The last 7 months, I took off for a walk-about, passing through 18 countries, around the world. It was a personal trip, thus why I didn't blog much (but I did Instagram a whole damn lot - check it out at www.instagram.com/muchotravel ). Today, I received a post-card I have mailed to myself while in Sofia, Bulgaria. And it was like a gift of encouragements, I feel refreshed and inspired (to blog).
About 9 flights, ~ 5 trains, ~ 5-6 ferries and an unimaginable number of buses, my journey rounded me back to the Austin, TX. Being back here scares me a lot, I fear I wouldn't feel like I belong, I fear that I had to start over, etc. That fear somewhat was coming true, but today I received a post-card I wrote to myself while I was in Sofia, Bulgaria. In it, I wrote to trust my "internal GPS," and to always choose happiness, to never let my circumstances dictate how I feel. I realize that it doesn't matter where I am. My happiness, my friends, my job, my life, is all up to me. More than anything, what I learned on this past journey is beyond what any advice or any textbook can dispense to the soul.
I learned that I can live with just a minimal amount of money and a 70L backpack. I learned that I am always stronger than what I thought I was capable of. I learned that the people are the most important part of the equation to being happy. I learned that technology (my Nexus 5) is the key for streamlining a better life. Last but not least, I learned that I need to continually challenge myself or else growth will not happen.
Minimalism - I have always been that girl. That girl who likes her hair product, her perfume, her shoes, her makeup, her feminism. All of my previous trips, I packed more accessories and makeup than one can imagine. This trip, knowing that I would be gone for a fairly long time, I would have to be reasonable with my packing to accommodate different places and climates. What I did was packed all the necessities, and brought a few feminism pieces, like my Coco Chanel Mademoiselle. A spritz will make me feel like a lady, even if I realistically smell like I've been sitting on a bus for 18 hours. I learned that I do not need a fancy car, or a closet full of clothes, or even my curling irons. I still can be feminine with a backpack. All I need to bring is my optimism and my minimalism.
Stronger - I was stronger than yesterday. Always when I thought I may not be able to do certain things, eat a certain food, or can't go any further. I was always wrong, because I have always gone a bit more, pushed a bit more. I've sat on a broken down bus for 8 hours, equating a total trip time of 30 hours, was the first taste of endurance and patience, I've got, in SE Asia. Or trying to find my hostel while carrying a huge pack, while having pneumonia, walking down the street of Kuala Lumpur at four in the morning, tops the cake for pushing a bit more. So when I'm at home, and at times I feel hopeless at say, finding a job. I know it's a temporary feeling and that can be overcome. It is about persistence and about keep going despite the down times. When I think I don't have any more, I'm wrong. I do. I will always do. Have more.
People - I have always been a people person. I'm good with people and this came in so handy, while traveling, because despite traveling by myself I was never "by myself". Without knowing many of the languages I've encountered, I have always managed to make friends with locals and/or travelers. Without knowing the way, I waved and made hand gestures to people, and a way was always shown. Even if traveling in the dark of night in India or Italy, or sightseeing or volunteering in Africa, I have always had a constant supply of friends wherever I go. I'm grateful for that because nothing means anything if I (or you) don't have the people to share the space, the laughter, the adventure, or the food with. I take that lesson home, and now I am constantly saying "hi" to strangers, whether it being an awkward encounter at the coffee shop or while running pass some cars. People. It is where it is at.
Technology - God damn, my phone is my savior. My unlocked Nexus 5 had gotten me out of so many predicaments, I almost think my trip wouldn't have gone over so smoothly if I didn't have my Nexus 5. My French Aunt wouldn't have wanted to see me hadn't I have busted out google translate, Bam! English to French, "You're my aunt - Vous êtes ma tante." I would have been completely lost on the metro in France or England without my Nexus 5. Forget about my Nexus 5 for a second, technology itself is the bombdigitty. Google spreadsheet that I introduced to a non-profit organization in Kenya brought order and clarity to what was before an accounting system kept using the old-school technique of pen and paper. Technology, kids, is the future. It is. Also, the Nexus 5 takes really good pictures.
Challenge - As a lot of people know, I couldn't swim for the longest time. I barely learned to swim like a frog about 2 years ago. I didn't even know how to stay afloat, all that changed in Sihanoukville, Cambodia where I launched myself off a double-decker boat, and surprised, I can stay afloat (it was all mental). Follow that momentous overcoming of my fear, I delved into a scuba-diving love affair in Koh Tao, Thailand. I not only got certified to go to 18 meters, I also got certified for my advanced, to go down to 30 meters. Bam, knowing that I can push my comfort zone and actually like it, it encourages me to challenge myself in my daily life. To push, to persevere.
My travel taught me a lot about myself, about life, about what I need to be happy. It made me trust in the process and to always make the good choice, the right choice, to make me happy. Travel to me is a philosophy to life. It taught me to live fully. It taught me to be kinder. To be more open. To just be. To be not afraid of the everyday mundane. It too can be exciting if I let it be.
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About 9 flights, ~ 5 trains, ~ 5-6 ferries and an unimaginable number of buses, my journey rounded me back to the Austin, TX. Being back here scares me a lot, I fear I wouldn't feel like I belong, I fear that I had to start over, etc. That fear somewhat was coming true, but today I received a post-card I wrote to myself while I was in Sofia, Bulgaria. In it, I wrote to trust my "internal GPS," and to always choose happiness, to never let my circumstances dictate how I feel. I realize that it doesn't matter where I am. My happiness, my friends, my job, my life, is all up to me. More than anything, what I learned on this past journey is beyond what any advice or any textbook can dispense to the soul.
I learned that I can live with just a minimal amount of money and a 70L backpack. I learned that I am always stronger than what I thought I was capable of. I learned that the people are the most important part of the equation to being happy. I learned that technology (my Nexus 5) is the key for streamlining a better life. Last but not least, I learned that I need to continually challenge myself or else growth will not happen.
Minimalism - I have always been that girl. That girl who likes her hair product, her perfume, her shoes, her makeup, her feminism. All of my previous trips, I packed more accessories and makeup than one can imagine. This trip, knowing that I would be gone for a fairly long time, I would have to be reasonable with my packing to accommodate different places and climates. What I did was packed all the necessities, and brought a few feminism pieces, like my Coco Chanel Mademoiselle. A spritz will make me feel like a lady, even if I realistically smell like I've been sitting on a bus for 18 hours. I learned that I do not need a fancy car, or a closet full of clothes, or even my curling irons. I still can be feminine with a backpack. All I need to bring is my optimism and my minimalism.
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| Zoom Zoom Backpacking |
Stronger - I was stronger than yesterday. Always when I thought I may not be able to do certain things, eat a certain food, or can't go any further. I was always wrong, because I have always gone a bit more, pushed a bit more. I've sat on a broken down bus for 8 hours, equating a total trip time of 30 hours, was the first taste of endurance and patience, I've got, in SE Asia. Or trying to find my hostel while carrying a huge pack, while having pneumonia, walking down the street of Kuala Lumpur at four in the morning, tops the cake for pushing a bit more. So when I'm at home, and at times I feel hopeless at say, finding a job. I know it's a temporary feeling and that can be overcome. It is about persistence and about keep going despite the down times. When I think I don't have any more, I'm wrong. I do. I will always do. Have more.
People - I have always been a people person. I'm good with people and this came in so handy, while traveling, because despite traveling by myself I was never "by myself". Without knowing many of the languages I've encountered, I have always managed to make friends with locals and/or travelers. Without knowing the way, I waved and made hand gestures to people, and a way was always shown. Even if traveling in the dark of night in India or Italy, or sightseeing or volunteering in Africa, I have always had a constant supply of friends wherever I go. I'm grateful for that because nothing means anything if I (or you) don't have the people to share the space, the laughter, the adventure, or the food with. I take that lesson home, and now I am constantly saying "hi" to strangers, whether it being an awkward encounter at the coffee shop or while running pass some cars. People. It is where it is at. |
| Geek at home, geek abroad |
Challenge - As a lot of people know, I couldn't swim for the longest time. I barely learned to swim like a frog about 2 years ago. I didn't even know how to stay afloat, all that changed in Sihanoukville, Cambodia where I launched myself off a double-decker boat, and surprised, I can stay afloat (it was all mental). Follow that momentous overcoming of my fear, I delved into a scuba-diving love affair in Koh Tao, Thailand. I not only got certified to go to 18 meters, I also got certified for my advanced, to go down to 30 meters. Bam, knowing that I can push my comfort zone and actually like it, it encourages me to challenge myself in my daily life. To push, to persevere.
My travel taught me a lot about myself, about life, about what I need to be happy. It made me trust in the process and to always make the good choice, the right choice, to make me happy. Travel to me is a philosophy to life. It taught me to live fully. It taught me to be kinder. To be more open. To just be. To be not afraid of the everyday mundane. It too can be exciting if I let it be.
