Week 15: Focus on the present and what is good

Week 15: Travel Regrets

My travel regret is to have never done a study abroad whether it was a yearlong or even a week. This is a MAJOR thing I wished I changed in my twenties. At the time I was working as a waitress to pay for the school items, rent, entertainment, clothes, and whatever my financial aid could not cover. If I could afford to take an (unpaid) internship even if it’s 8 hours per week, I would.

And ugh…the biggest one was…at the time I was in an on-and-off relationship that should have ended 2 months in my sophomore year but lasted for an awful, tumultuous 2 years. That was a waste of time. Once I broke free, I enjoyed the remainder of what was left of my university years. All the things I did before dating that guy were on hiatus. Before that guy, I went to France, Japan, Canada, and 24 of the states in the U.S. and wanted to go to more.

If I were to turn back the clock to my freshmen year, I would not mind being single and NOT dating anybody all four years. I’d be happier and I would not have to “stay put” to fix anything. Maybe I would have traveled abroad during my college years even if it means my diet would consist of only ramen noodles, spinach, and apples.

Instead wistfully thinking of all the things I could have done right during my university years, I am going to focus on the present and what is good.

After university, I was lucky I found a full-time professional job two weeks after graduation.  It was 2009 and we were still in the recession. There were not a lot of entry level professional jobs at the time. It looks like my superpower was that I knew people and these people I worked well. I knew people who boasted extensive resume of internships during their university years who still could not find a job for a year after graduation.

Also of course through my 20s I traveled a fair amount. I went to Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, New York, Italy, Costa Rica, and in November I’m going to Iceland. I’ve revisited a lot of national parks, camped out a few nights, revisited San Francisco and Seattle many times over, and oh yeah…we went to Portland.

I may have not had that dream university experience but that is ok. After college, I worked really hard to get that life I wanted and it was more than I ever ask for. Maybe that is why I am ambivalent about grad school. I am simply enjoying life.

Status on grad school? About that, I applied and they asked for letters of recommendations and I could start in spring. For me, it gave me some time to incubate my thoughts. Between July to now, I was so exhausted with my work travel and the feel of being pulled in so many directions. I barely gave it any thought. In fact, I realized with my work load at that time, how would I dedicate my time to school if I am feeling so burnt out all the time? I plan to continue to work full-time while doing my Master’s, but my concern is what if I’m not too putting in my all because I’m tired all the time.

Read more posts from the Travel Blogging Challenge:

Week 1: Your Favorite Travel Photo of You and Intro
Week 2: Little Known Travel Tips
Week 3: Funny Travel Story
Week 4: Travel Misadventures
Week 5: Top three cultural foods
Week 6: Unusual Travel Activities and Photos
Week 7: Inspiration for traveling
Week 8: 5 Favorite Blogs
Week 9: Gross/disgusting travel stories
Week 10: Best adventures while traveling
Week 11: What’s in my backpack?
Week 12: Happy and Sad Travel Stories
Week 13: Unique Cultures Encountered 
Week 14: Top 3 Travel Destinations

Who else is doing the challenge?

• Journey Through the Trees – Victoria
• Wandering Outside the Box – Winta
• Trouvaille, Mon Cher – Aly
• Simply Emily – Emily
• Benjamin Lessard – Benjamin

Interested in participating in the Weekly Travel Blogging Challenge? Feel free to make your own today!