Wanting to See the World

From a young age my parents placed a great deal of importance on traveling and exploring the world. Both of my parents have not only lived in many different countries, but they’ve traveled across the globe. By the age of 15 I had been traveling with my family to countries such as Vanuatu, Bali, and the United States.

Japan

When I turned 16 I was given the opportunity to participate in an exchange program in Japan. This was my first experience traveling alone, and it was so freeing. It was three weeks in a country I had never been to. It was also my first experience with budgeting, I was in total control of my money, and where it went. Japan was a beautiful country filled with colour, kindness, great food, and unique cultural experiences. Even now, some years later, it is a country I always say that I could easily live in.

United States of America

After finishing high school, instead of heading to Bondi Beach for schoolies, I had bigger plans, a friend and I set our sights on a contiki trip around the West and East Coasts of the US. While we had travelled together with our families we had never travelled overseas together by ourselves. After having to change hotels on our first day, the holiday went amazingly well. I got to meet some amazing people who I am still in contact with, and again I got to party and stay out late in a country I had only previously been to with my family. If I wanted to buy something or eat something I could and would. This trip geared me up for my current trip.

United Kingdom/Europe

At 18 I set off to live in the UK by myself for 12 months. I had gone to meet a family I had planned to Au Pair for. Things went pear shaped, and after three weeks of living in hell I was kicked out with my week's pay, and an extra £10 to somehow get me to London from Bedfordshire. Thankfully I found a place to stay and a job as a teacher's assistant, or else my 12 month stay could have become a three week trip and the thousands of dollars I spent on visas would have gone to waste. London is an amazing city, and it is so different from what I’ve ever experienced, and living here has allowed me to see beneath the touristy destinations. Having a stable job with a really great income is allowing me to plan a six week trip around Europe in the summer. Something I didn’t previously think I would’ve been able to do.

Why I’m Lucky

I can never forget that traveling like this is a privilege, and one that my parents have been lucky enough to give me. Not everyone has the opportunity to see the world, and because I do, I’m going to use it for everything that it’s worth. This is just the beginning, because the world has so much more to offer, and there are so many places I haven’t been to, but I plan to see as much of it as I can.