My Gap Year Travel Story: How It All Began
Every journey has a beginning. Mine started with a restless heart and a one-way ticket, but it quickly grew into so much more. What began as a simple gap year slowly evolved into a life shaped by adventure, creativity, and a deep curiosity about the world.
Through Road To Yourself, I document that journey, sharing travel stories, creative pursuits, and the unexpected turns that happen when you choose a path outside the conventional one.
Today, this platform connects a community of curious travellers and creatives, where I share insights through writing, vlogs, and creative projects. You’ll also find curated products in the e-shop, along with opportunities to explore some of the destinations that have inspired me through trips organized in collaboration with trusted partners.
Now, let me take you back to how it all started…
I had recently graduated from university with a degree in Finance and I was dating my back then boyfriend. We had recently signed a new contract for an apartment and moved in together and I was working my first full-time adult job in a corporate office. On paper it all seemed to be going well, but I constantly had the urging feeling that there was more out there in the world, outside of my little bubble. I also felt that my whole life ahead of me was planned for me by others, I could see until the end of it. Every aspect of it was incredibly predictable and equally boring.
Up until then, I never once had the time to stop and think about what I really wanted to do with my life or who I wanted to become. I had been in school literally my whole life, and had gone straight into the corporate world, being told to spend eight hours of my day in a cubicle just so I can wake up the next day to repeat the same soul sucking tasks.
As time went on, I found myself spending my evenings researching teaching jobs in faraway places like Japan, China and Hong Kong. Asia appealed to me as it seemed very foreign and far. I craved excitement and wanted to explore what is completely unknown to me.
My now ex-boyfriend surely started suspecting something going on. It was such a painful and lonely time in my life. My relationships with my friends were deteriorating, I was feeling isolated in my plans of packing up everything and leaving alone. I slowly started drafting in my mind how to break the news to everyone. I felt under a lot of pressure and also very guilty for changing my mind soon after taking on a new position at work and moving into a new apartment.
On top of that, I didn’t know what to expect. What would happen if I left solo, to some random corner of the world, without a proper plan? Was I being irrational? The world was said to be a dangerous place and women were not generally encouraged to travel alone. And then there were the expectations from my family. I had worked hard to score a nice job, there was a career path laid out in front of me and I was throwing all that out the window. Overall, I was in crisis.
Then one late night, lying awake in bed, I pulled out my laptop and filled in an application for a working holiday visa for Australia. Although I wanted to explore Asia more than anything, I needed money, and Australia seemed like a good option to work and save up before travelling. There would be sun, sea and unspoiled beaches. I was convinced.
As I learned with any difficult decision I had to make and tough conversation I had to have, the hardest part is making up your mind. The rest falls into place naturally. And it did. In the blink of an eye, I broke up with my ex, broke the contract we had signed, moved out, packed (rather overpacked) two large suitcases, and booked my first ever one-way flight without knowing that it would change my life forever.
Since then, I had travelled to, worked and lived in numerous countries in six continents and always made it work one way or another. I got to know people from all walks of life, work odd jobs that allowed me to discover new passions, experience incredible landscapes I thought only existed in my dreams, taste all kinds of local food I never tried before and most importantly grow as a person and realize that the world is not a scary place as it is made out to be on media and most (if not all) countries are safe to visit as a solo female traveler.
I now want to share my passion for travel and creativity with you, teaching you what I’ve learned through my experiences, and showing you that living a life full of adventure and creativity is possible for anyone, no matter where you start.
I especially aim to inspire younger solo females who have doubts about carving their own path in life, showing them that it’s not only possible but incredibly rewarding. But really, this advice applies to anyone who’s ready to break free, pursue their dreams, and live a life driven by curiosity and creativity.
Happy travels and see you on the road!
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Ahh love it!