So, travelling was first introduced to me by my parents, who would
always take us for family holidays in the school holidays when I was
younger. We started off (when they didn't have much money to spare) by
going on huge big driving holidays around Australia, and then, as more
money became disposable, we started venturing further afield and
travelling overseas. Sydney, where I live, is quite a
multi-cultural city so I had been exposed to many different cultures
just by growing up, but to actually visit different countries and see
these people in their own countries surrounded by their own
environments and cultures was a real eye-opener and something that I
wanted to see more of.
I went straight from high school to university, and worked as a
waitress throughout the whole of my time at university and saved enough
money to go travelling for nine months after I had finished uni. I decided
to go by myself, because then I could see what I wanted to see, and do
what I wanted to do, and prove to myself that I could look after
myself, and force myself to talk to strangers, which, although I wasn't
shy during my childhood, would allow me to prove to myself that I could
make friends in any situation.
I started off by doing a safari tour around Africa, which opened my
eyes to the very simplistic life that so many people in this world
live, but we in the developed world only ever see on TV. I then
travelled around Europe for 7 months, and I then went to Canada, which
was a spur of the moment decision, before going home.
That trip was a great experience and one that I have been telling all
of my friends who have finished uni to do as well. I think it was the
perfect time for me to go travelling, because I didn't have any
obligations, such as dependent family or a job, to keep me at home, and
it was a chance for me to discover more about myself and my values
before I did start my career. I learned a lot about the countries that I
went to and also a lot about other countries, because I met other
backpackers who were either from those countries or had been to them. I
developed an interest in history; when you are surrounded by structures
that you can touch and legends that you can feel are true, it is hard
not to get excited. But I also learned a lot about myself - what things
mean a lot to me at home (because I missed them) and what things
don't, the type of people that I like to hang out with, and what I like
to spend my time doing. It was a great time to make decisions for
myself since I didn't have my parents or teachers or friends
influencing my decisions.
I then worked for four yrs, constantly thinking about my time in Africa
and how I would love to go back there and learn more about their
culture. I knew the only way to really get to know and understand the
culture was to go and work there and gain the confidence of the local
people, so I started looking at all of the volunteer organisations that
operated out of Australia. I couldn't find one that suited what I
wanted - I wanted to work in a group and only go for between three and six
months. One of my friends had recently done some volunteer work in
Costa Rica, and when I looked more into the organisation that she had
worked for, the more I like the sound of the work that they did, so I
applied for and was offered a position as a group leader for a youth
volunteer program in Costa Rica.
I have just returned from that experience and it is one that I would
recommend to everyone. We achieved a lot in the community - all
of the work that we had intended on
completing we finished, plus more. To have the opportunity to
meet and get to know and live with people far less fortunate than me
financially, but just as rich in life and to experience the hospitality
and generosity of those people was such a reality check and an honour,
and one that I will definitely be doing again. To live in another
country with the locals, and live the way the locals do, is the only
true way to experience another culture in my opinion, and the impact
will stay with me forever I am sure.
These two big adventures of mine were very different -the first was focussed on place, and the second on people. The first on travelling and seeing, and the second on living and understanding. Different people will probably prefer one or the other, but the thing that doesn't differ is that both will develop you as a person, both will challenge you to do things that you normally wouldn't do, or have the opportunity to do at home, and both will stay with you forever leaving you with great memories and amazing friends.
