It always looks impossible until it’s done

Sometimes you feel pretty, sometimes not. Sometimes you feel like you can conquer the world, sometimes you feel the world has conquered you. Sometimes you feel you have reached your goal, and sometimes this is exactly the case. In this case I have certainly reached my goal. Well, not all my goals, but after 5 years of studying I have finally finished my last exams and defended my thesis full of happiness and positivity towards the future. I would say full of energy, but then I would be lying as I am crazily tired.  My life is ready for the next chapter.

With great luck I managed to find enough jobs to work fulltime from July till the end of September and guess what, 8 days later I will be on an airplane to Trivandrum, India, together with Jonas. A new adventure ahead! India, Nepal, maybe Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and many more. Faraway countries, countries of dreams and countries of colour. Or at least for us, because let’s be honest, this is certainly not the case for the many people living in poverty and fighting for everyday life.

Although the adventure has already started a long way before getting on an airplane, I would say we are in the middle of it. The adventure of life. Packing to move, arranging travel insurance, figuring out all the paperwork, trying to earn enough money, reading on which boarders are open and where we can legally drive our own motorcycle, dreaming and planning becoming the same thing. The first boxes are being packed to leave our place in Ghent and we are looking for a place (or places) to stay in or near Ghent during August and September as we are both working in Ghent. To practice, and simply for fun, I am riding my motorcycle as much as possible. It just feels amazing! Feeling the air brush through my hair, seeing the sun go down ahead and nothing to worry about apart from the road passing below my wheels. Nothing to think about except riding. Exactly because of that it is so relaxing. You are alone with your bike, the road and nothing else but your thoughts to accompany you. People always tell me to be careful, to take care, because riding the motorcycle is dangerous. I agree, I really do, but because of this vulnerability the world is just that little bit closer by. There is no metal box around you, protecting you from rain, warmth, wind, insects and cold. So yes, it is more dangerous, and yes, I will be careful, but at the same time I will live and try to experience what I can. I am not saying you should ride a motorcycle, not in any way, but I am saying, live! Enjoy the things that make you feel alive and break through the walls you built to protect yourself, flirt with the boundaries of your own comfort zone and discover what life may bring.