And here is how everything started.

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I was still working in Armenia when I had the idea to study abroad. I had the feeling that I was missing something out there in the world. I really wanted to see more than just the beautiful places in my country, I had desire to experience what it is like to be a traveller. Back in Armenia I used to meet some backpackers from different countries and I always admired them and sometimes was even jealous as I thought I could never have such an opportunity.

 

Anyway, back to my story; so, I applied to European University in Brugge, Belgium to further my studies. I had so much confidence that I would be admitted and get the scholarship (I could not afford to study without it) that on the day when I was informed about my rejection I felt destroyed. I had so much sorrow in myself that I did not know what to do next. But little did I know that instead of being the end of everything that day was the start, the start of a big journey of my life.

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After a couple of months from that day I have moved to Beijing and stared to work as an ESL teacher. It was a completely new world to discover and I started to do it right away.   

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However, I was in Beijing for almost a year and through all that time I had never travelled anywhere else except of my home country. So, I decided to go to Shanghai just for a weekend. Despite all my efforts to convince my friends to join me I was always getting responses like:

"Oh, I'm so sorry I need to work on a weekends" or "I wish I could come but I have a very important exam I cannot miss". 

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Apparently, I had 2 choices:

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Number 1: I could stay in Beijing and forget about my plan to visit Shanghai

or

Number 2: Go to Shanghai on my own!

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As you can see now I have chosen the 2nd option and I need to admit that is was the best thing that happened to me. I remember the feeling when I went to the train station to buy the tickets. I was full of anxiety mixed with anticipation to explore something new!

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My Shanghai trip was excellent! Even though it was only 3 days, I felt so much refreshed after coming back that I couldn't wait to my next adventure!

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How little I knew at the time that my next destination would be the most amazing place in the world...

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For all those, who are still doubting whether it is fun to go travelling alone or not I would like to say only 1 thing:

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As soon as you let yourself free, free of your comfort zone, free of the people you know, the places you are familiar with, you step into the place which is absolutely new for you hence you start to explore, you broaden your mindset, you start to notice the sunset and stars in the sky, hence you start to live, to actually live for the first time in your life ...  

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