When I chose Spanish as my foreign language at university, I connected it with a dream of visiting Latin America. To set off on a longer journey, truly get to know a country, and thanks to the language, be able to talk to locals. No rushing from one landmark to another, but a real JOURNEY. Some might call it a sabbatical – something more than just a holiday.
Overcoming obstacles
And then came the obstacles. Probably a million of them. So many times I wondered whether it made sense to keep investing time and energy into studying (or rather maintaining) my Spanish.
The answer? Of course it did – I wanted to go to Latin America!
This year, my dream finally came true. After more than thirty years…
Sabbatical, or creative time off
I took six weeks off and headed to Peru. I wanted to experience the country in a deeper way than just snapping quick selfies at the most famous landmarks. Even though I did include some of them in my itinerary – including the legendary Machu Picchu.
Looking back, I’m grateful for all the energy I invested in learning Spanish. The language opened doors to the people of Peru, and thanks to that, I got to see a much more authentic side of this beautiful country.
Doing things differently
Locals took me to places only they know – places that remain hidden from travel agencies. At Lake Titicaca, my guide was a ten-year-old indigenous girl. She told me about her family’s life and what she wants to do when she grows up.
In the Sacred Valley, I joined a carnival and spent the whole evening dancing around a decorated tree with locals.
One of the indigenous women on the square showed me how to hand-weave belts in Cusco. In return, I showed her photos from my travels. She recognized her friend in one of them – the smiling woman featured in the opening photo of this article. They both came from the same village, which I had happened to visit just a few days earlier.
I met her on the famous Inca Trail, which one of the locals had recommended to me.
Slowing down…
And all of this happened thanks to Spanish, a positive mindset, and the fact that I had time. I didn’t have to stick to a strict itinerary, and I could simply talk – as much as I wanted.
What did I learn?
People often ask me what the journey taught me and what wisdom I brought back. For me, it’s a clear message: trust your dreams. Sometimes they don’t come true right away, and you have to overcome a million obstacles. And you need to invest energy – whether it’s into learning a language or finding alternative paths to reach your goal.
Thank you for making my dream come true. ❤️ Maybe I wouldn’t have enjoyed the journey this much earlier in life…
Interested in Peru? You can whet your appetite with my article about Peruvian cuisine: Freedom of Travel and Peruvian Delicacies.
If you’re curious about taking a longer break from work, check out my article on what a sabbatical really means, how to ask for one, and how to prepare.
Do you also want to follow your dreams and don’t know where to start? Get in touch and book a consultation.
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