As a child I earned the title of Itchy Feet, not knowing then what it really meant, I always ended up sulking. Itchy Feet didn’t mean something good back then, it meant you were a pain as a kid, someone who run away from home when told not to, a kid who sneaked out to play outside when told not to, a kid who climbed whatever she could reach even when told not to. You can imagine me climbing coconu
t trees on a Sunday, sneaking out with the boys to harvest guava trees in the middle of the jungle, dangling on vines while climbing Avocado tree, fall off a Balimbi tree and roll down the hill, and many more breaking-bones adventures. All these were my happy childhood memories that earned me Itchy Feet. You might think now, ah this is the epitome of a child who did everything she was told not to. What made me do those things, despite the danger I was exposed to, were simply the inner drive of adventure, fun, exhilarating experience of going out there and finding it for myself first hand. My Ma understood my passion and drive for going far in pursuit of exploration – literally by distance! Pa didn’t completely agree on this but eventually supported it. So, first chance I had leaving town – I took it! It struck my Pa at first but he gradually gave his blessings. Not long after, the calling to return home was a strong force so I was back 8 months later. By three months’ time, I was once again yearning for more. I took off and this time even farther. And then I went off to another place even farther, this time, to another country. I remembered my Pa crying on the phone asking me not to go. I assured him it will be alright, truthfully, I was scared to the bone while taking that taxi going to airport. It was my first time to travel outside the country, first time to pass through immigration, first time to see other countries’ culture, food and people, many first-time experiences ahead of me. And that is exactly why I went for it. Those many first-time experiences laid out on my journey. Fast forward and few years past, I moved to another country for 18 months, and now I am residing in another country for over 7 months and counting…Now, I just go with the flow and enjoy every moment where my feet takes me. Only few months back that I figured, my Ma was right, I do have an Itchy Feet. I would love to hear your story too. Hugs and Love,
Mae xoxo
