My one-year career break - Backpacking through Latin America

Here I am, one year later, fulfilled, grateful for all the experiences have provided me with valuable lessons and insights that I am excited to bring to my next role and now ready to share my story.

Let me tell you how it all began - Imagine landing your dream job in Amsterdam, settling into your dream home, everything seems perfect, right? But for me, it was a wake-up call. Despite the achievements, I felt a mental strain from past struggles. I couldn't ignore the urge to leave it all behind and focus on myself. So, I took a leap: quitting my job, strapping on a backpack, and diving into the unknown. My journey? devoting my time to volunteering, learning new language, skills, connecting with people, exploring both the outer world and my inner self. It was a wish long planted in my mind, now fulfilled beyond expectation.?

Peru, Lima - September 1st 2023 my journey began in Lima, Peru. Here I lived for one month with a Peruvian Homestay family, elderly woman Ana with her daughter and two other students. I was barely speaking Spanish so I couldn’t really communicate with the family, but this way I was forced to speak. Ana surprised me every day with different Peruvian dishes, they made me feel at home with their hospitality. Here I started with my Spanish language program, every day 4 hours of Spanish classes. It felt like back to school, a little bit intense but worth though. I met a lot of people from all over the world, sharing their life stories and passions. At the beginning of my travel, I thought that I was a little late with traveling due my age. Meeting so many people along the way changed my perspective completely. I realized that age should never restrict life experiences or world travels. I stopped judging myself after seeing so many solo travelers old and young.?

Peru, Cusco - Now being able to speak beginner Spanish I started practicing in the city of Cusco, in which I fell in love with. Ancient city in the mountains with altitude of 3400 meters, amazing nature, history, magnificent architectural ruins of Inca’s and much more. Here I started exploring the city, many day trips and Hiking to the Salkantay mountain, which was one of my best experiences so far. Reaching the top of the mountain was such an emotional experience for me. Feeling blessed in tears of happiness, overwhelming gratitude for being there. The week after I started volunteering for a Birdwatching project Avistando Peru. I lived two weeks together again with a Peruvian family, a couple with their young daughter. Here I was editing videos of birds for their social media on YouTube and I got the chance to spot bird species in the rainforest. Since my childhood I was always watching, admiring birds, but never thought to do this as a volunteer. This was the opportunity for myself to explore and learned something new about birds that will always last with me. ?

Colombia, Antioquia - After being two months in Peru my next stop was Colombia. Here I volunteered in the middle of the jungle at a Eco lodge Ritmo del Rio, a place like heaven with a beautiful nature. Accompanying me were 7 other volunteers, starting every morning working 3 hours in the garden, learning "Permaculture" and finishing our day in the river, cooling down. It was a precious experience, I got the chance to learn many new things about the nature; the process of making fertilizer, planting vegetables, fruits and many more. Another fascinating aspect was the owner of this place, Jesse, a young American man who sailed from California to Colombia. He ended up buying land in San Rafael, Colombia and started living there. Remarkably, he built this place 10 years ago with no prior knowledge. Jesse wasn't just the owner; he was everywhere, working in the kitchen, cooking, connecting with people, gardening, playing guitar, serving, humbly doing it all. I admired him deeply. After my volunteering, I started traveling through the country to Guatape, Medellin, and Salento.

Colombia, Cali - I ended up in Cali, one of the most dangerous cities in Colombia, but that didn’t hold me back. I needed to see it with my own eyes, experience it for myself. All my judgments about the city were gone, I know that danger could be anywhere. Cali surprised me with its vibrant colors, dance, music, rich culture, the capital of salsa. I love dancing salsa, so I decided to volunteer at a hostel in Cali at the reception, where I felt safe. During my free time, I immersed myself in the city, learning a new style of salsa called "Cale?a”, connecting with locals, exploring salsa clubs, and dancing every day until my body ached. My plan was to stay here for a month, but I ended up staying for two months. This place became like home to me. I worked with 7 other volunteers from all over the world, we did almost everything together, dinners, dancing, hiking, celebrating Christmas, New Year’s eve, salsa festival Feria de Cali and finally after two months it was time to leave. With tears in my eyes, I felt so grateful for everything; new friends, countless experiences, and wonderful times together. But my journey had to continue.

Colombia, Caribbean coast - I headed up to the North of Colombia, traveling through many cities and towns. Here, I decided to embark on my first Solo trek in Tayrona National Park, a natural paradise. It was an overnight stay at "Playa Brava", sleeping in hammocks, which was quite challenging next to the wild, stormy Caribbean Sea. But at the same time, the whole experience was unforgettable. Walking alone in this amazing park, where I even lost my way, brought a rush of adrenaline as I listened to the sounds of wild animals. The beauty of nature surrounding me made it all worthwhile. During my hike I run into an indigenous tribe living in the park and have been for hundreds of years. We greeted each other with such warmth and universal love despite coming from 2 different worlds. After hiking for two days I felt so proud of myself. I accomplished something that I normally fear and deeply enjoyed the experience on my own. This made me feel more aware of the present moments, my surroundings, nature, myself and my thoughts. I felt stronger within and was so grateful for this journey.

Mexico, Quintana Roo/Guanajuato - Five months later, I find myself in Mexico. Here, I began volunteering in Chemuyil, Tulum, nestled deep in the jungle at an eco-lodge with two other volunteers. Our days were filled with constructing a temazcal, painting, cooking for guests, and enjoying our free time exploring nature, cenotes, archaeological ruins, beaches, and more. Being in the wilderness without accessible markets, there were days when we lived and ate off minimal ingredients. This experience taught me and reminded me of how little we actually need to survive. I continued traveling for two weeks, exploring other cities in Valladolid, Merida, Mexico City, pyramids, museums. After a long pursuit I finally found a volunteering opportunity working with children for an Education project Resplandor in a small village called Cajones, Guanajuato. This is something I have always wanted to do, especially having nieces back home. Working on this project with children, helping them develop and learn, was dear to my heart. Spending time with these vulnerable children in need never felt like work; I felt like I was learning alongside them. Teaching, doing activities together, camping, painting, playing, laughing, cooking, just seeing them smile touched my heart deeply. I miss them and hope to see them again.

Mexico, Oaxaca/Chiapas - I continued my travels to the south of Mexico for the next 3 weeks, first in Oaxaca city, then Puerto Escondido. Here I met a lot of wonderful people, having dinners, long walks, chats until late nights, watching people surf, breathtaking sunsets and more. My last stop in Mexico was San Cristobal, near the Guatemalan border. Crossing the border by bus was a bit challenging due to the presence of narcos, but luckily, nothing bad happened. After switching buses, the 16-hour trip became quite difficult. The driver kept using the brakes excessively, there was no air-conditioning in the 35-degree weather, a tire popped, and my backpack fell into a puddle of mud. To top it off, he dropped us off at the wrong hostel with no Guatemalan cash and no internet. Thankfully, most of us were heading to the same hostel, so I wasn't alone and felt safe despite it being 10 PM. Throughout all these mishaps and unforeseen circumstances, I was reminded that I had no control over the situation and that my frustration only burdened me. I learned that these moments are where I need to practice patience and trust that everything will work out.

Guatemala - 8 months now and I’m in Guatemala, Lake Atitlan. One of the most beautiful lakes in the world, surrounded by stunning nature and volcanoes. Here, I started volunteering at an eco-lodge next to the lake. The owner was working with other volunteers to build a wooden work-hut using a Japanese technique, which was fascinating to watch. My task was to design a bathhouse for the owner; after a long time, being able to design again was wonderful. I realized how much I had missed the excitement of designing. The place had only a dry toilet, which was fine for a short time but also challenging as it pushed me out of my comfort zone. Unfortunately, my work here didn't last long. At the end of my first week, I became very sick and had to stop volunteering to recover in the town of San Pedro. After my recovery and spending some time at the lake, I headed to Antigua. In Antigua, I went on a trek to the Acatenango volcano, which was incredibly difficult and the most challenging hike I've ever done. However, at the top of the volcano, I was rewarded with a breathtaking view of the active “Fuego volcano”. Despite feeling exhausted, I was happy and proud of myself for completing the trek.

Costa Rica - 9 months later, I’m close to the end of my journey. Instead of heading to Argentina, I decided to visit Costa Rica. Here, I started volunteering for 3 weeks with a childcare project in Alajuela. After that, I traveled two weeks through the country, enjoying its beautiful nature and beaches. However, despite its beautiful nature, Costa Rica's prices were extremely high, and compared to other Latin American countries, it lacked a rich cultural and historical depth.

The end of a chapter - After nearly three years, I’m heading back to Turkey. My journey starts in Istanbul to catch up with friends, followed by a trip to Giresun to be with my family. After these reunions, I'll return home to Amsterdam.

As I finish my one-year journey, I feel so limitless, strong and immensely grateful for everything; the experiences, and the many amazing souls I met along the way.

It’s not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter, filled with the question: what’s next? I'm seeking a new job where I can creatively contribute and make a positive impact, that fulfills both me and my environment. If you have any leads or opportunities, feel free to reach out to me.