2010 Event Attendees Who Said "Go!" - Part 2
In the months after our Inaugural Meet, Plan, Go! event, we never get tired of hearing stories from those who attended and decided that they would Go! Here are a few more that have been on the road, or will be hitting the road soon. Hopefully you will find some inspiration from them as well.
Delphine & Michael – New York City Event
22 months surfing the globe
Surfing Round the World
Staring in July 2011, Delphine and Michael are embarking on the surf trip of their dreams: two years riding waves across five continents and fifteen countries. Both of them had been surfing for several years at Rockaway Beach in New York City before they met for the first time on the boardwalk. Five years later, they’re now partners for life and regularly wake up together at 4:30 a.m. for dawn patrol.
In addition to surfing, they also plan on taking language lessons and volunteering while visiting Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Chile, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii.
Stu – Seattle Event
One – Two Years
Stu just quit Microsoft after working as a developer for 3 years and got sick of the corporate America lifestyle. “I have wanted to do this for a long time and finally I came around to doing it. Its quite funny, as soon as you commit to doing it, you get so much help to do it. Since I started telling people I was quitting my job I started learning about all sorts of resources that accelerated and helped motivate my efforts.”
Stu set out on the road in May 2011, driving from Seattle down the west coast of the Americas, eventually ending in Argentina. While camping in his 1972 Volkswagen bus, he will be surfing, playing guitar, learning Spanish, participating in vipassana courses, volunteering, and “whatever else pops up”.
Kailey – Toronto Event
Two Year on the Road
Although Kailey had been dreaming of her around the world trip for three years, after attending our Toronto event, she was inspired to join our Basic Training class. “I’m glad I got to participate as a student. It was really fitting and gave me a lot of inside knowledge.” That knowledge has helped her on the road, which she set off for in December of 2010.
She is currently surfing her way through Australia before moving onto Fiji, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and India.
Ms. Half Empty – Washington DC Event
10 Weeks with Mr. Half Empty
Half Empty For Now
This couple is spending the summer of 2011 traveling around the world. They’ve dubbed this trip the “30/40 World Tour: Quest for Passion.” What does that mean? “I am 30-years-old and Mr. HalfFull is 40-years-old. These are supposed to be big decade birthdays, so we decided to do something big — namely, travel around the world!”
Their plans will take them to Fiji, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Australia, Mauritius, UAE, Germany, and Spain.
Renee - Boston Event
Undetermined Time on the Road
Career Breaking
For many years Renee dreamed of traveling. “After being stuck in a cubicle for a long time, too long, a door opened, and I made a run for it.” That run started in January 2011.
“Since January I have been in The Netherland Antilles, Mexico, and Ecuador. In the Spring I will be back in different areas of the US for a friends wedding in Florida and prewedding activities in MA, MN, and NYC.” After that she plans to visit Alaska and Canada for the summer then back down to South America for the Fall. “That’s the plan for now…plans seem to change.”
Jesse & Dave - New York City Event
One Year on the Road
JD Mesh
Jesse & Dave left on their journey shortly after attending the NYC September event. “We spent the first 3 months in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, then about 3 weeks in South Africa, 3 weeks in the Middle East, a quick European ski break in Austria (with some Germany and London thrown in), 6 weeks in India, a month in Thailand and a month in Nepal. We'll spend the remaining 5ish months of our trip in SE Asia and then take the Trans-Siberian RR through Mongolia to Russia. If we have any time and money left, we'll see some of Eastern Europe.”
Check out other attendees who said "Go!" - Did a Meet, Plan, Go! event inspire you to start planning your own career break travels? Be sure to register it with us!







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.