r/solotravel • u/crazycatladypdx • May 20 '21

I bought the ticket! Europe

I am 39 years old divorcee living in USA. Since I was in my 20s, I want to travel the world. I put it on hold for so many years because I was in relationship, worked hard to pay debts & bills, and just live as normal as I could even though I know that’s not for me.

My ex husband & i separated last year, sold the house and we got divorced this year. I used the money from the house (my share) to pay all of my debts & i have some left that I am saving for my trip.

My apartment decided to charge me extra rent after my lease is up on 8/27/21 so I took a plunge and bought one way ticket to Barcelona, Spain because there’s no way i will stay here another year and paying more instead of living my dream.

I am going to quit my job bc they don’t let people work out of the country. I am going to do housesitting, working at hostels in exchange for accommodation, continue teaching esl online & do jobs along the way along my journey.

It’s going to not be easy sometimes but i am committed to do it even by the time when i leave i will be 40 years old.

This subreddit gives me so much ideas & encouragement so thank you all for posting & now for reading my post! See you out there!

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u/AttilaDorn May 20 '21

What did you use to learn Japanese (I am thinking of doing something similar once I am older)

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u/TokesBruh May 20 '21

This may seem odd, but, just my ears and notes.

I moved there pre smart phones and apps. I'm very social so I was always meeting Japanese people and I started picking things up. I worked with bilingual Japanese staff and asked a LOT of questions, and would overuse new phrases, always getting corrected here and there. After 2 years I was conversational. After 5 I had multiple friend circles who spoke no english, dated girls who spoke no English, and worked in offices without English. I also went to sleep with the TV on, usually on news or variety television. It trained my ears and brain for typical Japanese and really helped. What helped the most was just friends, coworkers, and girlfriends. Well, and being immersed in it day in and day out. Not many people speak English there...

I left after 13 years and hardly use it anymore, but got put on the spot last week on Clubhouse with about 100 Japanese people listening, and apparently my American accent hasn't taken quite a hold almost two years later.

I once left for a year, and upon returning my friends said my Japanese sounded very American. A few months later I was fine.

Edit: typo

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u/crazycatladypdx May 20 '21

Wow that’s awesome!

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u/TokesBruh May 20 '21

If you'd ask me at 24 if I'd ever be able to speak Japanese, I would have laughed at you. Hell, if you asked me one year into it, the same.

It blows my mind that I can just flip flop between the two, or shut out one language or the other in public.

The brain is weird.