For a long time I've wanted to just take off and travel. I’ve done my fair share of travel already, and I realize how lucky I've been to have had those opportunities so early in my life. But my travel has always been more or less “traditional.” I’ve studied abroad, done internships, and gone on vacations. Throughout all of this, every time I went to a hostel I found myself longing to be one of those people. I have been drawn to backpackers since I first met them. These were my people. They were people who made my travel look like a drop in the bucket compared to their lists that ran on...and on...and on. But I wasn't jealous of them, not really. I was in awe. Somehow all of these people were taking months, maybe even a year or more, to travel the world. The ones without set plans always seemed to have the best stories. I sat listening intently over dry hostel toast and burnt coffee to their tales. Even though I've traveled, I always felt a little bit like an outsider when talking to backpackers. Almost every time I stayed in a hostel I had a set return date and itinerary–I didn't have the luxury of seeing where the wind blew. At some point during my first couple months of work I realized long-term travel didn't have to be a fantasy. There are so many people taking off to travel on a regular basis, so why not me? I had just moved home, I got a great job, and I also realized I was in a very strange point in my life. In just a month I went from having my life pretty much set to having no plans at all. So I made a decision. Traveling long-term wasn't going to be a fantasy I looked back on and regretted never pursuing–I decided that I am going to take a full year to travel around the world. There are two main things I need to pull this off: a passport and a big chunk of money. I have one and need to work on the other. So I set up a savings account and created a budget (which it turns out is harder to follow than I had anticipated). In all the excitement of making this big decision I didn't let it set in that I will away from home for at least twelve months, in all seven continents, alone. Traveling alone for a full year is probably going to be one of the most terrifying, rewarding, lonely, and social experiences I'll have in my life. I'm mostly excited, it's still a year away, but I know I'm going to go through a whirlwind of emotions both leading up to and throughout the trip. Right now it would be a complete lie to say that when I stop to actually think about what I plan on doing that I'm not terrified. I am. Totally and completely terrified. But also exhilarated. I can't wait to learn to tango in Argentina, walk on the ice in Antarctica, and see where else my travels take me, because my main plan is not to have a strict itinerary.
I’m slowly getting ready–I’ve bought a lightweight winter coat, ordered extra visa pages for my passport, and began investigating backpacks. In the next couple months I’ll be able to buy my first flight, and the reality of what I’m taking on will set in a bit more. Until then I’ll keep fantasizing about it all and do my best to continue saving.
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Claire AngelineI am traveling the world from October 2017-October 2018, and the plan is to visit all seven continents. I'm a vegetarian foodie, a baker, a dance enthusiast, a nonprofit co-founder, and a huge travel addict. When I'm not traveling I'm putting my MPH to good use and doing public health research. Archives
September 2016
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