Traveling the world not only allows you to experience new cultures but you get to meet so many people from around the world. In the past 4 years I’ve met so many people from around the globe and their curious minds are seeking excitement and adventure, just like me.
I recently did a social experiment on Facebook where I asked my friends to post where they were in the world.
The response was great. There were so many different nationalities spread all over the globe! This got me thinking “Why don’t more people do it?” – there is so much of the world to see. Money isn’t an excuse. Your current job isn’t an excuse. “Why aren’t more people traveling?”, “Why aren’t more people living and working abroad?”. The answer is simple. Some people need that security and steady income a month. Others like to live on the edge, paycheck to paycheck and simply saving up to travel some more.
Here are some of the Facebook responses that I received: I met most of these people in the past 4 years of living abroad. I know the others from high school or university.
1. Becky: A Brit vacationing in Thailand. 2. Sabina: A Kiwi traveling through Australia.
3. Andre: An American at the navy base. 4. Aidan: An Irishman vacationing in Egypt.
5. Barry: A Brit living and working in Hong Kong.
6. Damian: A Brit working in London.
7. David: An American taking a break from teaching in Thailand, in Texas.
8. Diego: A Mexican drinking Tequila in Mexico!
9. James: A Brit living and working in Brazil.
10. Jessica: A Puerto Rican traveling in America
11. Matt: An American teacher in Thailand on vacation on Railay beach.
12. Megan: A Canadian trying to get to her front door.
13. Peter: An American living and working in Phuket, Thailand.
14. Rosamond: A Brit living and working in South Korea.
15. Rolf: A South African living in Sweden.
16. Robyn: A South African traveling around Cape Town.
17. Sean: A South African (high school friend) living and working in Australia.
18. Michael: An American living and working in the Philippines.
19. Pieter: A South African hard at work at his desk, in South Africa.
20. Tyler: An American traveling through Spain.
21. Sam, Leah and Ae: An American, A Canadian and a Thai, working in the office.
22. Dayne, Joe, Anne and Paulo: 2 Brits, A South African and A Filipino all working hard the office.
Over the years, I get many people messaging me saying how they wished they had the guts to do what I’m doing. It doesn’t take guts, it takes that one opportunity where you have to simply go for it! Worst case scenario, you don’t like what you’ve gotten yourself into or you’re homesick, the solution is to pack-up and move back home. It doesn’t take someone to be brave to live abroad. The thirst for adventure and excitement to experience something new will overpower any homesickness or any needs back home.
My parents keeps asking me “When are you coming home?”, “What is in Thailand (or any country that I’m in) that is keeping you there?, and the most famous question of all “When are you going to settle down and get married?”. My answers are always the same:
* I am different. I don’t need a house or a car or a baby right now.
* There’s nothing keeping me in one country and I have no responsibilities or debt back home.
* I have no need for material things. The things that I need cannot be bought. I need to experience more!
* When I die… my car, my house and my money can’t be taken with me to my grave; but my experiences and adventures will always be a part of me.
The life of a traveler cannot be described as normal or calm. You’re always on-the-go. You become more daring. You feel the need to experiment. You find yourself in situations where you think to yourself “That would’ve gotten me into so much trouble back home”. Everyday you experience something new or different.