Tip 2 Tip: China - Equal Parts Cringe & Inspiring

I don’t watch a whole lot of TV in the traditional sense, but I do watch a crapload of YouTube. 

Like regular ol’ TV, YouTube is entertaining, educational, dare I say, inspiring… even if that source of inspiration is atypical. 

For the last few weeks, I had been following the adventures of Michael Reeves & Ludwig Ahgren - two YouTubers who just got back from adventuring across China in a serialized project called “Tip 2 Tip.” 

They traveled by motorcycle from the southern border (South China Seal) to the northern border - or Inner Mongolia. Now, what’s an incredible adventure without a challenge? The rules:

No Internet

No GPS

No Maps

No Translators

All they could rely on were each other and the kindness of strangers they met along the way. 

During that 16 day journey, Ludwig and Michael got terrible food poisoning, discovered they were going the wrong way after driving several hours, developed a bit of a “ciggy” habit (what they affectionately call cigarettes), fumbled HARD trying to communicate with locals and unknowingly CRASHED A FUNERAL. 

There were definitely points where I'd cover my face with my shirt yelling “OH NO! CRINGE! :(“

Buuuuuuut….. There were plenty of AMAZING things that happened:

They tried a ton of amazing food, befriended locals, took in remarkable views and got to experience, first hand, a culture entirely different than their own. 

More importantly - through the good and bad - they made it to their destination!

Mike & Lud’s tumultuous journey was filled with laughs, tears, anger and everything in-between. In spite of their struggle to make it past the most arduous parts of their adventure, they were determined to make it through - and made it through they did.

It wasn’t through pure grit and determination either. Mistakes were made and therefore, lessons were learned. New languages were being learned and therefore, mistakes were made. Learning and practice always go hand-in-hand. And when they discovered new information, they put it into practice. As the days passed by, the journey became easier.

This has literally been my job hunting experience. 

I didn't get lost in another country, nor did I crash a funeral… but like Mike & Lud, mistakes were made and things got CRINGE. Regardless, the process is getting easier. The first time jitters are being shaken, I'm learning how to better position myself and I'm going into my calls with more confidence and authority. More importantly, I'm meeting some really awesome people who are becoming fast friends. 

It's not perfect… but it's pushing the needle.

Go make it a great day!

Totally real and not fake photo of me getting dressed in the morning.