AbsenceofTitle
Severe case of wanderlust.
So three days ago, I finished the last exam of my first degree. After a year of struggling and working out that I am really bad at Science/analytical thinking/making a Grant Proposal/anything that doesn’t involve being spoonfed, I have FINALLY finished my degree. Now my summer has begun and I leave for Peru in three days! Super crazy preparations though. Unlike last year, when we went to Ghana with a medical agency and had our acommodation sorted for a whole month, I will be travelling independently somewhere really, really far away. It will also be the first time I’m properly backpacking- I’ve always been a pseudo-backpacker (dragging a bright red suitcase!), but traipsing around the mountainous regions of Peru with a suitcase probably wouldn’t be the best idea. I’ve also had to buy my first windbreaker, first fleece jacket, first time wearing sneakers while travelling, and am bringing a wardrobe of baggy trousers, baggy shirts, and a sleeping bag - I’m so excited to be roughing it out proper backpacker style!
One of the ways I console myself when not travelling is by reading travel blogs- its incredible how many people choose to leave their comfy life behind and travel the world, and I’ve met numerous people who are doing exactly that. Below is an excerpt of an interview of a lawyer-turned-photographer who is road-tripping the Americas (he’s been on the road for four years!) who is giving advice to professionals who want to do something similar:
“Generally in our society in the US, we are conditioned or expected to lead a certain type of life—get an education, have a career, get married, buy a house, buy cars, have kids and, if you’re lucky, a summer house and nice vacations. This never ending rat race of having more and one upping the neighbors rarely leads to peace and happiness by itself. At best, one sets off in this direction saying I’ll live my bucket list when I retire. But what if that time never comes? Life is meant to be lived, so live it no matter what definition of life you subscribe to. That definition might be the scenario set out above, and that’s fine (someone has to do it). Whatever path you choose, walk it without regrets. For me, I knew a fulfilling life needed to incorporate exploring the world. That said, I came to this realization at a stage in life when it was still easy enough to make the changes that I wanted. No kids. No mortgage. No car payments. Many professionals come to the realization that they MUST make a change of life after these commitments exist and that makes things much trickier. But most life decisions are not easy and they all require sacrifices. It sounds trite, but you have to follow your heart and live your dreams. You might have to give up the BMW, the summer house and some of those fancy dinners, but if the payoff is worth it to you than those are small price tags. If you don’t have those things to begin with (like me), then the change from lawyer to happy pauper-hood is that much easier. Who knows? If you’re lucky you might not need to give those things up in order to be happy. I needed to sacrifice those things and I’m happier for it.”
The full interview can be found here.
I find people like him really inspirational and it gives me hope that one day I will also be able to lead a nomadic, Doctor-in-developing-nations lifestyle! This trip I will also attempt to document things that I see, eat and experience not only through photos but through writing! So maybe one day I’ll share some of the next three weeks. Til then, have a fantabulous summer everyone!!
xx
