In 2016 I began studying a BA in Politics and Sociology at the University of Sheffield, during which time I took full advantage of the Erasmus Scheme and spent my third year studying at the University of Amsterdam, living in the Jordaan district. Since graduation, I have been working at the Pure Breaks as a creative copywriter and team leader since March 2021. I’ve always been a creative person, dabbling in many outlets such as acrylic painting, sketching, music, but most of all, writing. I enjoy using my writing skills to explore and illuminate pressing issues, just as I did in my undergraduate dissertation on the relationship between ecological grief and capitalism.
At Working Travel Group I’ve been able to continue this practice, writing articles for the Pure Breaks brand on topics such as indigenous Caribbean history before colonial invasion and the recent years of difficulty for the Sri Lankan tourism industry. As of September 2021 I am enrolled at the London School of Economics to study a MSc in Political Sociology, but hope to continue producing articles in equally important topics around all things travel!
I’m torn between two choices. Firstly, I would love to visit the Sri Lankan rainforest, like Sinharaja. I’ve never been somewhere tropical and the idea of trekking under the canopy, spotting endemic species of bird, and listening to birdsong I’ve not heard before is so appealing. Then again, I would love to visit one of the safari lodges that Pure Breaks promotes, such as those in Namibia. Having researched and written about them, I love the idea of staying somewhere that blends the wild and remote landscape with luxurious touches.
Additionally, seeing the work they do in their communities and their ongoing efforts to protect endangered species makes me want to visit even more. Either way, I love being surrounded by plants and animals, so I would love wherever I travel next to allow me the opportunity to be surrounded by those I’ve never seen before.
For me, travelling abroad is all about the good kind of discomfort. I want to be exposed to new foods, new histories, new customs that I’m unfamiliar with. Being taken out of your comfort zone is so important for personal identity, whether that’s self-growth or simply knowing who you are and where you come from. Then again, in a beautiful way this means that things you’ve learnt over your travels, customs that were once scary, flavours that once seemed daunting, can all become familiar, making a place you love to visit feel like a second home.
