PREPARATIONS

Throughout the year I had time to think about how this journey should be looking like, where to go and what to do. So over time, the idea about all this got more precise and I made up a few guidelines that should determine how everything unfolds - without being too strict and leaving a bit of space for flexibility, of course.

These general ideas are (you might already know one or two):

1.     Getting to know the cultures and people of South America through direct access into their everyday lives

2.     Being more than a tourist: work and help in local projects in return for accommodation and meals

3.     Travel like the local population and as cheap as possible as often as possible. Luxury is not a part of this plan

4.     If there is no project to be found, sleep in hostels or use other platforms such as Couchsurfing. I read an article a while about a guy who travelled Europe finding places to stay only via Tinder – but as I signed up a few days ago I found that the app isn’t of any help as it doesn’t allow you to plan ahead through all the functions you have to pay for ridiculous money - so yea, nah cheers

5.     If possible travel from south to north starting near Torres del Paine / Patagonia because of the season that allows you to discover this unreal nature

6.     Not making too many plans or planning too far ahead to allow you to have maximum flexibility and to be able to follow hints & tips you’ll get along the way

So far, so good - let’s go for it. However, to let go of things and just let them happen might sometimes turn out harder than it sounds.

This is where I really have to calm down the German Kartoffel in me who is certainly not happy with the level of uncertainty in all this – and I can understand him: knowing where you’ll be sleeping the next few nights is a very calming feeling you must know.

I think with the ongoing journey it’ll be easier to let go of things and I’ll be able to cage him quicker then. Scheiss Alman.