Australian woman quits finance job for 6-month solo Europe trip, starts missing home within 2 weeks and regrets leaving Australia

An Australian woman who left her finance career to embark on a six-month solo trip across Europe has begun missing home just two weeks into her journey. Sharing her experience in a Reddit post, the 28-year-old revealed that the reality of travelling alone has been more difficult than she expected, leaving her questioning her decision to leave work and explore the continent.

The woman had spent five years working in finance before resigning from her job. While she wanted to make the most of an opportunity to travel before taking on greater responsibilities, professional burnout had also influenced her decision to take a break. However, her initial experiences in Europe have prompted her to reflect on the comforts and familiarity she had left behind in Australia.

Australian Woman Opens Up About Her Solo Europe Trip

Explaining the reasons behind her decision to travel, the woman said she had wanted to explore the world while she had fewer commitments. At the same time, she was struggling with burnout after working in finance for several years.

“I’m 28F I'm Week 2 into a 6month solo-Europe tripafter handing in my notice a month ago. I had a promising career (5yrs experience in Finance), but the thought of not taking the opportunity of travelling whilst I had limited responsibilities was haunting me so I packed up everything. I was also getting burnt out at the same time. I'm from Australia,” she wrote.

Vienna And Rome Experiences Leave Her Missing Australia

The woman said her first week in Vienna, Austria, was different from what she had expected, particularly when it came to interactions with locals. She has since travelled to Rome, Italy, where she said concerns about cleanliness and safety had made her miss life back home even more.

“Cue Week 2 in, and I'm already wanting to go home. I was in Vienna, Austria Week 1 and found the people less friendly and more standoff-ish compared to Aussies. I'm now writing this in Rome, Italy and it feels unsafe and dirty compared to Sydney/Melb/Brisbane,” she wrote.

Solo Travel Makes Her Appreciate Everyday Comforts

Reflecting on her experience, the woman said the trip had made her recognise aspects of Australian life that she had previously taken for granted. These included feeling safe, friendly interactions, good coffee and pleasant weather, which she had not paid much attention to while working long hours in an office.

“My only enlightenment so far is that I have taken many aspects of Australia for granted. I didn't notice the safety, the friendliness, the good coffee and the good weather when I was hunched over a screen in the office for 50 hrs a week,” she wrote.

Woman Seeks Advice From Fellow Travellers

“Keen to hear a dose of reality or someone tell me to man up or any tips on their own experiences,” she added.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on Reddit. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.