Finally after getting comfortable in Seat 62K (yes at the back of the frigging huge Beoing 747 airplane), I felt relieved that my European tour was over. Over two months of travels through 8 countries with one backpack, camera bag, money belt (A special pocket that I will never tell anyone), best friend since high school, it was time to head back to my second home in the northern city of Hanoi, Vietnam. On a 12 hour flight to Singapore and a 3 hour flight to Hanoi, there is lots of time to reflect on the last few months.It has been a mind blowing event of my life and I am very grateful that I did this with Andy as it was an old high school promise I made with him. Ever since I have left Canada full time three years ago, I cannot express in words or emotions how much traveling has change my perspective and thoughts about life and most important how and why people live differently no matter what part of the earth you live on. Of course there are many similar things such as greetings, eating, watching football (I kid you not!) and sleeping however every country has a different set of cultural norms, a different set of daily etiquette, a different set of human-to-human interactions that we often find challenges our own mental well being and how we were raised.
I am happy that I managed to update the Passionate Traveler's blogsite as much as I can and in addition take many photographs of the places I went to however I realized that when I sit back and look at everything from the big picture, I wish I have found myself searching for more thirst of deep cultural exchanges and human interactions. I knew this was not possible unless I decided to stay in Europe for a longer period of time as it would facilitate the environment in which I can experience more of the cultures and it's long standing history. Two months backpacking through 8 countries has provided me with lots of stories and experiences however if I wanted to see more of it, I will have to come back and pick up where I left.
For those who don't know, I have quit my more than stressful IT management job from the United Nations International School of Hanoi before this trip as I managed to separate my feelings about my professional career to my personal well being. I was physically sick on a weekly basis and also mentally unstable as I was often caught between providing a strong IT support service for teachers & students and at the same time fighting against the evident bureaucracy of upper management who shown little support. Reflecting on these life events, I realized that they are only chapters of my life and it was time to close the chapter and start a new one. I got the professional experience I need and I know when I return back to Canada, I can continue my ambitions with influential events from my past. Taking this two month trip in Europe was perfect for me to gain back the energy and the mental stability that I have lost and now I can go back to those relationships I care deeply for and start a new chapter in my life.
