A 7-Day Travel Log by “Can’t Afford It”

🇰🇷 → 🇺🇸 (Recommended BGM: Edge of Desire – John Mayer) After the long visa process and interview, I finally got my U.S. visa! 👏👏 (Cue BGM: Applause) With visa in hand, I embarked on my first trip to the United States — choosing Jacksonville, the largest city in Florida. Why Jacksonville? 1️⃣ I actually didn’t have much choice — I was following my professor here for an academic conference. 2️⃣ I’d love to drive a sports car, stay in luxury hotels, and dine at fine restaurants like everyone else… but I CAN’T AFFORD IT. So, I opted for the most budget-friendly style of travel in Jacksonville. Accommodation: Hotels in the U.S. are ridiculously expensive. So, my four friends and I rented a weekly villa through Airbnb. It had 3 bedrooms and was super comfortable. The neighborhood — San Marco — was quiet, safe, and convenient for shopping. An Uber driver told us it’s one of the best areas in Jacksonville. (There was even a cat that visited us every morning to enjoy the sunrise together. 🐱) During free time outside the conference: We visited several nearby beaches — so peaceful and refreshing! Couples and dogs (all kinds of dogs… and me, a single dog 🐶) were everywhere, strolling or running along the shore. I love the ocean — sitting on the sand, chatting with friends while the sea breeze blows (even discussing our professor in Chinese right in front of him 😂). (It rained briefly at the beach one day, and afterward, a rainbow appeared over the ocean! 🌈) On days we weren’t busy: We went grocery shopping at The Fresh Market. Since we couldn’t afford to eat out every meal, we cooked ourselves. Finally, a chance to show off my skills! Years of living alone taught me how to cook — welcome to AO's Kitchen. 👨‍🍳 Restaurant recommendation: ❗️ Taverna — Highly recommended! We joined the long line outside and weren’t disappointed. Delicious! On the last day: While my friends were busy presenting their papers, I had nothing to do (no way I was sitting through conference sessions in a room). So right after sending my professor into the venue, I set off to explore the city alone. I love wandering aimlessly through unfamiliar cities — just walking wherever my feet take me, chatting with people along the way. I walked from morning till night. To me, that was precious time. 🌆 #US #Florida #Jacksonville