A Never Ending Story

by Rhabiha El Machichi (France)

A leap into the unknown Turkey

Shares

I've not always loved adventure. In fact I was terrified by it. I had always fancied driving motorcycles and joining the military but it was only a fantasy. Until one day I won a travel to Mauricius Island, little did I know this trip would change me forever. I went. Alone for my 30th birthday. Not without asking everyone in my family and friends to join me. Unsuccessfully. My parents, my sisters, my best friends, my brothers, I even asked their wives, nobody wanted or could come with me. So I decided to go. Just by myself. A whole day of travel later I arrived. In there I learnt to fight my fear of water, I learned to swim(-ish), I dived, I enjoyed the sun and the virgin cocktails, all by myself... Afterwards, I decided I was no longer to stay on "neutral", and I triggered the "drive" mode. I started to learn how to drive motorcycles and started to look for a new job abroad and found it, in Ireland. 3 weeks later I was there. Starting a new live. One year later I was promoted to Manager and suffered a very bad injury. I couldn't seem to find a way to heal so I decided to quit my job and started to travel, to at least heal my soul. I ended up in the beautiful city of Jerusalem, visited the 3rd holy place of Islam that is Al Aqsa and walked in the church that saw our beloved Jesus born. I came back, looking for a new job in Ireland but I realised I needed something bigger. Something more meaningful. So I decided to take another leap of faith and go to Istanbul. Again, in a matter of 3 weeks I had to get rid of all my belongings and here I was, ticket was bought, luggages were packed. I was on my way to Turkey. In there I discovered a new culture, a new language and all the obstacles that come with it. I tried to blend in and do my job conscientiously but it was not enough. The world is not always a safe place for a woman alone. So I decided to go back home, to France, until I find another destination to explore. I'm taking advantage of it to rest before I go back to leaping into the unknown.