Chasing Amy-Lou

Full-time soul-searcher, part-time procrastinator, Media and Journalism graduate, former career Firefighter.

Since as far back as I can remember (2005 to be precise), I’ve had a love of travel. It’s only in the last eight or so years that my love has developed into somewhat of an obsession, an inbuilt desire; weekend city breaks turned into week-long explorations, turned into fortnight expeditions, turned into three week adventures and this year I am to embark on the longest journey of them all, an epic year (potentially two years) of self discovery and liberation.

After graduating in 2006 with a BA (Hons) Degree in Media and Print Journalism I decided the road to success lay elsewhere, so, like any rational graduate in this field, I joined the Fire Service…(!) My career spanned five and a half years, with holidays and cultural trips away taking up as much of my free time as my finances could afford. In 2013, everything changed.

Boarding a plane to China at the beginning of May 2013, an overwhelming feeling of emotion washed over me. A cathartic experience of relief, anxiety, excitement and intrigue filled my very being and I knew that this was it, this was the trip that would potentially alter the course of my life for the next few years.

China was eye-opening. China was frightening. China was educating, and I learned many lessons on this three week tour, not only about the country and it’s culture but ultimately about myself, my life and my future path. I met some inspiring people, who to this day, remain firm friends and a source of cultural knowledge as well as platforms to share stories and a common love with.

It wasn’t until I returned from China, after a turbulent final few days in Hong Kong that I realised something needed to change. I was living in a city, although steeped in culture and history, with its sprawling high streets, abundance of bars and restaurants and luscious green parks; gateway to some spectuacular scenery, maybe some of the best in the UK, it just wasn’t home…or, to put it better, it wasn’t where I wanted to be. My job had also become a mundane chore of monotany. I had joined the Fire Service for action and excitement but instead I had become institutionalised. I felt trapped.

The first step I took on my road to liberation and, as some may call it, my ‘wandering journey to find happiness’, was to quit my job and move back home. Deliberation ensued and after many a lengthy discussion I bit the bullet and resigned.

I’d already had my heart set on working and travelling abroad in the hope that it would further open my eyes and give me some kind of perspective as to where I wanted my life to go. Therefore, it was without much hesitation that I booked a flight to Australia. I am due to leave the UK in September 2014…..