CATALYST ADVENTURES: JEANIE TAY X VILLA (Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA)

December 16, 2013

In 2013, I got to a point in my life, where I lost my inspiration and when that happens you know a change has to come about. It started off symptomatic where I decided to do things that were new, like the TCRP’s Summit to Sea Adventure to East Timor.

A lot of times, in a society like Singapore where profit and efficiency and the constant hustling to get more out of something really got to me. I think I found myself defined by my job but I realized I was something more than that. It wasn’t just the job, but I was at a time in my life where I was looking for something more. Ultimately, I had to take that structure away so I could find out who I am. I suppose in life its a constant metamorphosis, and there will be times in life where you have to pause. This was one of those times.

By the time I quit my job, I knew in my heart – the iron-clad conviction that it was the right decision at the right time. When I found myself lost, and I didn’t have the next steps – the only instinctual thing was to do what I love doing – which is travelling, exploring and pushing my comfort zones. So I settled for South/Central America, to my parents they were thinking I would become a drug mule victim of the narco cartels there. They did attempt to sit me down to talk me out of it.

It was more difficult than expected learning a new language. But with vulnerability comes humility, and this is something that I’m re-learning. Sometimes that is at odds with the sense of self-entitlement that a meritocratic society brings. But its been a great experience and adventure so far, white water rafting down the Pacquare river in Costa Rica, getting a spider bite in the Dominican Republic, doing a 44 KM mountain bike, attempting (and succeeding) to surf some waves, and meeting all sorts of characters along the way, volunteering at a ‘Villa’ in Argentina (aka slum/favela etc) and seeing that side of life.

Sometimes I get lonely and down especially when I got sick with bronchitis, or now in December, I miss home – but the sacrifices are worth all the experiences. I have only one life and I’m determined to make it an adventure. I’m grateful for this time in my life, despite the initial flux. For the first time in a long time, I am at peace with myself – life is beautiful!