There I was, standing among the great rock sculptures that define Easter Island. The giant Moai were in their timeless stance, staring down at me as the ocean waves crashed against the rocky coastline. Horses wandered freely, foraging for nutrients amid the volcanic rocks that dominate the landscape of this island, lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It had been a long and harrowing journey for me to get there in more ways than one, but it was a journey that had set me free. Free from a relationship that had been suppressing and suffocating me in ways I was only beginning to understand. Free from a life I knew in my heart wasn’t meant for me and free to spend 6 weeks of bliss exploring South America. Freedom that only travel can bring.
Rewind 3 weeks. My long-term boyfriend and I had been going through a difficult time. There wasn’t any fighting, yelling, hurt feelings or the usual stuff that you think of when it comes to break-ups. We had been avoiding the elephant in the room for some time now, only to find that ignoring the problem doesn’t simply make it go away. No, this elephant had been growing steadily, ever increasing in size until one day, I just couldn’t ignore him anymore. He had been smothering and suppressing the real me for too long, trying to force me into a role that I simply wasn’t meant to play: I don’t want to have children. My boyfriend had always talked about starting a family one day and when we first got together, all those years ago, I was young and hadn’t really given parenthood much thought. I figured that one day I would want to start a family like everyone else. That maternal instinct would appear out of the blue and my boyfriend and I would get married, buy a house and have kids. But almost 7 years into the relationship that maternal instinct had yet to show its presence in me and I was feeling cornered, suffocated, panicked at the thought of giving up my life, my dreams of traveling the world, for a baby and a mortgage. It was a countdown to the end of my life and start of one I didn’t really want. But saying that out loud, acknowledging that fact would mean a break up from my best friend, my confidant, my partner in crime for all those years. This was the man I loved and thought I’d spend my life with. It was a thought too horrible for either of us to consider, thus we left the elephant alone. All the while he grew bigger and bigger until one day I had to speak up.
And so 2 weeks before my trip the elephant was finally kicked out of our lives for good. We broke up, mutually acknowledging but hardly accepting the fact that we would no longer be a “we”. I had had this 6 week backpacking trip to South America planned for 6 months now and it finally dawned on me that it had been my unconscious escape plan all along. Then the day came. I boarded a plane alone and flew to Santiago, Chile to meet up with a girlfriend, unsure of what life I would be returning to at the end of my trip. Together we made our way to the remote Easter Island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, to explore a strange new land. Our first day on the island we set out to walk the coast line with no real plan or itinerary. We were letting the universe guide us and I have never felt so free in my life. Free to finally be myself, free to finally say that I don’t want to have kids without worrying about the consequences. I had faced my worst fears and had nothing left to loose. I was free from any expectations of what my life should be, free to simply be there in the moment. I relished in this new found freedom and independence, one that is only magnified while on the road. That day was one of my best days traveling, as we wandered along an unmarked dirt road beside the coast. Discovering Moai statues that had tumbled over and unmarked lava tubes/caves that simply dropped off into the ocean, I felt like an explorer uncovering a lost world. The wildness of this little island, off in the middle of nowhere, set me free. I knew that although heart-broken over the end of a wonderful relationship, I had made the right decision for myself. I was a strong, independent person and I knew that I would be able to find my way in this incredible world.
About the Author: Jill Naprstek is new to the travel writing and blogging world, having recently started her own blog called AdventureJ.com. While she lives and works full time in Ottawa, Canada as a Paramedic, this adrenaline junkie suffers from wanderlust and seeks out new and exciting adventures both at home and abroad.
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Intrigued to experience Easter Island? WSGT found these travel books and gear to help you prepare.
Lonely Planet Chile and Easter Island: The best travel guide in the world.
Travel Pants: Good all around pants are an essential item on any trip.
A pocket knife: It’s always good to have a pocket knife in certain situations.
