“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Lao TSEU
For a little background…
My name is Peju. French with Nigerian roots, I was born and raised in the city of Grenoble. I started my studies there and wrapped them up in Lyon. Always drawn to the hard sciences, I studied Mathematics, Physics, and Mechanics, earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
However, I am not your typical engineer – my heart also beats for fashion, and I’ve been in the modelling industry since I was 16.
At times, I’ve exclusively worked in Engineering, occasionally balancing both Engineering and Fashion, and other times focusing solely on the Fashion industry. This diversity makes my professional journey quite unique.
Growing up, I didn’t do much traveling. Occasionally, my family and I would venture to Italy and England to visit relatives. My first trip outside of Europe and without my family happened when I was 16, during a school exchange in the city of Chicago, in the USA. It took me some time to finish my studies and join the workforce before I could start traveling extensively.
From 2016 onwards, after graduating, my travels picked up, initially exploring France then expanding to other parts of Europe. At that time I wasn’t necessarily traveling solo. I often had companions or traveled alone to meet friends at the destination.
In 2018, I took my first solo trip abroad, going to Spain. This experience was wonderful in every way. It was there that I realized how much I craved adventure and decided to focus my life on travel. I started traveling very often, alone, often on a whim. First in Europe, then to all corners of the world.
In 2019, I took a trip that literally changed my life: my first solo journey outside of Europe, to Brazil. Fulfilling a childhood dream, overcoming fears and limits… this trip was truly a turning point for me. It was during this trip, in particular, that I realized I was ready to leave France for expatriation….
Late 2019. There I was, flying solo for my first expatriation expatriation to the United Arab Emirates, to the city of Dubai. I left almost everything behind, almost overnight, to live the kind of experience abroad that I had long desired. I didn’t know Dubai, nor the Middle East, but I still took the leap.
Almost no one around thought it was a good idea: I was leaving behind me a life full of stability with a permanent job. But I felt this need for adventure. It was supposed to be a one-year experience abroad. Five years later, I’m still an expat.
Why this blog?
From a very young age, one of my greatest passions has been writing. Over time, I developed a passion for travel and adventure. It is out of this passion that I decided to create this blog.
Through my travel stories, I aim to inspire, inform, entertain, and connect with people who, like me, have the “travel bug.” Even more: as I mostly travel alone, I want to share insights on this type of experience, which some may consider unconventional, offer my solo traveler tips, and perhaps spark the desire to travel solo for you, dear readers of my blog.
I also want to share my experience as an expat.
To learn more about me, feel free to follow my adventures on Instagram: @peju_joy.
Happy reading ♥