Bachelor's degree completed. Off to faraway lands. Plan, plan, plan. Book flights, make lists.
When I arrived in New Zealand, I wanted to "woof"—help out on a small organic farm. After a few days, I realized that the atmosphere within the family was very tense and full of conflict. I felt very uncomfortable in the midst of it all. Add to that a heavy workload, a lack of appreciation, and almost a fear of the next day. One day, I realized: I don't want to spend my time like that. I gathered my courage, communicated my concerns, and announced that I would like to leave earlier than planned. The determination, confrontation, and trust I felt in that moment
My gut feeling has taught me a very important lesson for the rest of the trip: To stay calm
Stay and, if necessary, draw (unpleasant) consequences. Courageous for your own self-esteem
to stand up. I have rarely been so proud of myself.
