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Travel bug, you might have heard of it. There are people who swear it exists. It's like an invisible insect that is injecting you with a virus - a deadly virus, in fact. A virus so deadly that it makes you commit to irrational decisions any reasonable person would avoid. The worst part about this virus is that it grows over time.
That has been my case. After my Colombian adventures (check my blogs) plus the new ones I had this summer, I had been itching to go back. But instead of just that country, I wanted to explore the entire continent of Latin America (including Mexico). I had fallen in love with everything it has to offer: music (raggaeton), the friendly vibes, the beautiful curvy women, food, the mountains and the thrill of adventure.
I haven't always been this adventurous - in fact, I used to be an introvert. But with age, comes confidence - confidence to find yourself, confidence to explore. This started when I left for Japan to teach English after I graduated from undergrad. I explored what Asia had to offer, I lived through Japan, I lived through partying at Roppongi at 5 AM in the morning, throwing up everywhere after bar hopping to some of the most insane places, finding beautiful friendships in the most unexpected places, going to a crowded ramen shop at 7 AM after you and your friend hit on (and failed to pick up) every female in Shibuya club (which sucked by the way). Somehow randomly ending up in a local's home after talking to a pretty hotel receptionist who unfortunately had a dude, but still ended up with fireworks in their backyard and their family and my foreign friends. So much memories, so much fun, so much hardships - but if there is one thing I learned traveling abroad, living abroad REALLY makes you think about who you are and what your purpose is. Because you're so separated from the people similar to you, you are in constant awareness that you are a foreigner and you are different - which is a boon and a curse at the same time.
It's only been 4 months since I came back to U.S. but I already had reminiced about my adventures...meeting great people from hostels, hanging out with locals by myself, going with them to search for alcohol in package stores, crossing the street wondering what the fuck was I doing here in a foreign land with foreign friends having weird adventures. Even the foreigners you meet in these places are free-spirited and laid back - the kind of people who really know how to have fun, the kind of people who aren't judgmental d-bags like some back home. Living abroad in a new place requires an open-mind but it also attracts the open-minded people. These people are willing to learn about new stuff, try new methods, forget the mentality that American way is #1, try new language and words, basically refresh your soul.
Of course, living abroad also has its many negatives - some customs you just can't get used to. For example, in Japan, you can forget about avoiding needless procedures & heavy beaucracy. In Colombia, you can forget about not caring about who stands near you and your belongings. But traveling by itself is something that many of us cannot partake because we already have a huge stake in our career, our 9-5 jobs, our families, or spouse. As for me, this coming semester will be my last semester of law school. Although I should really be looking for a post-graduation job and preparing myself to finish school strong, I have chosen to enroll in non-attendance required courses, and getting out of my apartment contract, storing all my furniture in a storage unit.
I only have 2 weeks left remaining in my apartment, and I have already booked a flight to Mexico. I will explore every interesting places in Mexico, and then backpack my way through Central America (the dangerous countries for foreigners), then travel to South America to hit up countries like Peru, Colombia, Chile for 6 months.
Is it a completely irrational and irresponsible decision? I think so. But this is also my last chance of 'study abroad' - (without actually enrolling in a program), something I have always wanted to do. And for me, as long as I don't find myself kidnapped or murdered, I think it will be the right decision.
When life sucks, when things aren't great, when you are depressed - you always have the freedom to throw it all away and go to other places. You have control over your life, don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. You don't have to be stuck doing a job you don't like everyday. You don't have to associate yourself with people you despise. You don't have to live in a place where you don't like. As long as you allow yourself to take control, and overcome that fear of what might happen, you can live your life the way you want to live it. And that's why I have decided to just pack up all my bags and live abroad for half a year.
  
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Physician
United States4146 Posts
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Currently studying abroad in Spain, loving the experience here and traveling. The travel bug is real. I hope you have the funding to do this though, or really plan out a super-cheap trip. I lived in South America, studying in Argentina for a month, and I loved the experience. That said, make sure you have the cash.
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It must be nice to have no one depend on you and have the financial means to "throw it all away."
Not everyone has such luxuries.
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Sounds good man 
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On November 10 2015 23:11 farvacola wrote:
It must be nice to have no one depend on you and have the financial means to "throw it all away."
Not everyone has such luxuries.
True, but you can make the best out of any situation. If you have a spouse, go with your spouse! If you have a dedicated job, try to see if you can take some time off and if the employer is willing to let you come back afterwards. Losing a job doesn't kill you - in fact, you already built up your resume so you should be able to find a similar job in the future.
On November 10 2015 22:27 docvoc wrote:
Currently studying abroad in Spain, loving the experience here and traveling. The travel bug is real. I hope you have the funding to do this though, or really plan out a super-cheap trip. I lived in South America, studying in Argentina for a month, and I loved the experience. That said, make sure you have the cash.
Yeah, I am planning to stay at hostels from time-to-time. If I can find a really cheap place, I might do AirBNB
On November 10 2015 16:07 Physician wrote:
funding?
I have some money saved up. Actually, the money I would've had to spend for apartment rent here, car insurance, internet bill and everything is more than I would spend over there, especially due to the lower cost of living there.
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but .........
how are you going to study?
all the best and enjoy your trip!
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Very good blog, so close to home in every sentence.
I'm also packing my stuff and sending it to my mother's garage, then start a 3+ months trip soon ^.^
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On November 11 2015 01:58 JieXian wrote:but ......... how are you going to study? all the best and enjoy your trip!
Uhhh I won't? haha. No I will but only the bare amount needed to "ride the curve" which is pretty common in my law school.
By the way, I just glanced at your sig....I recommend learning one new language at a time instead of focusing on multiple
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On November 11 2015 12:22 parkufarku wrote:Show nested quote +On November 11 2015 01:58 JieXian wrote:but ......... how are you going to study? all the best and enjoy your trip! Uhhh I won't? haha. No I will but only the bare amount needed to "ride the curve" which is pretty common in my law school. By the way, I just glanced at your sig....I recommend learning one new language at a time instead of focusing on multiple
Oh.. GL
Oh about that I didn't start learning all of them at once :D
I've made sure I had a good foundation on 1 language before starting a new one and I've managed to get a B2 in French and B1 in Spanish a few years ago
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French is one of the languages I really want to learn but at this point, I'm exhausted of learning new languages. Spanish is my 4th language and after I pick that up, I'm going to stop (probably)
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I'm currently taking gap year in Nicaragua. If you happen to pass through before May let me know!
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On November 12 2015 05:15 Farmer Poopy wrote:
I'm currently taking gap year in Nicaragua. If you happen to pass through before May let me know!
For sure! May I ask why you chose to go to Nicaragua?
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i am all for traveling but i dont know about sandbagging your studies in a profession that has more job seekers than good jobs at this point
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Parkufarku, I am working through a specific program Nicaragua was one of the few places that I could have applied to. For me, it wasn't a choice of Nicaragua vs Guatemala or Costa Rica, it was more Nicaragua vs Spain, and I thought Nicaragua would be a larger departure from my life in the US than Spain would have been. Also, I have a more interesting internship opportunity here.
Lastly, as you mentioned yourself, the cost of living is lower, which I've really appreciated.
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On November 10 2015 16:07 Physician wrote:
funding?
That isn't really necessary when you think about it. I knew a dutch guy that rode a bike through 19 countries (from his hometown in Holland to Beijing). At first I didn't believe him, but then I saw his passport and his story checked out (with me at least).
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Nice. I hope you keep it safe. Sounds really fun, I'm itching to depart.
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EPT
