We've seen it everywhere. Lately, you can't really take a shit without a pop-up showing the mirage of living abroad or on the road constantly, visiting this incommensurate blue marble we're all breathing on and basically leaving everyone and everything behind. I get it, from behind your desk, having sat for at least 4 hours in the same position, with your neck aching and your lower back pulsating because of that damn AC that seems to throw cold air only in your direction, being on a beach in the Bahamas sounds pretty damn good. Take another look at your screen(s) and the hundreds of mails you need to answer or the thousands of Excel tabs you need to go through and you just might understand why people come into their workplaces machine guns blaring. It all seems incredible, right?
Well, I'm here to wake you the fuck up. Yes, I said it. All those commercials are there to sell you something you might actually hate. Take it from me, I've been there, done that, doesn't really matter how I managed to do it. I traveled around the world visiting and living on some of the places people don't ever dare to dream about but you know what I learned? Being away from home isn't exactly for anyone. Hold your shit together and, before you try to bash my head in, just take a moment to actually hear (or read) what I have to say.
Looking at all these bloggers and Instagrammers with lives that simply seem amazing and everything one could possibly wish for, and then comparing what you're seeing with your immediate reality might result in confusing scenarios that will make you loathe your life as it is. I'm here to tell you things aren't exactly as they may seem.
Those people traveling around the world may be happy in one or two snapshots taken along the way but in order to get there some have gone through some really troubling shit. Or they have a ton of money, in which case, they didn't. Who cares about those fuckers anyway, right?
What I'm trying to say is that, first of all, traveling around the world and seeing everything Earth has to offer might not be as easy as they make it seem. All those articles claiming they are making money from blogging or through their websites which are read by millions every months might just be big fat lies. But let's assume they're not. Let's assume you can actually work two or four hours a day and earn enough to travel. Let's assume you can earn that kind of money and you don't have to step into an office everyday, the sole thing needed to do that being an internet connection and a laptop. Today it's very much doable as I find myself in that situation. You know what? Even then you might not be cut out for this sort of lifestyle.
At the moment I am living in LA in a beautiful 3 bedroom house with a nice lawn in the front, a beautiful back yard from which I can see the snowy top of Mount San Antonio, a pool and a Jacuzzi. The works, some would say, right? Well, not really.
While Americans are said to be incredible people, friendly and outgoing, especially in sunny California, I learned the hard way that's not the case. The most problematic issue I'm facing right now is the fact that despite having everything I want, I'm more miserable than ever. Why? Because apparently I can't function all that great away from my friends. Yes, I left out my family because, to be honest with myself, I didn't see them all that often anyway when I was back home. What I miss the most are my friends, people I formed a bond with going through life's most treacherous challenges and having made it out alive on the other side. And life away from them is harder than I imagined.
I left Romania thinking a move to the US would be a great upgrade from all points of view. When I left the situation was dark, with the future being covered by brimstone clouds that blocked any chance of seeing the shallowest bit of sunshine on the horizon. Now things seem even bleaker with few possibilities and opportunities for the young people out there. People would say I'm crazy to leave sunny California for the infested, toxic air of Bucharest. But would you believe me when I say that's all I think about? How I will get back home and see my friends again and start a business where we can all work together to reach higher heights than we ever dreamed of? Probably not, it's not something people admit easily.
Yes, I am here to tell you that living away from home is not for everyone. Especially if you're alone. You start missing even you worst enemy. Hell, at least he/she would be from the same place and would at least understand what you're saying whenever you speak in your mother tongue, even if just to swear or shout in anger.
It was during this time I learned to have considerably more respect for those who, just like me, left their home countries looking for a better life and succeeded. As for me, I don't think I'm gonna last for a lot longer around here and will probably return home on the first chance I get but I just wanted to warn you that you should really consider the challenges ahead when deciding to leave home. It may seem like something easy to do but you cannot comprehend just how hard it will turn out to be. I wish I could describe the feeling you get but some things just can't be described. You have to feel them to understand.
