As I’ve already mentioned, and probably will again from time to time, I spent three years abroad in my 20s, so the plan to relocate to another part of the world (in this case, Taiwan) is nothing new to me. During that time I was fortunate enough to meet a range of people from different parts of the world who had relocate or were travelling for different reasons, yet at the same time I’ve noticed trends. Many of the travellers I met were just out of university had worked and saved for a while to be able to afford a backpacking trip across the globe before they entered the so-called rat race. Most of them were in their early 20s.
Another category of people I met had become somewhat disillusioned with life back home, wherever that might have been (often western Europe). For example, some had packed up their lives and set up small businesses (e.g. restaurant, tour companies and more) in places like Cusco because they wanted a different pace of life and a different lifestyle, even if the financial benefits could be better back home. Then there were others who questioning life, purpose, meaning etc or perhaps they just need a (temporary) change. Some of them actually enjoyed their careers/jobs back home and/or know what they wanted to do with their lives, but they’d chosen to take time out to explore the world before (in their minds) they were perhaps too old to do everything they want to do. For example, I met 2 ladies from somewhere in Western Europe (it might have been Belgium) who had sold some things (e.g. their cars) and were renting out their apartments, then left their jobs, put the rest of their stuff in storage and decided to see the world.
Many of the older crowd had become disillusioned with the so-called career path “rat race”, or at the very least they had some doubts about their experience of it so far. I guess I was one of those who hadn’t necessarily decided to settle there, nor knew what the next steps were, but were just hanging around and taking life as it came while trying to figure out what they planned on doing in the medium to long-term.
Even here in South Africa, over the last decade or so, some of my friends and/or colleagues have wrestled with similar frustrations and/or questions. One of the major differences here is that unemployment is high and job security can be quite low, even for highly-qualified processionals. Consequently, fewer people are likely to make those types of travel/career choices. But, in addition to that it also resulted in my considering some of the supposed prerequisites to prove one’s maturity (I hope that makes sense). The way I see it is that these supposed prerequisites not only involve joining the so-called “rat race” but for some it means ending up in a rut too.
The last few years, while working as a lecturer, was arguably the first time since my early 20s that I was on what some would regard as the ‘right track’ – I had a full-time job and/or was studying. Some would probably have argued that all I needed was to find a partner/wife, the house with the picket fences, and perhaps some kids a few years later.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to ridicule those who have made choices that resulted in that way of life or those who want it (in fact I see lots of good in it and perhaps can see myself in the future), but it’s not the only road to walk. Now I may not return to that supposed ‘right track’ again any time soon, but in so many ways I feel as though I’m actually taking responsibility for my own choices and actually making my own decisions as opposed to succumbing to the dictates of the “rat (or rut) race”.
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