To the point
On this International Women's Day, let's take a look at the women of Milesopedia, their perspectives on travel, their place in the world and the women who inspire them.
In honor of International Women’s Day, we celebrate all the women of the world. Get to know the people who are part of the Milesopedia team. A special mention to all the other women who contribute to Milesopedia and with whom we work regularly.
Women of Milesopedia - Aline
Role at Milesopedia: Content creator and consultant
Traveling has confirmed to me that I am an independent and go-getter woman. Indeed, all the experiences I have gained have made me the person I am today (it’s cliché, but it’s true). I have traveled extensively on my own with my backpack; I have visited over 60 destinations solo. When you have a lot of time with yourself, you have no choice but to learn to cope and rely on yourself.
If I were different, I think I might not be in a relationship with my current partner and I might not have the family I have; I was the one who made the first move by inviting him for coffee! Would I have had the same kind of courage and self-esteem if I hadn’t asserted myself so much as a person through travel? Who knows? So I am very grateful for my adventures that have shaped me as a woman, a friend, a partner and a mother.
Your favorite destinations as a woman?
I find it wise to be careful no matter where you are, so there is no destination that I have loved just because I am a woman. However, I particularly like places where I don’t have to be on my guard as much or where I can be myself.
For example, Japan is one of my favorites, if you haven’t already noticed, since it’s ultra safe in addition to matching my culinary preferences. In fact, it was the first country I visited solo and this enjoyable experience gave me the confidence to continue exploring every corner of the planet, from Tibet to Antarctica to equally remote places like Easter Island.
A woman who inspires you:
My friend Judith who persevered to complete her training to become a pilot, a typically male dominated profession. The journey seems very arduous to me, but it’s super inspiring to see the ambition in her eyes. Plus, she decided to do this at the height of the pandemic when she was laid off and had no income.
Even though I love flying and traveling, I don’t think I have enough determination to go all the way since it can take a really long time to get a stable job and a predictable schedule.
To read Aline’s articles :
Women of Milesopedia - Alexandrine
Role at Milesopedia : Content creator
For me, travel is synonymous with escape, freedom, surpassing oneself and resourcefulness. Traveling has allowed me to grow, to feel good about myself and to have the confidence that I can get out of any situation. In one trip, I had a motorcycle accident, caught COVID-19 and missed three flights. After all these adventures, I’m not afraid of anything anymore!
Your favorite destinations as a woman?
Being a woman has never influenced my choice of destinations. However, some destinations are easier for women who are reluctant to travel solo. Europe and Southeast Asia are places with low crime rates where I have almost always felt safe. Still, it’s important to stay vigilant and adopt simple strategies to stay safe.
My favorite places: the Faroe Islands, Japan, Vietnam, Iceland, and Singapore.
A woman who inspires you:
My maternal grandmother. She studied computer science in the 1960s and was the only woman in her cohort! She persevered in an environment that was almost exclusively male at the time.
Her message on this International Women’s Day: Don’t wait for anyone else to travel. Don’t put off trips because you are alone and no one wants to go with you. I know the first experience can be scary, but be independent and jump at the opportunity if it comes your way.
To read Alexandrine’s articles :
Women of Milesopedia - Audrey
Your role at Milesopedia : Vice President Marketing and Communication
Traveling is liberating for me. It allows me to put life in perspective, to appreciate each little happiness in life even more. To find myself and think about myself, to take time and live at my own pace. That’s what I love about traveling solo.
Whether with family, children or friends, the dynamic changes and we immediately pay less attention to ourselves and more to others. It’s all the same good times of course, but not the same type of trip.
The language of a country can be a hindrance for me who was never good in English for example. I would like to take courses to feel more comfortable when traveling. But traveling alone is the best learning experience.
Also, it happened to us some mishaps while traveling as a couple or as a family for example (a robbery, a ski accident, a disagreement with a local). These events taught me about my limits, strengths and weaknesses. I learned to look for solutions and to put my stress aside.
Each of these experiences allowed me to gain confidence in myself and to know myself better. They push me to continue to travel again and again.
Your favorite destinations as a woman?
Difficult to choose. I have loved almost every destination I have been to. I was seduced by the scale of New York City and its skyscrapers or Dubai and its desert, but also the long stretches of beaches of Pensacola Beach or the Maldives, or the delights of the Asian countries (the fact that I have two Chinese sisters-in-law surely contributes to this).
One thing is for sure, the warm temperatures and dry weather attract me more than anything else, and I want to go everywhere! I have so much to discover.
My current dream is to go to Japan – trip postponed in 2020 because of COVID-19, I’m crossing my fingers that it will happen this time for this spring. But Jordan, Mexico, South America are on my list.
A woman who inspires you:
I could name some great names. But in concrete terms, every woman I have known from childhood to now, whether in my personal circle or in my professional career, has inspired me.
All these women helped me at a certain point in my life to open my eyes and understand that everything is possible when you give yourself the means, even in the hardest moments. You just have to believe in yourself.
Her message on this International Women’s Day: One step at a time, determination, perseverance and courage you will see that nothing is inaccessible.
To read Audrey’s articles :
Women of Milesopedia - Caroline
Your role at Milesopedia : Director, Human Resources and Operations, and Content Creator
For me, traveling as a woman means being open-minded. Getting out of your comfort zone. Welcome with wonder the new smells, the new habits, the landscapes and the new people you meet. And on the way home, start planning the next trip!
Your favorite destinations as a woman?
Wherever I will feel safe and continue to fulfill my need to learn.
A woman who inspires you:
My grandmother, who will turn 100 this year, is an example of determination. I still remember when she told me to look straight ahead, shoulders straight, put my head up and go after what I want, when I was very young.
Her message on this International Women’s Day: Look straight ahead, shoulders straight, head up and go after what you want!
To read Caroline’s articles :
Women of Milesopedia - Marie-Claude
Your role at Milesopedia : Director, Customer Relations and Compliance
Although it’s a cliché, for me, travel is about discovering the Other, that is to say, the human being, the culture & architecture, the landscapes and the arts of the table. My first trips were mostly related to my initial training in art history and museology. I also really enjoyed my experiences as a couchsurfer and in hostels, where I met very friendly and “colorful” people.
Now a mother, travel is a way to share with my children the richness of our planet and the people who inhabit it. This allows me to make them aware of the importance of being a good global citizen. Before the trips, we try to teach them words of use, customs, gestures of politeness of the places we will visit. It is also important for us that they “develop their taste” (as the younger one puts it) by letting them try new dishes and foods. Now that they are older, we can also explain to them how lucky they are, and that not everyone is lucky. So I take great pride in seeing them question social, environmental and geographic differences.
Your favorite destinations as a woman?
Except for a trip to Paris with a girlfriend, I never had the chance to travel alone.
However, I like destinations that make me see the world differently. I like the possibility of mixing stays in hotels, hostels, AirBnb and camper vans. Moreover, every trip includes a visit to local markets and/or vineyards, as these are great places to talk to people.
I have fond memories of
- the Yucatan Peninsula by backpack and its breathtaking temples,
- landscapes during a road trip of +2000 km in South Africa,
- an unexpected concert by the Royal Hawaiian Band in Honolulu,
- of the visit to Jerusalem and the emotion I felt when I put my hand on the Western Wall,
- of the beauty and great cultural wealth of Japan, or again,
- of my encounter with kangaroos/wallabies, wombat and koalas in a camping in Australia (unfortunately, I didn’t see my favorite animal, the platypus).
A woman who inspires you:
I have been fortunate enough to meet many inspiring women and it is difficult to identify just one.
I often think of…
- Monique, my first grade teacher who believed in me and knew how to feed my great curiosity.
- Julie, my “guru” who has taken on many challenges and works every day to promote the great contribution of neuroatypical people to society.
- Aude, my friend who uses her great talent to propel ambition in women, to give them the courage to surpass themselves and to take concrete actions for them.
- This student from Polytechnique of Montreal, born in South America and having grown up in an underprivileged area of Montreal, for whom I participated in obtaining a scholarship and who, from now on, works for the right to drinking water in underprivileged countries.
- Patricia, Maryse, Sophie and the many other women who have been confronted with breast cancer (from near or far) and who have forced me to rethink my concept of what is important in life.
Her message on International Women’s Day: Don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself, because life is far from being a smooth ride. We all have the capacity to be an agent of positive change in our world, no matter how big or small.
To read Marie-Claude’s articles :
Women of Milesopedia - Marie-Ève
Your role at Milesopedia : Editor in chief
As a woman, traveling has allowed me to develop my independence, my self-confidence, my resilience and my ability to adapt. I also learned to follow my instinct, to trust my inner voice.
Traveling has given way to extraordinary encounters for me, and has forged my own opinion of the places I visit. Sometimes traveling as a woman requires you to develop strength of character, but I choose to see this as a way to assert myself as a woman. Through my travels, I continue to learn more about the place of women in the world and I always feel this deep connection that unites us, no matter where we come from.
Above all, traveling allows me to witness the goodness of people everywhere, and the beauty of the world we live in.
Your favorite destinations as a woman?
I don’t limit myself in my choice of destinations as a woman, but I do make sure to pay attention and educate myself on the precautions to take at the places I visit.
Greece will forever be in my favorite destinations as I spent my first big trip there, studying in a small village on the island of Lesvos where the locals welcomed us as if we were part of their family. I fell in love with Brazil after spending three months there, for the openness of the people and the way they celebrate and appreciate life. India is a country that has had a huge impact on the way I see the world and one that I look forward to visiting again.
Finally, I must admit that I have fallen under the spell of Colombia, the country where I have been since the beginning of 2023!
A woman who inspires you:
My grandmother Rita who will be 100 years old next week; she traveled with a friend independently in her 20’s… This was very uncommon for women in the 1940’s! I have always admired her determination, independence and progressive thinking. Today, her vitality inspires me and it is a great privilege to still witness the sparkle in her eyes.
Her message on this International Women’s Day: Follow your internal compass, it will always lead you to the right place. Be proud of the woman you are.
To read Marie-Ève’s articles :
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