I’ve made the mistake of picking up another Jack Kerouac book, and once again, I am experiencing what I am sure all of you know very well: wonder lust…that feeling where you just want too sell all of your belongings, buy a nice (or shabby) rack sack, and hit the road with only a notebook, sketchbook and a few other belongings to get you by. Perhaps I am naïve in my young age. I guess my hero, Jack, did have a rough time on the road and I guess it was a different time period then, but I can’t help to want to emulate him.
When I was seventeen, I announced to my mother that I was going to go back backing in South America and write about the things that I saw and the people that I met. I was a Junior in High School and she didn’t like the idea.
The next year, I decided that I would save my money and go to Europe. I saved quite a bit of money, but, circumstances arose where the money was spent on other materialistic nonsense…(An apartment).
I am now in my second year in college, dreadfully unhappy in my classes, and I truly believe that it is because I haven’t had my aching desire my exploration fulfilled. People say, “Well, it will always be there after you finish school.” My argument towards that is, school will always be there after my explorations are filled… As it is now, I can’t concentrate on school because my mind is off on what out “there.”
But the question is, why can’t I pursue my passion? Has the American definition of success really conditioned me so much that I have come to believe that education is the only direction toward happiness, and I now can’t pursue something that I truly think will give me feelings of joy without feeling guilt?
Does any one else understand? I would think people in an American culture would understand more so because traveling and getting to know other cultures is emphasized as important.
I am also a college student dying to travel the world, and I know exactly how you feel. I just want to grab a sack, stuff a few of my belongings in, and take off, I don’t care where, Africa, Europe, South America, Russia, anywhere but here really. I’ll probably end forcing myself to finish my education first though. I would just feel so guilty if I took time off, like I was being irresponsible or something. Oh well, 3 more years isn’t much longer, right. I’ll just have to avoid the travel section at the bookstore, it only makes me feel worse
I know EXACTLY what you are talking about! Sorry for posting in the solo women travelers forum, but after reading that post I feel obligated. I’ve also had trouble keeping up with my studies due to this wonderlust. And I too have had this mental debate about preparing for my future vs. fulfilling my current life’s desires to travel. I believe most of the decision comes down to your conscious, do you find it ligitament to take a semister or year away from college to travel? But you also have to at least somewhat convince your parents and those close to you. On my first trip to europe I had to tell my mom I was going with a tour group. For my upcoming trip, I broke the news to her a long time ago and keep adding extra details, like "oh I’m thinking about staying for 2 months." And thats even somewhat of a longterm plot for someday when I would like to do some real long term travel.
I traveled a bit within the US when I was younger, it was fun, but I didn’t consider travel something to get excited about. But then, a few years ago, I had a couple of free weeks at the end of summer and somehow sent myself and a friend to South America for two weeks. It drastically changed my life and awoke this new scense of wonder and exploration. I started spending countless hours online just researching travel related stuff and ended up finding a $350 r/t ticket to europe during winter break. Can’t pass that up right! After that I just kept wanting more and have realized that weeks of travel aren’t going to satisfy my craving.
Anyhow, to throw in some advice, you could do as I did and try a short trip to temporarily quench your urge. Winter break is a great time to spend a few weeks in europe; airfare is super cheap, you get a better cultural experience because its not overflowing with tourists, and new years abroad is always fun. Just plan a "sampler" trip because your sure to return. But I must warn you, it could bring your addiction to a whole new level. I’ve found that for a good month after my return I’m constantly thinking about where I want to go next.
I strongly suggest you read Vagabonding by Rolf Potts. It’s basically a guide to the art of longterm travel. It won’t build your excitement so much, but it helps you to prepare. It gives tips and advice for prepareing years before you leave all the way to adjusting to the return home. And there is a whole chapter on materialistic nonsense!
I don’t think it helped me out a lot on my last short trip, but it has definately matured me as a traveler, mentally and physically, and helped me put into perspective how I’m a little different from my friends who don’t have the same passion about travel as I do.
hope this helped you a little
I know how you feel, I felt the same way. However, you can go to college and travel the world at the same time.
I am studying abroad, spending one semester in Europe, and the other in Australia. I am living in Denmark, travelling contantly (i just came back from germany) and spending my winter break backpacking europe, while i will spend my summer travelling the southern hemisphere.
I am taking classes, so i don’t have to put anything on hold, but I am still living out my dream and getting my anxiety of staying in one place completely out of the way.
I am spending the entire year travelling the world, yet still doing school at the same time (and classes are wayy more interesting across the Atlantic).
It can be done. I would stronly suggest it.
ok .,get ur schooling done
the later u get ur qualifications the more chance there is that u will be left behind
prospective bosses will want to be hiring someone in their late 20 with experience not just outta school
i have had a friend and that happened to him
he travelled he accumulated loads of experience but he got stucj behind a queue of 20 pluses when he was edging on to 28
not fair and u might get a lucky break but unfortunately the current is going the other way
u got a rich uncle?
be nice to him ..lol
Travel, go! Now!!!!
In our American culture, traveling is not a priority. People tend to be content with where they are and what they know. How many people have you met that have never been abroad? Way too many. I finally went to Europe last summer to go backpacking. My parents didn’t like the idea, I went anyway. It was the best experience of my life and opened my eyes and taught me things that you simply do not learn in school.
There will always be reasons and excuses not to go. But this is something you’ve obviously wanted to do for a long time, so just go, go now! School will always be there, trust me. School is only useful when you are passionate about something and you have a reason for wanting to be there. Maybe when you get back to your travels, you will know what you want to do and your heart will be more into school.
So what are you waiting for….GO!!!
I can absolutely relate: On the Road is my favorite book EVER. I had always wanted to back-pack (I was even encouraged to do so by my father) but the time was never "right." I just finished school and was getting ready to settle into a comfortable little life when an enormous tragedy shook my world. I just said "that’s it." So, now I’m planning a solo trip to Europe for a month in April. The ironic thing is that I was in the midst of rereading "On the Road" for the first time in a couple of years when this tragedy struck.