Why singer-songwriter and filmmaker Amanda Sodhi lived out of one suitcase and travelled across 10 cities in one year

Born and raised in Washington DC, singer-songwriter and filmmaker Amanda Sodhi moved to Los Angeles when she was 24, to Mumbai when she was 25, and to Kolkata at the age of 29.

“Although DC is my hometown, it never quite felt like "home", perhaps because I've had a strained equation with my family. And I outgrew both Mumbai and Kolkata after a point, mainly because the friendships I formed never stood the test of time. Long story short, I felt increasingly isolated,” she tells HerStory.

When Amanda was in Srinagar in 2020, she met documentary filmmaker Amit Madheshiya who was shuttling with ease between Delhi, Mumbai, and Srinagar.

“I remember sitting alone in a shikara on Dal lake on Diwali when I had this realisation that instead of staying put in one place and feeling sorry for myself, why not downsize to a suitcase, explore a different city each month and see if I stumble across a place that has the potential to feel like home, or if I find my tribe, my "chosen family," in the process or if my definition of "home" and "belonging" changes,” she says.

And so, on New Year's Eve, she began a remarkable journey of living out of one suitcase in India across 10 cities this year – in search of what “home” and “belonging” means.

In a conversation with Herstory, she relives the experiences – the good and the bad – as the journey reaches its fag end.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

HerStory (HS): What were your thoughts at the time embarking on a journey during the worst time of the pandemic?

Amanda Sodhi (AS): I was hitting rock bottom already. To some extent, I felt I didn't have a whole lot much to lose. Of course, I have always taken basic precautions like wearing a mask, using sanitiser, and following state-specific travel protocol.

Initially, my plan was to cover 12 different cities in 12 months. However, when the second wave took its toll, I had to modify my journey accordingly and have spent 12 months in 10 cities, instead.

HS: Why and how did you decide upon these places?

AS: I visited Hyderabad in January, Andaman in February, Ooty in March and Kashmir in April. The second wave hit at that time, so I had to stay put in Kashmir for most of May as well. My mental health was at its worst around this time and I was diagnosed with PTSD. I went back to Hyderabad for all of June to surround myself with friends so I could stabilise. I then went to Manali and Spiti in July, Imphal in August, Puri in September, Chandigarh in October, Delhi in November, and Kerala in December.

Andaman, Manali, and Manipur were always on my bucket list, hence I decided to shortlist these places for 2021. I had visited Hyderabad, Ooty, Kashmir, and Kerala in the past and always wanted to spend more time in these places, so that's how I ended up here this year. Puri, Chandigarh, and Delhi were last-minute substitutes to places I wanted to visit due to unforeseen circumstances that came up.

A part of me always knew there would only be so much I could plan for this journey. After a point, the journey had to take its own course, and I went with the flow. Each month, I told myself I would surrender to whatever each city brought my way.

HS: Please share any interesting memories/anecdotes about the journey…

AS: I am writing a book about this entire journey - the good, bad, ugly.

I have wonderful memories of befriending a group of amazing locals in Andaman who showed me a ton of incredible places. I enjoyed reconnecting with friends in Hyderabad and making new friends there, too. I fell in love with someone in Kashmir and also underwent heartbreak. My landlady in Puri cooked the most delicious meals I will always remember. I enjoyed meeting other travellers when I went on a group trip to Spiti through WanderOn. Staying in a tree house in a forest, courtesy an invite I received from Vythiri Resort, was also adventurous for sure - raat ko meri phatt rahi thi (I was losing it in the night) (laughs)!

HS: What were the challenges you faced while travelling?

AS: Packing to live out of a suitcase for one year was slightly challenging. Travel protocol has evolved throughout the year, and as a result the final list of cities I visited was modified. There were some unpleasant incidents, such as a hotel owner's daughter in Port Blair sending cops after me because I wrote an honest review of being billed falsely. And, I had an unpleasant experience at a hostel in Ooty where I had to check out the very next day. It's been a mixed bag of a year, but enriching nonetheless.

HS: Did you choose to be part of a local experience and how so?

AS: Tourists usually come for a few days and leave. When you're staying in a place for at least a month, you get a pretty good taste of the local culture, especially if you're sticking to local cuisine, using public transport and running day-to-day errands on your own. I interacted with as many locals as possible, which helped me understand the vibe of each place as much as one possibly can in a 30-day span.

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HS: Did you ever feel you ‘belonged’ to any of these places?

AS: Through therapy, I’ve only very recently realised my feeling a lack of belonging anywhere is rooted in childhood trauma, and healing may take quite a bit of time. 

Technically, I can live in any of these cities. I'm a digital nomad - I can work out of any location that is equipped with Internet. And, yet, it's like I belong both everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Home isn't a place, it's people. And, I haven't really found "my people," yet. Nor can I say I equate my family with home, either. It's a strange feeling of eternal displacement within my mind. 

That said and done, I plan on dividing my time between Hyderabad and Srinagar next year. 

HS: Would you advise other women to travel solo?

AS: Yes, of course. Both men and women should travel solo. It teaches you how strong you are. It teaches you to be comfortable in your own company and to face your inner demons. While it might seem intimidating initially, once you travel solo you'll realise it's not that difficult. 

HS: How did you document this experience, and what response have you received?

AS: I have been posting photos on my Instagram page, @amandasodhi. I've also collected video footage on my phone, which I plan to use in a music video for a new single I'll release in 2022. It's been a while since I've put out any music! I've been taking notes every day for a book I'm writing about this journey. It's tentatively titled Twelve Steps to Home.