From Saginaw to Srinagar (My Journey from the Familiar to the Faraway)

A college graduate with no job prospects and no boyfriend, Marilyn Murphy was bored and dispirited, living back with her parents in her Midwest hometown.

And then an old friend threw her an unexpected lifeline: “Meet me in the Philippines—we’ll travel through Asia together.”

It did not go as planned. This engaging memoir captures the adventures and misadventures of her eight-month saga as a solo traveler that became a profound voyage of self-discovery. This is her story of circumnavigating the globe, starting as an insecure, sheltered, small-town girl who relied on her wits and her gumption to find her way, returning home as a gutsy, confident young woman.

Along the way, Murphy encounters coconut monkeys, purse snatchers, and a woman in a head-to-toe hijab. She tastes lumpia, laksa, and fiery hot curries for the first time. Every day brought new sounds, sights, and sensations—all opportunities for personal transformation.

There is so much to experience and learn about the world—both without and within. But you won’t discover it unless you leave home and everything you’ve known. Follow your inner compass. Take a risk. Go! Just go!