Assumptions Travellers Hate

I’m sure most other travellers will know exactly what’s coming when I say ‘assumptions travellers hate’. Yep, its the classic “when are you going to get into the real world?”, “you cant travel forever”, “sounds like you’re running away from your problems”. ENOUGH! We are not running away! We are running into something that excites us, motivates us and gives us something we can barley even explain to the outside world. They just don’t get it. How can you explain something you cant understand yourself. How do you explain a feeling, an emotion?

Because, that’s what travel is to me. It’s how it makes me feel. Something so incredibly hard to explain. If you are an avid traveller too, you will know this feeling. It’s that smile that creeps across your face when the sunlight weaves it’s way through the trees in that perfect orange glow. It’s that warmth you feel when you are welcomed into a new culture. And it’s the anticipation of arriving to a new place and wondering what your journey will become. This is what draws me in time and time again.

However I feel I’m always having to defend myself and my values and explain why I do what I do. These are some of the most common misconceptions:

When are you going to stop travelling and get real?

Get real? What does that even mean?! You mean when am I going to get a 9-5 job, stare at the same 4 walls everyday, come home, watch tv and go to bed- day in day out. Is that normal? Does doing the above things mean you have made it in life, have a good quality of life and are happy? Is that what we must strive to be? Anyone doing anything other that that is strange and not conforming. Why do we need to be in one place, one office, with a continuous routine to be accepted as ‘normal’?

Maybe I’m not ready to live that life. I don’t want to be sitting at home or work imagining all the things I will do one day, until I realise that suddenly I’m 80 years old and one day has since long passed. While I’m young, have the freedom and little commitments then why not?! This is the perfect time before starting a family or career and focusing on other commitments.

I’ve been told before that I’m not living reality. Well what makes reality- a boring routine day in day out? I’m sure there can be more than one reality- it may be different from the majority of people but does that make it better or worse. No, it’s what’s right for you. One day maybe the 9-5 thing will be my ‘reality’. Maybe not. I don’t think one is better than the other. This is how I’m choosing to live my life and that’s fine for me, so why is it an issue for people? I’m sacificing a career over having little money but being able to travel. Others may have to career but are not able to take long breaks from work. Its a choice and this is my choice.

Are you running away from your problems?

Huh! Every time, someone has to ask it! I’ve been asked this question or it’s been assumed so many times now its just annoying. Travel in itself is a form of escapism, agreed. You’re a million miles from home yes, but that does not mean that’s the sole reason I choose to travel. I’m not running away from problems and as I think any traveller will tell you- problems will follow you. If something is on your mind at home then it probably will be once you hit the road. There are more distractions when you’re travelling but that same worry/problem will linger. I mean solo travelling is a great way to sit back and reflect on your life, figure out any issues and generally have a good overview of what you would like to change (if anything). This is not the same as running away.

I don’t travel to fix my problems- I travel because I love it. There’s no reason bigger than that. Its just me.

Are you ever going to settle down?

Yes of course! Ii would be great to have a nice home and start a family and I wonder why people would assume otherwise. I was being asked this question in my mid- twenties though. I mean…seriously, again with the ‘norms’. Just because I’m travelling a lot now does not mean I will be to this extent for the rest of my life.

Yes, travel will always be a part of my life but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want children and to settle down. I would love that one day but it seems like there’s another rule that after the age of 25 you need to suddenly come home, get a ‘real job’ and buy a house! If you do anything different your abnormal or rebelling. So yes, I do want to settle but when I’m ready to do so.

Are you travelling just for a good Instagram photo?

Oh my. Where do I begin with this one. Firstly I’m not travelling to put up photos on social media, to show off or to get as many likes as possible. I’m travelling for myself. My social media photos are just a product of my accomplishment that I want to share. They are my life and I am proud of them.

Getting into the travel bogging world of course I’m starting to plan my pictures to take images for blog posts I will be working on but this is not the actual reason I travel. Its part of my travelling that I do for my website. Sometimes I see a place in a magazine and think ‘I would love that photo’ – it does not mean I’m going there solely to ‘get a photo’ – it’s the journey along the way and seeing a new place that’s the draw. The photo is something to show where I have been.

I love photography, I’m an amateur but I just take photos of everything when I travel and love looking back at past photos and seeing all the things I’ve done. They hold so many memories for me and I remember things that have been forgotten otherwise. They are special too me. So when people ask why I feel the need to take photos or that I’m just travelling ‘just to get a good photo’, it bothers me. Yes, I do want a good photo- I want to practise my photography and maybe even sell a few prints in which I do need a good photo. It is not to get as many likes on social media, its for myself. A hobby that fits perfectly well with my other hobby- travelling.

If you are a traveller I’m sure you would have come across at least one of these assumptions about travelling. I feel like its so hard to explain to someone who doesn’t understand why we travel, so inevitably there will be questions, judgements and assumptions. Sometimes they do get to you but I try to just keep on going with my life. I want to look back at all the adventures I’ve had with no regrets that I missed my chance. I travel for adventure, to see different cultures, try new foods, photograph incredible landscapes, hike to amazing waterfalls and to live the life I want. Like I said before its hard to explain, its just part of me.

Hope you enjoyed that post on assumptions travellers hate. Comments more than welcome.

Going deeper: Why I Will Never Stop Travelling

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