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I was one of the old heads at my hostel during my trip to Cairns a few weeks ago. As I sat with my dinner and laptop to work on some writing assignments, the other guests, some younger than me by a decade, guzzled goon and Tooheys, flirted with each other and laughed unabashedly at the antics around them. They donned bikini tops and board shorts, backwards caps and messy buns. They glowed with tans that will probably show up as sun spots in the next 10 years.
But most of all, what I noticed was their untroubled attitudes. Most of these youth were in between university and the “real world,” taking time to travel before cube farms, corporate politics and crazy deadlines zapped the next 40 years of their lives. All they had to worry about in the moment was their next drink, next good time, next destination.
And I envied them for it. I wish someone had told me I could do the same when I graduated college years ago.
Don’t get me wrong–I feel grateful to finally have the opportunity to live and travel abroad in my late 20s. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since college, where I let my classmates spend semesters abroad and at sea while I toiled to graduate as quickly and successfully as possible so I could start a career as a journalist. I did take a cross-country road trip for three weeks right after graduation, but for the next six years, life was largely focused on executing strategic career moves for more money and prestige, working multiple writing and reporting jobs and making as much money as possible.
While all this did garner me a bit of career success and definitely honed my writing and reporting chops, I got quite burned out. In the end, my road to a global adventure was paved by a major breakup and a layoff. And in the end, I don’t know if I ever would have made it across the pond had those events not occurred.
Since then, I’ve tried to soak up every ounce of this new life I’ve built–the breathtaking scenery, brief, but meaningful, connections with other travelers, new customs and a way of life. Some days I wake up and it takes me a minute to realize what’s now missing from my life–constant stress and anxiety. It seems like a lifetime ago that I lived my old life, when in reality, it was just last year.
Coming abroad a little later in life than many has its benefits. I may appreciate things more because I’ve had a career and seen some of the down sides of life and of work. The sweet isn’t as sweet without the sour.
But when I take trips and see these young travelers, I want to pat them on the backs for making the decision to take their journeys before they’re jaded and have years of the daily grind under their backpacks. I want to tell them that doing this, delaying their careers for a bit, running the risk of going back to their home countries with nothing guiding their future but a big question mark, is brave. Because while they might have the opportunity to travel years and years later, they might not. And no amount of money or career gain can make up for that lost chance.
This post is part of a blog series on Brazen being sponsored by JobSTART101. They asked Brazen members to answer the question: What do I wish I knew before I started working?
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Comments
11.17.10
Wow, what a great article! You are a very good writer! You have interesting viewpoints and I believe you could teach people a thing or two about living life!
Everyone has a contribution in this world, and I think it is important to travel and learn the customs and cultures of others to shape our existence; I think when we travel we need to think of our purpose when we travel. Not just travel blindly staying at one hostel or another for years on end.
I think travel is awesome! I think it's just as important to know why you are traveling. Many in my contacts were "searching" for something that didn't exist yet.. hopefully they have found it. Others in my travels were teaching at montesorri, or helping orphans. They knew what their passion was, and traveled to do what they love.
I too sometimes wish I could be 20 again, and perhaps do it differently; I am willing to bet there are many in your travels that envy you, and wish and hope to have so much success at an early age... to know what you want to do and work hard to get it!
Keep up the good work!
Aaron
11.17.10
I agree with Aaron on some points - it's great to travel, but to really appreciate your surroundings, one should travel with purpose.
Your article has further justified my post-graduation feelings. At the moment, I'm one of those traveling young-20s. I've moved to Montreal on a 6 month work visa to work on my French and am struggling with what I should do next. My feet don't want to stay planted, but my mind says "build a career!" Do you have any suggestions for how to make money while you're traveling?
Thanks for posting, lovely article!
Hayley
11.17.10
On one hand, this article made me feel good that I did indeed travel while I was a bit younger and return to "The Big Question Mark." These days, I'm much more concerned about money (mainly because I have less of it) and it's easy for me to look back and say that I should have spent that money on something that could have increased my earning potential. But at the same time, I did get a lot out of that trip. I'd love to travel again but I no longer have the same distracting wanderlust I once did. I suppose that means my trip back then was a "success."
On the other hand, those young backpackers are often not as adventurous and risk-taking as they appear. I think that anyone who finds themselves admiring backpackers and/or regretting their own relative "squareness" would do well to remind themselves that they may not be as liberated and adventurous as they appear. Many have so much money that there's nothing risky about making the decision to travel the world. And a good amount of them - even some of the less moneyed ones - are not taking in a wild experience before moving on to a stable life. Many of them don't even know what stability and commitment are, and never will. It's a cliche to say that many backpackers are constantly running away from something, but it's often true.
I guess I feel like this: Feeling lost and going on an adventure can be great, if you do indeed end up in a "square" position eventually, after facing that big Question Mark. But many travelers are in a position that I wouldn't wish upon myself: they travel because they don't need to work or because they are afraid to.
11.17.10
Hey Benjamin:
You make some very interesting points, and touched on some viewpoints that I didn't consider. Yes, I can say from experience, there are a good number of backpackers that are running away from problems, and also from growing up. I saw this a lot. Not in so many words- but that is why I talked about having some direction in your travels.. having a purpose. That purpose can be to run away from a bad relationship or to prolong becoming an adult, but I agree it would be more meaningful for you and your encounters to have a purpose or sense of direction.
Sometimes, the trip itself is the purpose: to help you understand yourself and others and build relationships for future harvest. The idea of traveling and backpacking for a decade is not for me.. but I am willing to bet these people exist. I do love to travel, and immerse myself in the language and culture.. not just a weekend holiday at a hotel or spa. I probably would have made a great shepherd!! I would have enjoyed the travels anyway.
One thing is certain.. rarely do I find a traveler who "regrets" that they are a traveler, or long to do something else. I think that is a good sign that they are doing the right thing. Traveling teaches you how to be inventive, how to set goals, how to earn money, how to rely on others for aid when sick etc. How to grow up, essentially.
Life takes over and sometimes it is difficult to break the mold we have made for ourselves. But I see some traveling in your future!
All the best,
Aaron
11.17.10
Hayley,
thanks for the compliment on my response! The things I did, was anything! I was quite the entrepeneur. If you are extroverted, you can do so many things as long as you are willing to think outside of the box, and get out of your comfort zone a little bit.
I made a lot of money as a server in restaurants. I did a lot of manual labor too.. cleaning up yards, helping construction crews for a week at a time day labor. I was good at building relationships, and people liked to hire me for anything, mainly because there is a novelty of being a visitor in a foreign land(I think this isn't so novel anymore..haha).
First and foremost.. build good relationships.. not just quick friends... spend time building these friendships, you want people to know who you are 6 months from now when you come back to visit and need a faor..etc.
Secondly, don't be afraid to ask for help! Gone are the days of being an island and doing it alone! Be reliable for others.. everytime.. and you will be the first one they ask for return work.
I hope that helps, good luck!
Aaron
11.17.10
Aaron,
Wish I had addressed your point, but I kinda just went on my own thread.
I definitely agree that it can be summarized that way: travel with a purpose is superior to just wandering. Even if the purpose is just to allot an amount of time to reflect on something, or just to fend for yourself in unfamiliar surroundings.
I read an article once about how experiences are more satisfying than material, and we're better off spending money on experiences than things. It got me thinking about how "spa travel" is basically a way of treating a place as a thing rather than gaining from the experience. I think that's why it would not be fulfilling to either of us.
12.10.10
Sweet article Lauren, at the time of study I always think about my carrier and planed a lot. But that time was different always think beyond reality and fly high. As I entered in working area, everything was different. It's life and changes are it's rule. Bronze cremation urns
12.14.10
Good article! Thank you so much for sharing this post.Your views truly open my mind.Lulu Guinness
12.29.10
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