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Okay, so you've decided you want to live a work + travel lifestyle, and you're ready to start searching for travel jobs! Cool. Before you can live your epic adventure, you need to first get organized. Travel jobs won't just fall into your lap; you need to get out there and make it happen. Even if that means getting your name out there with your dream travel company, or simply saying "YES!" to an opportunity.
Everyone wants to travel, but the age-old responses always come up: "I don't have time."
"I don't have the money."
"I don't know where to go!"
These are valid responses but there are ways around them, especially when it comes to working abroad. Trust me :) I've been living a work + travel lifestyle for the past 2+ years.
I've held three international travel jobs across Europe and Asia, one of which I did on vacation while working full time for someone else.
So you know I've gotten creative over the past couple of years because my never-ending wanderlust wouldn't let me do so otherwise! Working abroad made that possible.
Many of us have probably heard of ways to cut travel costs like using Couchsurfing for a place to stay or walking everywhere instead of taking taxis. Those tips are great for those looking to save some cash while traveling, but when you are trying to travel long-term you'll want to get even more creative to keep your budget under control. Here are three unique ways to travel long-term without going broke:
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People always told us as kids that we should be whatever we want to be: astronauts. Rockstars. Ballerinas. Athletes. Detectives. Professional puppy owners or ship captains or world explorers. And then we grow up. And we're told we need to be "practical" with a secure full time job in a sensible field.
Especially in the US, traveling after college is not the norm. Society urges college grads to look for employment right away (not a bad thing), but taking a gap year or even the summer to travel isn't exactly encouraged. But it should be.
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Even though older adults often say "oh I wish I had the opportunity to travel when I was your age," it still is "more important" to cling to the corporate ladder and the security of a 401k right after graduation, and anyone who strays from the norm are met with either "good for you!" or "well, just make sure you find a job when you get back *eyeroll.*" How do I know this? I received both immense praise and utter criticism - with those exact phrases - when I decided to move to Italy for a short term job after graduation.
Do what's right for you. Welcome or not, everyone is going to give you their advice on what you "need" to do. Tune out the haters and those with the ignorant, jealous mindset that traveling after college isn't possible or realistic. If you want to travel after college, now's the perfect time. And if you're just about ready to do it, here is everything you need to know.
Seine River Paris
You could be working, backpacking, volunteering, or taking a two week trip. Do you want to go long term or short term? Do you want to rent an apartment somewhere or live a gypsy life?
Once you've done your research, decide what works best for you. Whether it's Yacht Week in Croatia, teaching English in Cambodia, backpacking across Europe, a cruise around the Caribbean, a working holiday visa in Australia, or Peace Corps for two years, there are a number of ways to travel. The options are endless!
Read blogs of others who have done it to see how they're doing it. Follow their tips. Read books about travel. Search travel hashtags on Pinterest. Talk to friends or family who have gone abroad. Before I graduated college, I even went to my school's study abroad office to ask their tips on traveling after graduation, and they were able to give me plenty of tips and resources.
Spice Market Istanbul
This is important not to just to save yourself from potential embarrassment but to also be respectful and learn about how other people live. It's also helpful to learn at least a few phrases of the language of where you're going.
Yes, you'll need to budget your money, and no, it doesn't have to be as expensive as you may think. Don't have quite enough saved up? Neither did I when I graduated college. I worked a summer job to pay for my flights to Europe.
If you're working abroad, be realistic about the opportunity and how much money you're going to make. Know the exachange rate of your currency and the places you're going to.
Traveling after college will boost your resume. Contrary to any fears or reservations you may have, you don't need to get a full time corporate the day after graduation.
You won't be "behind." In fact, life will be pretty much the same when you get back home. There will be jobs to apply for when you get back. You have the rest of your life to climb the corporate ladder. I'm currently working full time back home after traveling. Traveling didn't hurt my resume, it helped it.
The skills you build upon and things you learn abroad can only be positive when you're applying to jobs in the future. Plus, travel may make your career aspirations more clear.
View of Champs Elysee from Arc de Triomphe
Get your passport if you don't already have one and sort out any visa situations you might be in. Start planning with these steps: 8 Essential Steps To Planning a Trip Abroad.
Give family and close friends back home your travel plans, flight details, and a general outline of where you're going so they know how to get ahold of you if an emergency arises. Use apps like Skype, FaceTime, Whatsapp, or Viber to keep in touch over wifi.
If you're going solo or want to meet people along the way, use networks like Couchsurfing or other groups to find others or get advice on traveling. Hostels are another great way to meet people on the road.
Blarney Castle View Cork Ireland
Sometimes the intial culture shock is amazing, and sometimes it takes time to adjust. By staying open-minded you'll give yourself the opportunity to try new things, have new experiences, and meet new people - the best parts about going abroad.
That's always an option. But try to at least give it a chance, shake up your routine, or try going somewhere new before leaving.
If you're going somewhere short term, your time will fly by. Take pictures. Keep a journal (or blog!). Be in the moment. You've worked hard to earn your degree, and now is the time to enjoy this period in life where you can be free to roam the world.
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Want more inspiration? Check out these posts about travel quotes:
These 14 Quotes Will Motivate You To Book Your Next Flight
Moving to a foreign country is something I never thought I'd do...until I did it. I thought studying abroad for a few weeks in Italy was a long time; how was I going to last for months?
I was working a job in Florence, Italy for about six months last year, and it was one of the best things I've ever done. While I wasn't fully immersed (my roommates/co-workers were American and our customers - students - were American), living in an Italian apartment in the heart of Florence was a whirlwind of an adventure. If you are considering taking the plunge and moving across the world, I urge you to do it.
These are a few of many reasons to move to another country, be it for a few months, a year, or indefinitely!
You buy groceries, do your laundry, and go out to eat like a local. You learn to communicate with new phrases and understand different body language. You are living your everyday life like it's from someone else's perspective.
Living like the locals starts to rub off on you, and you may not even realize it.
Being on the go is exciting but exhausting.
There were weeks at a time where I'd be traveling to a new country every weekend (the best part about the job) and returning to Italy during the week. While getting the opportunity to see a new city even for just a few days was awesome, I didn't get to know the culture as well as I did in Italy.
Slow travel allows you to notice the little things, to stop and smell the roses, and to appreciate everyday life. If you move abroad short-term, traveling slow will allow you to soak up as much as you can before you leave.
If you move somewhere where the main language is foreign to you, then that's all the more reason to learn it. And what better way to learn a new language than to be fully immersed in a country that's constantly speaking it?
Moving abroad might actually save you money, depending where you live. Central and Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America are great regions that tend to have a lower cost of living than your average western country.
Plus, living abroad tends to be cheaper than vacationing. Especially if you're traveling slower, you're more likely saving on extra costs by not staying in a hotel, cooking most of your meals, and doing everyday life activities.
No one knows you there. You have an opportunity to be whoever you want to be; to fully be yourself if you've been holding back. There are new friends to be meeting and new things to be doing. Be the person you want to be, surround yourself with positive people, and try the things you've always wanted to do (perhaps, for example, getting TEFL-certified in Peru or learning yoga in India).
Move abroad to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. you'd be surprised at what you can handle, and it makes everyday #firstworldproblems seem minuscule.
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International work experience is resume gold. Going abroad in general is a great boost for your resume, but working on top of that provides even more value.
Also Read: 11 Ways To Make Money While You Travel
Do it because you know you want to. And that burning desire deep within you will continue to grow until you just do it.
Living abroad can be an amazing experience. And in most cases, it totally is! Though whether you're studying abroad, working abroad, or staying in a home base in a foreign city, sometimes after a while your excitement for where you live can dwindle after some time. Maybe you're saving your money to travel in a few weeks. Maybe you can't get time off from your job overseas to take a short trip. Maybe you're a little homesick during your study abroad.
Whatever the case, re-spark your excitement for your city with these five tips!
It's easy to not be a tourist in your own city when you actually live there. (Speaking from experience: I still haven't climbed the Duomo in Florence, and I've both lived and studied abroad there). Many cities have plenty of of attractions for visitors, so try to play tourist in your own city to shake things up.
Get out of your city, if even only for a day. Look into what towns are nearby and the things you can do. Exploring something new will be refreshing and will be a welcome break from where you currently are.
A meal, wine tasting, brewery tour, whatever - try something that's different from what you normally do. Take a night off from cooking your own dinner and go out with friends. Laugh, enjoy, and have fun!
Maybe you'll find some interesting facts about that seemingly uninteresting building you walk by every day. Or you'll learn about some cool place you hadn't known - go see it in person, while you have the chance.
Take a different route to work. Take a walk to a part of the city you don't spend much time in. Try a different cafe for your daily espresso. Chances are you'll find new hidden gems along the way and you might even favor this new routine more than your regular one!
