At the beginning of 2017 I did what every YouTube obsessed, wonder-lusting millennial does and wrote myself a list of new years resolutions. Work out more, eat healthier and do more of what makes me happy, but once I passed my basic ‘white girl’ list needs I actually dove a little deeper and noted goals that I would actively implement into my daily life. One of these goals was to challenge myself more, I was bored of living in the comfort zone and have noticed over the years that the moments when I feel most alive are when my heart is racing and I give myself a genuine challenge. So, I am proud to say that 8 months ago I began my biggest challenge yet and signed up to study abroad!
So here I am 8 months later sitting in my new home in Eindhoven, Netherlands - 18,500 km away from home for 5 1/2 months! If that’s not a challenge I don’t know what is….
I have been here for almost two weeks now and I feel settled and ready to tackle this challenge. Leading up to this trip I was incredibly excited but as it get closer I definitely began to get very anxious about it, all the things that I couldn’t predict started getting to me and I was questioning why I was leaving everything thing that I knew so well. But being the person that I am I instinctively pushed those feelings aside and focused on the task ahead, I knew that everything was lined up I was going to live out my dream to travel.
Getting on the plane my heart was racing and my emotions where at an all time high, I was excited about getting there but sad about leave – lets just say I was very confused in the feelings department! After a 12 hour flight to Hong Kong I was absolutely exhausted, I knew it was going to be boring, but my gosh I was not prepared for it to be THAT boring… and I was only half way! A quick stop in Hong Kong and then an even more boring 13 hour flight lead me to Amsterdam. I arrived at 6 am and was so excited to see some familiar faces. I was lucky enough to have some friends kindly pick me up from the airport and we drove to the city of Eindhoven where I am living studying for the next half year! Jet lagged but determine to stay awake I was thrown into Dutch culture and ready to experience anything and everything!
I have not been here for long but I am so excited for everything that I have ahead of me. Life is too short to live the same mundane routine, experiences are what make you who you are – if you aren’t pushing yourself then you aren’t living up to your true potential.
Need more motivation? Check out Yes Theory they inspire me everyday!
Aimee Jules x