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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/20/2008 6:02:33 PM | So here I am. 24 years old and living a pretty mellow, boring life in mid-Florida. I've seen my share of the states in those brief years. Lived in MD, VA, PA, CA and been thru most of the southern and mid states. So far so good right?
Well, after all those years I read alot about the world and other countries and I've read stories about people who traveled the world. I became jealous. I want to travel the world. I want to see those places that are in the pictures. I want to hear people speak all these different languages and dive into a world that I do and do not recognize at the same time. I want to run away.
At first it was a day dream. At first it was a flirt with a dream. However, the more I think about it, the more I weigh the good and bad of running away and walking Earth, the more I want to do it. I am seriously debating going home in a few weeks (after my job is done here in MS) and selling almost everything I have except some clothes, my hard drive (no way will I lose that much porn... ever) and my guitar. Buying a 1 way ticket to England and start heading east.
Yes, I know to travel costs money. Yes, I know if I can't speak a native language it would be alot harder to survive on a day to day basis. But still I think, can it be possible? Is it possible for a average guy from the states to wonder the world and actually live to tell the tale? Why do I have this feeling that it will work?
I suppose I'm asking for some words of advice to stay/leave. Would you do it? Do you care to join me on my adventure? Am I just a idiot with dreams that are too far fetched to actually complete? Am I sane and actually doing something that could end up benifiting more in the end? | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/20/2008 10:57:58 PM |
Am I just a idiot with dreams that are too far fetched to actually complete? Am I sane and actually doing something that could end up benifiting more in the end?
I was asking myself the same question less then a year ago. I have traveled overseas before a few times & lived / worked in the UK & Northern Ireland.
The last time I went abroad was a bit different, because I was looking at buying a house in Eastern Europe. But the same question you asked above was ringing in my ears for a couple of years previous to actually going.
So if you want to know the up shot of it all read on; It is a bit long winded, sorry.
A lot of my friends & relatives thought I was a complete nutter & some were happy to tell me too 
I felt really stupid because of this, but in my mind it was quite a logical option, (after 18 months of research)
The weirdest thing was, that as soon as I stepped on the plane at Auckland airport, all those ugly feelings dropped from me, from there on it was a total riot!
I had no real itinerary, just a general idea of which countries I wanted to see, walked out of customs at Athens with nothing booked, borrowed a Lonely Planet guide from a guy with a backpack & dialed a few numbers to find some accommodation.
Ended up cruising the Med with some others that talked me into it (I was intending to go north but went South) just great to have nothing planned & to be able to go anywhere at a whim!
When I got to Bulgaria I used trains, buses & hitch hiked. Hitching was funny, but very slow. My very first offer of a ride came from a young fella with a 50cc scooter! I had to turn him down, his scooter would have hemorrhaged with me & my backpack!
Finally I hired an old wreck of a car, bought a map & drove another 3500k's just opened the map & chose a destination.
Quite often I'd drive up into the mountains or beside a lake, wind down the windows open the sunroof & sleep in the forest, in the car. Get up in the morning, find a spring, have a wash & cruise into a village to have a coffee & breakfast. You don't have to know the language, just mime or use a phrase book.
I stayed at a backpackers in a town called Veliko Turnovo & started using the car to take people on guided tours. (& yes I knew nothing about the area but you have to start somewhere) The owners liked what I was doing so supplied me with a 7 seater. Now they have offered to buy a Red Army type jeep for me to do 4WD tours with... that's right up my alley!
I ended up buying a house, made some great friends & now have a job to go back to as well.
I hope I don't sound like I'm boasting, or big headed, but my point is that if I just kept dreaming about it, none of the above would have happened.
My only warning is that you'll find the ordinary life that you had before is extremely hard to go back to, & I have no intention of going back to it 
The other day a friend shared with me some interesting facts that were gathered from people in retirement homes about regrets. He said they found that the two biggest regrets that old people had were:
1: They didn't take big enough risks
2: They hadn't made much of an impact on society with their lives.
Hope this helps ;) | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/21/2008 6:06:57 AM | Personally, I wouldn't do it. But I'm more conservative, have a job I've been at for 16 yrs, have close family ties, lived in one area all my life, etc....
You are young, single, healthy, debt-free, kid-free, mortgage free, and apparently not tied down in any way. So go for it! There will never be a better time for you to do it, than right now. My only suggestion might be to make sure you take care of any responsibilities you have so you don't leave behind unfinished business to haunt you later. Also, if possible, take a few months to save some money for the trip and plan it to your best advantage. Although, I realize planning takes away some of the spontaneity of it, but there's spontaneous and then there's... well, for lack of a better term.. stupid. (no offense intended. ) :-)
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best!
Krys | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/21/2008 7:11:20 AM | Spontaneity is fine...but you need to be practical.
Before you go anywhere, you should do as much studying of where you plan to go as you possibly can.
Look at maps and go to the various travel sites online.This will help you get an idea of where you're going and what to expect.
Europe is not to bad...because in most countries (especially Western Europe) you'll be able to locate somebody who speaks English in case of an emergency.
Also...if you are going to be some place for awhile...you might want to contact the American embassy and let them know you are there.
Just in case.
When I went...I had no problems.
However,when you start into Eastern Europe...you may run into problems.
Never been to Eastern Europe myself...but I know from people that have been that things aren't always that nice.
If you're going solo, you may want to skip that leg of the journey.
But it's up to you.
From personal experience...you probably want avoid place w/ political demonstrations or strikes going on...and keep your political opinions to yourself.
Also, even if you don't speak the language, you can tell moods and body language.
If you feel unsure about a situation or get a "bad" feeling....go w/ your gut.
If you go...you should have a good time.
Traveling in Europe is much safer than it is traveling in most parts of the US.
And you should meet a lot of interesting people.
Good Luck. | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/21/2008 7:13:43 AM | Do it now, while you are young. If you dont do this, you may regret it later on in life.
I always say, follow your heart and your heart is telling you to do this.
When I was 32 I felt like you and one day I decided it was time, I sold my flat and my possessions, gave some stuff to friends for safe keeping (that's another story), and took off.
I was away for going on 5 years, took in most of Europe and ended up in California.
I will never forget those years, so I say do it. | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/21/2008 11:11:19 AM | So far I've had alot of positive replies from people I ask. Most say the same thing: Do it while your young. Don't live with the regret of not going for your dream.
However I also get the responses (such as the one from my ex) that are more along the lines of: your crazy! Without the financial backbone you can't do it! Besides the fact I despise the word "can't" is there more to life then money? I think so.
I recently found a good friend of mine who lives in England. After talking to him about my idea, he said if I go there, I'll have a place to stay for awhile. Honestly I really don't have anything here in the states. I have a cat who I'm giving away anyways because of my current job. I have a motorcycle that I really don't care about. And that's it. Nothing. I have no girl in my life and I am so distant from the way my family works, that there is nothing keeping me here except for myself.
Thank you for your replies! I'll be sure to write a book or something and let you all know how it went :) | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/21/2008 11:56:28 AM |
Without the financial backbone you can't do it!
If you can get some half decent work while you're in the UK that might get you some $$ to go to the continent. Lots of people do that. Unfortunately as much as you & I don't care for the stuff, money is necessary & I wouldn't try it without enough cash to get me home with ease in the event of an emergency. I haven't tried to get around with virtually no cash & I wouldn't recommend it.
Most of Eastern Europe is safe, much safer then New Zealand. Cosovo & Serbia might be a little touchy right now but I'm still planning a visit to Serbia come June.. Media always make things sound worse then they really are.
However I also get the responses (such as the one from my ex) that are more along the lines of: your crazy!
Do you think your ex is giving an unbiased opinion? Some people just don't want to see others prosper, succeed or have fun if you get what I mean.
btw, ditch the porn, it'll get you into trouble in some places. | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/21/2008 12:40:16 PM | | I'll have enough for a ticket out and an emergency ticket home so I got those coverd. As for the porn... there is no way I will part with that much! I'll keep it here in a safe place for when I return. As many years as I've been single, I kinda like my porn :p | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/21/2008 4:55:12 PM | Well do your research as best as you can.
From memory if you go to the UK on a one way ticket you have to have a certain amount of $$ available to prove you can take care of yourself. Check up with travel agents where you book your flights. If you have a British passport that's not applicable. Just do your homework, get onto some travel forums if you have to & ask questions (spose that's what you're doing here)
Hope it goes well!
Cheers | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/21/2008 7:32:25 PM | I'm not an average guy, but I am your average American I guess.
Both of those are lies. Neither you, me, nor anyone else who takes off on 'sudden adventures' will ever be seen as 'average'. Average people live sensible lives ;)
By the time I was your age, I had been out of country and all over this one. I am a travel bug and have never lost that. I say go for it. You will hear all kinds of reasons why you shouldn't and yes, some of them are sound. You WILL have to play catch up if you are delaying your education in any way. But college or jobs will always be there when you get back.
I went for it and met so many cool people, saw so many things I'd only read about in books or see in the media. So many myths and stereotypes were shattered I had grown up with as well. The rich and long history of Europe is astounding when you see it face to face. It brings home just how young our own country really is.
Anyway, a friend of mine took off for Taiwan when she was 18 and made her way by teaching English ( though she'd never been to college ;) ), and she did pretty good. From there she took off for Greece and several other countries. You will find other people your age out there who just aren't ready to 'go corporate'. They don't want to wait till they're old and grey to travel. They want to live an adventure now. And I say, while alive....LIVE!
BTW, I had another friend who ran off to Europe when he was 16. He made extra money in all kinds of ways. One time he went to a private golf club and offered to carry clubs, then became a caddy and made $100 a day till he socked up some more money and took off for France. Another time he worked as a carpentry laborer. Getting around Europe is easy. And youth hostels are a great way for someone like you to make freinds. Just keep your eyes open and your backpack with you ;) If you don't get into stupid trouble, e.g. the kind that you could have avoided with some common sense, you will find people pretty understanding if you need help. Do a little research first before you go to that first country. Any attempt to correctly speak a language and not acting like an arrogant American tourist ( you'll see them and yeah, they DO embody the term 'Ugly American' ) will go a long way with the citizens of whatever country you go to.
There are still a few places left I want to go see. I'll never stop until my legs give out LOL . And I say, if you want to START you go on boy and get out there, have fun and adventures and enjoy your life   | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/22/2008 8:43:20 AM |
I suppose I'm asking for some words of advice to stay/leave.
Leave.
Would you do it?
I did do it!
Am I sane and actually doing something that could end up benifiting more in the end?
Your urges are right and all those sober cautious people telling you it's a mistake are wrong. Theirs is the voice of fear speaking. Don't give into it. You're 24. Now is a good time to experiment with your life.
Try not to hang out with other Americans when you travel, or give into the easy tourist rut.
Now get going! | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/22/2008 9:02:01 AM | Spontaneity is fine...but you need to be practical.
While I basically agree with this, there's also something to be wary of in this kind of thinking.
It does pay off to do a bit of research before you visit a place, just to avoid practical difficulties. On the other hand, if you only go places you know about you're defeating the whole point of travelling - to learn something about the world that you don't already know. It's a bit of a balancing act, and a good plan is to start somewhere that's just inside your comfort zone (Spain, perhaps) then push yourself a bit as you get more experienced and wary of the risks one runs into while travelling.
What you really don't want to do is give in to the easy worries that stop people from travelling.
Don't worry about money. There are legions of people travelling the world on a shoestring and they manage just fine. No matter how much money you take, it will never be enough and you'll be looking for more soon, so you might as well just count on it up front. Keep an eye open for jobs. Buy and sell weird foreign trinkets if you can. Run up a credit card bill if you have to. Money problems can always be solved.
Don't waste money on an "emergency ticket out." If you're in real dire straits you can go to your consulate and ask to be repatriated. They'll take away your passport and you won't get it back till you've repaid the cost of shipping you home - but you will get home. I've never heard of anybody needing to do this, anyway.
Don't plan too far ahead and definitely don't get one of those one-year round-the-world tickets. Be flexible and try to avoid fixed schedules as much as you can.
Get health insurance but don't go crazy. In fact, you could probably save money here by travelling. The US is by far the most expensive country in the world for health care, so much so that most travel insurance comes in two versions - one for travel including the US and one for the rest of the world. In a real emergency there's not going to be time to ship you back to the US, and the places that your SOS insurance will send you to are good enough anyway. In fact, for tropical diseases like malaria they're probably a better bet than going home. So there's no need to keep up with US insurance levels.
And above all... DON'T believe all the endless people who will tell you (in various inobvious and innocent-sounding ways) that half the world is dangerous and you should avoid it. This kind of advice isn't always wrong, but at least 95% of the time it is. Do your homework yourself and make up your own mind. Iraq is probably really a good place to avoid. Syria, on the other hand, is a fascinating country to visit and people are much friendlier than you might expect.
One final bit of advice in the opposite direction: DO be wary of the spaced-out druggies you run into on the road. There are lots of these who really are ruining their lives, along with those of many other people they collide with. They're a bigger risk to you than any of the locals you will run into. Leave the drugs at home with the porn. Even a simple little joint can get you into a world of trouble faster than you'd think possible. | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/22/2008 2:27:25 PM | TravellerSEB
I like it! you're obviously more adventurous then me.
Be flexible and try to avoid fixed schedules as much as you can..
For my last trip I tried to plan & pre book where I was going to stay, spent ages browsing the web & plotting maps, finally I got frustrated & threw the whole plan over my shoulder, turned up at Athens & planned everything a day in advance.
The thing is if you don't know a country / region you can't make a good plan anyways. Better to turn up at a backpackers & ask others what they liked / didn't like. much more effective.
Oh and planning "day in advance" style means it takes twice as long to see the place so you need plenty of time! | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/22/2008 9:33:18 PM | I would say go for it, but it is comforting to start off with a nice wad of travellers cheques. You must have something of value to sell! I hope your motorcycle is a Harley or Triumph or something, that would put you "in the money".
A good book for you to read would be 'The Hitchhikers Guide to Europe". I think the authors name was Ken Wells or Welsh. It may be out of print now, but it catered to a range of budget travellers right down to people who had virtually no money and had to sleep in parks and hitchhike to get around. It included a lot of letters from travellers, relating their experiences and giving advice. It inspired me to make my first trip to Europe. | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/24/2008 6:04:23 PM | | Wash dishes on the cruise liners instead of paying for the travel across seas. Pick fruits in countries where you don't speak the language and you can stay out there for as long as you want. If you want to get around faster take a bike. I would do this while you are young and able. | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/25/2008 6:17:47 PM | Yes, you can do it, and you will not be the first one either... Bumming around Europe and elsewhere has always been popular and you are on the right age to do it.
Depending on how long you plan to take this "sabbatical" I suggest to start in the summer if your plan is to be in the Nothern Europe for a while, and then roll South as it gets colder in the North. Backpacking is a good idea, Youth Hostels are cheap and are in every country, in every major town. Use monthly rail passes in Europe for transportation, or get a bicycle if not in a hurry. Have a sleeping bag. Have cash station card, not much cash. Travel lite. You can work for some cash money here and there, and there's always the fruit crops in the South. Crew on boat is a another, or staff at a camping for a few days... You can get all kinds of summer jobs in the Islands in the summer. If unsure drink bottled water.
Don't worry about languages, the World speaks English. Any attempt of yours to peak one or two words of the local populus will be greeted with the outmost encouragement and applause. You don't need to sell everything you own to do that. Put your stuff in storage for a couple of years. Better get a buddy with you, otherwise it will get very boring at times. You're not an idiot. Go for it, keep an open mind and you will learn a lot.
Peace. | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/26/2008 3:22:04 AM | hey from someone old enought to be your mum...and therefore supposedly with the wisdom of years....GO!!!! and have fun and hey you can pick up bits of language as you go .....have a great time and if get to australia-yell!!
good thing to join btw -is couchsurfers- gets you a free bed just about anywhere in the world and you meet people!! off you go!!!! | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/26/2008 9:36:54 AM | I backpacked all around Europe at 19 (when you could do it for $5/day ). I have now retired to Italy at 58....once you get the bug  , it's hard to stop!
There are also many youth hostels made just for you! They run anywhere from 15eu to 40 eu a night, some more and some less clean. Travel light, you won't need half of what you think....watch your things...thieves (yes they're there) pray on ignorant tourists, but that's the most they'll do.....violence is not a part of most European cities as long as you avoid getting drunk and hanging with druggies....folks will be helpful.
Things have changed...more people speak English and everything costs a lot more!!! But if you get a Eurail pass before you go, you can get around, as train transport is so great compared to the states. Couchsurfing.com is another good tool if you can get to where people live that are offering accommodation (free), haven't done it myself, but have talked to a few people that have been doing it for years and love it.
I would recommend starting with Europe however as things are set up for visitors, the east block countries are just burgeoning and there are hungry people who would like to 'help' you in ways you may not appreciate.....save it for when you're more savvy and have some experience under you belt  .
This is your planet, be part of it....it's so much more exciting than just looking at your backyard and there are so many lessons and experiences that will change and enrich you!
Have you considered looking for work from the states, student exchange programs or volunteering? | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/29/2008 6:53:08 PM | | Everyone is talking Europe. What about Central and South America, or Asia while you are young and healthy? | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 2/29/2008 7:32:02 PM | | That's what I'm talking about. Europe is expensive, you'll get more for your money if you went to South America or Asia. Dollar vs other currency... | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 3/1/2008 8:51:00 AM | Like it or nor, Europe is the source of much of what we value most in our culture. It's not just the art, the architecture and the music. It's the structure of values, derived from the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. It's the sense of social cohesion and fairness, the elements of civilized discourse and mutual respect, that lies in the Westminster system of government and the roots of individualism and modern democracy. The things that make humans more than mere biological organisms are largely from Europe.
An iconic representation of what I value and respect in European scholarly tradition is the dialogue between Richard Dawkins and the Bishop of Oxford. You can see it on YouTube. There you see two men who hold diametrically opposite views yet at Oxford they converse politely in mutual respect, each fully prepared to honor the humanity of his adversary. That is the kind of thing you can see in European culture. I doubt if you will encounter it so much anywhere else. This is what lifts us above the animals.
The most sacred ground of Christianity in England is Westminster Abbey. For a thousand years they have buried there their kings and the most honored leaders of society. Nobody did more to undermine supernatural assumptions that lie at the root of the Christian religion than Charles Darwin did. Yet instead of treating him as an enemy, the English honored him with burial in their holiest burial site, and you can visit his grave there today. Only in Europe can you enjoy experiences that so connect you with your cultural heritage.
I wouldn't want to live there, but Europe is the place you should visit - not as a tourist, but as a resident. Ideally, work alongside the local people. When you laugh and cry and wonder and work with them you enter a wider world than anything other cultures can offer you. Why so? Because there are the roots of what you value most highly in your own culture. It's not just Beethoven and Dali and the Beatles, Kant and Hume and Goethe and Shakespeare. It will move you when your own eyes look on Magna Carta and you reflect on the roots of your American liberties and silently say "thank you, you guys" and then go to Ireland and visit monuments older than the age of Moses and Homer. After you have come face to face with Europe, you can say "I know more now of where I come from, I am beginning to know who and what I am."
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 3/1/2008 11:10:49 AM | That was beautifully said fra59e.
It is the heart of our beginnings and what we should never forget to recognize, they've been where we're falling now, renewed, readjusted and gone on time after time...that lesson alone alters your vision and ....insularity....the continuity of the will of man.
Shouldn't we know the heights of expectation and ideals, the experiments....as well as the presumption and the vanities? Life on one little part of planet Earth in a 5000yr nutshell.
Then tackle the rest and see how they all connect. | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 3/2/2008 8:43:02 AM |
Like it or nor, Europe is the source of much of what we value most in our culture.
Likewise, Europe is also the most similar and familiar place to visit - and therefore the least rewarding in many ways. This smells like the "play it safe" thinking again.
Stretch yourself, OP, and go places that are different and not easy - as well as Europe. | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 3/2/2008 3:38:43 PM | No fliping way am I go9ing to talk you out of it. GO FOR IT! Typically any problems you run into will be far outwieghed by the experiences you'll enjoy.
In a nutshell:
NOrthern Europe you'll get away with knowing only English as you will ave no problem finding people that speak it. Still, learn how to say "Hello" and "Do you speak English" in the native language. No problems getting around but it is pricey.
Southern Europe - similar to N Europe but you may run into fewer English Speakers.
Eastern Europe - Places like Czech Republic and Hungary are like W. Europe, but it gets more exotic (and fewer tourists) and the trains get slower in Romania and Bulgaria. This area is still safe and is cheap, you just may have to deal with an occasional bribe.
Turkey - safe, but avoid discussing the Kurdish and Armenian situations. How much farther east are you headed?
In all you will tend to find much of the world safer than your typical American city. | |
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| Talk some sense into me!
Posted: 3/2/2008 4:41:27 PM | I am heading to Europe for the first time this August then heading back to India for the second time.
If you are looking for a place that is very different from North America, I would say India fits the bill.
There are some absolutely amazing sites and very friendly people. Once you get into the bigger cities and tourist sites (Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Goa) it isn't too difficult to communicate with people. I would not recommend visiting northern India by yourself if you can't speak the language (whether Punjabi, Hindi etc.) as 99.99% of the natives will not speak a lick of English. Anyways, just wanted to give you another option. I had a fantastic time there without spending much at all. When I went last year it was 38 rupees to the Canadian dollar which is great seeing as a cheap meal might cost you 10 rupees.
Regardless of where you go, have a great time! | |
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