2010 Event Attendees Who Said "Go!" - Part 3
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.
Liz Behler – Washington DC Event
One Year Around the World
The Travel Beast
Liz and Derek Poe are currently about four months into our year-long break. “So far we've seen Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Italy, the Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain and are now in France. In a month we're heading to Ireland, and then making our way to Asia where we plan to visit Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia before heading to Australia and New Zealand. It truly will be an around-the-world trip!
“Some of our adventures so far have included riding horses with gauchos in Argentina, traveling by camel through the Sahara, spending a week in the rainforest in Brazil, and hiking through mountainous vineyards in Italy's Cinque Terre. We're planning to WWOOF on a farm in Ireland for about a month before heading to Thailand where we'll soak up some sun and $5 beach-side massages. We're also planning to attend a Mahout training while there and partake of some cooking classes (yum!). In Indonesia, we'd like to work with a woman we know on her farm project that benefits disenfranchised women and their children in East Bali. In Australia, we're planning to get work visas to help recoup some of our costs and pay for a plane ticket home.
“Without a doubt, I can say this trip has been one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. Ever. I was so nervous to leave behind my job -- something I had worked so hard for and that had consumed every waking, and sometimes non-waking, moment of my life. But four months into our trip, I can honestly say I feel happier, healthier, and perhaps most of all, stronger than I have in years.”
Ali Garland – Atlanta Event
Four Month Adventure
Ali Adventures
Ali has her sights set on Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Easter Island for her adventure.
“I just turned 31 and taking a long-term trip is something I've wanted to do for years. I finally started trying to make it a reality in the middle of 2010. Shortly after the research phase started, I met another travel blogger (@groundedtravelr) through Twitter and we fell in love over Skype, Twitter and email. I let him know that this trip was important to me, and he's been very supportive even though he won't be able to join me.
“We got married at the beginning of June, I'm moving to Germany (where he lives) at the beginning of July, and I'm going to travel from the end of September 2011 to the middle of February 2012 before going back to Germany to continue learning German and eventually finding a job there.”
Erica & Shaun Kuschel – Austin Event
Childhood Sweethearts Traveling the World Together
Over Yonderlust
Erica & Shaun’s adventure started four months ago in Mexico and are making their way south through Central & South America.
“We were best friends who fell in love and were quick to realize that there was nobody else in the world that we’d rather grow old with. Before we had gotten married, neither one of us had a passport. Our only experiences outside of the U.S. consisted of walking into Mexico for the afternoon. Our desire to see the world had always been present, however, it was not truly realized until the promise of going to Barbados for our honeymoon was fulfilled. It was then that the wanderlust took over.”
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.