Boy, what a difference a week makes in my life! I have been contemplating getting TEFL Certified. (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). I have researched this for 6-months. I thought this may be a good way to travel the world and have some of my living/traveling expenses paid. Learning a new skill set I feel is a good idea. Now I have this incredible opportunity to go to China on a 3-month long internship program starting August 1st. I am to take 80-hours of on-line courses, then remaining 40-hours once in China. I will be teaching 25 each 50-minute English lessons to 4-14 year olds. Now after reviewing the material, I am scared to death and having second thoughts. The material is not resonating with me. I am struggling to read the material and find it incredibly boring and dry. Maybe teaching English is not for me. I can’t fathom having to write 25-lessons per week.
So I have worked myself into a dither. I really need to do some soul searching the next few days and make my final decision. Part of me feels this is an incredible opportunity and run with it. The other part of me says, nope teaching English is not for you and don’t waste the time, energy and money.
I love Antigua and am still considering opening a spa business here next year. I want to wait for the election outcome and see what kind of impact it has on the country as a whole and for the violence ad crime at large. I still plan to go to N India by the end of the year and help a friend start a hiking lodge from the ground up.
I am blessed o have such a wonderful life. I have so much freedom its s scary and often difficult to make the best decision.
Stay tuned……………………
Showing posts with label Around the World Travel Blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Around the World Travel Blog. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Here's a clip from a recent thread on The Lonely Planet (Gap Year & Around the World Teavel) Forum I responded to:
Seeking thoughts, advice and wisdom for long term travel
Hello everyone,
I'm 39 year old and still haven't shaken the travel bug. I've backpacked across Europe and South East Asia at separate points in my life but I still feel I'm not done exploring. I'm considering packing it all in and taking off until the money runs dry (possibly 18 months if I'm lucky). My concerns are the following and would appreciate any advice you can offer:
1. Family- I don't have any kids and only a collection of ex-girlfreinds but I am exremely close to my immediate family. My parents are getting up there in age and if something were to happen to them I don't if I could forgive myself for not being there.
2. Returning to work after a long break. I am a little concerned of the perception employers may have of a 40 year old man with an extended gap from the last job. I am curious as to what type of reception you received from prospective employers especially from older travelers like myself getting back in to the workforce. I have a MBA and tons of experience in my field but it still leaves me a bit uneasy due to the uncertainty.
************************************************************************************
AND MY RESPONSE:
I think once you’ve gotten the travel bug, it is a permanent inflicted ailment for which there is no recovery.
Companies should acknowledge world travel as an invaluable life experience. I would add it to your resume. You learn skills at becoming a self reliant, confident and an independent thinking individual.
My first trip abroad was when I was 16. I spent a summer in Singapore. Backpacked across Europe alone at 18, and have since taken 2 solo trips around the world with numerous one month jaunts in between. I made a mistake and got married and was miserable with the whole normal life. I had bouts of being satisfied with my travel and being home, but the bug has always come back.
At 52, I’m back at it. I’ve sold everything I own, and of course I too worry about what will happen when the funds run out. Luckily, I have a skill set where I can easily find work. In the past, I worked in retirement communities and I saw couples scrimp and save their entire lives so they could travel when they retired. Invariably one would die, or the other would be inflicted with a disease so they never got to travel. Sure they had the funds to live in this beautiful retirement community but they never got to see the world.
My father died at 50 of a massive heart attack. These two things made a big impression on me and how I live my life today. I may be a bag lady in my 70’s, but boy will I have the memories and some wild stories to share! Do it now, life is truly too short! One you have a good career, you’ll buy a house, get in debt, have children, and then in becomes increasing difficult to fulfill those travel desires.
My only regret is I have never had someone to share my travel lifestyle with!
Seeking thoughts, advice and wisdom for long term travel
Hello everyone,
I'm 39 year old and still haven't shaken the travel bug. I've backpacked across Europe and South East Asia at separate points in my life but I still feel I'm not done exploring. I'm considering packing it all in and taking off until the money runs dry (possibly 18 months if I'm lucky). My concerns are the following and would appreciate any advice you can offer:
1. Family- I don't have any kids and only a collection of ex-girlfreinds but I am exremely close to my immediate family. My parents are getting up there in age and if something were to happen to them I don't if I could forgive myself for not being there.
2. Returning to work after a long break. I am a little concerned of the perception employers may have of a 40 year old man with an extended gap from the last job. I am curious as to what type of reception you received from prospective employers especially from older travelers like myself getting back in to the workforce. I have a MBA and tons of experience in my field but it still leaves me a bit uneasy due to the uncertainty.
************************************************************************************
AND MY RESPONSE:
I think once you’ve gotten the travel bug, it is a permanent inflicted ailment for which there is no recovery.
Companies should acknowledge world travel as an invaluable life experience. I would add it to your resume. You learn skills at becoming a self reliant, confident and an independent thinking individual.
My first trip abroad was when I was 16. I spent a summer in Singapore. Backpacked across Europe alone at 18, and have since taken 2 solo trips around the world with numerous one month jaunts in between. I made a mistake and got married and was miserable with the whole normal life. I had bouts of being satisfied with my travel and being home, but the bug has always come back.
At 52, I’m back at it. I’ve sold everything I own, and of course I too worry about what will happen when the funds run out. Luckily, I have a skill set where I can easily find work. In the past, I worked in retirement communities and I saw couples scrimp and save their entire lives so they could travel when they retired. Invariably one would die, or the other would be inflicted with a disease so they never got to travel. Sure they had the funds to live in this beautiful retirement community but they never got to see the world.
My father died at 50 of a massive heart attack. These two things made a big impression on me and how I live my life today. I may be a bag lady in my 70’s, but boy will I have the memories and some wild stories to share! Do it now, life is truly too short! One you have a good career, you’ll buy a house, get in debt, have children, and then in becomes increasing difficult to fulfill those travel desires.
My only regret is I have never had someone to share my travel lifestyle with!
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