Giving Thanks 2011
We have countless reasons to be thankful this year here at Meet, Plan, Go! We continue to see more and more people both using the term career break, and more importantly, taking a career break. And we love seeing how our community continues to grow.
Of course, we couldn’t do it alone. From those who have helped us inspire online and in person, we’d like to take the time to say a big thanks.
Guest Posts
Hopefully you have been inspired by the stories of career breakers past, present and future thanks to:
Adam Seper, Rainer Jenss, Paul & Christine Milton, Mehdy Ghannad, Jannell Howell, Warren & Betsy Talbot, Jen & Ryan Fuller, Kailey Lockhart, Aracely & Jason Castellani, Matt Goudreau, Alexis Grant, Abby Tegnelia, Coley Hudgins, Rich Yang, Katie Aune, Lisa Lubin, Adam Pervez, Jenny Sundel, Manali & Terry Bettendorf, Kim Dinan, Delphine Foo-Matkin, Sarah Gottlieb, JoAnna Haugen, Sarah Lavender Smith, Sarah Reijonen, Val Bromann, Lisa Niver Rajna, Mike & Catrell Cooney, Lisa Dazols, Kristin Zibell, Kirk Horsted, Janice Waugh, Cate Starmer, Aly Kilday, Jane Stanfield, Robin Botto, Aaron Starmer, Becky Hayes, Jim & Rhonda Delameter.
Want to share your story? Here’s how.
Photo Friday
We’ve shared some awe-inspiring photos this year thanks to: Jeff Jung, Adam Seper, Jen & Ryan Fuller, Chris Gray Faust, Angela & Jason Rehm, Sharon Tewksbury-Bloom, Sonia Virtue, Warren & Betsy Talbot, Dena Hughes, Sunni Farley, Renee Deguara, Matt Judd, Casey Engels, Rhonda Delameter, Sage Russell, Juergen Klein, Robin Dean Devaux.
Want to submit a Photo Friday? Here’s how.
2011 Event Hosts
Why did our 2011 event kick-ass? Because of our kick-ass hosts: Jeff Jung, Lillie Marshall, Lisa Lubin, Jane Stanfield, Yen Phan, JoAnna Haugen, Lisa Niver Rajna, Kirk Horsted, Aly Kilday, Rainer Jenss, Mike & Catrell Cooney, Olivia Raymer, Sean Keener, BootsnAll Team, Sarah Lavender Smith, Paul & Christine Milton, Adam Seper, Janice Waugh, Sonia Zamborsky.
2011 Event Panelists/Ambassadors
Our kick-ass hosts couldn’t have done such an amazing job without the support of their panelists & ambassadors: David Aycock, Caroline Boudreaux, Catherine Emery Hearn, Angela Petitt, Toby Tull, Tim & Robin Botto, Chris Christensen, Jessica McHugh, Tim McGregor, Brian Peters, Janet Riley, Maria Giurcan, James Galvic, Katie Aune, Katy Healy, Ryan & Laura Keller, Dave Nilson, Keith Savage, Stephanie Katsaros, Megan Kearney, Marsha Joseph, Alex & Elizabeth, Erin Guttenplan, Polly Letofsky, Jim & Wendy Pearson, Alonna Scott, Celia Taylor, Nora Lynch, Shaun Henderson, Czarina Lam, Diana Edelman, Cory Haugen, Judy Irving, Abby Tegnelia, Richard Bangs, Jen Leo, Doris Gallan, Jacob Frank, Sarah Gottlieb, Lisa Napoli, Michelle Page, Julie DuRose, Layne Kennedy, Kara McGuire, Leif Pettersen, Doug Mack, Deb Miner, Dan Woychick, Kirsten Alana, Benny Lewis, Kelly Lewis, Ryan Murphy, Jordan Franklin, Charlotte Piper, Rita Foley, Amanda Pressner, Lisa Sciambra, Charles Scott, Michael Bontempi, Marie Elena Martinez, Lisa Chavis, Cheryl McDonald, Shannon O’Donnell, Ben Reed, Jillian Tobias, Chris Guillebeau, Laura Crawford, Russ Roca, Kim Dinan, Warren & Betsy Talbot, Ryan Lile, Morgan Smith, Spencer Spellman, Kristin Zibell, Chris Gray Faust, Ryan and Jen Fuller, Scott Montgomerie, Kenna Ranson, Scott Hartbeck, Stephanie Sappington, Megan Seper, Dave and Deb of the PlanetD, Rick Storey, Mariellen Ward, Evelyn Hannon, Nancy Bearg, Alexis Grant, Coley Hudgins, Kimberly Palmer, Kinnari Patel.
2011 Event Sponsors
We are so grateful to the companies who believe in and support us in our career break movement: Intrepid Travel, Hostelling International, GoMio, Insure My Trip, SmartBox, Uncle Dan’s, International TEFL Academy, HI Chicago, iGo Car Sharing, Chicago Photography Classes, Massey Outfitters, Veracity Stew, Passport Health NY, Clothing Arts, Google Places, Abel’s on the Lake, Kendall College, Napa Wine Project, HI New York, Sports Basement, REI, Recessions Lounge.
We can’t wait to have many more of you involved with the Meet, Plan, Go! family next year.
Leah on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:12 am
I really enjoyed reading your post. I am thirty-two soon and have itchy feet that are ready to try out foreign soils.
It is a fear of leaving the security of the day to day grind of paying the bills and living a safe and non-challenging way of life that has put me on hold for some time.
I hope (as it has I) your post will inspire others to go and follow their bliss – Leah 🙂
Patricia GW on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:54 am
Travel and experiencing a new culture really has put it into perspective, and filled that void with purpose (and joy).
In three weeks I’ll be moving to Paris myself for one month. I have the same feeling – the incredible surreal realization that I’m going to be living there…. it’s thrilling!!
Abby on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 2:11 pm
Oh, Jenny! Escargot isn’t palatable — it’s delicious! I love your writing style; it’s so fun and energetic. Can you believe how far we’ve come? Everyone, Jenny and I were in the exact same industry and have known each other online and via work emails for years and years. But we’ve only met once, many, many years ago. And one of those jobs she was sleeping next to her BlackBerry for was one I’d just left. And now she’s 33 and living abroad, just like I was last year. Kindred spirits. Jenny, you’re a true inspiration — I can’t wait to see how your adventure unfolds!
Debbie Beardsley on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 3:22 pm
Your life in Paris sounds ideal. It is nice to read about people who follow their dreams instead of wishing they had! Enjoy the rest of your journey.
Terriaw on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 1:40 pm
Wow, fabulous and well said! I love your new outlook on like. After experiencing career burnout and feeling a little lost and purposeless lately, you have encouraged me. I look forward to seeing Paris someday!
Jenny on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 6:50 pm
merci for all the sweet comments! @abby we are soooo kindred spirits! well except when it comes to our differing feelings on escargot…;) and congrats patricia on the move! thrilling indeed!
shawna on Thu, 9th Jun 2011 1:32 am
you’ve reawakened my travel bug. must. return. to. france. (someday.) eat a croissant for me!
Weekly Travel Blog Links — LandingStanding on Mon, 13th Jun 2011 6:16 am
[…] how badly I want to go to Paris… If only we could afford living there for an extended period of time during our travels! Any […]
G. Michael Schneider on Sun, 19th Jun 2011 3:36 pm
I am a firm believer in living and working overseas, just as you described. However, many of us actually like our jobs and our homes and are simply looking to renew and refresh our lives, not change it. However, you can have the same type of cultural experience without having to reach into your own wallet and without having to quit your day job–by taking what I call a “working vacation.” My wife and I have done this 15 separate times, from Australia to Zimbabwe, Turket to Tibet, Mauritius to Mongolia. I describe how to do it in my blog otherguysdime.wordpress.com and via Twitter at @otherguysdime. Learn how to have fun without having to have burn any of your bridges behind you.