Once Around the World: René Returns from His World Trip!

After so many years of working together, saying goodbye, even if it was only temporary, was naturally difficult for us, and we were already looking forward to reuniting with our team member. Fortunately, time flew by, and one year later, on November 7, 2022, René was back with us in the Leibnitz office, resuming his role as project manager and team leader.

After a year of travelling, our “returnee” René naturally had a lot to tell and report. We asked him to share his experience with us and with you. 🙂

How did the idea for your world trip come about? Was it a long-cherished dream or more of a spontaneous idea?
Travelling is one of my greatest passions, so it has always been a great desire to take a trip like this. I have now fulfilled this dream together with three friends.

Did it take a long time to plan the trip?
I didn’t spend much time planning the trip because I only had a rough plan in advance. That means I initially booked only a flight and a hotel for the first week. What required more effort were other preparations. For instance, I needed a new passport because my old one was almost full, and I also had to get a new driver’s license. Something not very easy was finding a way to give up my apartment while also figuring out where to store all my furniture and belongings in the meantime. Additionally, I had to take care of copies of documents and acquire travel equipment, like a suitable backpack.

How did BOOM, your employer, support you in taking this one-year world trip?
I was given the opportunity to take 12 months of unpaid leave. This way, I maintained an active employment relationship with BOOM throughout my long journey, with the assurance that I could return under the same terms and conditions.

Was it difficult for you to leave BOOM and your team behind?
Yes, definitely. I missed many of my colleagues a lot, and I stayed in touch with some of them throughout my journey.

Which countries did you visit, and how long did you spend in each country approximately?
In total, I visited 18 countries in North America and Asia. My shortest stay was 2 days in Honduras, and the longest was 6 weeks in Mexico. Generally, the duration of my stays varied greatly, depending on my mood and experiences in each country.

Where did you like it best?
I enjoyed Guatemala, Thailand, and Nepal the most. I spent a whole month in each of those countries. I’ve been to Thailand four or five times by now. It’s a country you really must see at least once.

What was the most exciting thing you experienced during your trip?
I would say the most exciting experience for me was a motorcycle tour in the Himalayas of Nepal. We drove up there on a gravel road and right next to us was the slope of the mountain, which was quite exciting.

In Guatemala I also did something very adventurous. I saw a volcano that erupted approximately every 10-15 minutes. We walked up a very steep mountain there for about 5 hours, which was about 3,500 metres high, and then camped up there in 0 °C. As you can imagine, the air was already very thin at altitude. From there, however, we had a great view of the neighbouring mountain – the fire-breathing volcano – and could observe it. It was an unforgettable experience. Especially at night and at sunrise, we had a breathtaking view.

The experiences you had sound unforgettable and totally beautiful. However, were you still glad to return home? What did you miss most here in your homeland?
Tatsächlich war ich wirklich froh, denn nach 10 Monaten des Reisens war ich ziemlich gesättigt. In den letzten Wochen meiner Tour habe ich nur noch ziemlich wenig unternommen. My head was already filled with many great experiences. What I missed the most were my family, friends, home-cooked meals, and the tranquility. It’s definitely nice to return home after such a long time.

And what were you most excited about when returning to BOOM?
I was most excited about seeing all my colleagues  again. The camaraderie we have at BOOM is incredibly great. After all, I’ve been part of BOOM for many years, and during this time, real friendships have developed. 

How were your first days back in the office? Did you quickly readjust to being with us again?
It was very nice to be back – and, of course, especially to see my colleagues again. It was exciting to see how much had changed in a year and to get to know some new team members. But despite the many changes, I quickly reacclimated to BOOM life. My wonderful colleagues made a significant contribution to this, as they were visibly happy about my return. It felt like I had never been away from the very first day.

In conclusion, do you have any  tips for people who are also interested in embarking on a world trip? Essentially, the do’s and don’ts.
My recommendation for all  travel enthusiasts is to be open and curious about new people, cultures, and new food. Try to set aside your European sense of time – the clocks tick differently in every country – you have to be prepared for a more relaxed and unstructured pace. Not having appointments and time pressure, but simply living and doing what you want, were some of the most beautiful aspects of my journey.

It’s also important not to pack too much. In the end, you only need half of what you brought, [lacht] and you can get almost everything anywhere if you really need something. My tip is to “Go with the Flow”: Don’t plan too much, let the world and all its wonders work on you, and see where it takes you.

Is there anything else you’d  like to share with us?
It may sound stereotypical to say this, but I’ve kept this resolution for a long time:

“Don’t dream your life, live your dream.” If you want to do something, you can usually make it happen.

Thank you, dear René, for sharing your experiences  – and even some photos – with us. We’re incredibly pleased that you were able to fulfill your dream, and even more so that you’re back on our team. 🙂 🙂