Ten years ago I finished university and was faced with paralyzing anxiety of entering the real world. Snubbing the next logical step into adulthood I applied for international internships.
After a month of rejections I called around to the NGOs that had yet to contact me with PFO letters.
One of them responded that the position had changed, was now in the Philippines, and was I still interested? If so, could I be there in two weeks?
Without hesitation I asked if three would be okay. Just to be safe I searched for images of the Philippines and saw pages and pages of beach front huts. I had no idea what Filipino food was but it would be on a beach right?
What could be better?
Three weeks later this small town girl was on a plane to live it up on the beach in South East Asia.
The above photo is of me at 23 on the first day of the new millennium.
The world hadn’t blown up. Robots weren’t enslaving us. There was no need to eat Soylent Green – yet.
I look back and I’m not sure if I was naive or fearless to just get up and go in three weeks. I had no idea what I was getting into, it didn’t matter to me, but I was about to find out.
Those 8 months changed my life. There was no one and nothing to define me. I learned who I was in unfamiliar and often strange circumstances.
I lived in the moment.
Here I am 10 years later, rather than checking off all the obligatory great job/ friends/ relationship/ apartment boxes I’ve decided to walk away from it all. Not forever, but a year or until the money runs out.
Congrats on your decision – it’s going to be an amazing trip!
Congratulations!! Can’t wait to follow along! I’ve added to my blog list and my Google Reader!! Cheers!
PS, you have to explain the name of your blog…Jason LOVES it, but he’s always been partial to pork products!!
Oh my god, look at this awesome site. I can’t wait to follow you for a change. 🙂
You are so on my linkroll. Oh, I just got approved for my foreign currency accounts. Coolio, huh?
Congrats! So excited to have found your site. I’m leaving the publishing world in April to do a RTW trip, too! Can’t wait to read more.
I’m so jealous. I travelled for most of my 20s, then made the mistake of trying to settle down in my 30s. I need to get back on the road, so will look to you for inspiration.
Gillian, Dave, Nomadicchick, Adam – thanks so much for your kind words. With less than eight weeks away it’s equally exciting and scary. I read your blogs for inspiration.
Miles – seeing your Australia photos I can understand why you need to get back out on the road. The hardest part of this trip was choosing which lenses to bring and which to leave at home.
Well you better check off great family/sister or I will not visit your sorry ass!!
Only a great family and fantastic sister would offer to come visit along the way. Two checks and a gold star for that!
Congrats on your decision! And good luck on your journey.
ahhh so amazing! i can so relate because what you are doing now, combined with what you did at 23, is kinda what i’m in the process of doing. i’m considering a one year work/volunteer placement in india. it’s terrifying and exciting at the same time and i can’t fully grasp how the year abroad, if i go, will change me. (i’m from toronto too!)
i look forward to following along on your adventure 🙂
I started here and liked all the way up.
Wow. That´s a incredible adventure. I also had a opportunity to live in another country, but I give up from the idea of let my country. Congrats for your resolution.