A Crazy Idea
I had a crazy idea today. I mean it’s one of those ideas that’s so big and time consuming that makes you question everything. An idea that will change everything in my life. My idea is I want to visit every country known. Now, I know your like Taylor you can’t go to the Ukraine or North Korea or Russia. Or how are you going to do that without running out of money? Well you see sometimes you just have to do and everything else will fall into place.
This idea has been with me for the last couple years. Their is a girl named Lexi Alford from the USA who visited every country by the age 21. This is when I first realized it was possible. Lexi and I however had different childhoods. While I was in elementary school and spending my summers in Ontario, Canada, she was off visiting 73 countries with her travel agent parents. Now, that makes me very jealous but I loved my childhood and it’s not good to compare. In Europe you can drive through 7 countries in one or two days and she did some of this. I am however going to stay away from this, spending a couple days in a couple different cities in each country with the exception of small countries like; Holy See, Andorra, San Marino, etc. (I bet you don’t even know where those countries are located.)
This is the plan. You know execution wise I am still figuring out the details. I am going to need to make money, live cheap and enjoy it enough to keep going. Money will always come. I can get a working visa quite easily to Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, etc. All of which speak English. I would happily work in a pub or farm to keep this goal alive. I can teach English online or Nanny for room and board. Honestly, I’m not to worried about money and some of the poorest people I know have the most money. Being rich is having experience, adventure and stories to tell. I’m much happier with my backpack somewhere random then sleeping in my house with every comfort but being in my hometown.
I don’t want to live super cheap. I still want some comfort and being able to enjoy restaurants and alcohol when I want. I will have to change some things but I think for the most part I won’t have to change too much. I am going to try hitchhiking more frequently, not only to save a bit of money but I also think it’s an adventure within itself. I’ll try it first in a booming country like; Italy or Germany and maybe avoid it in the Middle East (but maybe not). I am also thinking of cycling from Cairo to Cape Town sleeping in a tent with only a bicycle for a mode or transport. If you want to join me on this adventure get in contact. I would like company for this trek.
I’m going to try to chase summer. I don’t like being cold (who does). Living out of a backpack there is not enough space for hoodies, sweatpants, winter boots, etc, when Europe starts to cool down in October I’ll move to a warmer climate even if I don’t hit every country. (I’ll come back to go to the countries I miss, waiting a year till summer comes back). Which means I’ll probably go to Africa, South East Asia or the Australias after Europe.
What is considered a country? Well to be honest I don’t even know what’s considered a country however google does and it says there are 193 of them. Although I am going to say 195 or 196 because I am counting Taiwan and Kosovo. (This is mostly because I’ve already been to Taiwan and I just want to flex). Which means I still have 169 countries left.
Why travel to every country? Well to be honest it’s a calling. I have done a lot of things. Volleyball, modelling, working, going to post secondary and the only place I feel I belong at the moment is overseas. I have tried moving to other cities in Canada (Ottawa, Toronto). I have tried moving to other countries (Italy, Costa Rica) but even then I just want to keep moving, exploring, meeting people. This is my quest in life and I am going to complete it. Plus it makes me happy and isn’t that what life is all about?
What about the countries you cannot go too? Well no surprise there are dangerous countries like Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen but I’ve already been to the most dangerous country in the world (according to google, based killings) El Salvador. I had a wonderful time I even hitch hiked for the first time. Media just shows what it wants you to believe to justify starting a war in some of those countries even though sometimes it’s just for the government benefit. What I am trying to get at is sometimes it’s not as bad as it seems. I will however skip over some of those harder countries because of visas and hiring tour guides, etc and go back to them on a later date.
How long will this take me? Well considering there are a 169 counties I haven’t visited and say I spend a week in each one it will take me over 3 years. I plan to stay longer in some countries, like Australia to work. I will total this and say it is my 5 year plan. I don’t want to rush my exploration. Which means I will be 26 years old when I complete this goal. I’m not worried and I have a feeling everything will work out. If I come back to Canada at 26, live at home and broke then I will be like every oil patch worker ever but without the cocaine addiction. Just kidding. In reality at 26 I will have done so much with my life that it won’t matter how much money I have or that I don’t have an ‘education’ because if I can go to every country ever then I can also find a career that best suits me.
Won’t I get lonely or homesick? The answer is yes I will. To get what you want takes sacrifices. I am not afraid to be lonely in fact the time I felt most lonely is when I was relationship. Funny how it works out. Are you lonely in Canada? Personally I rather be lonely in the Bahamas then in Grande Prairie. If I do get really bad homesick then I will go back for a couple months, work my ass off until I want to go somewhere new. Also I have friends around the world and I’m excited to see them.
What does this mean? It means if you want to come travel just ask. I will say no if I don’t think our vibes match (however that’s rare). Wouldn’t it be cool if we went to Egypt, Argentina or Fiji together? If you feel like an adventure come along to a couple countries everyone is invited. In Colombia I spent a month with an Argentinian gentleman that I previously met in Europe for only two days, two and a half years earlier. (A later story). If that doesn’t say put yourself out there and ask I don’t know what does. I’ll plan something cool for us to do on a relatively low budget.
Anyway, whether this works out (which it will) or not I rather try and fail then to not try at all. What’s the worst that can happen? I fly back to Canada after visiting some pretty rad countries with a whole bunch of cool stories. The worst that can happen in my opinion is I finish my power engineering, fall in love, get married, have a child but yet the whole time I’m wondering what if and regretting not trying when I had the opportunity. (Some people that’s their dream life which is super cool and I am glad for you, it’s just not mine). This moment is the youngest I’ll ever be so why not do something I want to do? I got this!
I’m back bitches. Not sticking to a schedule just posting when I want too. I leave tomorrow to visit my Bulgarian boyfriend or Papi, in Ibiza (sorry to my other bf’s luv u all). Which meeting him is another story I’ll have to tell one of these days. Also I feel a bit like a degenerate visiting Ibiza twice by the age 21 but yolo.
xoxoxo
(First time in Ibiza) 2019