After working a steady office job for three years, Bermudian Whitney Wilson got an aching feeling there was something bigger waiting for her away from these shores.

The 27-year-old left the comforts of home, family and friends in late 2012 — to experience life on the other side of the world in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Since the big move, Ms Wilson has been able to meet new friends, conquer fears and tackle exciting adventures as they come.

She has also faced her fair share of challenges being one of only a few black people in that part of South East Asia; but she takes pride in the fact that she’s gradually breaking down walls of discrimination and winning over young people in the classroom where she teaches English.

Ms Wilson spoke to The Royal Gazette about the life changing experience and why she dared to challenge the status quo in order to live her dreams.

For as long as she could remember, Ms Wilson said she fantasised about flying to far away places, eating strange foods, seeing new things and having exciting stories to tell.

But after university she realised that the life she had settled into was a stark contrast to the life she had always imagined.

“I left Bermuda for university at age 16 and enjoyed living abroad on my own,” she said. “I loved the adventure, but after coming back to Bermuda for three years and working a nine to five job, I realised that didn’t suit me.

“As much as I loved the people I worked with, I felt that the job didn’t fit my personality and became restless and discontented,” she explained.

“I started to think about what job could take me to the far off places that I want to go to, what I was qualified to do as a new graduate and how could I use the skills — and the answer ended up being teaching English.”

Once she figured out her plan, Ms Wilson left the Island with her two large, pink suitcases in hand and headed to South East Asia.

Her first stop to look for work was Cambodia. After getting off the plane she had a dramatic first impression of the country as she found herself riding through the city streets and Red Light District in a tuk-tuk, hoping she would safely get to her destination.

She choose not to stay in Cambodia for too long and instead travelled on to Vietnam, where she found work teaching primary school students Grades One through Five, as well as older students about to head off to university.

“My first impressions of Vietnam were a little bit more tame,” she said. “I had a friend here who had arrived a month or two before me. I also knew a little something about the place, so it was a lot less traumatic.”

Ms Wilson said one of the biggest challenges has been feeling like an outsider in her new home.

She said the people have an “intense curiosity” about her skin colour, hair and tall stature — and will usually make that interest known by touching or pointing at her in the street.

Although it was a harsh introduction to the country, Ms Wilson said she has started to develop relationships with the young people in her classroom.

They have proven to be the easiest to win over because they have less preconceived notions about race.

It’s now common for them to come up to her and give her hugs, smiles and compliments, telling her she’s beautiful

“There are very few black people in Vietnam and so I felt that I was carrying a flag for an entire race for some time,” Ms Wilson said. “Occasionally the looks and points still get to me, but I notice them less now or am becoming more accustomed to them I suppose.”

These days she richly enjoys the familiarity in the people and places around her — and has really started to love Hanoi.

She said the best part of the journey has been having the courage to pursue her dreams and experience life to its fullest.

Everything from taking motorbike trips in northern Vietnam on tiny winding mountain roads, to the everyday sights of seeing a family of five riding down the wrong side of the highway has been exciting for her.

“For some people they get an adrenalin rush from jumping out of planes or swimming with sharks, but for me it’s travelling in itself,” she said.

“I have an overwhelming pride and feeling of empowerment in the fact that I did it.

“Especially as a young woman in a foreign country by myself, where I didn’t speak the language, it’s amazing to know that I have been able to develop a comfortable life and connect with my students and feel I am making a contribution.”

Ms Wilson plans to stay in Vietnam for another year, but then hopes to move on to another place.

“There are a lot more places in this world I want to see and see in a depth that isn’t possible by vacationing,” she said.

“I don’t know where I will go to next. I am open and still thinking about it. For now there is a lot left of Vietnam that I want to see.”

To read more about Ms Wilson’s journey, visit her blog: www.internationalonion.com