New Beginings

I am sitting in Glasgow at my boyfriend Chris's place alone and contemplating the life changing decision I have just made to move to South Korea to live and teach for a year. At the moment this undertaking is both exciting and overwhelming, which is making my chest a bit contracted and my stomach a bit loopy.

Three months ago I returned from a six and a half month solo backpacking trip around South America. It was this trip and South America that taught me to follow my dreams and not to let fear prevent me from going anywhere or accomplishing anything. I gained my independence and sense of self during this journey which allowed me to experience the world, make my own decisions and rely on only myself, and now here I am only 3 months later preparing myself for another hurdle.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous and sick with the thought of missing my family who I seldom see, and the possibility of another Christmas away from home. Despite my free spirit and roaming lifestyle I am very much someone that relies on the support of my family and friends to encourage me to take huge leaps and bounds in my life. I love them and the support they give me and I would not be able to do many of these things without them.

I have been told that my lifestyle is irresponsible, but for me it is a way to explore the world, visit new cultures and discover the new and exciting things the world has to offer around every bend. I am 26 and financially I owe thousands to the government for my education, which I do contribute to monthly, and career wise I have found an inability to accept a 9-5 monotonous day job with two weeks vacation a year. I don't have a pension plan, a car, a house or any of those other things normal people have and strive for yet I feel like I am starting to become more complete.

The more places I visit, cultures I see and people I meet the more I feel fulfilled. I know my heart and my head have yet to unite on the same page because my heart tells me to go to Korea and see the world and my head tells me that I should be logical and precise by wanting a stable job, a house, a car, a pension plan, to be married and have kids, but my heart also knows that this will come in good time and there is no need to rush.

I am starting to feel the anxiety is passing for the moment and the excitement is taking over, so here goes my next adventure...