Caravanserai with Samantha Childress

Caravanserai with Samantha Childress, formerly The Cairo Dispatch, offers travel narratives that blend personal experiences with cultural insights. It explores the complexities of home, borders, ethical travel, and the embrace of local cultures, through personal tales, guides, and reflections on destinations worldwide, nurturing wanderlust while promoting respectful global exploration.

Travel Experiences Cultural Insights Personal Reflections Living Abroad Ethical Travel Gardening and Nature Work-Life Balance Uncertainty and Chaos Ethics and Travel Self-Discovery Historical and Cultural Guides Monthly Recaps

The hottest Substack posts of Caravanserai with Samantha Childress

And their main takeaways

A Garden in the Desert

628 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🏝 Travel Gardening Cultural experiences
  1. Moving to a new place can surprise you with unexpected weather and surroundings.
  2. A garden can offer a peaceful oasis with the opportunity to grow fresh produce and connect with nature.
  3. Patience is essential when tending a garden as it takes time for the plants and lawn to grow and flourish.

The Arbitrariness of Borders

766 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🏝 Travel Exploration Experiences Borders Cultural Exchange
  1. The author reflects on the concept of borders and how arbitrary they can be, especially after visiting Cyprus.
  2. The author discusses the idea of storytelling in personal experiences and how old narratives may no longer serve us.
  3. The journey in Cyprus helps the author come to terms with grief and the realization that quests and borders can be symbolic rather than definitive.
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Why You Shouldn't Try to Travel Like a Local

746 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🏝 Travel
  1. Traveling like a local isn't always possible or desirable.
  2. Striving for authenticity in travel can be harmful and reductionist.
  3. Recognize your privilege when traveling and be a respectful guest.

When the Mask Drops: Trying, Failing, and Re-Finding Myself

569 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Work-life balance Self-discovery Personal Growth Creativity
  1. The author struggled with finding time and headspace to write due to working full-time, but decided to post twice a month to make the newsletter more sustainable.
  2. The author felt like a failure for not keeping up with their original writing goals, but realized that quality is more important than quantity.
  3. By being more sincere at work and letting the 'mask' drop, the author found more freedom to be themselves and write more authentically.

Definitely, Insha'allah, Or How I Learned to Love Uncertainty

530 implied HN points • 19 May 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Belief Practice Uncertainty Acceptance
  1. In uncertain situations, embrace unpredictability and find empowerment in accepting the unknown.
  2. The phrase 'Insha'allah' in Egypt reflects a cultural attitude of polite noncommitment and acknowledgement of life's unpredictability.
  3. Living in a place like Cairo, where randomness reigns, teaches the value of surrendering to chaos and finding happiness in uncertainty.

Sam's Big Guide to Cairo

373 implied HN points • 27 May 23
🏝 Travel Guides Itinerary Tips
  1. Cairo is rich in diverse history beyond the Pyramids and Pharaonic attractions.
  2. The guide aims to provide information for independent travelers to plan their trip confidently.
  3. Visitors typically need 2-3 nights in Cairo to explore before moving on.

Stepping Into the Light

353 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🏝 Travel Experience Culture Exploration Identity
  1. The author reflects on moving to Egypt and experiencing Ramadan for the first time.
  2. The author's initial glamorous expectations of living in Cairo clash with the reality of daily life.
  3. Through an art class, the author finds a sense of belonging and purpose in a new place.

Monthly Meanderings: June 2023

157 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🏝 Travel Destination Experience Adventure Vacation Culture
  1. The author discussed feeling burnout and issues with wifi while traveling in Guatemala.
  2. The author enjoyed a stay in a beautiful hotel at Lake Atitlán, but faced limitations in exploring due to lack of public transportation.
  3. Despite being confined to the hotel, the author and their partner made the most of the situation by relaxing and enjoying vacation mode.

Monthly Meanderings: July 2023

117 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🏝 Travel Memoir Destination
  1. The author is pausing payments for the newsletter to recalibrate and find a better writing rhythm.
  2. The author struggles with the pressure of producing timely content due to the nature of their writing process.
  3. Readers have the option for a 7-day free trial to subscribe and access full post archives.

Monthly Meanderings: May 2023

137 implied HN points • 31 May 23
🏝 Travel Tourism Destinations Experiences
  1. The post is about the Monthly Meanderings for May 2023 by Samantha Childress.
  2. Samantha welcomes new subscribers and discusses upcoming posts on experiences in Egypt and recommendations for other places.
  3. Readers are invited to leave comments and are offered a 7-day free trial to subscribe to Caravanserai with Samantha Childress.

Monthly Meanderings: April 2023

137 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
🏝 Travel
  1. Samantha shared a chilled espresso cocktail recipe and talked about outdoor art museum visits.
  2. She mentioned having a thing for outdoor art installations and visiting the Ayia Napa Sculpture Park in Cyprus.
  3. Readers can subscribe for a 7-day free trial to access more content on Samantha's platform.