Until the age of 14 I was quite reluctant to leave the comfort of my parents’ house. Despite the efforts they made to encourage me to go out, see and discover the world, I’d rather stay at home and continue with all my routinary activities.
I spent the whole summer holidays running from tennis courts to a swimming pool, with backpack full of adventure books, a sandwich and deck of cards, which had seen better days and missed the ace of spades.
The summer I turned 13 years old, my parents sent me along with my older sister to a summer camp in Ciudad Real for an entire month, every morning we had English, maths and language lessons. I found it quite boring, and spend most of the time going from a group of kids to another without really fitting anywhere. All the kids were older and in my opinion at this age differences are remarkable, but there I learnt a valuable lesson. I could take my own decisions. Choose whether to do or not, the things I wanted and in anyway, discovered that feeling of freedom that a kid can only achieve when his parents are “out of range”.
From that moment on I started travelling, going on camping, hiking to the mountains, and when possible, decided myself where and more important, with whom I would share these adventures.
Travelling is one of the most rewarding experiences. While travelling you learn to manage all kinds of situations, to cope with unexpected events, and improvise. Like that time I ran out of money and had to spend a few days eating in supermarkets while I pretended to do the shopping. Or that other time when while camping a storm came by, ruined our tents and soaked our sleeping bags.
Travelling shapes your personality, can make you richer than any billionaire can ever be. You make friends with people from other cultures, religions and points of view. You visit unbelievable places which will be vivid memories forever. Well thought, you usually get much more in return than you spent during the journey.
Come on go ahead and travel, discover, feel and live.
