Home sweet home
What an emotions and what a journey. I still can’t believe what all happened in 3 months time.
Just arrived back home, which means staying in the place where I grew up together with my father, the contrast is huge, perhaps I would even say too much. From travelling in my camper with my lovely cat Loekie now, back home in my old bedroom where I grew up. I had to adjust the first few days.
Stereotypes
The words that I would use to summarise my trip are life changing, insightful, emotional and overwhelming and perhaps even meant to be. The people I have met during my journey, at the camping sites, meeting new people and catching up with industry friends, you were the cherry on the cake. You were and are the reason that my trip was an incredible and life-changing experience!
I know I am privileged to have the opportunity to invest my last penny in my camper, travelling around and being invited to many cities in Poland and exploring the hidden gems and last but not least, discovering the best food in each destination.
I have discovered Poland as a beautiful country, with lovely people and please throw all your stereotypes about the Polish people over the ceiling. Did you know that I haven’t even locked my camper in the last few weeks of my journey?
And I felt safe and secure when I took a taxi, walked over the streets in different cities in the evening or even when I took public transport at any hour of the day. And no, nothing is stolen or missing :-)
IMEX 22
My drive from Krakow to Frankfurt
Let’s go back to my last destination in Krakow where I travelled together with Nyomi Rose to Germany to attend the yearly trade show called IMEX Frankfurt, which is one of the largest trade shows for our industry, the meetings and events industry.
It was fantastic to have Nyomi on board of my camper on the road from Krakow to Frankfurt. Two days of travelling, chatting, laughing and crying, enjoying some nice German food and exchanging experiences. It was a long drive but if you have a great company, time flies.
Plans
I was a bit sceptical this year about IMEX, not knowing what to expect. It’s been 2 years in a row that the show was cancelled due to the pandemic. What would be the atmosphere, the vibes, the people, the perspective….
My agenda was packed for the 3 days during the show, excluding the activities around the show. After the intense journey of the past 2 months and the drive to Frankfurt, I was not really looking forward to the full and intense days at the show, to be honest. My battery was almost empty.
I got it all wrong!
Already after the first few hours, my next destination for my camper journey was confirmed! Ljubljana, Slovenia, here I come :-) #mariskajourney will continue. Excited to be a speaker during Conventa and Conventa Crossover in August.
The vibes at the show floor were very positive. People have picked up my camper journey on social media and were asking, how’s your camper journey going (also from people that I barely know). It was energising to see and to hug so many industry friends on the show floor after such a long time.
I am proud and honoured
On Wednesday afternoon I was invited to the booth of Poland to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Polish Convention Bureau. And of course, I was chatting with someone and not paying attention when I suddenly heard my name to join the stage. And Aneta, head of the Poland Convention Bureau, shared my story and honoured me with an official certificate to recognize me as an official ambassador of Poland. Including a book from a famous Polish photographer highlighting the diversity of the country. I was surprised, honoured and proud. Thank you very much, Aneta and the entire team for this lovely surprise and recognition for all the work I have done during my journey.
Me-time
Yes, after 3 full days in Frankfurt I can honestly say, I was tired. Catching up with Claudia on the Friday after the show, I made a radical choice. I needed a break after all the meetings, people, emotions and more. That was actually the entire purpose of my journey, but as usual, things go in a different direction as I scheduled. The story of my life.
First I reviewed my agenda and cancelled the non-urgent things. I just didn’t have the energy to jump on a call or to prepare the work that I’m used to. That already created a bit of air, and I decided to stop my ‘active’ presence on social media. Yes, I know you all love my stories and blogs but it was just too much. It was overwhelming for me.
I decided to I look for a nice place to stay on one spot for the last 2,5 weeks of my journey before heading home. Which I found :-) a place where I could unfold and use (!) my relax chair, put my table and use the canopy of my camper. And it would be me if I haven’t worked, yes of course, but in a different way.
Summary of my #MariskaJourney trip
Journey across Poland
I drove 7292 km with my camper
I made 602 032 steps, 438 km of walking (excluding the steps to the toilet, shower, to do the dishes, my yoga sessions and running)
I gave 4 presentations, 2 workshops and participated in 1 panel discussion
I discovered Poland as a fantastic travel and MICE destination
Poland is a very friendly and hospitable country
Poland has a beautiful nature
I had many confrontations with myself
I had X number of emotional breakdowns (lost counting)
Not a single day passed and I haven’t thought of Christophe
That I would learn to kitesurf :-) and would fall in love with the sport
I kept my promise Jaro and haven’t drunk any vodka during my journey in Poland
Discovered that Poland has excellent wines and beers (yes!)
That I would become an official ambassador of Poland :-) and I am proud and honoured to have this title
I have met the most amazing people during my journey
Visited many destinations during my trip, Poznań, Wrocław, Kielce, Hel, Sopot, Gdansk, Warsaw , Lodz, Krakow and many many more
New life as a digital nomad in a camper
Yes, I had damage on my camper… 3 times… after my camera broke down….and yes all three times my own fault….
Never thought that I would really fall in love with my new lifestyle of being a digital nomad
Everything costs more time when you live in a camper; this is something you need to consider being a digital nomad
Who would thought that I would become a national TV star in Poland (and including the local TV)?
That I would inspire other people to join my journey; Nyomi thank you very much!
That our industry would embrace and fall in love with my concept and journey
About my bike, ashamed to say as a Dutch lady that it remained in its place during the entire journey! I haven’t used it at all… And sometimes I used the bikes at the camping…
Wifi…this is a challenge on the camping sites
You need to have good planning, preparation and an adventurous mindset to choose for this lifestyle; it was my first trip and it was sometimes challenging
My biggest companion, my cat, loves the camper life even more; since I’m back home she has slept the first 4 nights in my camper before she decided to enter the house.. So I have no choice but to take her again with me on my next journey :-) Despite she escaped once and jumped back in the camper after 45 minutes (don’t ask how I was during these 45 minutes!)
Stay tuned because in just a few weeks I will be on the road again….. to Ljubljana. To attend the Conventa and Conventa Crossover as a speaker at the end of August. In case you live between Ljubljana and the Netherlands, let me know.
Have a lovely summer, a big hug and see you soon.