He traveled to many countries in search of opportunities and decided on Australia: 'There is progress'

Cristian began to question his lifestyle during the pandemic. Like many people, he moved his work home due to the lockdown, which led him to reflect on his daily routine.

The long hours in front of the computer made him wonder if he was really enjoying his life or just fulfilling his work obligations.

“Time is limited and so is youth. For every minute of my life that I spent at work, I missed spending time with my family, going fishing, going out to discover a town or a museum,” Cristian recalls to La Nación.

This period of lockdown motivated him to plan a significant change. During the lockdown, he began to come up with a new beginning, a plan that he would put into action once the restrictions were over. His decision was clear: travel and explore the world.

His first destination was Colombia, where he discovered his passion for traveling to different places. He visited Bogotá and then traveled to the island of San Andrés, where he dedicated himself to swimming and walking. “They give more than money, they give pure happiness,” he says.

With the intention of making a complete change in her life, she decided to look for opportunities in other countries. Her goal was to obtain a visa that would allow her to work and travel, with a special interest in Australia and New Zealand.

“My father always told me, ‘Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.’ I changed it to ‘Don’t put off until tomorrow the trip you can take today.’ Studying economics taught me that while saving is important, it’s also essential to explore the world. Yes, money is important and professional life even more so, but sometimes time slips away and we forget to be happy and travel.”

When he arrived in New Zealand, the country stopped being a dream and became his new reality. A friend welcomed him and helped him in his first weeks of adaptation. Ten days after receiving his work visa, he attended his first interview.

“I couldn’t believe it. So I started working in the apple harvest, where despite spending 10 hours a day, I woke up with a happy heart, that was where I felt alive, happy. I met wonderful people, people from different parts of the world with whom I still keep in touch to this day,” he said.

After that experience, he worked in Tauranga for two months, where he saved up hard. He then moved to the South Island to tour different places and, upon arriving in Queenstown, looked for a new job opportunity . Meanwhile, an offer from Australia opened the door to a new chapter.

Before settling in Australia, he decided to take a short break in Asia. He visited Japan and, although the language barrier was a challenge, he was impressed by the country's culture.

“Children who grew up in the 90s were educated by Japan without knowing it: cartoons like Heidi, Mazinger Z, Ranma 1/2, Robotech or Dragon Ball Z spread the values, fantasies and desires of the Japanese nation. We witnessed globalization with the first gadgets from the Casio calculator watch, Nintendo, SEGA and Playstation consoles, cell phones, computers, and colorful cosplays,” he said.

He eventually arrived in Australia to take advantage of new opportunities. His first destination was the Gold Coast, where he enjoyed the sea before starting work on a farm. Thanks to his earnings, he was able to travel long distances and explore different regions.

In Darwin he found a job as a general construction assistant, which allowed him to extend his visa. “I got a job as a general construction assistant. The pay is $35 an hour. So, for a 9-hour job, the total is $315 per day. With my first salary I bought a car, so luckily I have the possibility of moving around freely. Here, with dedication and effort, you can achieve great things, even working in a modest job,” he said.

Cristian values ​​the stability he has found in Australia. “Australia is a country where you can progress and save. This country continues to give me reasons to stay here, I don’t know if it’s destiny, or just coincidence, I can only be thankful, because in one way or another I am lucky to be here, especially on days like today (dollar, inflation, insecurity). The situation here is quite stable, for example, here I have the possibility of getting an iPhone 14 Pro Max after saving for a week,” he added.

Cristian's journey began as a trial year, but ended up becoming a new way of life. For him, each country has represented a learning experience, and his experience has allowed him to discover new cultures, languages ​​and ways of seeing the world.

“This experience has become a path of personal growth that is difficult to explain in words,” he says. “Traveling is discovering thousands of new flavors in street food and the brightest colors on the walls of temples and buildings that you never thought you would see. Traveling is knowing that you are stronger than you thought when you carry that backpack day and night through many countries. Traveling makes you walk, carry objects, and exert yourself physically like you haven’t done in years. Your body becomes stronger, and when you get home you feel the need to keep using it. With that call, you go out for a run, a walk, or even go to the gym.”

“Daring to leave my comfort zone has been the best decision of my life. Getting to know new cultures, languages, customs and people from all over the world has an incalculable value. And although not everything is rosy and there are times when you want to run for a hug from your family, after a deep breath, the feeling of satisfaction returns for doing what truly fills your soul. If you feel that something is missing in your life, that something is left over, if you want to make a change, if you want to feel fulfilled, satisfied, dare, you will have fears, worries and doubts. Who knows if the opportunities for you are on the other side of the world? You have to go and find the answer,” she says.

“Another important thing is to be motivated, both when looking for a job and when you already have a job. Losing the fear of learning and making mistakes, and facing a new language. You learn everything and you don’t have to be afraid of new challenges. On the other hand, traveling alone (without companions) allows you to be free to plan your itinerary according to your interests and preferences, without having to worry about pleasing anyone else. In addition, traveling alone forces you to leave your comfort zone and face your fears, which helps you grow as a person. It’s not just about traveling, it’s about discovering your passions through a trip. When you return from any trip, your head and heart are filled with curiosity to try new things: learn to dance, cook or start a new business. You realize that material things don’t matter that much. Traveling is the incredible proposition of feeling freedom in your hands and never letting it slip away. It’s an experience that I would recommend everyone to experience at least once in their life,” he concludes.

The Nation (Argentina) / GDA

*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from La Nación, and was reviewed by a journalist and an editor.