Growing up, I have always loved the idea of travelling so when that opportunity came for me to travel from Nigeria to Ukraine to study medicine, I grabbed it with both hands. Getting there as a student did not end the fire in my heart to explore the world. Then I started seeking knowledge on how to go about it.
A church program that would happen in the Netherlands came up and I got into contact with a pastor I was quite close to, who was organizing a trip with some pepole to go to the Netherlands. In that moment, I thought to myself, “why not ask him, maybe he could help me”, then I did and instinctively brought it up with the pastor. He quickly assured me and asked me to get my documents. My joy knew no bounds as I waited patiently for him to inform me about when they would go to the embassy. Unfortunately, that never happened. They had gone without me to the Netherlands and I only got wind of it through pictures they had taken. With a disappointed heart, I found the courage to go to the visa centre myself and figure it out all on my own. I asked the necessary questions and they were kind enough to tell me all I needed to make my travels, which included, proof of being a student, bank statements and others. Then I immediately applied and waited with fingers crossed. It didn’t take long, they called and informed me that I got the visa.
I know it is almost outrageous but believe me when I say that I did it. I went from studying medicine in Ukraine to booking flights and touring countries. And yes, I travelled to Amsterdam, Netherlands! None of it came so easily to me but I had a dream and a goal so, I took the risk. Today, I’m excited to share the story behind how I reached 28 countries and why I'm only getting started.
From The Lab To The Aisle
My mother's biggest dream was for me to become a medical doctor. So, I started out on her wings towards that direction. In one way, I saw my dreams of leaving my home country to another finally get actualized and that one trip had a positive chemical reaction in my mind. Getting to Ukraine as a teenager was challenging. I didn't have any family members or existing friends there that I could rely on yet, I did not let that stop me.
I took my time in learning my city, culture and slowly began to associate with other students like me. I studied hard each day as a medical student but never let go of my dream of touring the world. I made friends who turned sisters to me and together, we soared academically. But I would like to tell you that it wasn't the rosiest journey for me. The higher I went, the bleaker my dream to tour became. Winning in school but an age long fire was slowly burning out. It didn’t help that I wasn't working at that and making my own money until I came upon that church program that radicalized me in the most humbling way. That one incident changed it all for me.
Mapping the Path
With a vision of visiting 100 countries, I began by categorizing destinations. From Ukraine, travelling was cheaper and easier. Especially travelling from one European country to another. A student with no job at the time and just a dream, I started thinking and like a light bulb, it came to me. Then, I went on to devise a means. Ironically, it was always at my finger tips. I split every pocket money my mother would send to me into three places: feeding, accommodation and travel. That way, my priorities were set right and I didn't have to wait long to make my big moves. Going to Amsterdam, Netherlands through this means at that time, opened my minds eyes to the wonderful things I could do and become. It was a sweet travel for me and still remains one of the best countries I've ever been to. This travel right here, sparked up every love that I have today for travelling. I knew I had to make it my culture. My way of life and from there, I went to the US for the first time. All of this became a torch to the European countries I went to.
Visa Application Strategy
Getting my priorities right especially when it comes to travelling is a big deal for me. So educating myself on travelling and also visa rules became a part of the package that came with such a big dream. Now, I didn't want to just travel at whim and then come back and start all over to go through the process of getting a visa because trust me, it's stressful. What I did was that I would apply for long term visas that could grant me easy access for whenever I choose to return to that country. For example, when I applied to the UK, I first did 6 months, 2 years then I finally did 10 years.
If you asked me, I would say, long term visas are best to get.
Planning Ahead Of Time
This may sound cliche but, I will hold your hand when I say this, planning ahead of time for my travels has done me more good than planning later especially when you are on a budget. Here are a few things I do, when I am planning ahead:
I write down the list of countries I want to visit for the year.
I do an overview of the total cost of the trips before it ends in premium tears for me (Lol!)
I go as far as buying tickets, and paying for accommodation several months ahead.
Tip: Plan like your life depends on it because it sure does! Including your comfort.
One Strategy, Multiple Wins
I am big on finding ways to make things work and also stress free especially during travel. After planning, comes executing. Knowing that I am working with a budget, I would usually connect my travel. Instead of going to just one country, spending so much and returning home, I would go from one country, find the nearest country close to it, check if it's within my budget then go there. I would check the cost, then buy a round trip ticket. I did this when I travelled to the US then got a round trip back to Nigeria. I remember checking from New York to Mexico and from Mexico to Cancun. Sometimes, it may seem delirious but trust me, once your heart is set on travelling, not even money can stop you.
From Click To Cloud
One of the things that helped me so much in this journey were the flight apps I had on my phone. It helped me to stay updated especially on the best and cheap tickets to get. One of the days I was randomly scrolling, I came across the drop in the prices of Airpeace flight tickets (Round trip to UK) I kid you not, immediately jumped on it and used that opportunity to travel to Portugal, Spain, Belgium and the UK.
So, when I say that buying tickets ahead of time makes it all stress free, believe me.
Tailoring My Life To Fit My Reality
It is super easy to get carried away with the fast life if one is not careful. When it comes to travelling and even my personal life, I always love to cut my coat according to my size. This is where budgeting comes in for me and because I dislike being at the mercy of anyone, I always do my best to manage my resources whenever I travel. I work really hard now to afford my lifestyle. Something that started out as an idea, a wild dream, has become a business that has created job opportunities for people as well. So, of course, I wouldn’t just throw it all away just because I feel like I can always afford it. If I can not afford a hotel, I use Airbnb, if that can not work, I use the hostels and this only becomes an option if I do not have a friend or family in that country. It may sound funny but I tell you that you do not want to be left stranded in a foreign country penniless(You will cry). It almost happened to me but I'm grateful that I was able to figure a way out.
So, heed my voice when I say, cut your coat according to your size and you will never have to worry about a thing. Except of course, you are in that country illegally, then, yes, you do have something to worry about. (Hehe)
Places That Stole My Heart Without Warning
In all the 28 countries I travelled to, Austria exceeded my expectations. I travelled from Ukraine to Austria and you won't believe me when I say that I was mesmerized by the beautiful sight I stumbled on. It was not even an intentional trip and it completely blew me away. I was enthralled by how organized it was. It had so much similarity with Germany and oh, the people, the people were super welcoming and kind. I took a lot of pictures there because wherever I turned, someone was always ready to help me take pictures. They have a place in my heart till this day.
Another country I would like to add is the US. This is one place I could never get tired of going to. There’s always somewhere to go in that country. Not too slow and not too fast depending on the state one is in. Just the right amount of pace to live. To top it off, the calming familiarity it carries is also one of the reasons I love going there.
Onward from 28 Countries
28 countries isn't the limit for me. In fact, this is the beginning. As I approach my next set of trips, I feel stronger and more affirmed than ever:
I'm wider in perspective.
I'm richer in relationships.
And I am more committed to showing that Nigerian passports don’t determine limits, courage does.
My goal and vision here is to make travel easy, better and accessible for all and sundry.
See you in the next post! Muah!
