The TravFessionals: Amarachi Ekekwe

This is the first in a series where I’ll interview working professionals that make room for travel and adventure. There will be a travel blogger or two but also non-bloggers. You’ll hear from solo travelers, couples, and family travelers based in North America, Africa, and Europe. The goal of this series is in line with what this blog is about: to tell real life stories, from everyday people (not just me), and share tips that inspire you to see the world while showing you that it is possible to do so at your own pace without quitting your job. Welcome to The Travfessionals (Traveling Professionals, get it?).

Our first Travfessional is THE Amarachi Ekekwe. Amarachi is based in Lagos, Nigeria. She has seen so much of Nigeria and makes me want to travel through my home country. She’s also known for sharing great budget tips for the Nigerian traveller and for going on the most detailed tour of Morocco I know of with pictures and blog posts to show for it! She’s travelled solo, with friends, and as a couple. Without giving more away , let’s hear from her directly:

Q: Tell Us About The Different Hats You Wear

I am a System Engineer, fiction writer, and travel blogger. My primary projects and current areas of interest are within the Production Operations domain – where I configure tools and platforms to help clients reduce shortfalls and meet their production targets.

Q: What Kicked Off Your Wanderlust?

A solo trip I took in June 2015 is responsible for this. Prior to that, I had travelled quite a lot within Nigeria. My parents moved a lot when I was younger, and I enjoyed each move and the excitement of visiting new states.I began traveling internationally in 2013 but it wasn’t until two years later before I fully embraced the lifestyle.

Q: How Many Trips Do You Take Annually (Local or International)?

• I take about 2-3 ‘big trips’ (or international trips) and several smaller trips within and around my home country.

Q: How Has Traveling Made You A Better Professional?

Traveling has made me a more confident and creative person. I am able to bring this energy into the work that I do. Apart from my core technical projects, I take on minor projects that have to do with photography and creative writing. This has increased my visibility at work and has had a positive impact in my career.

I also relate better with my colleagues, I am more expressive about my ideas. (I used to be extremely shy and quiet). Even though, I still am, I am in a much better place and I attribute that to the experiences I’ve had while traveling.

Q: What’s One Thing People Would Be Surprised to Learn About You?

I am an extreme introvert. Is this a surprise? Haha, I guess to some people, it is. I really can’t think of anything else. X_X

Q: In Your Opinion, Whats One Local Experience Every Lagosian Should Partake In?

Attend a Lagos Party. It could be a wedding or a birthday celebration – the older, the better ? or anything that involves dressing up and dancing!

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Q: You Spent A Few Months Working in Egypt in 2018. How Did You Get The Opportunity and What Tips Would You Give Anyone Looking To Do Something Similar?

I am fortunate to work for an international company and I often get to travel for work. As for the opportunity to work in Egypt was short term, my managers nominated me for it. I was nominated alongside a few other colleagues in different countries.

This was one of those cases where opportunity met preparedness. I re-edited my CV, highlighting my strongest points and why I was best suited for the job. It worked out in my favor and I got to spend about 3 months working on one of the toughest projects I’ve had since joining the company. It was all worth it.

My number one tip is for ‘you’ to always be prepared. Do your own part, put in the work, the opportunities will follow.

Q: How Do You Balance Spending Holidays with Family/Friends vs. Traveling?

Currently, I live in the same city with my family and close friends. I’m mostly in than out of the country, so I get to spend enough time with them.

Q: How Do You Decide on Destinations Each Year and How do you Plan Financially?

I decide on places to visit based on ease of access (visa restrictions), cost of flights, and activities I am interested in. I don’t have a rigid list of places, just a list of places I want to see over the years.

This helps me to stay flexible andopen to opportunities (like the trip to Egypt) and keeps me on budget.Sometimes, I realize it will be easier (and cheaper) for me to visit certainplaces now than in the future and other times, the reverse is the case.

Financially, I set money aside formy travels. I don’t indulge in a lot of things, so I am able to save to meet mydesired target.

Q: What’s One Thing You Do on Every Trip?

I used to take a free walking tour to get to know the city more, but I realize I don’t do that anymore. Now, one thing I always do is try the local food.

I can be extremely picky with foodsthat don’t taste familiar, but I realize that eating locally is a fantastic wayto experience a bit of the culture of the place you’re visiting. So, I nevermiss a chance to do this.

Q: You travel with friends, and as a couple, how do you align schedules?

It’s easier when we both have the same holidays. (Easter, New Years are great to plan a trip around). When we have to plan outside public holidays, that’s where the work comes in. Trying to get the same time off work can be quite tasking but so far, it’s worked out great. We all try to be flexible and sometimes, planning trips in advance is key.

My Travel Style Is: (backpacker/budget, mid-range, luxury)

Backpacker/budget and mid-range. I’d typically look for the most budget friendly way to enjoy a trip. Sometimes, I go dirt cheap – public transports, hitchhiking, hostels, etc.… but sometimes, I want a bit of comfort, so I splurge a bit.

My Best Tip for Someone Like Me Looking to Travel More While Building a Career Is:

You don’t necessarily have to quit your job to travel the world. You can find ways to maintain a career you love while feeding your wanderlust. Make use of your vacation time, weekends, and public holidays. Visit places closer to home for short stays and further away when you have more time.

The One Trip I’m most Looking Forward To in 2019 is:

I’m hoping to explore a bit of South America and Asia next year. I’m particularly looking forward to visiting Peru, Japan and the USA.

In ONE Word, how do you Keep Bossing it at your Career and Other Ventures While Making Travel a part of Your Life?

Grace ? (Which incidentally is what my name means! Coincidence? I think not!)

Editor’s Notes: A MASSIVE THANK YOU to Amarachi for agreeing to kick off this brand new series on the blog. I don’t recall how I found her on Instagram a few years ago, but I’ve gotten a chance to meet her in person and she’s sweet (and tiny). I’m a petite little firecracker myself so I enjoy meeting my mates :). Beyond that, she’s creative, ambitious, and hardworking. Did I mention she’s started a podcast too? I love and agree with what she said about being prepared for opportunities to work abroad. If you’re just starting to get ready when you hear of the opportunity, then it’s too late! Keep up with Amarachi’s travels on her blog at http://www.travelwithapen.com and on Instagram here and here. 

I’d love to get your feedback on this new series. Feel free to drop your thoughts (for Amarachi or for me) in the comments section below. I’d really love to hear from you! If you’ve got questions you’d like included for future Travfessionals, please let me know via the comments. As always, if you’ve enjoyed this post, please click here to subscribe to receive notification of new posts weekly (+ a bonus insider monthly personal newsletter from yours truly).

Till Next Week,

Ms. Heels