I’m completely and madly in love with this solo expedition. However, I always stressed when it gets to cross borders. No idea why but I feel like I’m taking an exam -which is absolutely ridiculous.
I think I’ve actually built this stress since I’ve been asked why I am traveling solo with such a big car -at a border between Croatia and Bosnia-, and that I’ve been asked to open the RTT. Since then, yes, I’m a bit stressed. Especially because an expedition pick-up truck does not seem very common in the North hemisphere and that a woman driving it looks even funnier.
Each border crossed, I see the looks, I feel what they think, and I totally get that. How weird am I?
Although I’m feeling stressed, I always feel compassion and SO much respect for my project. Every time the exact same questions (obviously) and I always give the exact same answers:
‘Where are you going?’ - ‘Africa ‘But all alone??’ - ‘Why not!’ ‘What’s the thing behind?’ -‘my bedroom’ (I show them some pictures of the RTT opened) ‘No way! Are you scared?’ -‘Not anymore. I was before when I didn’t have enough courage to quit my life’ ‘Why are you not married?’ -‘I don’t have time for that. I’m too young!’ (They laugh. EVERY.TIME.)
They barely check my papers, my tests. Most of them are men -very cold at the beginning- who seem so interested at the end.
At the border with Turkey, it was another level. They took my Instagram name to follow me (hi guys if you read this post!), we had such a looooong chat about living in the wild, the African tribes and the Big 5. I will never forget.
Anyway, being a woman is actually so interesting along this adventure!
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