One for the Unexpected
Autor: Ana | Publicado: 2016-11-15T16:34:00-08:00



Judy Hopps, expectations' smasher



A few months ago, the Lonely Planet started a Travel Writing competition. Of course I entered, of course I didn't win. As I have nothing better to do with the text, I'm posting it here.

&nbsp;I was born with two said incompatible conditions: a chronical disease and wanderlust. Due to the first, I was raised safely inside home. Due to the second, as soon as I turned 18, I started my plans to leave. 

I had not had any support, from family or doctors. They said they would not prohibit me, but they were sure I would not last a day out there. &nbsp;Still, I tried. And failed twice, my own body holding me back. I learned English and finally got a scholarship that sent me from Brazil to Australia.The third time had to work. 

Once I landed in Sydney, I panicked. I was alone. People would not understand me, I could not find anything at the supermarket, I did not know how to take the bus. On that first day at my new house, I cried. They were right. I should have never left. 

Slowly, I overcame my fears. I observed the locals and learned to ask for whatever I needed. I turned that house into home. I made some friends, though I have not necessarily seen them ever again. I created my own little travel blog which helped other sick people to leave their homes. I was living the dream and ready to go further.

Eleven months later, I am visiting my 6th country, New Zealand. I am in a small town, out of the main routes, called Tekapo. I cannot recall how I find out about it in the first place. It is a winter afternoon and most people are already sheltering from the cold. &nbsp;I am alone again, but I do not mind anymore.

I am sitting on a rock, my backpack is next to me and inside it is a foam box full of ice and medicine. I am facing The Church of The Good Shepherd. It is barely more than a cube, made of grey bricks, no paintings, no stained glasses. Inside, I knew there were no more than a few benches and a small wooden cross on a stone table.

At this moment, the setting sun reaches a perfect angle, sending its rays into the windows and making the whole church shines from inside, like that light was its own. Beyond, a cloudless sky matches a perfectly blue and still Tekapo Lake and even further snowy mountains are the perfect frame for a scenario a traveller born in the tropics could never imagine.

Against all expectations, that tiny church turned out more beautiful than any cathedral I have ever seen. Against all expectations, I was there to see it, happy, healthy, free. &nbsp;It got me wondering why we waste time creating such empty useless things as expectations. We should create memories instead. Memories are what life is made of.



I want to write about my trips for the simple reason that I can though I was not supposed to. I was raised in a small town where the world out there does not matter, I had to learn English on my own, I do not have the best health conditions, I am a woman. People said I could not, I was too weak, too innocent. The world would eat me alive.

Despite what they said, I knew what I wanted and I left. Now here I am, collecting cheap charms for my necklace, one from each country. Their clinging while I walk a merry song about believing in dreams, one that sounds different for each person and still everybody should have the chance to hear.
I will not lie, I wish I could make money from my stories, go all around the world and see the beauties I do not know exist yet. But even if I have never gotten a cent, it would be worth because it would be great seeing people leaving their comfort zone. No matter if this comfort zone is a place, a person, a situation, I want to inspire people to fight for their dreams. Deep down, what I want is to show people that I can. And if I can, anyone can.