I’ve always loved to travel, but most of my itineraries were built around food. On one memorable trip to Chicago, in one day I spent 45 minutes at the Art Institute, which is a world-class museum, and six or seven hours taking cabs around town feeding my food addiction.  Chasing after the food instead of seeing life left me feeling empty and unsatisfied. I came away from that trip feeling even more hopeless about controlling food and my weight, and I missed my opportunity to really engage with life outside of food.

I have traveled quite a bit, abstinently, since joining FA. I’ve been all over the U.S. for business, and spent ten days in Europe visiting my brother. I rented an apartment in Copenhagen, shopped for groceries at the local market, and had wonderful weighed-and- measured-meals that were fuel for my exploration of the country, rather than being the focus of my trip.

When I first started FA, I learned that I would be required to take an eight-day trip to Hong Kong, Shenzhen (China), and Bangkok. I had reservations about the trip and secret plans to eat whatever I wanted.  However, as I grew in abstinence and began to protect my recovery fiercely, I prayed for the willingness to commit to abstinence, no matter what. My Higher Power answered that prayer with grace, and by the time my trip approached, I had a bone-deep commitment to abstinence.

What I’ve learned is that this program is portable and supports a full and rich life out in the world. My Higher Power is with me everywhere I go, and with modern technology, most travel now brings with it the connectivity we need to stay engaged in the program.

I made sure that my tools stayed consistent during my travels. My sponsor coached me on how to have an attitude and approach that would support my abstinence. My sponsor also reminded me that worry is not preparation, so I tried to do what I could to prepare for the trip while still staying in the day.

In order to work my program on the trip, I got in touch with fellows who have travelled. One suggestion I used was to carry a note, written in the local language, that described the food I needed.

I kept to my daily routine and the structure FA provides. Even given the extreme time difference between Asia and California, I put Program first by creating a travel schedule that allowed me to make my normal call times with my sponsor and reach out to fellows. Because it was the middle of the night for my fellows in California when it was my midday, I used email as a way to get things up and out when I needed to. There were lots of times when I found myself anxious, stressed, or hungry, and I was so grateful to be able to reach out.

I carried a connection magazine or two in my purse at all times. It was really helpful to have FA literature handy on bus rides and whenever I needed a quick dose of program, particularly on the day we spent on a crammed tour bus negotiating rush-hour traffic in China. I also had my AA Big Book and my Twenty-Four Hours a Day book on my electronic reading device, and I put a VOIP program on my MP3 player, allowing me to make calls to regular phone lines. I was able to make all my calls for the whole week for less than $15, without even needing a phone. All I needed was Internet connectivity, which was available at any hotel. I put speaker CD’s on my MP3 player, and listened to them during my travels. I listened to one amazing speaker while I was in the backseat of a cab during an awful traffic jam in Bangkok.

By relying on my Higher Power in times of stress, I was able to build my relationship with God. Eight days of abstinence just living a regular life in the U.S. was something I couldn’t even do before, and to stay abstinent on a trip abroad showed me just how much of a miracle this program is.