Wandering Ying

HOW DID I DO IT?

I’d  written a little anecdote on my CouchSurfing profile that explained why I packed and chose to walk the Open Road but strangers who took a peek on my profile usually followed up with a question, ‘How’?

I suppose if I were a young, Caucasian female with a passport from any developed, first world countries (mainly Europe, the US, Australia & NZ, Japan and Korea) or if I’d worked abroad, the absence of the How part in my profile wouldn’t invoke that much curiosity but alas, I am your average petite girl-next-door from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia who neither have a trust fund, a dual nationality, a winning lottery ticket nor a rich partner to start my journey with. At the age of 22 years old, I was earning a salary good enough for a young graduate in Kuala Lumpur but not good enough to meander and live out of a suitcase. How did I get to see all these countries within such a short time? How did I manage to live in London, Amsterdam and Genova? How did I manage to make this life sustainable (even if I’m actually a little weary of it now)? I am not a genius and I don’t have any particular skills or talent that made me a little more extraordinary than the rest so the question still remains, how did I do it?

It was true that eventually, at some point along the road, when I was faced with the crisis of the empty bank account, the Italian Cruise ship company that I had applied to 8 months ago, miraculously sent me an email asking me if I was still interested in the Crew Lecturer job and as one of the main perks of the job was a good salary and an offer to wake up in a different country every day (literally), I thought I had died and gone to heaven BUT still people beseech, how did I get SO lucky? How did I even know about the job? Why did they hire me-a mere Malaysian without much experience and accolades-for the job?

Okay, I can’t really explain how the Divine (God or Life whatever label that you choose to apply) works but as the years rolled on, time has allowed me to look in hindsight at how the dots connected and the only conclusion that I can draw from the fabulous dots that now make up the celestial map of my life is that the greatest assets I had at that time were passion, time and relentlessness.
My passion to taste raw life experiences that travel could bring made the shy me go out and start connecting with strangers. I put the Internet to good use. I signed up for a CouchSurfing profile and started to discover through the travelers that I hosted or met for coffee that there are worlds within this world waiting to be discovered. I stalked down backpackers through forums and blogs and bombarded them with questions. Never mind if I couldn’t find another Malaysian backpacker-I picked the brains of travelers of every nationality and absorbed whatever relevant information that I could find. I devoured Thorn Tree Forums, Boots & All, Brave New Traveler, and whatever websites that I could find so that I could continuously be inspired by these brave explorers who again and again proved that this path is feasible.
I asked really stupid questions but I got encouraging answers. Soon enough, I started to meet the right people like Steve-an angel who came in a disguise of a nomadic American CouchSurfer who taught English to fund his wanderlust. He not only offered me information and encouragement but he took me under his wing like a mentor and gave me tutorials on how I could do the very same. Like a Master, he started to ask very Zen like questions like, ‘What are you waiting for? Why are you not out there trying to do what I’m doing? What are you afraid of?’ His support and constant kicks in the ass made me dare move out of my comfort zone. He even offered to lend me some money so that I could start my journey. After I left Kuala Lumpur, I went on to meet other strangers (now friends) in hostels or public transportation who lent me money, gave me advice, shared with me stories and each step I took, I was rewarded with more confirmation that the Law of Attraction do work after all.

While I was traveling, I occasionally wrote articles to fund my travels but I didn’t spend all that much anyway. Poverty kept me tight fisted but also more creative and appreciative of unconditional kindness that strangers showered upon me. I didn’t plan nor can I see ahead of what lie ahead but I trusted my gut. That leap of faith that I initially took when I left reminded me constantly that I first have to leave the shores of my homeland before I start discovering other places. There were many times when exhaustion overwhelmed my wanderlust or sheer loneliness that made me crave for familiar comforts of home but
I soon realized that when one door closes, another opens. Despite how clichéd it may sound, I’d still insist that you gotta have faith.

Steve first told me about this Crew Lecturer position when I was still attached to a magazine company in Kuala Lumpur. He said, why don’t you apply because I think it’s a perfect job for you. I said, don’t be crazy, they wouldn’t want to hire Malaysians to lecture their crew members. He quizzed, are you going to apply or are you going to sit on your ass and complain and make up your own assumptions? It’s dangerous to blame your nationality for every obstacle that you may encounter because you’d never learn to take responsibility for your life.

So heeding his advice, I applied but I got rejected. I applied for the position of a hostess too but no reply. I wailed. Steve said, well, so what if you are rejected? Are you going to travel like you said you will? I said I MAY BE CRAZY but I’m not stupid. I can’t sustain myself. I only have about 1000 bucks. It won’t last too long. Steve said, go where that takes you. When you run out of money, figure it out then.
I was in Amsterdam when I did run out of money, got my heartbroken and had nowhere to go. I was considering to work illegally in the UK as a waitress as a friend that I made while traveling told me that his aunt runs a Vietnamese restaurant. I awaited impending doom as I desperately try to work out my options. Then that lifesaving email came. Stef, the Dutch Couchsurfer that I hosted in Malaysia who returned the hospitality when I was in Holland, gave me a cellphone, 50 Euros for the bus trip from Amsterdam to Genova and assured me that I’d get the job.

I did and then everything else was history.