1. When did you decide travelling and work was the path you wanted to pursue?
My dad was often working abroad, so I wanted to emulate him and I often said that as soon as I can I'm going to travel, study and work abroad. I worked hard to pursue my dreams and I spent all of my savings on travel. I used various scholarship opportunities to study abroad and while doing this I saved up the money to continuously travel.
2. How do you strike the balance between travel and work?
I'd never be able to have non-flexible job with only 9 days of holidays per year. Although being on holidays for me means being away from work, it doesn't mean doing no work at all.
3. What are the best destinations for both travel and work?
I don't think 'the best' exists, because it's very relative. This is exactly what I'm trying to show people through my blog. I'd say it's always useful to live and work relatively near a big airport, like those in Amsterdam, London, or New York. This saves you a lot of time and money on traveling.
4. What has been the most daunting experience?
It's hard to say. I've experienced emergency landings, lost suitcases, credit card blockages and many other travel-related accidents. As long as you're resourceful and think ahead, you'll be fine. Have contingency plans such as carrying cash instead of only cards.
5. What has been the most rewarding experience?
I'm a big fan of wildlife so all of my close-up experiences with wildlife have been rewarding. I had a chance to hug lions, orangutans and tigers, swim with sharks and crocodiles, ride ostriches, and play with iguanas.
5 things everyone should know before leaving home
1. Don't be afraid of going on your adventure alone. In the end you're never alone because no matter where you go, there will be interesting people to meet.
2. Never close the door completely when you leave a place. You never know when you would like to come back.
3. You might be homesick, but that's not a reason to go back home. You should use every experience you have to get the most out of your travels.
4. Always check if you need a visa or if there are any specific entry requirements before heading to your destination. The last thing you want is to be rejected entry when you're already there. Not only that, make sure that the things you want to see or do are actually open. Otherwise you may end up like a friend of mine who did not know that Macchu Picchu closes for a month every year and ended up heading to Peru without seeing its biggest landmark.
5. Study the geography of the place you're going and research local prices for things you want to do or buy. Basically, beware of getting lost or scammed.
Anna Lysakowska is a blogger, editor and translator. She has visited more than 45 countries and lived in 7, including Mexico City, Boston, London, Cape Town, Florence and Leiden. Read more at annaeverywhere.com.