In a few months, I’ll be going on my first international adventure without my parents. Living in New Zealand, surely there are places that would be cheaper to visit than the UK. Vietnam. Fiji. Argentina. All nearer, all cheaper, and all easier to get to.
So why go to the UK?
One of the barriers keeping me from travelling is my mental health. I have suffered from depression and anxiety for a couple of years now. Most of the reasons that I chose the UK can be traced back to this.
Firstly, the culture and language of the UK is not all that different to what I’m used to. This means that I won’t be dealing with major culture-shock, and I won’t have the added stress of trying to communicate in a different language. I find it difficult enough talking to people I don’t know without being unable to speak the same language; under such circumstances I would withdraw and get no enjoyment out of my time away.
Another reason that I chose the UK is that I have two elder half-sisters who live there. I can spend some of my trip staying with them, which will reduce my accommodation costs. Also, with my mental health issues, having someone nearby who knows and loves me will be a great comfort. When I need support, they will be there, and if I have any emergencies while away, I won’t have to deal with them alone.
Finally, I chose the UK because I like it. As a child, I loved reading about English kings and queens, especially Elizabeth I. I’ve read the novels “London” and “The Forest” both by Edward Rutherford numerous times, and I look at countries that have old buildings with envy. When my family spent two weeks in London in 2015, I loved it; we weren’t there long enough and I couldn’t wait to return.
