Summary
To begin with, I would like to express my gratitude to Jan for allowing me to contribute this article. I find pleasure in writing blog posts for various platforms to reach new audiences.
This article serves as a succinct outline of how I embarked on my travel blogging journey. I have yet to share the beginnings of my own blog, but I hope that this narrative will inspire other aspiring bloggers.
1. Childhood Experiences
To provide a brief background on my formative years, I grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, until I completed my high school education. Throughout my childhood, I traveled domestically with my family or participated in hockey tournaments; however, I did not undertake any international journeys. I developed a strong fascination for geography and global cultures after my parents gifted me a globe on my 10th birthday.
2. College Journey
During my college years, I relocated to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Notably, I entered this new environment without knowing anyone, a decision I made purposefully to initiate a fresh chapter in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed my four years at university, and I would not alter any aspect of my college experience.
3. Studying Abroad
In my junior year, I participated in a study abroad program in Prague, residing there for five months. I often reflect on how pivotal this experience was; had I not studied abroad, my ongoing travels might not have materialized. It was, without doubt, one of the best decisions of my life, during which I visited approximately 20 European countries that semester and the subsequent summer.
Upon returning to Wisconsin, I completed my studies and graduated with a degree in Economics in May 2013.
4. Career Decisions
At the time of my graduation, many peers were securing job interviews and applying for corporate positions; however, I recognized that this path was not suited for me. Subsequently, my best friend approached me with the opportunity to teach English in South Korea for a year.
The very next day, I submitted my application and commenced learning Korean.
I understood that this was the ideal choice for both my personal and professional aspirations. After all, I was unwilling to accept a job that did not align with my interests. Having never visited Asia prior, I concluded that this was an ideal endeavor right after college at the age of 22.
In August 2013, I relocated to a suburb of Seoul named Pyeongtaek, where I began teaching English at a public middle school.
5. Blogging Journey
By that time, I had already visited around 25 countries and wished to share my experiences with friends. Consequently, I conceived the idea of starting a travel blog and decided to fully dedicate myself from day one. I recognized the potential in this venture, as previous English teachers in Korea had indicated I would have ample free time.
Honesty compels me to admit that I invested significant effort into my blog, averaging about 40 hours a week during the initial year. I taught myself website development through YouTube tutorials, composed numerous articles until my fingers ached, and sought guidance from established travel bloggers. Furthermore, I focused on enhancing my social media presence.
The first year presented considerable challenges; I worked diligently yet saw minimal immediate results. However, I came to realize that success requires time and patience, and this gradually unfolded as days passed.
Throughout my 18 months in Korea, I traveled extensively across Asia, visiting over 25 countries, which provided me with a wealth of fresh content for my blog.
Upon leaving Korea in February 2015, I noticed a significant increase in my blog’s readership and social media following, which affirmed my commitment to continue pursuing this path.
I made every effort to avoid returning home to pursue a conventional job; therefore, I monetized my blog and elevated it to a new level. My objective was to travel the world as my profession.
Today, I am pleased to state that for the last eight months, I have been traveling and blogging, focusing on social media full-time. While this endeavor entails considerable work, at times I feel overwhelmed and contemplate giving up, I ultimately find this career far more fulfilling than any traditional 9-to-5 job.
6. Future Plans
I intend to persist with my blogging and travel endeavors for the foreseeable future. I have already made plans to embark on an African safari next year and undertake a three-month backpacking expedition throughout South America. Among the 70 countries I have visited, these two continents remain uncharted territory!
I sense that I am merely at the beginning of my journey in the travel industry, and this prospect fills me with excitement.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and feel free to reach out if you have any inquiries or feedback.
Drew – http://thehungrypartier.com/
