No travel this year :(

Overseas vacation is an extravagant thing to do. That was inculcated in me for many years. My family had just enough to get by and my parents would rather save up than throw good money away for overseas trips.

The furthest our family went was West Malaysia. We frequented places in West Malaysia like Genting Highlands, Malacca, Penang, Cameron Highlands. Any trip outta Malaysia would cost my family of 5 at least 3K and this pile of money could pay for our electricity bills for 15 months!

I was lucky though. My parents, knowing how overseas trips and excursions can really broaden one's horizon and aid in personal development, never forbade me from going for school trips! The schools I went to also recognized this point and hence, gave me ample opportunities to sign up for them. Subsidies and scholarship funds helped to make them more affordable for me.

As a result, I had the joy of touring Malacca at a young age of 10 with my primary school band, a geography and history trip to Malacca and Kuala Lumpur at 14, a 3-week home stay programme in Japan at 15, Musical Festival with RJ band in Florida at 17 and finally a 2-month overseas elective in Melbourne. Subsequently after i earn my own income, I tried to set aside some money to go travelling with my friends.

I found out that I really love travelling as the years go by. Every trip is a different experience, in a foreign place with different groups of people. We learn something new about the world, our friends and ourselves.

I am probably who I am now thanks to some of those experiences I had overseas. Some friends say I have a very independent and strong character. I believe it may have been enforced by the trip away from home and comfort at only 10 years old. What do 10 year old's know about taking care about themselves? I shudder to think I was actually let loose onto a foreign land. My parents must've lost days of sleep worrying about me then but to date, I'm really thankful to them for knowing how to set me free so I can develop my independence.

Many of the close friendships I forged during those trips remain strong and steady after many years. I found out how to tolerate people's flaws and how to embrace and learn their virtues. I learnt that sincerity is the way to go when dealing with fellow friends. At the same time, also to give each other space and respect when ideas or suggestions go different ways.

It's sad that I'm the most well-travelled person in my family cos my siblings didn't go to schools that support many overseas excursions. I yearn for them to see the world out there and let them experience the wonderful things I had experienced.

My leave is gonna start soon! Unfortunately I won't be travelling overseas, thanks to a huge black parasite (a.k.a. altis) which I'm indulging myself with. Hai.. I was looking forward to a big bonus next year to offset some of the losses and hopefully be able to plan for some trip soon. Looking at the general state of the economy, FAT hope huh?