I'm hoping to get some advice from you guys. I'm going through what they call a "quarter life crisis"...in my 20s, working a corporate job, not sure what my next step should be. My #1 passion in life is traveling, and I've been fortunate enough to do a lot of that. However, what I really want is that experience of actually LIVING in another country, not just visiting for a week or so. I guess my first question is, how are so many of you guys able to just go and live in South America (or wherever) for a year? Are you students? Got sick of your job so you quit to go travel, supporting yourself on your savings? I'm curious to hear everyone's story, hoping they might inspire my next move.
I'm not so sick of my life here that I want to just get as far away as possible, but I do want to go abroad for a while and soak in that culture and learn a new language. At the same time, I don't want to blow through all the money I've worked so hard over the past few years to earn, as eventually I'd like to come back to the States and not have to start completely from scratch. I guess it's easier when you're in school 'cause you can just go study abroad for a semester, but my goals weren't the same back then so I didn't take that trip (one of my biggest regrets). Now that I'm in the working world things are a little trickier. I work for an international company so getting a transfer could be an option, but that requires having the language skills that are so hard to properly acquire in a classroom. I speak pretty good French but am more interested in having an adventure in South America, as so many people on this forum have done.
Anyway, I suppose the purpose of this thread is to share your own story and throw out any ideas on how to get away for a year or so without crippling one's finances. I'm sure you all have some good insight to share.
Thanks,
Li'l Seezie
I'm not so sick of my life here that I want to just get as far away as possible, but I do want to go abroad for a while and soak in that culture and learn a new language. At the same time, I don't want to blow through all the money I've worked so hard over the past few years to earn, as eventually I'd like to come back to the States and not have to start completely from scratch. I guess it's easier when you're in school 'cause you can just go study abroad for a semester, but my goals weren't the same back then so I didn't take that trip (one of my biggest regrets). Now that I'm in the working world things are a little trickier. I work for an international company so getting a transfer could be an option, but that requires having the language skills that are so hard to properly acquire in a classroom. I speak pretty good French but am more interested in having an adventure in South America, as so many people on this forum have done.
Anyway, I suppose the purpose of this thread is to share your own story and throw out any ideas on how to get away for a year or so without crippling one's finances. I'm sure you all have some good insight to share.
Thanks,
Li'l Seezie