Hi bluefire,

I hated that! Been there, lived it!

OK, the “period smell”… Do you mean you were menstruating and they actually smelled it, or do you mean that you simply smelled and they made fun of it, or they just made something up to make fun of you for? This is actually important. The grooming/cleanliness thing. If people see something is off (like food in your teeth) or smells irregular, they focus on THAT and can’t see YOU.

The older you get, the more people are (generally) less snobby in a vocal way. Don’t let this one trip turn you off from group travelling!! It helps if you go with a friend, boyfriend or relative so you have “your” people going in and people will be more drawn to YOUR orbit.

Blessings (from a fellow weird thin-skinned introvert),

Inky