Back in May this year when I should have been revising for my final exams I stumbled across this article: How One Man Realized His Dream of Visiting Every Country on the National Geographic website.
I had already been toying with the idea of taking some time out when I qualified but didn’t know how long I’d have or whether work would even want me back.
This guy confirmed that seeing every country was possible and I decided that’s what I wanted to do. I dreamed of living my life all over the world, ticking off all those “100 places to see before you die” (one of which is space?! Richard Branson if this ever reaches you, please know it’s something I’m keen on doing so please do just get in touch) until I realised that my family naturally worry when I’m driving down the m6 on a Monday morning let alone on a plane into the unknown depths of Africa.
As a result I’ve since reined in my wild dreams of every country and just want to live each day as it comes, planning the next trip instead of doing the audit I should be doing. (I jest I obviously always do all my work and I obviously ❤️ audit).
So when I finally qualified I figured I would take some time out. I say finally because a) 3 years of exams after 3 years of uni after 15 years of school slowly kills you and b) because out of the 15 exams I should have taken, I’ve managed to do 18 – exams are so much more fun when you have to do them twice.
It’s now September 2015 and yes I should have qualified but I’ve learnt such things don’t go to plan and I’ll hopefully be qualified when I’m touring Japan. If again that doesn’t go to plan, I’ll just have to take another 3 months off next year, which I’m totally ok with. Fingers crossed that won’t be the case though.
So anyway, I’ve got 3 months off and I fly out on this world tour 2 days after my final final exam. I’m going to have to remember revision > trip planning.
Currently planned for the first leg of the trip are China, North Korea (DPRK as they prefer to be known) and Japan. Obviously I speak none of these languages and I’m about as British looking as they get so naturally I’ll blend in and no one will ever know I’m this lost English kid looking for a bed for the night.
The Chinese visa has finally been sent off though so once my passport is back in my hands – I’m good to go.
I just need to play the waiting game to get it back.
lifeshouldbeonebigholiday. 