This is not an actual reunion posting but I'm posting it here because there are so many contiki alum here from years past, some further in the past than others. The fact that many of you are posting reunion notices from as far back as the early 80's says a lot about the contiki experience. I'd like to hear from you on how contiki changed you and how your ideas of travel and life have been molded by that first time you saw europe. How surreal and euphoric it felt to escape into that wonderland of like-minded youth and leave home for the first time.

I went on my first Contiki trip back in 2007 and by then I was already into my 30's. And although I'd already done some traveling byt then, I wish I had done it sooner. It changed me by showing me how fun and beautiful the world is and how, as cliche as it may sound, we are only young once.

What did it do for you?

For me, it made me care less about my job. Sounds bad....When I went on the tour (last year) I was 33 years old, and I'm married.

What I mean though is that I have a different perspective on what's important. I was pretty career driven and now, my title and getting a promotion isn't as important. As long as my bills are paid and I'm happy, what does anything else matter?

That feeling hasn't really faded since the tour ended, and I'm happier now and less stressed.

I also want to travel the world some more (though soon I won't be able to go with Contiki!)

And I've also made some life long friends...I am SO glad I went on this trip!

Hi Benji,

Thanks for sharing. It sounds like Contiki had an impact on you as well. And like you I'm thinking the same sad thing...that soon (very soon for me, ha ha!) we won't be able to go on them anymore.

Hiya!
I took my first Contiki trip solo over the new year following a really bad year for me personally and it's the best thing I've ever done! I had the best time ever and learnt so much about myself, I'm more tolerant of other people than I thought, for example, and it's helped with my confidence so much as well. I've made some fantastic friends who I'm still in touch with now. It made me realise that I'm so much more independent than I thought I was and if I can go away on my own with 50 strangers and have a blast, then I can do anything! I was the only Brit on my tour, which I found daunting at first as everyone else had something in common with someone else straight away being from the same country, but in a way it helped me even more and I mixed with so many nationalities and I hope it rubbished the stereotype that us Brits don't like to mix with others and keep ourselves to ourselves because it's certainly not true!!
I can't recommend Contiki enough, as soon as I came back I booked up for next Jan and am so looking forward to it and am hoping to get one in sometime this year too!


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vicstar, thanks for sharing. I enjoy hearing about other peoples' experiences.

Experiences such as these make it so hard to return to a normal life of work.

quote:

Originally posted by benji:
For me, it made me care less about my job. Sounds bad....When I went on the tour (last year) I was 33 years old, and I'm married.

What I mean though is that I have a different perspective on what's important. I was pretty career driven and now, my title and getting a promotion isn't as important. As long as my bills are paid and I'm happy, what does anything else matter?

That feeling hasn't really faded since the tour ended, and I'm happier now and less stressed.

I also want to travel the world some more (though soon I won't be able to go with Contiki!)

And I've also made some life long friends...I am SO glad I went on this trip!

I feel the same way. Very well said benji.

I was only 19 when I went on a 12 week European tour in 1978. It totally redirected my life. It was the first time I had been away from home and I did a lot of soul searching. Getting along with 47 people for three months (especially while camping) was a challenge in itself. I came home a different person. I think every young person should travel in order to become further educated and to really learn who they are and what they want in life.

quote:

Originally posted by Explorer1144117:
I was only 19 when I went on a 12 week European tour in 1978. It totally redirected my life. It was the first time I had been away from home and I did a lot of soul searching. Getting along with 47 people for three months (especially while camping) was a challenge in itself. I came home a different person. I think every young person should travel in order to become further educated and to really learn who they are and what they want in life.

I envy you Explorer. I never had the chance to do that at 19, well, I simply hadn't developed any interest in travel at that age. I have the desire and freedom to do so now and have been travelling regularly for the past handful of years, but it's not the same. Doing it while your young, at large in the world, I can only imagine what that must have been like. An experience like that stays with you forever.

Wow just reading these stories makes me want to pack up, take that University money, and hit Europe ASAP. I'm so happy that I have this forum to keep me connected to those who are living the dream, and traveling the world. And dang, this thread is making me happy to be so young (18) and now I'm anxious to get traveling! I'm hoping to disprove the saying "Youth is wasted on the young" :P

Thanks for posting these stories and please, keep them coming!