Philippines: I choose to travel.

 

Growing up in a country that practices the value of close family ties makes it hard living your life the way you want to. It teaches you that family comes first and somehow you are obliged to show them they are your priority. You are expected to build your dreams and aspirations to make your family’s life better before you head out on your own. This may be a noble value but there are times that you have to make a choice and go out of the norm.

When I graduated from college expectations starts to pour on me. My family expected me to find a decent good paying job so that we can have a better life. Since then, this has been my goal. Do the job, get paid, give a part of my income to my family, help with my family’s needs and what’s left of my money is for going out to have coffee or movie with friends or save it for the things I wish to buy. But then my priorities changed when I first had a taste of travelling.

Travelling became the top on my list of the things that I need. From the excitement that I felt when I bought my first plane ticket to riding the plane and landing on my destination. Anticipating the adventure and cherishing the rewarding experience was life fulfilling for me. From then on I decided that I wanted to travel as much as I can, to see the many places I haven’t seen, explore and have countless adventures. When I realized these things, my perception changed. Yes, I do want to give back to my family that I also have to make myself happy and travelling is what makes me happy. So, I started to work and save for my travels and me and my dad argues about it most of the time.

My dad thought that I am being selfish and that I am running away from the responsibilities of giving back to my family. But it’s just him being unfair. I know I have the right to choose where I want my life to be heading. Even though he does not understand it, if I haven’t discovered how fun it is to travel I might got married earlier, have kids and settled on a life that I might be regretting. I know I’m doing my best to provide for both my family’s need and mine.

Travelling taught me to enjoy life first. It showed me there are a lot of things that can offer me a lot of unforgettable memories and experience. You can never settle and you will crave more of the world. You want to see and experience everything.  You’ll be learning more once you are exposed. You will understand the way of living better.

Last June 6, 2015, I decided to take a trip on my own. This is the first time I travelled alone. My itinerary was not as concrete unlike when I am travelling with my friends. But I still decided to go on and take the trip. The experience was liberating. It gave me a sense of how I can handle myself on my own. I was surviving for four days of taking care of myself on a place away from my family and people I know. I only have me. I was saying to myself if I will be able to get this trip done without me getting into any trouble, I’ll be able to take on the world.

 

Travelling is what makes me happy and so I choosing it, even if it means I have to break some values and get out of the culture. Deciding to make travel my priority does not mean I’ll forget my family. Though my dad does not see it, whenever I travel it makes me miss home, it makes me want to come home as soon as I can. To share what I learned from the different places I’ve been to. It’s making me closer to them than before.

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