting my Master’s in International Relations, and I am looking forward to moving abroad again in 2024.
My goal is to be transparent about my experiences in hopes of helping others embark on their own travel and life goals.
9. How did attending an HBCU impact your life?
I attended Florida A&M University during my undergraduate studies. Coming from a predominately white city in Florida, I knew that I wanted to spend the next few years in a place with people who not only looked like me but exuded Black excellence at every turn.
My experience at FAMU came with a lot of twists and turns, but it was a great experience in terms of getting to see my people in the best light for once. Prior to attending an HBCU, I had never met a Black person whose parents went to college, who had a Ph.D., who was not a first-generation student, etc.
As a Haitian-American student, I feel that I got to see Black people from different backgrounds unite in one setting and thrive in their own ways. It was very inspiring. The experience of waking up every day in a place with people who looked like you and knowing that you would not be judged based on race for once, especially in an academic setting, was priceless.
Attending an HBCU showed me the importance of seeking and having a community to lean on when I need it the most.
10. Can you tell us about your international service work for HBCUs and their affiliates?
I recently became a U.S. diplomat. While my work is not directly tied to HBCUs, I often have several HBCU attendees reach out to me and speak to them about how I got my start in international affairs. I hope to continue inspiring Black students and HBCU attendees to consider pursuing a career in international affairs.
Check out her website below to learn more:
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