Penguins, Icebergs, and Life Lessons: What Antarctica Taught Me
(You Won’t Believe #2!)
Feven’s Travel Journal, May 2025 — How Antarctica Taught Me More Than Just Cold, Ice, and Penguins!
Hey You, Adventure-Trainee! 🗺️
Welcome back to my Antarctica Solo Trip Series, “Beyond the Ice: My Antarctic Expedition.” Missed the last episode? No worries! We talked about the environmental challenges of solo travel in the icy wilderness.
You think you go to Antarctica to see penguins and glaciers, but honestly, Antarctica sees you. Nothing prepares you for standing alone on deck at 6 AM, half-awake, with the wind smacking your face, and then casually spotting an iceberg the size of an apartment. The cold gets into your bones, but it also gets into your brain.
I was out there for two weeks, just me, my overpacked suitcase, and a bunch of strangers who became unexpected mirrors. No Wi-Fi. No to-do list. Just the sound of cracking ice and the occasional cute penguin.
Antarctica had a few things to teach me about life and what it means to be present and vulnerable. I walked away with 10 lessons, and instead of dropping all 10 lessons on you like a snowstorm, I’m keeping it light and giving your brain (and inbox) a moment to catch up. I’ve split them into two newsletters.
1️⃣ Life doesn’t stop when you’re older. You know what’s cooler than a glacier? A 72-year-old woman adventuring across Antarctica with more energy than I had after two coffees. I met people in their 60s and 70s who were still chasing adventures, laughing like teenagers, and proving that wanderlust doesn’t retire. It was a beautiful inspiration and a reminder that age is just a number.
2️⃣ Be like a penguin: fall down, but always stand back up. Penguins are the real bosses of Antarctica. They slip, they fall, they slide... and they don’t care. They just get back up and keep waddling. Meanwhile, I’m slipping, sliding, and questioning all my life choices. Lesson learned: it’s okay to fall (especially on ice). What matters is getting back up and not giving up.
3️⃣ Even after a loss, people fight on. I had conversations with travelers who’d lost loved ones or gone through big life problems. And yet they were there, smiling, pushing themselves, enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime moment. They reminded me that grief doesn’t disappear, but it doesn’t have to hold you still either. There’s still room for joy, even after heartbreak.
4️⃣ Open your heart, it connects you to others. Solo travel doesn’t mean you’re alone. In Antarctica, where everyone’s a little out of their comfort zone, people open up fast. It made me realize: when you show your true self, others do too. Even in the coldest place on Earth, connection warms you up.
5️⃣ Nature is powerful and precious. Antarctica is raw, untouched, and completely inspiring. It made me feel tiny (and I’m 1.80m, so that’s saying something) and grateful. I walked away with a deeper respect for the planet and a bigger motivation to protect it.
That’s all for today! These lessons are just a taste of what solo travel in Antarctica taught me, and I can’t wait to share the rest next time. Remember, whether it’s a penguin waddle or a personal challenge, it’s all about learning and growing.
Want more Antarctica behind-the-scenes? Check out my video on Instagram for a closer look at my journey and the cute penguins.
Ready to plan your solo trip? Grab my ebook for tips and tricks to help you feel confident and prepared!
Until the next flight,
Feven ✈️
Well written and beautifully summarised. That's a cutely shaped tiny iceberg