Around the world in 251 days

On October 7, 2022, I departed for Vietnam, and two days ago I finally returned to Vancouver, completing my first trip around the world.

This has been something I wanted to do for a long time, and I had been setting my life and work up for over two years so that I could work from anywhere, and travel the world while still having a steady income.

This is one reason why I decided to become a full-time freelance translator back in February 2021.

Like a lot of people, I lost my job due to the changes that the pandemic brought to the world.

I saw this as an opportunity to take the plunge as a full-time freelancer, and I have to say it was a challenging transition, but one that has really paid off for me.

Now that the world has opened up again, translation has granted me the freedom and mobility to explore the world.

The above screenshot is from a great app I discovered, called Polarsteps, which automatically tracks your journey and puts it in a cool interactive map. You can see mine here.

Here's a general timeline of my journey:

October: Vietnam

November: Singapore, Vietnam

December: Thailand

January: The Philippines

February: Japan

March: Vietnam

April: South Korea, China, Hungary, Austria, Germany

May: France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK

June: the US, Canada

One of my big takeaways from doing a long-term trip like this is that the first few months, where I stay in one place for the whole month, worked way better than when I started moving faster.

I could usually get an Airbnb with a monthly discount for a few hundred dollars, I could get much more work done, and I would spend much less money, because I'd just need a one-way ticket to my next destination.

Before I started this trip, I had been to a total of eight countries, including Canada and the US, and all of the others were in Asia.

I've now been to 19 countries, 18 of which I visited on this trip either for the first time or a return visit. (The only one I didn't revisit this trip was Indonesia.)

This trip was a life-changing experience, and I'm grateful I had the opportunity to do it. Here are some of the highlights:

Being immersed in the Vietnamese language for several months.

Seeing friends I hadn't seen in way too long.

Starting a new relationship.

Visiting Europe for the first time.

Running my first "real" half-marathon, i.e. with other people, in Budapest, Hungary.

Speaking French for four days straight, more than in the past four years.

Attending my first translators conference, in Utrecht, Netherlands.

Meeting not one but two of my Translator Heroes: Branco van der Werf and Joachim Lépine, M. Ed., C. Tr.

Running a full solo marathon once a month, in a different country, including from Osaka to Kyoto, Japan during cherry blossom season and Utrecht to Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Seeing the opera in Vienna, symphony orchestra in Munich, and Shakespeare in London.

Making tons of new friends, mostly at hostels and while in transit.

Attending a four-day rock festival which three of my top ten favourite bands were headlining.

Spending time with family and extended family.

"Travel far enough, you meet yourself." (David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas) Well, I met myself, and he says he wants to do it again.

I've concluded that, if done right, travelling the world isn't as expensive or exhausting as it may seem. Right now I'm at a point in my life where I'm able to continue this lifestyle for at least a few years, and I intend to do so.

What do you think of my trip? Is travelling the world something you also want to do?