On Dying Abroad

When I first started planning this trip last April or so, I had a rough idea of what I wanted to do. All I knew was that I wanted to go on a big backpacking trip through Europe and check some things off my bucket list. I was aiming for a trip about two months long. Leah and I didn't connect until later, around September, and soon after we committed to undergoing our trips together. Since then we've been talking and planning, and our itinerary quickly grew to "3 months and beyond". We've had a rough itinerary since late October, if I recall correctly.

Temporarily it goes as follows:
UK -> France -> Estonia -> Ukraine -> Romania -> Austria -> Italy -> Switzerland -> Germany -> Czech Republic -> Poland -> Norway -> Iceland.

We're still discussing things; I'd really like to visit Hungary, and Austria has been pushed down slightly on my list, so things might shift or change. But the gist of it is, overall, we want to visit a variety of countries. Some are more expensive (and some are VERY expensive), and some are dirt cheap, so we're hoping it evens out.

If I said I was not concerned about my budgeting abilities I would be lying. I am - honestly - very concerned about the trip, and have modified my plan to "3 months or less". Leah might stay a bit longer;  she's keen on doing perhaps another worktrade, but again, nothing's been totally sorted out yet.

Our budget is incredibly stringent, less than "backpacking cheap", even less than "on a shoestring", bordering on "homeless and eating from trashcans" (which I am not planning on doing, although I wouldn't mind eating some expired or dumpster-dived food - yes, my standards are low).

I honestly have no idea how our trip will pan out because
a) I have never done anything like this before,
b) I haven't found a lot of information out there about working with such a small budget, and
c) I only have broken & receptive German and Russian skills; I can't speak any other languages.

2010: Wingin' it... as always.

 

But I am so looking forward to the experience because it will be one of huge growth for me. Growth is crucial to the human experience... and besides. It can't go that badly, can it? I can't possibly die abroad, could I?

No, I can't. To be cliched: if there is a will, there's a way. And I am determined to find that way. My whole life has basically been me looking for that alternate path, and boy, it's led to some interesting surprises at times. But I wouldn't change it for the world!