Freedom 384

It has always been a dream. 

When I was 8 year old, I read a short story about Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego.  They called Ushuaia, the southern most city, The End of The World. Since then, it has been a dream.  It is a dream to visit this place.

Many times as I changed job, I always asked the questions - can I have a gap of 3 months before I joined?  But every company seems to be in urgency and every company can not wait.  Thus, I was not able to take off even I planned and budget the trip.

I met Diego at New York in 2005 for our Citibank Global Talent Associate Program.  Diego is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. It brought up the flame of the dream once again.  Also, 2001 collapse in economy has made Argentina a lot more affordable than before.  Thus, we started talking about a long visit to his home country.

It took two more changed in job till Aug 2009, my plan was in confirmation.  On one hand, it is the right timing as all the projects for the current job is quite settled.  On the other, I felt just right and Argentina economy is booming where the inflation is raising.  With Diego help in planning,  a bit more budgeting - in which I realized the cost has been double or 100% more expensive in 2010 than 2007, the plan was executed.

Finally, I bought the flight ticket in Oct 2009, confirmed with Diego and left my last job on Mar 2010 for my dream.

On Mar 10, 2010 as my last day at work, the freedom started the countdown.  Well, that is because I know there will come the day I have to go back to work.

On Mar 28, 2010, I boarded my flight to Buenos Aires, feeling so free like never before.  Even the flight was with an emergency landing at Johanesberg and delayed for closed to 10 hours, my spirit was up and up.  I landed at Buenos Aires at mid night the same date, chilly feeling the Autumn winds and the life time journey started there for my Freedom 384.

On Apr 4, 2010, I arrived at Ushuaia.  Well, the journey itself is another story to tell.  But I can never forget the feeling of walking out from the airport, add on top like a DejaVu. Then and now, whenever I talked to friends, I always say believe and have a dream, that is what life is all about.

Over the 384 days that I was not working, I had spent 160 days and travelled 8 countries.  I had read closed to 17 books and still reading a couple now.  I had called all my best friends from primary and high school I could get contact with. I had visited friends that I had not seen for 20 to 25 years. Of course, I had met many people who are traveling around the world.  For all to summarize, try it if you have never.  It is something Asian should do more often.

On this night Mar 30, 2011, my last night of freedom before going back to work, after 384 days away from a job and enjoying all the freedom of doing anything I wanted, I still tell all my friends, have a dream and live to fulfill it because that is the most incredible thing that can happen to a person.

In this very same night, I received a sad news of an old colleague passed away in a car accident 2 weeks ago at the age of 39.  The news re-enforced the statement.

So, guys, have a dream.  Like me, at least I have my Freedom 384 once. :-)e