Here, six years ago in October 2009, I set off on a journey that would change my life. In this article, I am going to tell you about it.
@Antigua in Guatemala
In 2009, I left for a year to change my life
In September 2009, I finished my engineering studies and to tell you the truth, I was afraid of working for the next 10, 20, 30 years and I used the economic crisis as an excuse, saying it was difficult to find work. So at the end of my studies, I decided to leave for “1 year”, this “1 year” actually lasted 19 months.
Looking back: before this first long trip, I had never really been away for very long. My experience was limited to 2 stays in the USA with family (3 and a half months in total) and a few weekends in Europe, totaling less than 6 months of travel.
However, what made the difference was that even though I had never really traveled much, I already spoke 4 languages: French, my native language, Mandarin and Cantonese, the languages my parents taught me, and English, which I learned by watching Japanese cartoons with English subtitles and American series in the original version for several years.
For several years, I attended polyglot meetings in Paris to practice my foreign languages. I saved money through small jobs on weekends and school holidays, totaling 6000 euros.
So I left with these 6000 euros in my pocket for a one-year trip. At that time, I did not realize that this trip would change my life for the next 6 years.
@Sunset on Flores Island in Guatemala
My first big trip in 2009
The plan was to spend 3 weeks in the USA (which I did), 9 months in Australia, then finish with 2 months in Asia. My goal was to take a vacation in the USA, then work and travel in Australia, and if I had enough money, I would go to Asia.
My plan went wonderfully as I spent 15 months in Australia (I could have stayed up to 2 years because my visa was valid for a second year) and with the money I had left, I went for 3 months to Asia for the first time in my life. I chose Thailand because a friend was going there, so it was quite by chance. In the end, I only spent 3 days with her and made my own way in Asia.
At first, the culture shock was really sudden because I had just lived 6 months in Sydney. There were the smells in the street, people sleeping outside, the stifling heat, and the discovery of a developing country. All these factors meant I had to quickly adapt to a new environment compared to what I knew in Australia.
In the end, I learned a lot on the way. I learned to travel “without a plan” or “without an itinerary” or “without a travel guide” and to let myself be carried where I wanted to go. In Asia, it is very simple and since everything is cheap, it is easy to do everything at the last minute even for flights because there is not much price difference if you take a low-cost flight.
I had one of the best moments of my life during this trip and when I returned in 2011, I wanted to relive those moments and I set my mind on doing another round the world trip, I explain in this article my state of mind before the round the world trip.
@Cerro de la Cruz in Antigua, Guatemala
6 years later, travel has made me evolve
6 years ago, I would never have imagined that I would have such a journey.
Today, 6 years later, I have visited more than 40 countries over a period of more than 3 and a half years. I would never have imagined it possible to make money online with my travel blog and yet I have been doing this for almost 4 years.
Apart from the travel aspect, I have gained a lot personally and humanly, for example: maturity, self-confidence, I now spoke two other languages: Spanish and German. Speaking other languages has opened my mind and I really see things differently.
I am no longer a simple tourist who goes from one place to another. I live the place as if I were a local, of course, I do not fool myself because I have much more financial means than the people who live in developing countries but by doing things simply and experiencing the environment where I am. I find a different fulfillment that I would not have had before.
I try to impress the people I meet with my dynamism and positivity, share my joy and exchange a good moment. Today, I have been traveling around the world for more than a year and I do not plan to stop before 2016, I will probably come back to France this summer.
6 years later, I no longer have the same energy to want to do everything and in the end “do nothing” because going to many different places is nice but there are disadvantages and advantages that I explain here.
I am convinced that by taking your time, you are more open to new experiences and new exchanges. Although I no longer have the same energy, my curiosity, my quest for discovery has not changed, it has just become different.
I do not regret my previous way of traveling, it was just part of my evolution and was necessary. These two ways of traveling are even compatible. Travel is an accelerator of life experiences because you go to many different places and discover new things.
When you change places, it is as if you are going to have a new life since each place has its particularities.
@At the top of a temple in Tikal, Guatemala
Leaving with travel goals
Although I do not have travel itineraries, I always kept my goals in mind and I find that without these goals, I would either have already returned or be traveling from city to city without purpose, repeating the same pattern.
Going to incredible and unique places was part of my goals, find my article on the best activities I did on my round the world trip.
Leaving for a year is long, so two years is a gap!! Having these goals allowed me to refocus on what I really wanted to do with my trip: change my life and have a life different from the one I had in France with all my comfort and the environment that goes with it.
In reality, everything is simpler in France or in your country with your work-metro-sleep rhythm. On a trip, I am not looking for this ease, I am here to take on challenges, to do things I do not usually do, without madness of course.
These goals also keep me grounded on my ability to achieve them or not.
Living at least 6 months in Latin America and learning Spanish is part of my goals and I have plenty of others.
@Flight to Cuzco in Peru
Conclusion:
Everyone has their own way of traveling and their travel goals, etc. I can tell you that there is one thing everyone will have in common, which is that travel will change your life and I am sure of that, I did not need 6 years to discover it.
And you? How has travel changed your life? What would be your goals for your next trip?
