Kent Babin

Tell us your full name, age, hometown and passion.

My name is Kent Babin. I am 25 and come from Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada. I have three major passions in life: food, sports, and living abroad.

What dream are you currently living out?

I’m currently realizing my dream of living in the former Soviet Union. Azerbaijan has been home for the last year and it has given me the opportunity to see a part of the world that I was too young to comprehend when communism reigned.

Where were you before you decided that it was possible to pursue your dream?

I was in Canada, finishing off the final eight months of my degree at the University of Calgary. The previous year, I spent three months living in Mongolia, one month travelling in China, and seven months working in India. While this certainly wet my appetite for living abroad, I wasn’t sure if it was something I wanted to continue to do.

I remember one day seeing a map of Central Asia on a blog post of the boss of the company I worked for in India. It said something along the lines of, “Inshaallah we will be in one of these countries soon.” It was then that I realized that the dream was possible.

Did you have an epiphany or a change in mindset when you realized that it was possible? When/what happened?

I don’t think my mindset necessarily changed, however if I was to make it to Azerbaijan it would mean spending a year in Cairo, Egypt first. In hindsight, it was that decision that really addicted me to living abroad. Egypt was never a country on my list of places to go to or live in, so it was perceived as a sort of “sacrifice,” a means to an end.

When you committed yourself to walking that path, what changed for you?

Unfortunately, I would say the thing that changed the most was my connection to people back in Canada. Once you make the decision to spend a majority of your life abroad, you undoubtedly lose touch with the people that shaped much of your high school/university career. And while you meet such a large variety of people abroad and make such intense friendships in a short period of time, it’s the people that you grew up with that know you the best.

On a positive note, I think the other major change was the realization that I could go anywhere I wanted and be 100% sure that I would enjoy it, regardless of how bad the situation would turn out to be.

What mental barriers did you have to overcome? What fears did you have to confront?

Fortunately, I had spent time living in two very intense developing countries before making the decision to live my dream. This definitely removed many of the mental barriers, however there was the obvious fear of uncertainty. Nothing is guaranteed in Canada, let alone Egypt or Azerbaijan, so you have to be ready to deal with uncertainty once you decide to take the leap. Ironically, I began to crave this uncertainty after deciding to pursue my dream.

What kind of feedback or advice were you given and how did you perceive it?

I’ve always been one to do things on my own and make my own mistakes. Some people thought that I was crazy, some thought I was doing the coolest thing ever, while others wondered if I would ever come back. There wasn’t much in the way of advice because many of the people I associated with in Canada had not lived abroad as much as I had already.

What inspired you to reflect on your former circumstances and begin to define how you wanted to live your life?

Discovering how much the world has to offer is probably what defined how I wanted to live my life. As multi-cultural as Canada is, it is really only a small taste of what you can find elsewhere. There are just so many things that you can only find if you are willing to get outside your comfort zone. It became plainly evident to me that I was more comfortable going outside my comfort zone once I started living abroad. You could say that I am addicted to change.

How has doing what you are doing, changed how you see future possibilities and challenges?

Knowing that you have the ability to live anywhere, pick up at least a basic understanding of the local language, and have your stomach adapt to almost any food imaginable is a great confidence booster. You realize just how insignificant many of your problems are after you’ve been arrested at a border crossing, or have lived a week without access to running water in the 40 degree heat. I now try to see the positives in every situation. Water doesn’t work? Sure, it’s inconvenient, but it forces you to look for alternatives. This is one of the joys of living abroad and ultimately is a fundamental life skill.

What are your strength and weaknesses? Which are you trying to improve upon?

I would say that adaptability, flexibility, and ability to communicate with anyone regardless of language barriers are my major strengths. These three strengths have made moving to a new country as comfortable and enjoyable as eating chocolate cheesecake.

One of my major weaknesses is that I have a very hard time committing to anything. I appreciate my freedom too much to commit to one thing. This is one of the things that have kept me moving around and somewhat afraid of going back to Canada. I feel that if I go back there, I’ll be compromising my freedom.

My other major weakness is languages. I am only able to get to the basic level in a language. And while locals tell me I sound really good, I never really get any better. I am trying to improve upon this by becoming as proficient as I can in Russian. I learned it as a second language in elementary and high school, but didn’t really learn it that well. Azerbaijan is the first country where I have to use it on a daily basis. So far it’s going ok.

How has your perspective on life changed?

Life is too precious to waste doing something you don’t want to do, or stressing about things you have no control over. When I was younger, I was more inclined to waste time waiting for something to happen. Now that I’m a bit older, I can’t help but notice how much faster time is passing. I think this has made me realize how much more important enjoying each day is and how crucial it is to go out and get what you want while you can.

What have you learned about life from your journey?

I think what I’ve learned most about life is that it is important to live one day at a time. When you’re working towards or living your dream, it is so easy to continue to look to the future. I experienced this first-hand in Mongolia. Instead of trying to make the most out of every day, I kept looking ahead to when I would get back on the train and head back to China. As a result, I really didn’t get a chance to appreciate life in Mongolia. Ever since, I have vowed to cherish each day spent working towards and living my dream. After all, you conjure these dreams not just to reach them, but to enjoy the life that comes along with reaching them.

The other thing I’ve learned is that the problems and issues I face in my normal life, pale in comparison to those dealt with elsewhere. What right do I have to complain when all my necessities are taken care of? There are people that fight tooth-and-nail each day to ensure that their families can survive another day. Ironically, these are precisely the people that appreciate life the most.

How do you perceive society?

Society can be as ugly as it can be beautiful. One day we can watch as one society fills the coffers of fast food barons, while another stands up to its oppressive dictator. What I have learned about societies around the world is that they generally want the same things; namely the right to eat, to have shelter, to raise a family, to live free of persecution and prejudice, and to work. When these things are compromised, change happens.

Unfortunately, society often dictates the action of the individual. It can then be difficult for the individual to take actions which may warrant negative repercussions. This is the situation in conservative/traditional societies, where actions viewed as negative involve a higher risk.

In this age of urgent environmental concern, the individuals, corporations, and governments that make up society will have to go through a fundamental change in order to make any sort of difference. Sadly, society may just be one of the hardest things to change.

What would be your advice to other people who want to live out their dreams?

Dreams can be awfully intimidating. They often seem out of reach when you conjure them. The key is figuring out the steps required in the short term so that you will be going in the right direction in the long term. Along the way, don’t be afraid to make sacrifices or pursue avenues that are not immediately obvious or directly point to your dream. Remain open to the variety of experiences that the pursuit of your dream has to offer; it is the key to learning how you react in various situations and developing yourself.

Most importantly, in my opinion, is to surround yourself with supportive people who are also interested in living their dreams. As you get older, you begin to realize how important the people around you are in keeping you motivated and moving towards your goal. Unfocused and unmotivated people only serve to bring you down.

What is most important to you in life?

At this time of my life, the most important thing is my health. Without it, I don’t think I would be able to have the same enriching experiences living in countries that are decidedly bad for your health.

What are you most proud of in your life?

I am most proud of my ability to treat everyone the same regardless of wealth, race, nationality, or religion. This was clearly defined to me in Egypt when the apartment building keeper in the building next to mine (with whom I had developed a basic relationship based on saying “Hi” and “How are you?” in Arabic every day) told me the day before I left the country, that he really appreciated how I treated everyone equally and really tried to understand his way of life. His words have meant more to me than any other I have ever heard.

What is your next dream?

I haven’t figured out my next dream yet. I’m a bit perplexed by the fact that I am living my dream. It really is a strange feeling. One dream that is a lot further in the future is wanting to retire to southern Italy. I’d live in a rustic country house, with an amazing kitchen and just cook all day long.

Anything else you would like to share?

Whatever you decide to do in life, do it with passion. You will inspire people in ways you could never imagine just by being passionate about what you do.