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So, partly due to a urge I've been having for some time and partly due to my dislike of staying in any one location for too long, I've decided that my plan post-college graduation (which occurs in the winter) is to travel around the world.
Now, I don't mean this in a purely vacation sort of way. First off, I'm going to get a job probably in the US, probably in the DC area to hang out with some friends, and save up some reasonable amount of money. This will probably last no more than 2-3 years, as that's about the max I can stand being at a location. Of course this job will hopefully be a decent paying one so I can have a nicer bank account at the beginning of my trip.
The plan after that is to hop around. I'll stay in each place for maybe a year or two before going to the next place. I will of course find a job in the next location before I actually go there. I will also learn the language of the next location while at the current one.
How long will this trip last? Who knows, but as you can see, this is quite a long term trip.
My question to you is as follows:
1) I've heard that certain credit cards have real good flyer miles deals. Any further info on this or how I can lower the cost of travel would be nice.
2) Where do you go if you were in my shoes?
I'm thinking first of going to Australia, then somewhere in the Spanish speaking world, then somewhere in Southeast Asia, then somewhere real northish, maybe Sweden/Russia, and at this point we're probably 7 or so years into the future, so I will go to China, and then to somewhere near the middle east, but preferrably not in an unstable region -_-. Who knows, I can really imagine doing it into my mid 30s if not later (I'm 22 right now).
3) What other things would you watch for while planning?
I'm really planning on taking this seriously, and flesh out a plan over the next couple years while I stock up an initial cash pile before traveling. Of course, I would prefer to plan the trip in such a way as to be self-sustaining (since I'm actually going to work wherever I go), but it's always nice to have a fallback, and it's nice to hang out with my friends again who I lived with in high school and college.
I also need a change of pace, as some of you imagine from one of my earlier blogs, and I think this would really revitalize and freshen my life.
Oh, and the first place I go is an English speaking country just to give me time to get in the habit of learning new languages (will start on #2 before I go to #1) while doing whatever else I might be doing in my job in the US.
Also, it'd be interesting to meet some TLers along the way. I don't know how people will have changed 10 years from now, but I intend to still be traveling when that time comes.
 
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what I would look for is where you can get jobs. New Zealand has good work and travel jobs. Scandinavia has a low unemployment rate, I guess it is easier to get a job than in Germany. look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_unemployment_rate
That doesn't necessarily mean that is is easier for a foreigner to get a job, but possibly.
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Make sure you look into, and obtain the necessary Visas before you go.
You can only stay in a foreign country for 90 days on a passport.
Finding work in the US won't be that hard. There is always a need for servers and bartenders and things like that in big cities.
My real advice to you: Do it. Travelling is never a mistake. Even if you come to the US for 2 years, achieve nothing and then go back home, you've just spent 2 years abroad which, if nothing else, will leave you with a great story to tell your kids.
If you really want to get fired up about travel, go read this book:
http://www.honeymoonwithmybrother.com/
It's at least half of the reason that I decided to move to Germany, and I can already tell you its one of the best decisions I ever made.
edit: My second piece of advice to you: Don't fucking procrastinate. You'll be able to logic out a million reasons not to do something if you keep putting it off. Pack your bags, get your paperwork, and GTFO, son.
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^I actually live in the US right now ^_^
Interesting book, will read. And yea, I'll have to make sure I get the necessary Visas.
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Sounds like a great idea man. I'm actually doing something similar myself. I'm currently working so I can move to Asia for over a year before coming back for studies.
Just a question to you: how do you plan on finding jobs and so on? I heard that visas in some countries are tough to get. (For example, in order to work, you need the VISA to work, but in order to get the VISA, you must already have a work place secured and so on.)
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On September 20 2011 14:18 NonFactor wrote:
Sounds like a great idea man. I'm actually doing something similar myself. I'm currently working so I can move to Asia for over a year before coming back for studies.
Just a question to you: how do you plan on finding jobs and so on? I heard that visas in some countries are tough to get. (For example, in order to work, you need the VISA to work, but in order to get the VISA, you must already have a work place secured and so on.)
Going to get the job secured before going to the place, and hopefully shit doesn't go wrong :D
If it does the backup bank account is there to help save the day while figuring things out, the one that will be populated here in the US.
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EPT
