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Writer's pictureCharline Ribotta

How Do You Fund Your Expedition?

Updated: Jul 27, 2023


This is the most common question I’m being asked almost every day. And I perfectly understand it since some of you want to undertake such a trip.


You need to know that I’ve been raised with the golden rule of my dad -which is: ‘you want something? Work your a** off and get it yourself’. Even though my parents never let me lack anything in my childhood, I quickly understood that I’ll have to rely on my determination to get what I want. And I liked it this way.


I started to work at the age of 14 while I was still in high school, playing basketball 8 hours per week, and still learning saxophone. I was a babysitter to start with and then I worked more and more to pay my studies. I was a waitress, an au pair, a basketball coach, a receptionist, a crêpe seller, a cleaning lady, a bartender, an in-store salesperson, and a few more.


I had countless sleepless nights, no weekends, I was tired but so proud to be able to assume my life and my hobbies financially. I’ve always been very independent but also very careful money-wise.


I hate to go shopping, I don’t like eating in restaurants, I’m not a drinker, not a smoker either.

I started to save money as soon as I could, little by little, more and more. When I finally got my first job after my master degrees, I was still living in a shared flat, in a small room, to keep saving money.


When I decided to drive back to Africa, I ended up living with my parents in France and to work remotely (job based in the UK). I was lucky to be able to do this and to have the most amazing boss on Earth.


I do not own anything: no house, no furniture, no nothing. Everything I own is Rafiki when I decided to buy it in February 2021.


I was lucky to be born in France but I had to be clever to save enough money since all this time. I’m not a party girl and this helps very much, trust me.


I like challenges, so much. I had to fight to be where I am today. Yes, I had to fight, even if I’m ‘from Europe’. Will tell you more about the cost of this adventure.


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