How I Became a Writer

I never intended on being a writer – it’s something that just sort of happened out of necessity. Funds were running low in Mexico and I needed to find an additional source of income. Teaching English online was making me money while travelling, but I was spending more than I was bringing in. I needed to find more work.

I started applying for some freelance writing jobs on Upwork.com. I landed my first gig and wrote a product description of a Nike tennis bag. I was hired for a few more jobs, received some positive feedback, and started to believe that I could make a living writing. Above all else, I enjoyed it.

The Beginning

I’ve been searching for a career ever since I first realized I’d have to make money to survive. 8-year-old Andrew had dreams of playing professional sport, but 18-year-old Andrew spent more time in the pub than in the gym. What I maybe lost in fitness, I gained in life experiences and social connections. I always knew I could succeed at any career I chose but finding just one to commit my life to was a near impossible task.

I went to university immediately after graduating high school to pursue a career in athletic therapy. I wasn’t enjoying my classes, changed my major a handful of times, and eventually dropped out to stop wasting my time and money. If I’m going to spend my life doing something, I’m gonna be damn sure that I enjoy it. I wasn’t lost, but with a thousand different paths to choose from I was looking for a road map, something to guide me to where I didn’t know I wanted to go.

While standing at the proverbial crossroads, my friend was planning a trip to Australia. I’d told him I would join but was never really committed. I didn’t have a lot of money at the time, and that was really the only thing holding me back. I knew I could find work in Australia, but I also knew that I’d go broke before that happened.

I had looked at the flight a hundred times, always stopping short at the “confirm booking” button. I’d be landing in Australia with $1,200 – hardly enough to survive more than a few weeks on a tight budget. In my heart I knew at some point I would return home to Canada alive and well, so what’s the worst that could really happen? Even if I was homeless without a penny I knew I’d live to come back home with the story one day.

I was there again staring at the familiar final booking page. I closed my eyes, moved the mouse around ever so slightly and clicked. When I opened my eyes again, I saw that the “confirm booking” button now had a revolving circle of dots in its place.

“Congratulations, your flight has been confirmed.”

The New Beginning

I didn’t realize it at the time, but that leap of faith changed my life. The guesswork was gone, and I was heading down under in two weeks’ time. There was no choice left – I had just spent half the money I owned on a flight to Sydney.

I did go broke in Australia (more than once), but I fell in love with seeing new places, meeting people from different countries, and more than anything, I fell in love with being completely free and independent.

What was meant to be a 2-3 month trip turned into 12 months, and led me down a path I never knew that I was looking for, but am forever grateful that I found. I learned so much about myself and the world, and when I returned home I had a wealth of experience, stories to share, and boosted self-confidence. I had done something with my life, and now I had the itch to do more.

I always loved geography but I had a newfound passion for learning about different countries, cultures, and people. I wanted to travel again, but wanted a university degree that I could take with me. I stumbled upon the International Development program at the University of Winnipeg and after a few weeks of classes I knew that I had found my path. I loved what I was learning.

Alongside the degree I completed my Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification and was more than ready to get back on the road. I graduated in June of 2019, continued working as a bartender until December, and at the end of that year I left Winnipeg again, this time headed for Indonesia – not knowing when I’d be back.

When One Door Closes…

Not long after leaving Canada, Covid-19 started imposing itself on the world. Borders and airports were closing across Asia and I was left with almost no choice but to scramble back to Canada. That process is a story in itself, but I eventually made it back to Canada where I was given an opportunity to travel up North to do a work placement for the summer. If I can’t travel internationally, why not travel domestically? I accepted the offer and headed to Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.

Summer ended, I returned to Winnipeg and shortly thereafter I was looking for a country that would accept me. After a couple of flight cancellations, and Greece denying entry to Canadians three days before I was set to fly to Athens, I eventually landed In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in November 2020.

After a thousand tacos, countless nights of tequila and reggaeton, and a newfound love for mezcal, the money situation was getting tight. I was backed into a corner, so I created my Upwork profile. After a month of doing random freelance jobs, I decided I’d be better served to create a website and reach out to clients on my own, eliminating the middleman.

I’ve been searching for a way to share my stories and what I’ve learned about the world – and I think I’ve finally found it. I’m excited about this new opportunity. I’ve never really known where I’ve been heading, but I’ve always had faith that the path I was walking down would take me where I was supposed to go. I’m happy with where it’s led me so far, and unless that changes, I’ll keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels