My American visa was delivered yesterday and I have booked my plane tickets for a long flight half way around the world.
Now, all I need to do is save, a lot of it.
It’s not cheap traveling overseas, especially with the exchange rate as high as it is.
It is also not ideal traveling to the land of jumbo-sized-everything and pesky accents, at the time I have decided to.
But at what cost am I traveling?
Is the astronomical bill a big waste of hard-earned cash, or is the experience priceless?
I know of many people who have never been abroad.
A vast majority of these folk can’t afford the expensive trip overseas and would love the opportunity to do so.
However, there are also those who have no desire to travel, despite having the means to do so.
These people are content with living in a cocoon and satisfying their travel taste buds on the travel channel.
Now, I’ll be honest, I used to be one of those individuals.
From a young age, I would plot and plan for the future – the car, house, and retirement annuity.
Less than a year ago I woke up and thought, “Why, I’m 23 years old”?
What was I thinking?
After being told by a few loved ones that I should work toward achieving my long-term “goals”, I really began to consider the idea of living – not worrying about the future, but living for the present moment.
I started questioning the world and the meaning to life.
What if I died tomorrow with no memories to show for it?
That is exactly what traveling does – you see the world in a different light.
You develop a greater understanding and perspective of the world, its cultures, religions, what you want to work towards and you question the society you live in.
This is why I decided to travel.
I want to explore, yet still think about the future and days on the ”stoep” at a retirement home.
I’m young, I don’t have children; why shouldn’t I do what people often forget to do: live?
The opportunity to get rich will always be there, but your youth and life won’t wait for you.
If you get the traveling satisfaction from watching others travel on television, then do so – a DStv subscription is a lot cheaper. KvdL
