eat read shoot film video games. repeat.

My addiction to traveling is getting severe now. It started during my first trip abroad. I was 22 back then. I went to Japan for a month of training.

I never really dreamt of traveling the world to be honest. I was realistic for a young age. I always knew that when I grow up, I would be employed in a company with a salary enough for rent and food for the month. And I will live paycheck per paycheck.

After I finished my degree, I was hired by one of the giants in the Heavy Equipment industry. I didn’t expect to get in really. And guess what, part of our job is to be assigned in different countries all over the world.

My first exposure to traveling is when I went to Japan for training as I’ve said earlier. After that, they gave my assignment. I was assigned in Burkina Faso. A country somewhere in West Africa. I was very happy. It’s Africa so I expected during my free time to go to a Safari, jungle, have immersive cultural experience, Sahara, etc. And Waka Waka is their National Song right? I spent a good month learning the song and its dance moves.

I was wrong.

There are no Waka Waka Dance Parties on Fridays. And they’re supposed to say “eh eh” when I greeted them “Jumbo”. What’s happening in this part of Africa?

I was assigned in a Gold Mine Site. 300+ km from the nearest city. We are literally in the middle of nowhere and there’s no jungle here. Too bad. So I work Mondays through Saturdays, 5:30-16:30. I spend my Sundays in my room. And a good part of it in my bed.

Every 9 weeks, I have a 3-week vacation in Dakar. 5 days in the office, the remaining would be spent in our house or in the supermarché.

Now, I’m on my second and last year in Burkina Faso. After this one, I will be transferred to another country. Not my choice obviously but hopefully a better one.

For my last Home Leave, I got the chance to visit Malaysia and Cambodia for a couple of weeks. It’s nice but not enough. I ended up wanting to travel more. Leave everything to travel forever. I can’t. I don’t have enough savings yet. I need this job more than ever.

210 more days to go before my next vacation in the Philippines this December, I already booked a trip to Singapore and Malaysia. I daydream of traveling a lot. Get frustrated even. If I can find time, I research. My Wanderlist is getting longer and longer.

Too many places, too little time.