SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Jillian Brown always knew she wanted to see the world.
Her parents, though, had concerns. Their daughter had never been away from home. Those worries peaked when the 19-year-old decided to go to Thailand.
“One day, my husband turned on the news and there was a big warning about a storm in Thailand. All the flights were cancelled, boats were carried out of the water and that’s where she was,” said Jillian’s mom, Dana.
Concerned, she contacted her daughter.
“Mom, everything is going to be okay,” was Jillian’s response.
And it was.
Dana said the first two weeks without her daughter were the worst, but she adapted.
Back on P.E.I. – for now – today Brown recounts her journey.
Born and raised in Summerside with her five siblings, she always knew she wanted to see more than the red isle.
After graduating high school, Brown went to UPEI to study psychology, but after a year, she decided to drop out and see more of the world. She took off to Vancouver to work and plan for an even bigger trip.
In Vancouver she lived with a host family and worked as an au pair to save up for her travels.
“I paid for my whole trip myself. I had a lot of money saved up that was originally for my school.”
Brown visited 35 countries in Europe and South Asia in just the last seven months.
One of her favourite experiences was scuba diving in Thailand.
“Just being underwater is a totally different experience.”
Brown is ready to up the ante in her search for thrills.
“I would like to do more extreme things like going on a hot air balloon because I’ve already done bungee jumping, bridge jumping, scuba diving, sky diving etc.”
Couch surfing was another adventure for Brown.
“One thing that I learned is how kind people are. Even people who had nothing wanted to give something to you.”
Brown travelled with a friend for half of the trip and spent the rest solo.
“I definitely enjoy travelling by myself. You have to rely on yourself for everything and you can do whatever you want.”
Two of Jillian’s siblings are older and married with children. They wish they had travelled when they were younger, said mom Dana.
Jillian’s mother said her first concerns were for the safety of her daughter.
“She believes everyone is good. I was worried she would make bad contacts and decisions,” Dana said. “While she was gone, we started to feel better about it and she contacted us every single day even if just a short note saying, ‘I’m alive’.”
Brown has certainly caught the travel bug.
“I like every place I’ve been to, every place is different ... I would like to travel more of Africa and South America,” she said. “But if I could live anywhere in Southeast Asia, it would be Bali.”
Brown enrolled in psychology classes for the fall, but her plans may change before then.
“I’m not exactly sure if I’m going to go, but I have all summer to figure that out,” said the traveller.
