Sabi Shabi column 18-year-old V.S. 28-year-old dreams and travel

I'm 18 years old, and I'm ignorant. It's my first time to go abroad in my life, and I spent three months working and vacationing in the United States.

at the age of 28, it was my first strong tour in my life, and I traveled around Europe for 16 days. A dream of studying in Britain.

when did you start to love traveling? I think it's probably since I was a child. Since I was a child, I often imagined what kind of life I was living on the other side of the world, what topics I was talking about, and how girls my age dressed up every day.

How does the air in foreign countries smell and what it feels like to snow in winter? I am always full of imagination and longing for foreign countries, and my curiosity drives me to go out and see the world.

I didn't grow up with a golden spoon in my mouth. Going abroad is a luxury and a delusion for children who have no financial means. When I was a child, I always admired that some students in my class could go abroad with their families every year. Listening to them sharing interesting things abroad made me want to see another world for myself. I remember that once my parents and I raised the idea of going abroad and were immediately scolded. I remember clearly what my mother said at that time: I want to make money by myself after going abroad!

going abroad is the right of children of rich families. You should study hard and don't think too much. It turns out that going abroad is such an expensive dream.

When I was 18 years old, I finally saw the opportunity. The American Working Holidays provided students with the opportunity to work in the United States during the summer vacation. Every summer vacation in college, I worked hard to earn tuition and living expenses. When I happened to know this news, I felt a glimmer of hope, thinking that I could travel while working! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I told myself I must go anyway!

Perhaps, working and vacationing overseas is very popular nowadays, which is well known to all, but 1 years ago, it was a fantasy for Taiwan Province's parents! As I expected, when my parents learned about it, they almost collapsed, saying nothing and opposing it for the sake of opposition. My mother even told me with determination: If you insist on going, then break off the mother-daughter relationship! If you go to America and get sold, I don't care about you! (In retrospect, I really don't know what 8: was showing, which was an exaggerated and cruel remark.)

In order to prevent me from going abroad, my parents blocked all my financial resources at that time and tried to cut off the financial aid, so I couldn't pay a deposit of 1, yuan, but I didn't give up this dream!

during the year of the family revolution, I worked hard to get three tutors (but I didn't neglect my studies, and I still kept 8 points or more in each subject). On the other hand, I searched the Internet for my predecessors who had worked in the United States, and asked them to share their stories and contact information, hoping that they could endorse the real witness for this project, so as to alleviate my parents' worries. Finally, I found 1 experienced people and compiled their working experience in the United States into a book.

I cried and told her how much I wanted to dream! Finally, my usually serious father was finally moved by my insistence, and one day he told me to go if he wanted! Don't worry about the money. I'll comfort her from mom's side, so you can pursue your dreams boldly! (I can't help crying when I think of the conversation at that time)

▲ I still remember the first time I went abroad at the age of 18 and the first time I set foot in the United States.

▲ The theme park @ Morey's Piers, New Jersey, which I miss so much.

▲ At that time, I took care of my supervisor. Although I worked hard every day, I was very fulfilled.

▲ In America, I made a group of best sisters in my life.

Actually, it's not that my mother doesn't support my dream, but that I'm so afraid that something will happen to me when I go to America alone, so I'd rather not take any risks and just stay in Taiwan Province. Seeing my persistence in my dream, my parents finally compromised!

at the age of 18, I went abroad for the first time in my life and flew to the United States for the first time. I had the most wonderful three-month journey as a student. After returning home, my mother proudly told her neighbors that her daughter was so brave and how excellent it was to go to the United States to work! (I thought that my mother, who was clamoring to break off the mother-daughter relationship with me, actually smiled and shared her daughter's growth joy after returning to China, which was totally different.)

When I was 18 years old, I realized that the world was big and my own shortcomings, and I deeply realized that studying was not for grades, but for the future. Independent thinking also made me more mature and thoughtful with girls of my age, and I knew what I wanted the future to look like when I was young.

Ten years later, at the age of 28, I worked hard for the company for many years after graduation. My work almost occupied all my life, and my enthusiasm was worn away. I almost forgot what I was striving for, whether it was the title on my business card or the monthly salary? I like my job, but I always feel something is missing and there is a vacancy in my heart.

One day, I suddenly wanted to take a long trip, and I wanted to regain my enthusiasm for life. It seemed ideal to take this as a reason to quit my job and travel, and my dream was slowly brewing in my heart. When my family and I put forward this idea, the reaction this time was very different from that of 1 years ago. My mother only said faintly: I have a good job. Do you really want to resign?

what should I do if I can't find a job after returning home? It's almost 3 years old and it's time to get married!

Then, I told her seriously: I have thought it over clearly, so you don't have to worry. Then she nodded, and now that she had decided, she went. (It can only be said that for a rebellious daughter like me, being a mother's heart is also very strong.)

During the 16 days of traveling in Europe, my lovely mother learned how to use Facebook and LINE in order to pay attention to my journey dynamics. From the beginning, her messages always nagged "Pay attention to safety and have a safe trip", and later she became "Wow, baby girl ~ you have lost weight! More and more beautiful! ""Where are we going next? Mom misses you. Parents are like this, they don't say anything, but they are the most supportive in their hearts, silently caring, and learning to grow and change their mentality with you.

I quit my job, get out of my comfort zone, and put aside my sense of security. At this time, I am no longer the brand marketing of a certain big company. If I lose my business card, what am I left with? When I travel alone, I am who I am. I just want to do what I like. My wish is simple.

during the 16 days of traveling around Europe, traveling is a daily life, and every day is an exercise of letting go, emptying yourself and returning to zero. Growing up, we expected to be recognized by the society, and walked carefully on the safe road, thinking that a smooth life is a successful victory group, always enviing others, feeling that we are not good enough, trying to catch up with the imaginary goal, but never really knowing ourselves.

At the age of 28, I started my journey in Europe from scratch, emptying myself again, precipitating again, returning to zero again, getting to know myself again, and practicing solitude and inner dialogue with myself. After a long trip, although my account is empty, my heart is very rich, and it has become a lifelong nutrient and energy. The 28-year-old strong tour made me regain my enthusiasm for life and pick up the courage to dream again.

at the age of 18, the obstacles to your dreams may come from family members' opposition and lack of financial ability, but it doesn't mean that you have to lose the right to pursue your dreams. It is most important to have the support of your family when you are young. Communicate with your parents in a positive and mature manner and let them know that you are really grown up and can be responsible for your own decisions. If you are still young and have a dream of traveling, congratulations, the sooner you can connect with the world, the most wonderful thing in life. If your dream is firm enough, I believe that your passion for pursuing dreams will not only touch yourself, but also shake people around you.

at the age of 28, the biggest obstacle to my dream is myself. When I was a child, I dreamed boldly without fear, but the pressure of work and life was day after day, and I almost forgot my inner dream and the original intention of my efforts. I only have one life, so I always have to give myself a wonderful adventure.

I'm not born brave. Money, time and other issues used to be my biggest worries, but in fact, "determination" is the biggest key. When you make up your mind to accomplish something, these are not problems. Once you set foot on this road of dreams, you have to go through it even if it collapses. Because this is a dream!

No matter how old you live, don't give up the right to dream! A life without dreams can only go round and round forever. "Persistence" can lead to the most beautiful scenery in life.

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