With the cheetahs in South Africa. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

In a few weeks I’m off to Italy to speak at the Travel Bloggers Unite conference. One of the sponsors is Oyster Worldwide, a company that specializes in volunteer experiences for gappers and career breakers. They are giving away a trip to a blogger to go volunteer in Romania at a bear sanctuary. Who knew Romania had bears?? Well, probably everyone except me. Putting my ignorance aside, I want to now make my case for why I should be selected for this two-week trip. Here are my top 10 reasons.

In Torres Del Paine in Patagonia. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

1. Genuine interest in the bears. I love being around animals and that probably is a result of having grown up in rural Texas. Besides dogs and cats, we had pigs, goats, chickens, fish, guinea pigs and even orphaned deer as pets. And, after filming my episode about volunteering at Monkeyland in South Africa, I really became interested in doing something similar myself.
2. Hard working fool. Some might just say ¨fool.¨ But, I’d be ready to jump in and get working with whatever is needed.
3. Have a leg up on the language. OK, I don’t speak Romanian. But, I do speak Spanish fluently. So, I think I could have some kick-ass basic Romanian quickly.
4. Love me some mountains! As a former resident of the state of Colorado in the US, I love exploring the mountains. I also had some great experiences in the Andes in South America. So, I would love to have the chance to explore the Carpathians by foot and camera.
5. In need of a career break myself. I know, it doesn’t seem as much of a benefit to you. But, after working hard to get the site and travel show off the ground, I could use a break and the chance to give back, to practice what I preach. And, that would come through in the writing. So, I wouldn’t be pretending to be on a break. I’d actually be on one making the writing all that more authentic.
6. The Dracula Factor. OK, I admit it. The fact that the sanctuary is in the heart of Transylvania does make the experience even more interesting.
7. Audience match. Let’s talk turkey. My site is all about career breaks and how to get the most out of your trip. Volunteering on a career break is the second most popular activity for career breakers (but you probably knew that). People come to the site looking for advice not only about how to leave their job, but also what life is like on the road and to follow my travels. I focus a lot of time talking about how to make the big trip count. So naturally, volunteering is one of the best ways to do that. Frankly, I would love to be able to write about the topic from a first-hand perspective.
8. Active social media presence: The site’s growing (400% last year), as is our social media presence (Facebook: almost 1050+ fans, Twitter: 2600+ followers, Klout: 50-51 range, and I’m active on StumbleUpon). Once we get the content up, I share it early and often.
9. Mix of content to deliver. In addition to the stories, I can also take lots of great photos and if I get some really good pics, a few might be part of my Suh-Weet Shots series. Depending on the working conditions and what’s happening on the ground, I might be able to get a video or two done.
10. Early bird gets the worm, right??? Surely there must be a few extra brownie points awarded for getting this well before the conference.

I can't promise the animals will like me! Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

So, to the good folks at Oyster Worldwide, please pick me!!

And to my readers, please let the folks at Oyster Worldwide know your support for me winning the trip to Romania!

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Volunteering for the Bears of Romania is a post from: career break secrets: Travel video guides and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

For frequent readers of the blog, you know I’m a huge fan of the US Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry program. In previous posts I’ve told you about my Global Entry application experience. And, I wrote a Global Entry review. On a recent trip through the US, I thought I would time myself to see how quickly I would actually pass through immigration. On previous trips I saw first-hand how quickly I was passing through immigration at the US border. But, I wanted a real number this time.

I disembarked from my flight from London in Houston, checked my watch. Off the plane I went and walked through the hallways over to the Global Entry kiosks. Now, I tend to walk fast, really fast. May god help you if you’re on the people mover and standing in the left lane. Not that I’m outwardly aggressive, but I will make my presence known.

Passport out. Passport scanned. Fingerprints scanned. Questions answered. Entry card printed. Card handed in.

Total time: 8 minutes.

Not that my luggage would have arrived that quickly. I was only changing planes in Houston so I was free to move on and head towards my connecting gate and let my bags head towards my connecting flight (a special thanks to the TSA for opening my bag and leaving me a pre-printed love note. Yup, bags can still be checked and opened folks).

So, now that Global Entry is working well. I have one suggestion. Since Global Entry members are already “Trusted Travelers”, is there any way you can give us a special line to bypass the TSA line after clearing customs? I know there’s something going on with the TSA and Trusted Travelers. Please tell me that is part of the program expansion.

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8 Minutes: A Global Entry Update is a post from: career break secrets: Travel video guides and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Imposing entrance. I didn't see any sign of Quasimodo. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

There aren’t many cathedrals that have the allure that this Parisian landmark has. If there’s a downside, it’s that there are too many people wanting to see it. But, even if it’s on every touristy list, it’s still worth checking out. Whether you see it for religious, architectural or historical reasons, it is impressive. I was struck by how huge it was. I had seen many in Latin America of a grand scale. But, this bad boy had its own presence. Of course, you notice while traveling in France, architects compete with each other to add their mark, especially in Paris; Notre Dame certainly stands the test of time. I got this shot on a partly cloudy summer day and am making it today’s Suh-Weet Shot.

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Imposing Facade of Notre Dame is a post from: career break secrets: Travel video guides and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Out with the Gorillas in Rwanda. Copyright OneStep4ward.com

In this week’s ¨Who’s Out There Now¨ feature, we bring to you Johnny, who’s been traveling the world since 2006 and blogging about it on OneStep4Ward.

1. So, where in the world are you answering these questions?

I was in North Korea last week but I’m writing this from the comfort of a condo in Bangkok, Thailand (nursing a rather persistent hangover!)

2. You’ve got a pretty impressive list of countries that you’ve conquered including…Somalia? How did that come about?

I love to travel to places that I know are literally ‘off-the-beaten-track’, and not in a lonely planet sense. I mean I want to be the first Irish guy they’ve ever met! There aren’t too many places in the world that I can do that, so  I’ve got search long and hard. With Sudan, Somalia, East Timor, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and North Korea under my belt, it’s going well!

3. Not that you haven’t been busy traveling around, but how have you missed South America up until this point?

It stems from my love affair with Asia I guess, although I hope to rectify that huge void in my travels in 2013, in preparation for the World Cup in Brazil.

In North Korea. Copyright OneStep4Ward.com

4. You’ve got quite a following, people who are interested in what you do and how you are able to design your life around travel. What are your three key messages to people who want to make a change in their life for the better, but feel stuck in their day-to-day routine?

That’s a great question Jeff, I’d go with these:

1. Believe that it’s possible for yourself. Don’t look around the internet and see people living YOUR dreams, go and get them yourself. People like me are nothing special, we just did it – and so can you.
2. Carve out an online income. I know it’s easy to say, but within 6 months of choosing an online income method you could definitely be earn $500 per month, maybe much more. I know it sounds like some crazy scheme but it’s true, blogging is a great start.
3. Forget about social conformity. Keeping up with the Jones’ was a concept created by a consumer agenda, one which we are under no obligation to subscribe to. 50 hour weeks, Monday morning meetings and chasing a promotion are not a prerequisite of a successful life. Half the battle is just acknowledging that.

5. Career break, nomadic adventure, backpacking, how do you characterize your trips?

Certainly not a career break. I guess I’m a lifestyle designer, for want of a better term, or perhaps a digital nomad. Although I’m certainly a backpacker at heart.

6. What are some of the secrets to travel that you’ve discovered that you think more people who aren’t traveling should know?

“How many countries have you been to” is not the way to judge how well traveled someone may be. There seems to be a new breed of passport stamp collectors. Traveling overland, and travel relatively slow – that’s the key to really living the dream in my opinion.

On top of Kilimanjaro. Copyright OneStep4Ward.com

7. What was your first ¨We’re not in Kansas anymore¨ moment on this trip?

Haha! Oh God, on a hitchhiked Chinese cargo boat up the Mekong River through Laos that I thought would take one day, but ended up with a 2 day illegal trip through Burma, getting accosted by the police in China and being dumped by the side of the river with no clue where I was! I had been traveling for less than a year at the point!

8. What’s been your most ¨local¨ experience so far?

Staying in the slums with an awesome dude I met in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His house was home to 8 people and it was probably the size of an average bedroom, but the hospitality was out of this world, and the food was amazing.

Rafting the Nile in Uganda. Copyright OneStep4Ward.com

9. What has been your most embarrassing moment?

It could be one of many! Getting summoned up on stage in both Malawi and South Korea due to being the only foreigner in the crowd and having to dance to their respective local music, to a highly amused crowd both times! At least I got a free t-shirt in Malawi from it though!

10. What’s your secret for getting the most out of your journey?

Speed, all the way. Slow down and drink it in, one night here then an 8 hour bus, one night there and a 12 hour train. That schedule can kill you, slow it down and feel the place. Also, I travel cheap not because I have to but because I find it draws some much more authentic experiences. No air con tourist buses for me.

Hanging with the hyenas. Copyright OneStep4Ward.com

11. Finally, our lightening round. 

• Best dish you’ve found so far: tibs in Ethiopia. Sautéed meat in spicy sauce. Love it!
• Most exotic food eaten: lambs testicles and pigs penis in China.
• Most breathtaking moment: Paragliding over the Himalayas in india.
• Biggest disappointment: Johannesburg, South Africa or Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, China
• Most memorable place: Clichéd, but Thailand – it literally changed my life.
• Most memorable person: A one eyed, one legged dude in Calcutta India who wanted me to sleep in his blood-stained room. I’ll never forget that!
• Best thing to have on a long bus ride: Imodium
• Worst thing to have on a long bus ride: The sh*ts!
• Best thing you packed: My macbook pro
• Dumbest thing you packed: Expensive shoes to party in – ridiculous.
• Funniest travel habit you have: I always try to scope out the best seat on any bus before I buy the ticket, it’s a compulsion. And I always seem to get screwed despite it!
• Place you wish you could’ve stayed longer: If I’ve ever wanted to stay longer, I’ve stayed longer.

You can follow Johnny online at OneStep4Ward.com, on Facebook and on Twitter @OneStep4ward.

Every week, Career Break Secrets profiles a different traveler or traveling couple who are embracing the ¨Because Life Is Out There ^TM¨ travel spirit.  These are people who have taken the plunge to embark on a career break and are currently traveling the world.  

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Who’s Out There Now: Johnny is a post from: career break secrets: Travel video guides and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

At a protest in Buenos Aires. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

How to stay safe while traveling around the world on your career break is something we all think about. For some, it can cause paralytic fear, but for most dealing with safety issues is a matter of preparation, making smart decisions, becoming more comfortable with the world as you find it and learning as you go, from your own travel experiences and from other travelers. Smarter travel is possible in this case to help avoid getting into nasty situations.

In January at the Year Out Expo, I met fellow speaker Charlie McGrath. He runs Objective Travel Safety, an organization that helps train all types of people and organizations on how to be safe while abroad and how to respond in case there is a crisis. I had the chance recently to talk to Charlie about staying safe while traveling on a career break.

1. Do you have an overall philosophy about how travelers should approach safety to plan properly?

Researching their destinations is the key, the need to understand enough about the culture, environmental issues( earthquakes etc) crime rate etc so they can ‘aim off’ and so avoid trouble.

2. What’s the scariest safety situation you’ve been in or been called to help with?

I was hijacked at gunpoint in Iraq which wasn’t too good! But cooperated and therefore survived.

3. For people thinking about taking a career break to travel the world, what are the biggest safety or security issues that are most likely to face?

Crime and road traffic accidents are the big 2 with disease/illness some way behind.

4. What are the concerns that people typically have about traveling the world that are least likely to happen?

Getting blown up or kidnapped. Its inevitable that the threat of terrorism dominates the media but the reality is very different. India is a good example, remember the Nov 2009 Mumbai bombing- huge headlines, 180 odd people killed but on average 250 die on India roads every day!

5. What are the biggest safety mistakes that career breakers tend to make while traveling?

Difficult question! I suppose being too worried about safety and not exploring enough, in general terms the further off the beaten track you go often the safer you are,

6. Are there some steps you can take before you leave that are either preventative or can help you in case something does happen while you’re traveling?

Yes many. Acknowledge that crime and road traffic accidents will be greatest threat and prepare. Know where the crime areas are, travel with a mixture of money- casdh, cards, possibly travelers cheques and expected to be mugged at some stage. There only go out with what you need, some cash perhaps one card and leave rest behind in hotle safety deposit box or with host. If you get mugged you just hand over enough to satisfy aggressor (having a reserve in a shoe or bra is also handy. Wear a seat belt at every opportunity.

7. When I was traveling around, I noticed that as my confidence as a traveler grew, my fears of something bad happening dropped. Is that normal or had I lulled myself into a false sense of security?

No I would say this is normal and looking confidence is good (but not over confident). To avoid crime there are 3 key things; lower your profile (rings/watches off), Be aware( know where the dodgy parts of town are)  & look confident.

8. There are any number of products being sold out claiming to help you keep yourself and your things safe. To me many of them seem unnecessary and a waste of money. Are there any that you recommend that really are worth buying?

I agree. A couple of padlocks are useful to hotel/hostel lockers, a door guard/wedge can be handy to stop unwanted visitors in the night- amazing how many female report the hotel heating engineer needing to check their radiator at 2 am.

9. Given the role that the internet plays in helping the traveler do research, stay in touch with friends and family, bank, etc., what tips do you have for people to help keep their personal information safe and secure while traveling?

If possible get money transfers done by a friend or relation at home rather than internet café. Travel money credit cards such as Caxton FX (separate from you bank accounts) are good.

10. Staying healthy and not getting sick on the road is a concern for all travelers. Is there a basic first aid kit you recommend for travelers? What types of medicines should travelers just buy on the road?

A simple travel pack is good but do take some antiseptic cream, oral rehydration salts if you get the runs. Ciprofloxacin is a good broad based antibiotic. Be very careful buying anti malaria tablets abroad, especially if they seem too cheap, too many counterfeit drugs around. ,

11. What is your take on the US, UK and other governmental safety warnings?

Are they really useful to travelers? I ask because in my opinion, they seem to cast countries in very black and white terms – safe or not safe – with no room for nuance. Or, am I just cynical? I do think they are a good starting point as many travelers will do very little research. Yes they may over stress risks but I find the Brit FCO always has some useful advise.

12. What are some of the things you personally do or pack to help you be better prepared while traveling?

I always take a head torch – vital, hand gel to keep hands clean/reduce disease threat & know what the local passionate sport so I can chat to taxi drivers & hotel staff.

12. Finally, what are your favorite places to travel that are a bit off the beaten track?

Romania, was N Pakistan but probably too dangerous now, Chile.

About Charlie:

Charlie McGrath

Charlie McGrath spent 15 years as an Army Officer. He spent five years on operations in Northern Ireland but also saw service in Central America, Southern Africa and during the First Gulf War. He was awarded the MBE for his work in South Africa during the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.  Prior to joining the army he spent a year traveling in South America and has traveled widely thereafter. His company, Objective Travel Safety, provides safety training to a range of clients including journalists and NGOs operating in hostile environments, business professionals and young students travelers embarking on their Gap Year. Objective also provided the training to Ewan McGregor & Charlie Boorman prior to their ‘Long Way Round’ and ‘Long Way Down’ motorbike adventure.  When possible he continues to travel whenever possible. During his time in the army led an expedition across the Sahara desert, spent his honey moon in Papua New Guinea. His second gap year was in India, Pakistan, Burma & Thailand and more recently has travelled in Malawi, Zambia, Romania, Laos, Thailand, the Lebanon and Israel.

How Safe Is It to Travel While on Your Career Break? is a post from: career break secrets: Travel video guides and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Today marks 5 years since I took off on my career break. The time in my life would take me throughout South America, Europe, Turkey and Egypt. I didn’t have a clue about the people I would meet or the adventures I would have. World travel had been a long-time dream, but it all became possible after a catalytic event that I will always remember.

It turns out, I’m not alone. After getting to know so many other people who have taken a break, I realized that I wasn’t alone. For each of us, a point came in which we said, NOW. Now is the time to take a break. Now is the time to make my break.

I’ve included a summary of my own story in case you haven’t heard it before. But, I’ve also asked a couple of other people who have taken a break to tell their story, the story that never gets talked about, the one about the moment in time when we stopped saying no and said yes.

Jeff in Greece. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Jeff:

¨What’s it going to take to make you happy?¨ It was a question I had been asking myself. But, there was something about the way that my friends Mike and Joy asked me that question on that Friday night. We are on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, feeding ourselves with margaritas and mexican spanish/mediterranean food. From all outward appearances, things we going well. But, behind the scenes, things weren’t what they appeared. Weight gain, lack of sleep, an inordinate amount of stress made it increasingly difficult to hide the fact that what I had been achieving in my professional life wasn’t being shared in my personal life. I knew something had to change, but I was having difficulty figuring out what ¨that¨ was.

UPDATE: My friends have corrected me on where the fateful event took place. What is still true is that margaritas were involved.

Mike and Joy’s question stuck with me all weekend. When I woke up on Saturday morning, I kept thinking about it over and over again. Maybe it was the fact that I realized that I wasn’t doing a good job of hiding it my unhappiness anymore. Maybe it was the mix of Texan humidity and margaritas. But, that morning I had my epiphany – I wanted to travel. And, not just take a week off to the beach to relax. I wanted to see the world. I wanted to go to all those places I had been dreaming about since I was a kid. Of course, the big question was, could I afford it?

I spent the rest of the weekend working on budgeting. I tried to figure out how much I would need for such a long trip. I turned to the internet. But, in 2006, there wasn’t nearly the information from people who had done it that there is today. So, I looked really closely at what I was spending on my current lifestyle. Shocked at how much it cost me to live, I thought, surely I can do it for way less than that. I continued working at the math, comparing it to my savings and realized that it was possible. Three weeks later, I quit my job and started my new life.

Sherry Ott:

Sherry in Nepal. Copyright Ottsworld.com

I had a job anyone would have wanted…at least from the outside.  I worked in an international luxury retailer in the upper management of their IT department.  I had a great office, a good title, and stock options. I had climbed the ladder and clawed my way up through various companies and lived in various cities to get there.  I did just what you expect of every childless, unmarried, type A female – I kicked ass because I had nothing else to demand my time and attention.  I managed people older than me from early on in my career and just thought it was normal.  But I had a secret.  I didn’t really enjoy my career except for the fact that it allowed me to accumulate things I wanted.  I accumulated and accumulated and lived the American dream.  I turned off the part of me that really paid attention to what was going on deep inside and I worried about the outside instead.

I remember one day coming home from work from a particularly bad day. I sat on my couch and looked around my beautiful apartment and started crying.  All I could think about was that I was so miserable at work – and not just my specific company – but working in IT in a field that I never felt like I belonged in. Somehow I kept getting rewarded and promoted in a field that I felt like I knew nothing in.  On top of this, it didn’t help that people I worked with were some of the most brutal, insensitive people I had ever encountered in my career. I sat on my couch and wished for simplicity, but I was surrounded by complexity. I started to wonder if I would be just happier to be less well off financially and simply do a job like waitressing or something – no money, but better work/life balance. I thought about my college days when I had so little – and longed for it again.

That was the moment where the pain of my present situation became greater then the pain of leaving the situation – and change happens when you finally reach that point. Shortly after that episode I remember realizing that I didn’t really have to stay. No one was making me stay except for myself and what I thought others expected of me. I knew I had a year contract with my employer – and I started to tell myself  I would leave when that contract was up. Once I had a plan, my whole attitude at work changed. The people that I disliked became more bearable.  I fantasized about the day I would put in my notice. Granted, I ended up staying 2 more years, but I always knew that my time there was temporary and that’s what got me through to the day I got on the plane 5 1/2 years ago!

Sherry is the co-founder of Meet Plan Go and blogs about her travels at Ottsworld.

Betsy and Warren ready for action. Copyright MarriedWithLuggage.com

Warren and Betsy Talbot:

Margaritas, friends, and an unexpected question were the perfect combination to change our lives.

In retrospect the evening started like any other great night out. We were celebrating a long weekend in Seattle and decided to head out to our favorite Mexican food restaurant with close friends. These are the types of friends where a conversation just flows and there are no restrictions. We all felt free to share ideas, hopes, and concerns with each other.

As the hours wore on Betsy and I started to reflect on our friends and family. Betsy’s brother was still managing life after a major heart attack at 35. While he had recovered it was a major shift in diet and attitude. Our close friend Maria was still in the hospital almost 1 month after a brain aneurism at 34 and no one knew what the future held. Without evening knowing it, our lives were about to be changed.

As typically happens with great friends the discussion turns to life and the future. We reflected on how short life is and posed the question, “What would you do if you knew you would not live to be 40?” (we were both 37 at the time). Without pausing to consult Betsy and I both answered, travel.

Within another hour, and thanks to the aid of another round of margaritas, we made the decision that would change our lives. We had agreed that we would take a year off to travel around the world.

The next morning, in the cold light of day, we knew that our mindset had been changed forever and we started planning our adventure in earnest. Today we are 18 months into an adventure that has morphed from 1 year to 5 years to a lifetime.

It all started innocently enough with great friends, a few drinks, and a question. This is why we advocate strong friendships with supportive people so strongly. They can literally change your life.

Warren and Betsy run the site Married With Luggage and are the authors of the books Dream. Save. Do., Getting Rid of It, and Strip Off Your Fear. 

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The Catalyst is a post from: career break secrets: Travel video guides and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Today marks 5 years since I took off on my career break. The time in my life would take me throughout South America, Europe, Turkey and Egypt. I didn’t have a clue about the people I would meet or the adventures I would have. World travel had been a long-time dream, but it all became possible after a catalytic event that I will always remember.

It turns out, I’m not alone. After getting to know so many other people who have taken a break, I realized that I wasn’t alone. For each of us, a point came in which we said, NOW. Now is the time to take a break. Now is the time to make my break.

I’ve included a summary of my own story in case you haven’t heard it before. But, I’ve also asked a couple of other people who have taken a break to tell their story, the story that never gets talked about, the one about the moment in time when we stopped saying no and said yes.

Jeff in Greece. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Jeff:

¨What’s it going to take to make you happy?¨ It was a question I had been asking myself. But, there was something about the way that my friends Mike and Joy asked me that question on that Friday night. We are on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, feeding ourselves with margaritas and mexican food. From all outward appearances, things we going well. But, behind the scenes, things weren’t what they appeared. Weight gain, lack of sleep, an inordinate amount of stress made it increasingly difficult to hide the fact that what I had been achieving in my professional life wasn’t being shared in my personal life. I knew something had to change, but I was having difficulty figuring out what ¨that¨ was.

Mike and Joy’s question stuck with me all weekend. When I woke up on Saturday morning, I kept thinking about it over and over again. Maybe it was the fact that I realized that I wasn’t doing a good job of hiding it my unhappiness anymore. Maybe it was the mix of Texan humidity and margaritas. But, that morning I had my epiphany – I wanted to travel. And, not just take a week off to the beach to relax. I wanted to see the world. I wanted to go to all those places I had been dreaming about since I was a kid. Of course, the big question was, could I afford it?

I spent the rest of the weekend working on budgeting. I tried to figure out how much I would need for such a long trip. I turned to the internet. But, in 2006, there wasn’t nearly the information from people who had done it that there is today. So, I looked really closely at what I was spending on my current lifestyle. Shocked at how much it cost me to live, I thought, surely I can do it for way less than that. I continued working at the math, comparing it to my savings and realized that it was possible. Three weeks later, I quit my job and started my new life.

Sherry Ott:

Sherry in Nepal. Copyright Ottsworld.com

I had a job anyone would have wanted…at least from the outside.  I worked in an international luxury retailer in the upper management of their IT department.  I had a great office, a good title, and stock options. I had climbed the ladder and clawed my way up through various companies and lived in various cities to get there.  I did just what you expect of every childless, unmarried, type A female – I kicked ass because I had nothing else to demand my time and attention.  I managed people older than me from early on in my career and just thought it was normal.  But I had a secret.  I didn’t really enjoy my career except for the fact that it allowed me to accumulate things I wanted.  I accumulated and accumulated and lived the American dream.  I turned off the part of me that really paid attention to what was going on deep inside and I worried about the outside instead.

I remember one day coming home from work from a particularly bad day. I sat on my couch and looked around my beautiful apartment and started crying.  All I could think about was that I was so miserable at work – and not just my specific company – but working in IT in a field that I never felt like I belonged in. Somehow I kept getting rewarded and promoted in a field that I felt like I knew nothing in.  On top of this, it didn’t help that people I worked with were some of the most brutal, insensitive people I had ever encountered in my career. I sat on my couch and wished for simplicity, but I was surrounded by complexity. I started to wonder if I would be just happier to be less well off financially and simply do a job like waitressing or something – no money, but better work/life balance. I thought about my college days when I had so little – and longed for it again.

That was the moment where the pain of my present situation became greater then the pain of leaving the situation – and change happens when you finally reach that point. Shortly after that episode I remember realizing that I didn’t really have to stay. No one was making me stay except for myself and what I thought others expected of me. I knew I had a year contract with my employer – and I started to tell myself  I would leave when that contract was up. Once I had a plan, my whole attitude at work changed. The people that I disliked became more bearable.  I fantasized about the day I would put in my notice. Granted, I ended up staying 2 more years, but I always knew that my time there was temporary and that’s what got me through to the day I got on the plane 5 1/2 years ago!

Sherry is the co-founder of Meet Plan Go and blogs about her travels at Ottsworld.

Betsy and Warren ready for action. Copyright MarriedWithLuggage.com

Warren and Betsy Talbot:

Margaritas, friends, and an unexpected question were the perfect combination to change our lives.

In retrospect the evening started like any other great night out. We were celebrating a long weekend in Seattle and decided to head out to our favorite Mexican food restaurant with close friends. These are the types of friends where a conversation just flows and there are no restrictions. We all felt free to share ideas, hopes, and concerns with each other.

As the hours wore on Betsy and I started to reflect on our friends and family. Betsy’s brother was still managing life after a major heart attack at 35. While he had recovered it was a major shift in diet and attitude. Our close friend Maria was still in the hospital almost 1 month after a brain aneurism at 34 and no one knew what the future held. Without evening knowing it, our lives were about to be changed.

As typically happens with great friends the discussion turns to life and the future. We reflected on how short life is and posed the question, “What would you do if you knew you would not live to be 40?” (we were both 37 at the time). Without pausing to consult Betsy and I both answered, travel.

Within another hour, and thanks to the aid of another round of margaritas, we made the decision that would change our lives. We had agreed that we would take a year off to travel around the world.

The next morning, in the cold light of day, we knew that our mindset had been changed forever and we started planning our adventure in earnest. Today we are 18 months into an adventure that has morphed from 1 year to 5 years to a lifetime.

It all started innocently enough with great friends, a few drinks, and a question. This is why we advocate strong friendships with supportive people so strongly. They can literally change your life.

Warren and Betsy run the site Married With Luggage and are the authors of the books Dream. Save. Do., Getting Rid of It, and Strip Off Your Fear. 

The Catalyst is a post from: career break secrets: Travel video guides and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Lunch time! Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

If you’ve had the chance to see elephants in the wild, then you know how beautiful these giants of the wild are. At Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa, we saw plenty of the residents that give the park its namesake.  One herd we came across had a few young bulls. Our vehicle was parked at a great angle facing this ¨little guy.¨ How tough are these elephants? Well, they were eating briars, briars thick enough to pierce tires on a Land Rover. They eat hundreds of pounds of brush a year, which I guess is good for the vehicles to keep the briars at bay. I love making this suh-weet babe this week’s Suh-Weet Shot.

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Baby Elephant Eating Briars in Addo Elephant National Park is a post from: career break secrets: Travel video guides and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Katie on Olkhon Island in Russia. Copyright KatieGoingGlobal.com

In this week’s ¨Who’s Out There Now¨ feature, we bring to you Katie, who runs the travel site, KatieGoingGlobal. I’ve been following Katie’s adventure through Twitter as she’s been traveling through Russia and what she calls her Soviet sojourn. She’s chosen to take her journey through the former Soviet Union, a part of the world not visited much by career breakers. Here’s more about her experience.

1. So, where in the world are you answering these questions?

I am in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova – a small former Soviet republic sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania.

2. So, the former Soviet Union is not as well traveled by career breakers. How did you decide on your itinerary?

It has been an area that has fascinated me for a long time. I fell in love with Russian history in high school, majored in Russian & East European Studies for a while in college and studied Russian language for 3 years. While in school, I assisted a professor with a study about the development of democracy in Ukraine and wrote a research paper about ethnic conflict in the Caucasus. As a law student, I wrote a law journal article about the prospects of the Baltic States joining the European Union. That was in 1999 and it seemed unlikely!

3. I have to know, why oh why would you stick around during the winter?

You certainly aren’t the first to ask that question! First of all, I grew up in Minnesota and have lived in Chicago for the last ten years, so I am no stranger to cold weather. I have traveled in Europe in the winter before and it typically is slightly milder than Chicago – and it was fairly mild this year until I got to Ukraine in mid-January. I suppose it’s ironic that I’m here during one of Europe’s worst winters while back home they are having one of the tamest. That being said, I am looking forward to warmer temperatures!

In Tallinn, Estonia. Copyright KatieGoingGlobal.com

4. What made you decide to take a career break? Was there a catalytic event that finally moved you to action?

It developed gradually. I practiced law for six years and then changed careers to work in alumni relations and development for a law school. After a couple years, I found I wasn’t really satisfied with my work and I thought more and more about pursuing a career in my true passion – travel. I researched how to start my own travel business and took an online travel agent course. At the same time, for personal reasons, I started thinking about leaving Chicago and moving back to Minnesota. I initially envisioned a three-month break but when circumstances forced me to put it off a year, I decided to stretch my trip out to ten months or more.

I really see it as a career transition – I don’t know if I’ll still end up trying to start a travel business when I return, but I do hope that my experiences will help me transition into a career in travel, whether it is working for myself or for a travel agency, tour company or tourism board.

5. You talked about the issue of safety at home versus travel safety. How safe have you found the world traveling as a single woman?

I have felt incredibly safe. Although people warned of issues with pickpockets in Moscow and petty crime in Kiev, I never felt uncomfortable or threatened in the least. There were a couple times when, out of habit, I subconsciously questioned the motives of good Samaritans but they turned out to be just that – friendly strangers willing to help.  I can only think of one incident when I felt nervous – I was sitting on a couch near the elevator bank in my hotel in Brest, Belarus (the only place where I could access wi-fi) around 10:00 p.m. and a very drunk man came up to me and started talking to me, actually leaning over and cornering me in my chair. I shouted at him loudly in Russian (figuring someone would hear) and stood up and walked away – luckily he didn’t follow. After that, I did my computer work in the lobby with a lot of staff around.

In Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Copyright KatieGoingGlobal.com

6. Career break, nomadic adventure, backpacking, how do you characterize your trips?

I definitely consider this a career break or, as I mentioned above, a career transition. I don’t see myself becoming a permanent nomad – I already kind of long for the stability and routine (and paycheck!) that comes with being home and having a full-time job (crazy, I know!). I also kind of cringe at the term backpacker – this is the first time I have ever stayed in hostels or really traveled on a tight budget and only the third time I have traveled with a backpack.  I guarantee that after this trip I will return to my old style of suitcases, hotels and shorter trips – likely no more than a month at a time in the future.

7. What are some of the secrets to travel that you’ve discovered that you think more people who aren’t traveling should know?

Using social media in my travels has been amazing. I have met up with people I “met” on Twitter and have had other followers suggest activities to me or introduce me to locals. It’s a great resource. Also, my Kindle is my new best friend – not just for the 3G, which makes for easy internet access when wi-fi isn’t available, but because I download a ton of guidebooks to it and have them handy at all times. Finally, one of the things I have started doing on this trip is trying to buy maps for my upcoming destinations ahead of time. I feel so much more comfortable arriving in a city with a map in hand, it has saved a lot of headaches!

8. What was your first ¨We’re not in Kansas anymore¨ moment?

When I first arrived in Russia! I spent my first two weeks in Finland and Estonia, which felt very much like any other vacation. Then, I got to St. Petersburg, where I was scheduled to live with a local family and tutor them in English for a month. I found myself in a rundown house under renovation far outside of St. Petersburg, in a chilly bedroom with a broken window, an outhouse for a bathroom and getting eaten alive by flies and mosquitoes. It was definitely not what I pictured when I signed up to volunteer in Russia’s second largest city!

In Minsk, Belarus. Copyright KatieGoingGlobal.com

9. What’s been your most ¨local¨ experience so far?

Taking the Trans-Siberian across Russia from Vladivostok to Moscow. While it is a tourist trip for Westerners, locals simply use the train as a way to get around because flying is either inconvenient or too expensive. I didn’t encounter another foreigner during my entire journey and got a lot of insight into the train habits of the locals.

10. What has been your most embarrassing moment?

Sorry to be boring, but I don’t think I really have one. I can’t think of anything that has happened that’s been even remotely embarrassing.

11. What’s your secret for getting the most out of your journey?

I realized the need to slow down as I travel. There were times early on when I felt like I needed to be out sightseeing all the time and then I realized I just wasn’t enjoying it. Since then, I have factored in off-days to my traveling so I don’t get burnt out.

In Tallinn, Estonia. Copyright KatieGoingGlobal.com

12. Finally, our lightening round.

• Best dish you’ve found so far –Russian “homestyle” potatoes
• Most exotic food eaten – ummm, borscht?
• Most breathtaking moment – Seeing Lake Baikal for the first time.
• Biggest disappointment – So far my attempts at volunteering have been a big letdown.
• Most memorable place – Again, Lake Baikal.
• Most memorable person – Alevtyna, the crazy babushka I lived with for 2 weeks in Kiev
• Best thing to have on a long bus ride – snacks and something to read
• Worst thing to have on a long bus ride – the urge to pee
• Best thing you packed – Kindle with 3G
• Dumbest thing you packed – a black pencil skirt that I tossed within the first month.
• Funniest travel habit you have – when I take an overnight train, I like to be the first person into my compartment so I can get settled before the others board.
• Place you wish you could’ve stayed longer – Latvia.

You can follow Katie online at KatieGoingGlobal, on Facebook and on Twitter @katieaune

Every week, Career Break Secrets profiles a different traveler or traveling couple who are embracing the ¨Because Life Is Out There ^TM¨ travel spirit.  These are people who have taken the plunge to embark on a career break and are currently traveling the world.  

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Who’s Out There Now: Katie is a post from: career break secrets: Travel video guides and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Starting point. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Usually when I talk about goals on Career Break Secrets, they are related to taking a career break. But, today I’m going to include you on a personal journey of mine. Chances are, at some point of your life, you’ve had the same goal: lose weight!

I’ve had a life long battle with the scale, and I usually have lost. One of the goals I had on my career break was to lose weight and get healthy. The corporate life got the best of me. The combination of losing control of my work-life balance and a history of weight gain (and loss, and gain, and loss, ad infinitum) meant that I got up to a hefty 259 pounds (117.5 kgs). I have the pictures to prove it, but would really rather not, thanks. The amazing thing is that this wasn’t my all time highest weight. Back in early 2002, I topped out at 268 (121.5). Wow! Did I really just disclose that?

I worked out for 6 straight months before I left to go travel. I didn’t want to get on the road in that condition. And, while I was traveling, I continued to lose weight. If you ever need proof that all that travel helps get you into shape, I can provide you with a testimonial. At my peak on the road, I got down to 207 lbs (94 kgs) and 17% body fat. I was pretty proud of myself, even though I always felt I could have gone further.

Since my career break ended, I’ve maintained fairly well (some ups and downs). But, I haven’t been in the gym a whole lot. So, while my weight isn’t too far up from my low, I’ve lost some of my muscle mass and my proportions are not where I want them.

Enough! 

Spin class, here I come! Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

I am determined to take back control before I let any more of it slip away. So, to help keep myself honest, I’m going to be blogging my progress. I won’t be going into painstaking detail about it. But, as I progress, I will post.

Now that I’m in Colombia, it’s all metric. So, like it or not, I’ll be posting for every kilogram drop, or 2.2 pounds. It’s a rounder number and I like talking about my weight in kilograms. For a former fat kid to talk about his weight being under 100, it’s a slight (albeit ego-stroking and insignificant) motivator.

I weighed in on Monday at 98.5 kiolgrams (216.7 pounds). My goal for the next few months is 90 kilograms (198 pounds), a weight I haven’t been at since, well, ahem, for some time. I’ll be eating well and hitting the gym: a mix of spinning classes and weights. Once I hit that goal, I’ll reassess to see where I am and if I should keep going or switch over to maintenance mode.

Time to get spinning! Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

Bear with me. It will take me a bit to get going, but hopefully, once I’m in the zone, it will all come right. Thanks in advance for the support!

Jeff

90 is the goal is a post from: career break secrets: Travel video guides and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures