Trip Justification

Over the past several years I have been blessed with opportunities to travel and see the world. I have been on missionary trips to Mexico, I’ve visited friends in Germany, toured Italy, and I lived in Spain. I played with kangaroos in Australia, and I backpacked around Western Europe and parts of South America. I’ve seen natural and manmade wonders so wholly awesome that words and photos can hardly do them justice. When I travel, for every one thing I cross off my “Bucket List,” I add three more. With every bus ride and every flight I learn something about the world and the part I play in it. I learn to cope with change, to adapt to my surroundings, and I learn a little more about who I am and what I want—or don’t want—in life.

Iguazu Falls, Argentina

Last summer when I was in Europe I thought what I wanted was to move back to my hometown of Spokane, Washington to be closer to family. However, I soon discovered that’s not what I wanted, and I also discovered I didn’t know what I wanted. So I bought a plane ticket to Quito, Ecuador. Prior to leaving for South America my mother had been asking me what my plans were for life. I was twenty-four years old, held two bachelor degrees, and was working for my parents at a pizza restaurant. She asked if I would continue working at the restaurant forever, if I would go to graduate school, if I planned on finding a career in my field in Spokane, or if I planned on moving back to the west side of the state. I told her I didn’t know; that I was going to South America and I’d figure it out while I was there.

While in South America I forced myself to be honest with my feelings. What did I want? I thought about my friends and family, and about my past experiences. I kept a journal of my trip and wrote down whatever came to mind. I relaxed and I enjoyed myself. I learned about different cultures and customs, and I met some great people. I met people from all over the world, not just from the countries I visited. I met the best people and had the best time in Santiago, Chile. It was in Santiago, with new friends, that I realized I’m really not content living in Spokane. I have a couple of friends and I enjoy spending time with my family, but overall I’m not happy—that’s why I bought the ticket to Ecuador. I am bored and restless, but it’s not just Spokane, I know, because I felt the same way last year in Bellingham. When I was really honest with myself I realized that I don’t know what I want, but I know I am at a point in my life that I cannot stay still, I can’t settle down. I am happiest when I am on the go. I learn the most when I’m traveling. I meet inspiring people, I hear incredible stories, and I see amazing things.

Santiago, Chile

In my travels I think I have met more Australians than all other nationalities combined, and I have to admit, they are some of my favorite people. That’s not to say I like all Australians or that I dislike individuals from other countries—I’ve met a few Australians I wasn’t fond of and I’ve met people from Chile, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Brazil, Egypt, South Africa, and New Zealand who I absolutely adore. I just think, in general, the men and women I’ve met from Australia understand and enjoy life more than other cultures—especially the United States. In Australia it is common to travel for six months, eight months, one year, or sometimes even longer! One may encounter Americans who backpack for six weeks or so after graduating from university, but in Australia twentysomethings will quite often quit their jobs and leave the country. Sometimes they will work or volunteer abroad, and usually they have the trip (mostly) planned out before they go, but spontaneity and adventure are high in the lives of the Australians I’ve met. It’s rare for Americans to vacation for more than a couple of weeks and nearly unheard of to leave everything behind and travel for a year, but when I was in Santiago, Chile I decided that I want to do that.

I could follow in the footsteps of so many university graduates and get a respectable job with OK benefits and work my way up to a position with decent pay. Or I could never step outside of my comfort zone again and continue working at the successful family pizzeria, eventually taking it over with my sister when my father retires. I could start my own business doing God knows what, and it may flourish or it may burn to the ground. Or I could get married and start a family young like my sister did. She and so many others are happy with those lives, but I wouldn’t be. I would feel like I settled for something less than what I wanted. I know I would feel like I missed out on many things, wondering “what if…”, and I would always be wishing I could leave to experience more of the world. If I forced myself into any one of those scenarios I might be satisfied for a while, but I wouldn’t be happy, not completely. I’d soon regret the choices I made that led to whichever life I had and I’d feel trapped and eventually resent those around me. It wouldn’t be healthy and it wouldn’t be smart. So I’ve decided to leave.

I am going to take advantage of the fact that I am young and without responsibilities. I have the desire and I have the resources to go on a yearlong round-the-world trip, so I’m going to do it. I know that when I die, whenever that may be, there will still be places I want to see and things I want to do, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try to accomplish as much as possible while I can. I am honest enough with myself to know that I will never be 100% content to stay put, and I suppose that’s just a cross I’ll have to bear. In the meantime I am going to live my life to its fullest capacity and I am going to do what makes me happy. When I come back I’ll probably be able to settle down and find a proper career, start my life and do what’s expected of me, but not now, not yet. 

"Antes de morir..." ("Before dying...") Santiago, Chile