Amidst all this travelling, I met my boyfriend. A few months ago, I came across his profile and after reading his bio thought “hey I could make a new friend” and sent him a message. He messaged me back a few days later and we started talking. I didn’t think much of it at the beginning because at this point in my life I have accepted the fact that I will be alone forever, but as we talked I started developing a little crush on him.
He shortly travelled across the country to meet me, and everything went super well! He’s such a kind-hearted guy and I’m so lucky to have him in my life.
One of the downsides of temporarily living abroad is knowing that your time is going to end and you will have to go back to your old life. This thought has been haunting me the past few weeks. How could I leave behind everything and everyone I’ve grown to love and go back to the place where I have nothing bringing my happiness?
I’m hoping to carry all the things I’ve learned about myself, and all the personal growth with me wherever I end up living in the future.
Photos: Me in Santorini, Greece - June 23, 2017
I’m the 3rd youngest out of 10, but I’m the very first to be travelling and living abroad. The idea of travelling is unheard of in my family - they see it as a waste of time and money, which I could totally understand, however to me it is all worth it. Yes I’m the most broke I’ve ever been in my adult life but I’ve been growing so much as an individual, and my mental health is doing great.
I think it’s important to step outside of your comfort zone if you are unhappy and wanting more in life. It’s extremely difficult but great things come from it.
Photos: Me in Venice and Rome, Italy - June 17 - June 22, 2017.
A couple of months after arriving in Europe, I scored a full-time minimum wage job. I was mostly living off of my savings up until this point. I still didn’t feel like I was “home”, but it also didn’t feel like I was on holiday. I got to travel within Germany meeting some old and new pals I met on the internet. My first trip outside of Germany was to Outbreak Fest in Leeds, UK which was an awesome experience. After that, I had a short weekend trip to Belgium and France.
My life is already exponentially different than it was back home. I have friends, I have things to do, places to see - I barely have time to watch YouTube or TV, which is how I spent a majority of my time in Canada.
Not only do I have friends, but I have friends with similar ideals and interests as me, which isn’t the case at home. I love my friends back in Canada, I met them either in high school or art school, and although we have nothing in common, it’s familiar and comfortable, however we don’t get to do much together besides sit at home and watch TV.
My friends in Germany however, are vegan and/or straightedge, and into hardcore. I’m able to go out to eat without worrying about vegan options, I’m able to travel and go to hardcore shows without being alone. And on my spare alone time, I was either getting vegan donuts (for one), or getting new tattoos (by my tattoo artist who is also vegan and straightedge). I feel like I am finally in a place where I belong.
Photos: Me in Brussels, Belgium and Paris, France - May 20 - May 21, 2017
A year ago I would’ve never thought I would not only be in Europe, but live in Europe. I’ve struggled my whole life to even leave my own apartment let alone leave the country, however it’s always been a dream of mine to travel and see the world.
In January of this year, I was almost a year off of work with nothing going on in my life, and my unemployment cheques would soon stop coming in, so I decided that I was going to do a year abroad, and within weeks, I was flying to my temporary home: Berlin, Germany.
Travelling definitely wasn’t my first choice, in fact, it was my last. I thought about doing a short course in Graphic Design, working on opening a Subway franchise with my brother, anything to get me to do something! However, since this one-year “Working Holiday Visa” has been on my mind for the past few years, and something I’ve spent so much time researching, I thought it was time to just do it.
“I’m not tied to anything”, I thought, “I don’t have a car, I don’t have a mortgage, I don’t have kids or pets. When else could I do this if not now?”. I applied for the visa and informed my family of my plans. They all thought I was crazy. I don’t blame them - I’m the same person that is too nervous/shy to go to the grocery store alone.
I began to sell my clothes and furniture in hopes of saving as much money as possible. As for the items that I couldn’t sell, I gave to my mom to bring to Ethiopia, and donated the rest locally. There’s no turning back now.
I received my visa a few days before my flight to Europe - just in time - and off I was…
Photo: Me in Amsterdam, June 5, 2017.