Warning: this post has completely changed since the first time I wrote it in August, when I created a category called “tips for trips” and had a completely wrong idea about blogs.
When I decided to create this blog, I had 3 main reasons in mind:
- It is cool and everyone has one.
- I could give some advice to people who want to travel around the world.
- I could keep in touch with family and friends.
So, what happened after 4 months that made me completely change my mind?
Well, I guess that starting to plan my trip for real, as well as taking care of all the technical (and emotional) aspects of it, has given me a better idea of how the reality is different from what I had imagined.
Not necessarily in a bad way, it is simply different.
I realized that “writing for other people” was not gonna cut it . It was NOT FOR ME (at least not at that point of my life).
I’m not a Journalist, or a novelist and I’m not even close to be a writer. So it is not so cool to have a blog just for the reason that I’m going to travel the world.
Yes, my experience is going to be BIG, I haven’t any doubts about it. But there are so many people out there already doing it and a blogging about it.
And some of these bloggers gave me a good example of what it means writing just because one wants to. For pure passion.
So, for now, the only thing I need to achieve by writing in here is to express how I feel about my adventure and interact with like – minded people. Travelers, bloggers or whoever has a big dream and is in the process of realizing it.
It doesn’t matter if I don’t become popular in the community straight away. This is not the reason why I’m writing right now.
Of course I don’t deny that the idea of having someone following my crazy rants would be great but is not essential at this stage.
I am just happy to have someone to share my experiences and my emotions with, that’s it!
The second reason why I wanted to open a blog looks almost ridiculous in my eyes right now.
I wanted to give some tips to other travelers (I even created a category called “tips for trips”)…OH REALLY?! on which bases?
The more I think about it, the more the idea sounds crazy and so out of place.
I DON’T KNOW A THING ABOUT LONG TERM TRAVEL!
Yeah sure, I know how to book a plane, pack my stuff decently and how to save money, but at the moment I am the one who really needs some good advice!
So this is a request to whoever is traveling and wants to do some volunteering job. I NEED HELP:) no seriously, contact me or write me a message in here and I will be grateful to you forever!
Last but not least…the bitter part of it all.
The naive idea of using this blog to interact with my family and friends.
Well, I can’t really complain about my friends, they have all been amazing and really supportive so far, I was actually quite surprised by a few of them and this made me incredibly happy.
Sadly my family has been the biggest disappointment so far.
I tried several times to involve them in my project and proudly showed them my blog. I even installed a plugin to translate my posts in Italian, as they don’t know a word of English.
In 4 months they never opened the website, not even ONCE. They simply refuse to listen, to ask any question travel or blog related and they don’t want to get involved too much. This hurts me very much to be honest, and it’s putting a shade over my enthusiasm.
I know that this is something big for them, I also understand their concerns about my safety and that they are probably trying to avoid the subject at all costs.
I know all that, and I’m trying to accept it as a natural consequences of my choices. But some times it is quite hard to swallow the disappointment. You would expect your loved ones to be excited and supportive when it comes to your dreams.
Maybe I’m doing something wrong, maybe I’m not communicating with them as I should.
But I’m new to this and I don’t know how to approach the whole situation. I have so many fears and mixed emotions and yet I feel completely alone in my journey towards the biggest dream of my life.
So that’s it. That’s how I completely changed my mind about my blog.
I turned myself from an automatic distributor of non requested advice to a simple, down to earth, scared girl.
Things changed a lot for me, and I can’t help but wonder: If they changed so much in just 4 months and whilst only planning my trip, what is going to happen when I will actually leave?
This scares me big time but excites me too…I guess I just have to wait and see what happens.
In the meantime, Thanks for reading and helping me with your suggestions, they are very welcome!
Comments
Wheгe сan I buy this theme уou use οn your website?
My blog; Javier
Hi Havier, you can find it on Gab Fire! Cheers
Some people, such as family, don’t always get what your doing. They really think things are dangerous. An example, I hitchhiked about 20,000Km to about 200km of my grandmothers doorstep. Then I called her and told her I was HHing home. She forbid me from doing it “Because I know you hitchhike the world, but it is dangerous around here, too dangerous to hitchhike”. Regardless I hitchhiked and all went well, just like every other day hitchhiking ever.
I know girls half your size who hitchhike the world alone, and they haven’t had any problems.
But no matter what you say, what you do, they will always think your a little bit crazy. But they will still love you, that never changes.
Gl on your trip, lets meet if were in the same country.
-Eric
Hey Eric! thanks for stopping by 🙂
yeah i know, parents always think about the safety part of it all…i guess it’s understandable!
I can imagine your Grandmother wasnt happy about u HHing home! I cant not even start to mention it with my family, and i wont! We need to be brave enough to let go of whatever people say or think and do what makes us happy!
Good luck to u too! hope to meet u somewhere one day!
My dear, we are a bit more “expert” than someone still living home with the desire to go and live abroad 🙂 i receive quite a few emails from friends asking me how to do what i did (and u did too), so i thought that maybe it could be useful for them to put together a short recap!
Of course it all depends on where you want to live…we need to catch up before i leave!
Also for your advice about the tips for trip page 🙂 and THANKS for helping me out! really need ia different point of view! 🙂
Kle, I’m up for it, though 5 years living abroad + 3 years of constant traveling made me realize there’s never anything as “being an expert” in being expat! I could give tips based on some questions but it’s hard to think of any on my own – depends on the country you want to live in, the culture, the stage you’re at, etc etc… but I sure would love to help out on that if you have ideas!!
About “tips for trips?” what about opening an entire website section instead of a thread, that always stays up and you update DURING your experience abroad (with your own tips and other people’s)? Sure you don’t have much experience as a traveler NOW, but in a few months, you will already be a pro and have tips on your own based on fresh experience! In addition to that, mixing with different people’s experience would be amazing and also bring new travelers to the blog!
Keep updating this blog, I’m opening it every day to see if there are news 😉
Mark, i really hope so….it’s quite frustrating atm …xxx
Hey Fede!that’s actually a very good tip! i should open a thread or something with my many questions and beg people to help me out 🙂 my experience as a traveller is below zero! we should actually put together a piece about being expats as well… we both have a vast knowledge on the subject! lol let me know what you think and we can also add someone else in the project..would be great!:)
I think you should consider keeping the section “tips for trips”… just add a question mark at the end, “tips for trips?”!! Have people mail you all the tips they have and add some yourself on your own based on your own experience on the road… it could come out as an interesting section, a mix of tips based on shared experiences of all types!
Hugs! xxx i’m sure your parents are going to be happy for u. Give them some time 😉
Hey! nice site, all posts are very nice, and this one in particular! Sorry about your family, but sometimes they just don’t get what you are doing as they are not familiar with these kind of emotions.
Best of Luck and keep us posted
Thanks! i know its not easy for my family and its true that they are not familiar with my emotions…i hope it getts better! 🙂
Yeah you’re right, parents tend to be conservative, it’s their role after all 🙂 and it would be boring if everybody was just telling me that what i’m going to do it’s amazing isnt’ it??
I’m trying everything with them but is not easy. The only way to cope with it it’s just accept that this is the way it is and carry on! maybe while on the road they will be more interested in what i do…. (especially if there are Dragons involved ahaha)let’s see…
parents are conservative. while they may have been the greatest daredevils in their youths, they will always play it safe if their children are involved. If you ask them for advice on this risky business, the only plausible piece of advice you will get is “Just stop this madness!”. Show them certainty, involve them in obviously minor, trivial issues. Thats how i would do it, in any case: an adventure wouldnt be an adventure if people wouldnt oppose to it (“Ah, yeah, the dragon? piece of cake, just be back before dinner you know your father”)