What the Desert Taught Me About Expectation vs. Reality in Travel

I spent a month in the desert with—unexpectedly—little to no Wi-Fi and even fewer vegetarian options. Not exactly the travel dream I had envisioned, but every adventure can’t be the best one of your life.

When I accepted the job, I imagined slow mornings watching the color shift over the desert mountains, cozy evenings journaling under the stars, and weekends filled with hiking and photography. It sounded peaceful, grounding, and maybe even transformative.

Instead, I spent 36 days trying to get a signal strong enough to say hello to my family and living mostly on apples, cucumber salad, and ice cream.

Expectation vs. Reality in Travel

Most of us imagine travel as an endless highlight reel. But when you’re traveling long-term, or even living abroad for a season, the unfiltered reality hits different. There are bad meals, poor connections, and days that test your patience more than your sense of adventure. It’s not that those moments ruin the experience—they redefine it.

My month in the desert reminded me that “adventure” isn’t always adrenaline; sometimes it’s endurance.

Lesson 1: Expectation Management is Everything

Had I known how unreliable the Wi-Fi would be, I would’ve downloaded work materials and offline entertainment in advance. Had I known food options were limited, I might’ve packed protein snacks or scoped out nearby grocery options before arriving. (Especially finding out that the nearest grocery store was not so near at all).

But that’s the thing about travel: you often don’t know until you’re in it. Now, before accepting any job or long-term stay, do what I call the “Three C’s Check”:

• Connectivity: Is Wi-Fi available and stable enough for my needs?

• Cuisine: Can I find or prepare food that fits my diet?

• Comfort: Does the environment support my physical and mental well-being?

If you can’t confidently say yes to at least two out of three, it’s probably not a good fit.

Of course, it is possible to be lied to when doing a check, and you won’t really know until you arrive.

Lesson 2: Not Every Trip Has to Be Life-Changing

Social media glorifies travel as an endless stream of “best days ever.” But sometimes, the real growth happens in the not-so-pretty experiences. I didn’t come back from the desert with magical stories of transformation. I came back hungrier and a lot more realistic about what I need to feel grounded. And that’s okay.

Not every trip has to change your life; some teach you what to avoid next time.

Lesson 3: Redefining Adventure

Adventure doesn’t always mean “fun.” Sometimes it means sitting in discomfort, adapting, or finding creative solutions when plans fall apart. By the end of the month, I had learned how to make a surprisingly satisfying cucumber salad in five different ways. I randomly ran into an old friend I hadn’t seen in years. And I realized I no longer have to adapt to every situation. I am now in a position where I don’t have to stay uncomfortable for the sake of a paycheck. If a situation isn’t working for me, I can remove myself.

That, in its own way, was an adventure too.

The Adventure Will Continue

What was supposed to be a three-month stay turned into a one-month crash course in resilience. And honestly? I don’t regret it. The desert didn’t give me the experience I expected, but I wanted to try something new and did. Falling in love with a location isn’t part of the criteria for adventure. The adventure lies in being willing to try something new.