“Family and friends – in my eyes the greatest importance of technology is that it allows us to connect no matter how far apart we are.”
There are people who have always had an open mind about what they want to do in their lives. They choose the GCSE’s and ALevel’s in the subjects that they enjoy and then they go to university to study what they think sounds interesting. They often leave their degree and still not know what they want to do in their life. You may expect a woman who will travel the world in a van to be one of those people – but I am not that woman.
I had a concrete path I worked towards. I would be a Clinical Psychologist. I did A-levels that would help me in my degree (Psychology, Maths, Biology and History). Alongside this I made sure I got experience to build my CV. I did this by working as a personal tutor for since 2010, an assistant psychologist, a support worker for adults and children with Autism, a baby sitter, a house sitter, a Nanny, a special needs teaching assistant and a waitress. I achieved a first class degree in psychology with an integrated clinical placement year (while working 3 jobs) and I was ready to start on the next step towards my career. This would be a 1 year masters and then a 3 year Clinical Psychology doctorate. Full disclosure, I was rejected from my top choice of university to study my masters. Despite my hard work, extensive experience, good references and high-class degree, I was rejected before my degree results were released. I felt for a while that this may be a pattern through life, you do all the steps and all that is necessary but still someone out there will tell you that it is not enough. Tell you that you’re not enough. So, I decided to take a different path for a while.
I have known for years that I wanted to Work Away and travel as much as possible. At the age of 20 I found out that I can fly to a country and work for my food and accommodation. Some people around me at the time said to me that It was modern day slavery. To me though – this is perfect. It would allow me to be in a country for longer, experience the culture and different parts of the country while cutting the costs. I looked into Working Away in Japan. It sounded like a great opportunity. At this time I had already booked an Air BnB apartment for me and my brother to share. We were able to find the cheapest flights and traditional private accommodation for £500 for 5 weeks. So I decided that next time this is what I would do. I was 20 and my brother was 18 and we were exploring Japan alone. It cost us a fortune and it took ages to save enough, but what is work and money for if not to do things like this when you get the chance?
A month-long trip to Hungary August 2016 showed me that there is so much of the world to see. There are cheaper and calmer places to live. There are places where people live less modern lives, with more farming and sustainability.
So, why not just move to Hungary? I didn’t work in Hungary so I didn’t experience the working life myself. I know from my Hungarian friends and my partners family that the life is definitely not described as being easy. Quiet the opposite. Once again, there is lots of work and even less money out of it than in London. Maybe it’s not the environment you’re in. Maybe it’s the modern cycle of working just to make ends meet and constantly waiting for weekends, holidays or retirement.
Am I running away from working? No, I have always loved working. I started working to pay rent when I was 17 but I started working at 15 because I enjoyed it. I love being a support worker, helping those who experience special needs and meeting amazing people. I love teaching and helping young people reach goals that will improve their lives. But why do I need to do that in one place for my whole life? Who made that rule? Who formed that social norm? As a psychologist or a teacher wouldn’t it be better if I experienced different cultures and education systems? In a van travelling the world I will work. I will teach, I will support, I will meet people, learn to farm and pick fruit too! It’s not running away from work, for me it’s working for a real living.
So from these experiences and with these thoughts in mind I have chosen a life off the modern path. I have decided that in August 2018, I will be flying one-way to Hungary with my partner. We will renovate our camper-van ourselves. We will work away and find paid jobs around the world until we decide to return.
No more waiting for the weekend. I will enjoy every day that I have.
Off The Modern Path 