Travelling Young & On a Budget

This next post might seem a bit all about me. It is only so that I can draw upon my own experiences to perhaps lend some travel insight to young people wanting to see the world on a budget.

My first ever flight was at 16.

I somehow managed to follow this up by visiting over ten countries during my undergrad. 

How’d I manage to do this after not having travelled that much as a child?

I took part in an Exchange in Australia & a Study Abroad in India. From there, I made stops in South-East Asia, Europe and Southern Africa. 

I did this all while not having to pay foreign tuition.

If you are a post-secondary student wanting to see the world, this is probably your best option.  Not only from a financial point of view, but also in the connections & friendships that you’ll make.  I’m still in touch with a few people from trips made over 25 years ago. 

I've had the privilege of living with a family while studying in India, an experience most tourists will never have. I learnt about Indian dance, Hindi, supplementary income projects for rural women & environmental issues. 

In Australia, a student visa let me work part-time at the library while studying. Stop-overs meant that I got to spend NYE in Singapore before stopping in England.   After flying to Durban from Rajasthan, I was able to explore several countries in Southern Africa: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.  

Here are some of my take aways:

Tavel isn’t just for the wealthy.
Be resourceful, find non-traditional ways to explore the world. 
Travel is by far one of the best teachers - it lets you learn new languages, try new foods, be exposed to different cultures & to test your limits.  It pushes you to learn about navigation, budgeting, resilience, planning and so much more.
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Get out there & explore the world around you!

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