I leave for South America at 8am tomorrow morning and my life is in complete disarray.
I haven’t packed. I instead have stuff in 3 different rooms, in multiple piles that’s kind of sorted but not really. I also think I’m packing way too much, which is dumb because I just did this last year and should know that I don’t need as much as I think I do.
Also this morning my pants ripped, the pants I was going to pack tonight. So I need to buy new pants today. I also realised this morning that I will be in Ecuador in 2 days and don’t have any foreign currency yet.
I’m also still working full time and will finish this afternoon, then head to a late afternoon physio appointment hoping my shoulder, that has been intensively treated for the past 3 months, will finally be okay to lift a 17kg backpack tomorrow.
Buy pants, get money, go to physio, finalise last day of work handover items. This is the ‘day before’ life of anyone who travels for longer than 6 weeks.
One room of unorganised pre-travel mess.
I’m tired, stressed, very much in disarray, but starting to get excited. I have caught up with my amazing friends and family over this past week which has been excellent. I’m incredibly lucky to be surrounded by beautiful people who support my decision to continue this crazy traveler’s life, and who look forward to watching my adventures and welcoming me back when I’m done.
The past 6 months has been tough for me. Post-travel depression hit me far harder than I thought it would when I came back to Australia in December, and I never fully adjusted to being back. This is in huge part to continually couchsurfing in my own city and having my mind permanently on the next adventure. I will have to think carefully before returning again as to what kind of mindset I will be coming back with.
I’m nervous to fly into a new continent alone. I don’t speak Spanish beyond a couple of words, I know nobody at all and keep reading that some areas can be pretty sketchy and I need to be aware of my safety. But I’m really looking forward to getting back to this unknown world. The happiness I feel living from a bag, being on the move every couple of days, spending my days doing amazing things is what I long for.
I have absolutely no idea what’s coming and I am so incredibly excited about it 🙂
Hey,
My name is Matt and I work with Chevonne at Cruiseabout and she put me onto your blog a few months ago so have been having a bit of a sneaky peek now and then. I just wanted to say that ( as you would already know) all the feelings of nervousness etc are completely normal and will totall be laid to rest when you get here.
I landed in Quito (from Colombia) yesterday and it is completely awesome. South America has that sketchy reputation for safety etc but to me as long as you take the usual precautions, it is no less sketchy than most of the big European cities.
I’m in Quito until the 15th so if you arrive up here before then drop me a line if you want to catch up for a beer. There you go. Now you know someone over here 🙂
Hi Matt,
It’s great to meet you. Chevonne has been mentioning you as I’ve periodically been stopping in to plan and pay for stuff so am thrilled you found the blog.
Thanks so much for the reassurance. I know everything should be fine but it’s great to hear from someone who’s actually there that it’s awesome.
I won’t be in Quito until around the 22nd, I’m headed straight to Montanita and then moving over to Quito where I’m thinking of doing Spanish classes for a week before heading to Galapagos Islands. If we happen to be in the same place at the same time over the next weeks/months would love to meet for a beer 🙂
Ha ha, that works out quite well as i am likely to be back in Quito on the 23rd after heading down south for a bit. I am likely to head up to Mindo after that. Send me an email on *****@gmail.com if you’re keen for a catch up on the 23rd. In the meantime enjoy Montanita. I hear its pretty awesome!
Thanks Matt, will email you shortly 🙂