Next up: Australia

The journey of a lifetime to the other side of the world

Written by

Dieter

Published

December 19th, 2018

In

Brussels, Belgium

38 Minutes

That’s exactly how long the Australian Department of Immigration needed to approve my application for a Working Holiday Visa. I admitted, deep down some part of me had hoped the expected 22 to 38 working days for processing would bring me postponement of execution. But no. On the contrary. So with no way back, there’s only one thing left for me to do: go have that journey of a lifetime on the other side of the world!

My story started a few months ago, in a church

As I couldn’t stop crying, the coffin and the picture of my happily smiling aunt made awfully clear how short and precious life is. The same aunt had planned on travelling a lot after her retirement. Unfortunately for her, cancer decided otherwise. And in that very moment, on one of those particularly uncomfortable church chairs, I decided for myself that I didn’t want to wait until after my retirement to start doing what I love. It even felt as an obligation to my aunt to live more in the present, carpe diem, and to turn vague dreams into actual plans.

The first weeks were the easiest. Driven by emotional fire, I switched my office job for a more dynamic position in another company, I planned a few new trips and I hung out with friends and family a little more often.

But once Summer was over, something started gnawing at me

I missed the kick of climbing a desolate part of the Chinese Wall, I missed the breathtaking views of sunrises above Indonesian volcanoes, and I definitely missed the epic sense of adventure while getting lost in between Mayan ruines. Combined with the need of a new challenge on a general level, my mind started thinking about a trip to Australia. For a year. Leave everything and everyone behind and take only my backpack with me. But that would be really far and pretty adventurous. Besides, leaving everything and everyone would be a little exaggerated, no? I dismissed the idea, and put it in the trash.

However, I hadn’t counted on discovering Le Pire (The Worst) by Maitre Gîms. The powerful lyric Le pire n’est de pas profiter du temps qui nous reste à vivre (The worst is to not make the most out of the time that we still have to live) instantly took me back to that moment in church and reminded me about the promise I made myself. Hesitatingly, I retraced my steps, and saved Australia from a place full of really bad ideas.

Fast forward a few weeks and my visa is paid for and approved

There’s no way back now. I still don’t have a plane ticket, my stomach completely turns around when I think about what I started and the Netflix series The 72 most dangerous animals of Australia already gave me some nightmares. But I’m looking forward to it so much. So much. I might not have a plan yet, but that’s not necessary. For at least an entire year I’ll be able to do what I want. To live the life I’ve dreamt of. No pressure, no stress. Of course I’ll miss my friends and my family, I’ll suffer from heat and mosquito bites, I’ll feel lonely and I’ll be afraid of every frog that crosses my path (thank you, Netflix). But those are parts of the adventure I’m looking forward to. Living a life full of highs and lows is so much more exciting than the comfort of a regular one.

Still wondering yourself whether or not to take the jump?

If you’re still wondering yourself whether you’d rather buy this beautiful new Honda, or rather spend your money on a journey to the other side of the world, ask yourself what’ll make you the happiest in the long run (hint: Honda will definitely still have some beautiful cars in a year). If that still isn’t enough, go browse the internet for travel blogs (like this one will be one day hopefully). Those cute and usually beautifully written stories will definitely make you want to pack your bags. And once those are ready, you’re only 38 minutes away from Australia…