Travel Writing Competition Entry (insert title here)

My travel writing competition potential entry, it must be 500 words or less. Please let me know what you think, any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated, especially for a title!!! Link to the contest: http://pentales.com/private/page/RYV3/20001


Everyone views travel differently. Some hate it because they miss the comforts of home. Some take a holiday in the sun to relax. Others, like myself, view it as a lifestyle.

My career as a traveller began at 9, on a trip to the Rockie Mountains. I told my mother I wanted to live in every picturesque town we passed. One lake in particular stands out, "The Toothpaste Lake," named for its deep teal colour, like the Aquafresh toothpaste I was using. By the end of the trip, I was told "You know, you can't live everywhere."

Other family trips ensued and at 14 we went to Mexico. My first taste of a different culture. My mother, having travelled herself, ensured we explored the city's local markets, went to bullfights, and saw flamenco dancers. We went into mountain villages and saw children selling gum to help their family. It was a whole other world.

At 20, I went on a gap year to Australia. Although this was my first trip on my own, I was anything but homesick. Maybe it was the freedom from my past, the ability to reinvent myself. All I know is that even my first true love wasn't enough to make me stay, I was always yearning for more.

I returned back to Canada and would sometimes close my eyes and imagine I was on a plane. " Can't you just be happy with where you are?" asked my mother. Two years passed until I finished university. After being offered a job teaching in South Korea, I instead applied for a U.K. working holiday visa and spent two years in Europe. In Istanbul I was entranced by the prayer calls at dawn and dusk. In Scotland, I found a second home on the shores of Loch Ness. In Stuttgart, I danced on tables and swigged beer in a dirndl. I wanted to spend a lifetime in every country.

Travelling changes a person inside and out, knowingly or not. In Australia, I went from cowgirl to hippy, dreadlocks included. The depressing climate of Scotland made me a momentary goth and helped nurse the recent passing of my mother. And now, sitting on a train in rural Japan, I catch a glimpse of myself in the window reflection and see myself for who I am today: a professional English teacher. Travelling forces you to learn things about yourself you never knew, or things you never wanted to know, it pushes your boundaries.

I'm reminded what a strange and wonderful world this can be, as I watch the men in designer suits reading anime. The scenery rushes by, glimpses of pink clouds mark the arrival of Sakura. Spring is representative of new beginnings and it is celebrated in Japan like nowhere else in the world. This year, it is bound to be especially poignant in light of recent events. Like Japan, I am looking into the future. Where will I go next?