A Change in My Life

A Change in My Life

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Truthfully it feels scary – how time rolls so fast and there’s no way to turn back. Everything that I did since university till now, it just went quickly.

A year in Australia, gone in a snap.

Now I’m at the age of a quarter century. I started to worry about my future. It’s time to get real.

Traveling has become a part in my life. I am so grateful that I can travel a lot since young.

For the last four years, I moved many times, jumped from one place to another.

I could be in Vietnam for weeks, hit Malaysia for several months, back to Jakarta for work, flew to South Korea for a month, and did work and holiday in Australia where I spent the longest time in one place, Sydney, 10 months and finally break the record!

However, the excitement to travel starts to fade away

I completed my work in Australia end of September and started to travel for six-month long. It’s hard to say that I enjoyed the whole experience.

I felt exhausted on the road- checked-in to a hostel, walked around to see the attractions, packed up, and move, always the same routine.

It really got into me after a while, I just wanted to end this quickly.

Long travel makes me realize that I have no close friends around. I do make some good friends but then I have to leave and I’m not sure when we will be able to meet again.

I still keep in touch with them but I don’t know how long it will last after being apart for so long. I

met many inspirational travelers from around the world. I could add 50 friends in a week on facebook from group tours that I joined.

It’s true- less close friends brings more essence than lots of acquaintances.

Deep in myself, I am no longer thrilled with quick travel. I would rather stay long in one country and immerse into that particular experience.

I wanna feel how locals live- what they eat, how their culture impacting their lives, where they go and hang out, the political situation, etc.

I am still dreaming to study language in China for 1-2 years, volunteering in India for six months to a year, or continuing my master degree in Europe.

I think it’s time for me to settle down

The word settle down used to creep me out but as the time goes by, thinking about my future creeps me even more.

I am twenty five years old now, a young age if I follow my western thinking.

However, as an Asian, 25 years old is considered as the age where you are stable enough to have a good career and to start a family, especially for woman.

Plus, I have demanding parents and they’re getting older.

Like it or not I have to put aside my own selfishness to travel and start to give them more attention and support them financially.

Looking at my friends who are well-established in their career and business, I feel like I am more demanding now.

There are things that I still wanna achieve, such as; setting up a business, involving more in society and NGOs, own a house, being financially secured so that I can manage to travel longer and better.

Also, I have received helps for so many years from my family and friends, now it’s time for me to give back and being the one who helps people.

I need to take consideration on many aspects, collecting back the puzzles of my life.

I need to create my goals and direct myself to reach the goals.

For now, I stop myself from traveling for long term.

Maybe I’ll still do some short vacation but not as frequent as before.

Meanwhile, I am focusing on my self-improvement, broaden my circle, earn some money, and work on things out.

So, you might not hear a lot about my travel or seeing me posting pictures on instagram but, I will try to write and update my blog constantly.

Good luck for myself!

Cheers.

 

 

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Comments

16 responses to “A Change in My Life”

  1. Celeste Bareiro Avatar

    All the best, girl! I agree that travelling intensely staying little time on each place can be quite demanding. Stop, recharge, replan and you will see where life takes you 🙂

  2. Trisnawati Andini Avatar

    Good luck kak velyz! God bless 🙂

  3. Velysia Zhang Avatar

    Thanks Celeste, all the best for you as well! Enjoy your life 🙂

  4. Velysia Zhang Avatar

    Thank you, God Bless You!

  5. Rhonda Albom Avatar

    Lots of decisions, but none have to be forever. I still travel and then stop for a while, then travel for a year, then settle down, and I am in my 50s. Life is short.

  6. Velysia Zhang Avatar

    Yep, Life is too short, better enjoy it while we can 🙂

  7. Ransel Usang Avatar

    memang ada kalanya untuk bisa mengontrol dan mengetahui kapan kita memberi jeda istirahat seperti koma dan berhenti lama seperti titik yang tidak tau kapan dimuali lagi dengan kata apa.

    sama halnya usang yang tak terasa mengasingkan diri di entah berantah dan mengganggap jalanan menjadi rumah dalam perjalanan mencoba mengelilingi Indonesia dengan segala keterbatasan atau nekat.

    usang sekarang telah memasuki bulan ke 18 perjalanan menjadi pengembara yang bertahan hidup dengan segala cara.terima kasih atas tulisanya,karena usang mulai berfikir kembali tentang perjalanan ini akan berlanjut atau menyudahinya

  8. Ridho Avatar

    Mungkin kamu terlalu bercermin sama lingkungan kamu, Vel. Yang sebenernya orang-orang di sekeliling kamu justru iri dengan segala capaian yang udah kamu dapat di usia ini.

  9. Dan Johnson - hellomisternet Avatar

    It's not always easy or satisfying to burst from place to place. I agree that slowing down and really trying to integrate with the local culture is a great idea. I've been lucky enough to do both. My life in Indonesia is very different from 'back home' and I enjoy short and long trips around the country! I've also 'settled down' so maybe it is possible to have a satisfying career, a family life and amazing travel experiences!

  10. Velysia Zhang Avatar

    Iya ada benernya juga sih hehee. Setelah itu mau coba balance life aja. Traveling iya, usaha juga iya hehe. Tapi gw bersyukur kok dengan segala pencapaian ini, hahaha. Thank you

  11. Velysia Zhang Avatar

    Yep, couldn't agree more. It's good to be settled while can still traveling to amazing places!

  12. Velysia Zhang Avatar

    Wahh, lama ya 18 bulan, sampai kapan rencana?

  13. Elvira Edison Avatar

    Hi Vel, I really enjoy reading your post about this. I am 25 as well and have a same thought as yours. I have alot places on my list I wanna go but too little time and too many life commitments I have so I really feel you! 🙂

    1. Velysia Zhang Avatar

      Yes!! Complicated stuff, but life must go on, I’m trying to take it easy, good luck for both of us! 🙂

  14. Ying Avatar

    I read this post and thought I could relate to it when I was 25 years old. I think I had the same thoughts, at 25, at 26, at 29! In the end, I probably ‘settled’ down at the age of 30 and now that I’m 35, I want to be all over the globe again. My tip is not to worry about when you want to settle down or compare your lives with your friends. If you want to hold a permanent job and build a social life around it, go for it. But don’t feel pressured just because your friends are doing it. One pasteur is definitely not greener than another. Work with what you have and build something that brings you joy. Good luck fellow wanderer!

    1. Velysia Zhang Avatar

      Hi Ying,

      Thanks so much for your tips. Your words truly comfort me, to be honest 🙂 I’ll try my best to enjoy life. I’m lucky enough though to be able to travel a lot hehe

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