There is a tiny line between my comfort zone and my discomfort.
Okay. It might be a bit more than a tiny line.
Okay. A creek. A big creek. A big creek with a weird name (Australia, I am talking to you here!).
So, there is a creek between my comfort and my discomfort.
What’s the big difference between a typical life and a backpacker’s life?
The backpacker’s life comes with a lot of great travel stories… and a decreasing of standards.
16 things I would never do back home in my comfy pillow-life AKA the 16 things I only do when I travel:
- Fruit picking
I picked cherries and tomatoes. My expectations, promises and reality are three different things. So, the challenge lasted only a few days or a few hours. A big congrats to those who are good at it. Seriously, what are your tricks?
- Hitch-hiking
I started to hitchhike in Greece to save money on my trips. Then, I became a pro in Western Canada. The thumb is the best friend of the budget traveller.
- Sleeping everywhere as long as it’s cheap or free
From a big hotel to a crowded dorm, from a couch to a tent, from a car to an airport, from an apartment to a house, from a beach to a… -insert another cheap option here-.
- Skipping1, 2,3,4,5, … showers
A shower can become an option. Beach and bath are the same, right?
- Wearing the same clothes 1,2,3,4,5… times
If I did not have the chance to have a shower, I can forget about laundry. Having a good hygiene, what does that mean exactly?
- Sharing a room
Share a dorm is one thing, share an apartment another one, but share a room … is an evil necessity and a perfect option to save money… Especially in Australia!
- Having 9 room-mates
So, I shared a flat with 3 other girls… and with 6 guys in Sydney. Well, it was cheap… and surprisingly clean!
- Working on the street
Yes, I used to be a fundraiser. In Christmas time, I was the one dancing in the middle of pitt street around the famous Lego tree. I also probably tried to stop you so you can listen to my good speech about charities.
- Socializing with strangers
I overused my social skills when I worked on the streets. (Please, read #8 again).
- Being a farmer
A necessity to get another year in Australia! These 40 signs you survived the regional work might remind you some good memories!
- Dealing with crap
Being a farmer in an animal farm also means dealing with crap or… with a crappy job or a crappy boss.
- Digging 1, 2,3,4,5, … holes
If showers are not always available, it’s the same for toilets.
- Living in a car
Australia is a perfect place to enjoy road trips and to live in the “comfort” of a car (perfect compromise to travel to Australia on a budget).
- Agreeing to be natural
The make-up has become a luxury, a treat. As a farmer, a backpacker and a homeless, I do not need to give a face to my face. More than a year without a haircut, I also accepted that my crazy hair will always win.
- Driving on the opposite side of the road
I’m still not fully confident with all these roundabouts (Originally from Canada, we are fanatics of traffic lights).
- Living an English life
My life turned in English for over a year now. Crazy. Who would have thought I will end up in a relationship with an English backpacker and that I would become an imperfectly bilingual blogger?
And you, what are the things you only do when you travel?
If you enjoy this post, find more on my blog!
