“What do you want to do with your life?” is a question that most of us have tried to answer at one point or another. “Run away to Africa and live in a tent” is my standard response, although alternative timelines include, “live off the grid and make my own soap”, and “eat all of the strawberries in the world and not share them with anyone ever”. These goals tend to test poorly both on dates and at parties.
I am an elder Millenial, part of the micro-generation Y, equal parts casual disdain for authority, entitled narcissist, and vigilante for a better tomorrow. We were raised with the notion that we will grow up to be and do anything we want, as long as we applied ourselves. Only being 1/3 narcissist, I can recognize the roles others played in my success and consider myself incredibly fortunate; I grew up with the resources and support which allow me to pursue such fiscally-questionable dreams without ruining my life. So, when the timing was right (although honestly, the timing is never quite right for these things), I quit my job, sold/donated/gifted nearly everything I owned, packed the rest into a 2004 Honda Pilot, said goodbye for now or forever to my boyfriend, and drove 2,747 miles across the United States to **see my family before heading to the mother continent. I stopped at every scenic viewpoint along the way as a deep vein thrombosis preventative.
I leave in two days. In the immortal words of Kevin McCallister, “This is it. Don’t get scared now.”
**take advantage of free storage
Jen in Africa 