3 weeks left - thoughts before the big trip

Exactly 3 weeks separate me now from the journey of my life. A moment when so many things go through your mind that it's hard to write them all down in an organized way - a real Pollock would better reflect my head right now.

Months of planning lie behind me and the result: To be honest, I still have no idea what awaits me. It all started at Christmas when I received a 75L backpack, a travel guide with almost 700 pages, and a work & travel book as gifts.

Followed by the passport, visa, flight, insurance, and who knows what else.

Things that can be checked off one by one and the feeling that everything is under control.

But slowly, even I - a friend of planning and order - am stepping out of my comfort zone, true to the motto "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone".

In the past few months, I have often been asked, "But why?" "Why for so long?" "Why so far away?" In summary: "Vreni, have you gone completely insane?"

And honestly, I often couldn't give a satisfactory answer to the reasonable society. No, I'm not going there to improve my English (what else is there to improve? Just kiddin'.) and not to enhance my resume either.

Apart from the fact that since I was 14, I've been saying that I want to go to Australia (I just thought it was cool, don't judge me), I'm simply doing it - for myself.

I'm doing it precisely for the reason that I have great respect for it, exactly for that reason.

I have never been on an airplane in my life - and then a long-haul flight. I have never been so far away from home for so long - and now Australia for half a year. I have never really been on my own - and now I'm leaving, just with my travel buddy whom I have never met in person.

Pretty weird, but cool!

In moments when I become aware of the challenges ahead of me, I have to give the people around me a little bit of credit: Yes, Vreni, you are really not quite right in the head.

On the other hand, I then remember the wise words of my daddy (not bad, Mr. Specht) when he laughed at me for the umpteenth time in one of my "Vreni, what the hell are you doing here" moments: Vreni, enjoy these moments when you are really scared, really excited, because these moments are damn rare. He's right! How often do you have these moments when you do something for the first time, have a completely new experience, and from head to toe realize that you are alive. I think they call it an adventure.

But not only my first flight, the days in the Emirates, or the question of where am I actually going to sleep the day after tomorrow are exciting.

What's exciting is starting a new stage of life. I'm leaving 90% of my wardrobe (my beloved wardrobe!!!) and my beauty collection (Jesus!) behind. I'm leaving my cozy bed, swapping the red Nikes for simple sneakers, and the Faber Castell collection for 2 pens.

I will no longer sit at the dining table with my parents in the evenings, and they will no longer tell me how their day was. I can no longer drive to my friend on Saturday evenings and smoke shisha on her balcony with 2, 3, 4, or 5 glasses (let's call it that in general) of alcohol. No more sitting on the couch in sweatpants, watching movies with the laptop on my lap (was that a German sentence?). No more full fridge. No more 6 power outlets just for myself. No more automatic Wi-Fi connection.

I'm trading all of that for a 20kg backpack and a bunch of new experiences.

Will I come home as a new person? I don't think so. Although my parents probably fervently hope so, I probably won't come home as a nature freak wearing hiking boots and functional clothing, considering fashion and makeup as unnecessary luxuries (Sorry, Mommy & Daddy).

Instead, I hope to come home as someone who has grown internally. Someone who believes in themselves completely. As the brave, strong girl that I want to be. And above all, as someone who has seen how beautiful life can be with very few things and that it can also go on without all the fuss. And last but not least, I want to come home with stories that even my grandchildren will say, "Hey Omi, great action!"

What I sometimes wonder is whether I will even have the desire for my "old" life after such an insane journey. After living for half a year day by day, being completely independent, and having adventures, will I really want to trade all of that back for studying, German weather (eww), and ordinary life?

Yes, actually. Honestly, I already miss my little kingdom at the thought of intimidating hostels, and of course, saying goodbye to my family and my favorite dog will be difficult.

But still, I am already looking forward to the time after Australia, hard to believe. I'm looking forward to becoming an industrial designer and possibly moving out. New challenges, just different ones.

But first, Down Under is waiting, and damn, I'm so excited about it!

As for our plans, there isn't much of a plan.

On October 8th, our plane departs at 10:35 PM from Munich, and we will arrive in Abu Dhabi around 7 AM. Then we'll go to Dubai for 2 days and back to Abu Dhabi for one day. Then the journey continues from Melbourne to Adelaide, and Tada, Welcome to Australia! 15,386 km away from beautiful Hammer. But so far, that's about it with the big plans. Cheers to spontaneity.

Whenever possible, I will annoy you with lines and photos, simply because I can finally do it! Just kidding. I appreciate every single one of you who reads my entries and warmly welcome feedback.

See you later, alligator.

Your Vreni