Yosiane White

Hi Everyone! So. I said that I wouldn't start a blog and I really don't want to, to be honest, but I know lots of you have asked me for emails on what I'm up to so I decided that this was the best way to show it. Photographs can be found in bulk on my facebook but will post a few here if I have time before my internet runs out. I am currently in New Zealand but the blogs start from the very beginning back on Boxing Day in December. I hope you enjoy reading them, as I enjoyed writing them and enjoyed every minute of what I experienced! When I look back at them I can hardly believe that I actually did all that stuff! It's amazing! And I can't believe that I have 2 more weeks of New Zealand and then 5 months in Sydney and Bali and Hong Kong to finish off!

I have noticed over the past few weeks how I am really getting the hang of the whole travelling business. I hoist my 18 (or 20, it varies a lot) kilogram backpack up onto my back without complaint or much trouble these days. I can pack it in 20 minutes, even though getting everything in it is a massive squash, I can do it, no problem. I take intense care of my small backpack, my hand luggage bag, my everything. That small backpack contains everything valuable that I own. It doesn't leave my side and I've got used to dragging it around everywhere. I have started to get a feeling for who to smile at invitingly to start a conversation with and who to smile at briefly and then look down and walk on. I have got the hang of using a credit card even though I hate it. I have realised that wearing pink on a plane makes me look cute and harmless and has all stewardesses, passengers around me, security people and other airport staff smiling kindly at me when I walk past, making going through customs and biocustoms or whatever its called a lot more pleasant. I have noticed that I am brave enough to walk up to a table and ask if I can join, if it looks as though there are solo travellers at the table. I'm still a bit apprehensive of bigger groups that obviously are travelling together but who isn't when they're alone. I have met people whom I could be really good friends with in real life but have had to leave them behind. That's how travelling works I suppose. Thank goodness for facebook.

Before I left my parents behind at London Heathrow before dawn on Boxing Day 2011 my dad told me that travelling is a job. "Your job today is to fly to San Francisco and find your way safely to Tammy's house. That's your job." And ti works, treating it like a job. My mum was quick to add that the job entails enjoying every single minute of every single day that I'm away, with which my dad obviously agreed. "But first, stay safe. That's task one."

So that's what I'm doing. I'm working hard. And it's the best job I've ever had and probably ever will have. I love it.