There’s always this hate/love relationship with travel posts regarding, “quit your job to travel the world” or “don’t quit your job to travel the world.” We like reading them but they have a few things in common.
Those who quit everything to travel the world were tired of the mundane 9-5 cubicle, white picket fence, and materialistic life. These were the people who bought into the old promises of climbing the ladder to the top and then discovered it wasn’t all that. After having a life changing epiphany, they jumped on their high horse and preached that those who don’t follow in their footsteps to travel the world are wasting their lives. Cue the eye roll and annoyance. In my opinion, quitting your job to travel is the worst advice ever.
Realistically speaking, you need to save plenty of money and get a TEFL certificate especially if you’re headed to Asia. If you plan on trekking the globe long term, then there needs to be a plan of action like finding a job or becoming a digital nomad, and both require skills of some kind. Unless you’re Bill Gates, it’s impossible to constantly voyage because the money will run out eventually. If that doesn’t depress you, most millennials don’t have much money to their names.
According to the article The Average Net Worth of Twentysomethings Might Depress You, the net worth of millennials is $10,400. Compare this to the baby boomers who were living life straight out of high school and owning houses by 21. Unfortunately, the cost of living is skyrocketing, student debt is doubling and graduating students are in ungodly amounts of debt. Add the aforementioned into greedy corporate America getting richer from student loan companies selling off debts. Ouch.
For those singing the “I didn’t quit my job to travel” tune, they liked the stability (as most humans do) and probably have a bit of extra cash saved so they could travel. It took awhile, but they did it. Those who didn’t quit their job have student debt or other debts to pay off. Maybe they didn’t want to stress about where the next place they stay will be and look forward to having an abode after a long journey. I’m one of those who didn’t quit their job for the love of stability and travel.
Travel has always been a part of my life. I lived in a privileged middle class family. It was normal to go somewhere different during summer or winter vacation. I spent my school breaks in Florida, Mexico, or Canada. Every experience gave me more knowledge than the last and I loved learning new things or going different places. This gave me an intense yearning for more than the confines of North America.
While the USA is a huge country with 50 awesome states and many visitors flocking to national parks to experience the beauty of my country, I was bored. My head was always up in the clouds as I dreamed of what I would discover in faraway lands. I imagined immersing myself in the culture of a new place, seeing temples, climbing mountains, and eating things I’d never heard of. The world was waiting for me and all I had to do was take the tools given to me and go for it. When I moved abroad in 2012, I was running full throttle toward my dream of living, working, and experiencing Japan. Getting a job and moving abroad to travel was the best decision I ever made.
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Having A Job Abroad Offers Stability
Since I have a contracted job, I have no worries for a year. For that time, I know I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and a steady income. I like not having to worry about freelancing and what I have to do to pay the bills. Having a place to call my own and a familiar neighborhood feels good. I like falling into my bed and starfishing because I know it’s not some crazy hostel where hundreds of people have slept. Home is where my heart is and where I make it.
Having A Job Abroad Is A New Adventure
Each time I’ve moved to a different country, it’s been a whirlwind of emotions. It’s exciting being confused and getting to know how to navigate around a new way of life. Not only does life outside of work keep you on your toes, but so does your job. Life abroad is not always sunshine and daises, but regardless, it’s still an adventure. I always dedicate time to discoverĀ my host country and go abroad.
Living Abroad Expands Your Horizons
By living abroad, you become more mindful of your surroundings. You realize the world doesn’t revolve around you and you learn how to respect other countries and cultures. Living and working abroad gives you a different perspective rather than if you just briefly visited. Living in Asia helped me become aware and learn new manners so that I’m not regarded as a rude tourist. In many cases, I learned how to be a decent human from my collection of experiences.
More Countries
I can jump on a plane (during vacation time of course) and in two hours I’ll be in another country.Ā Round trip can cost me aboutĀ $300 or less if I play my cards right. For cheap, I can experience more countries and add them to my collection. These short plane rides can make a long weekend into an unforgettable one. Easy is an understatement because it’s almost a right to travel everywhere in Asia.
In short, I moved abroad so I could have it all. I wanted paid housing, a new adventure and a way to pay off my loans. It’s not worrisome to wonder if I’ll have enough money to eat. I count my blessings because I know not everyone can have the same opportunities as me. Not everyone can make the big jump and leave their lives back home. It’s possible to get a comfortable job if you move abroad.
Don’t quit your job to travel. You can get a job abroad and become an expat for a year or more (funny how time flies). You can still travel easily, learn new things, and make unforgettable memories. The people you meet can give you life lessons you may not learn elsewhere. It’s easy to jump on a plane and go where your heart desires. Take it from me. After all, I’ve been doing it for the past four years.
31 Comments on I Didn’t Quit My Job to Travel the World | I moved abroad so I could
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This is an awesome post Gina. I really agree with you and I think you can get much more from living and working somewhere than just passing though on your travels. Also, i’m a homebody, and as long as I can make my home wherever I am i know i’ll be ok.
The daily grind in another country can but just as frustrating at times as in your home country (currently what i’m experiencing), but then i’m also learning so much more and getting to experience something completely different by living somewhere so foreign.
I’m so glad we could relate to this! Home is where our hearts lead us. My heart originally took me to Japan and then led me to South Korea. I know how you feel about the daily grind. I live for the weekends and planning the next exciting thing! Learning and experiencing are the best parts of being abroad.
I like this post and it is realistic. I think I have outlived my stay in Thailand…though I moved here with my family 20 smth years ago. Now it’s time to live in a new country and work there and travel within there.
It’s nice to read something I can relate to.
Thailand is also a beautiful country but the world is too big to stay one place forever. You can do it! Let your heart be your guide!
Great post, and I agree with you. . Did the same some time ago, wanted to see more of Africa, got a job in Tanzania and remained my peace of mind about stability plus have seen a lot.
Stability of having a job where you want to be is always comforting. I find that peace of mind great while working and traveling abroad. So glad you got to fulfil your dream of working in Africa.
This is a nice and useful perspective from you. I always thought of quitting my job and travel the world. I still have a lot in my bucket list for South Korea, but after I cross them all out, I am ready to go and explore the world. But you are right, money plays a vital role to make this possible, so after reading this article, I am changing my game plan. I hope I could find work abroad as easy as you.
Hello Shirgie! You can totally quit your job to travel if that’s what you want! Just make sure you save a lot of money and are as frugal as possible when traveling.
Gina, I absolutely agree with you! :)))
I am a freelancer, but I sometimes find myself struggling hard to juggle work with travelling and just being safe in the corporate world.
I have been following your adventures in Instagram. I also did some travelling and just immersing myself while I was working in China. It is the best combo – work and travel – isn’t it? š
I couldn’t agree with you more and thanks for following me on Insta! What’s yours and I’ll follow back! It’s hard to juggle work when all you want to do is see something new! I totally feel you! How did you like China?
You couldn’t have said it any better. Usually, I skip those “I quit my job to travel” headlines. My life was monotonous. So I quit my job as well and traveled to Korea for Studies. And I am looking forward to the next adventure here. Thanks for sharing, Gina
Same here! I don’t relate to those at all. I think it’s great to live and work abroad and have all the perks that come along with it–minus all the stress! Where are you going on your next new adventure?
Travel, however romantic, needs to be fuelled by money, so as you mentioned, everyone is not Bill Gates, though I reckon he has worked hard to reach the position he is in š So we need to maintain the balance between work and travel according to our own circumstances.
So in that way, working abroad, is like having your cake and eating it too.
Travel is definitely a very romantic notion that needs a bit of a reality check. I wish I could be Bill Gates, but he indeed worked his ass off so he could have everything and more. Work hard and play hard. Have all the cake and eat it too! š
Awesome post, Gina! š
I spent years in the aviation industry and I’m enjoying life even more now that I’ve left my desk job. But you’re right — one needs to save a bit of $$$ before choosing to do such a thing. I’d love to get a TEFL like most foreigners in SoKo and teach English. But unfortunately for most Asian who grew up in this part of the world — our passports aren’t accepted for English teaching position :'(
That’s really depressing that Korea is so strict. I know the JET Program in Japan accepts more passport holders. Why don’t you try Japan? It’s also a new and amazing experience! Plus, you don’t need a TEFL.
Great life, Gina. Congrats on living the life you want. The privilege of being young: -)… Yes, this is very wise. Money still plays a vital role in things you want to do in your life.
It’s unfortunate everything revolves around money, but it does! Thanks so much, Wendy. I hope I can live this life for awhile.
Totally agree with you Gina! I could never have afforded to just quit my job and travel so I find all that chat so patronising! Living in Korea has been amazing for me- even though I grow up with Europe on my doorstep, I always wanted to see a bit more and since coming here I’ve been able to form some roots, save money, learn more about Asian culture and see a heap of other countries I would never have saw otherwise. Definitely the best way to do things! š
Me too! Some people who write that have no idea! I’m envious you got to grow up with Europe on your doorstep. I would love to see it one day. I completely agree that moving abroad can help everyone become a better person! The best way is to go out and see it when you can!
Looks like you did the sensible thing and I’m glad it is working out for you. It’s a bit different for us in The Netherlands, as the student loans aren’t as high as in the States and you’re in a different country if you drive a couple of hours. A lot of students also travel while they are in college, or have a break year where they travel the world.
I think it’s very easy for those living in the EU to travel wherever they like. I really envy your low student debt. The US must want to keep their citizens stupid, unfortunately. In America, we’re only bordered by Canada and Mexico. I’ve been to both countries and they’re beautiful, but I like living in Asia for the fact I can take a plane ride anywhere for cheap!
Very true! Moving somewhere rather than just traveling through everywhere just gives me the ability to find a new home and find a new place to set up some roots! I’m never going to be the person who can just quit working!
I totally agree! I need to work to feel secure! I do like to set up roots for a time and go to a new place!
Hi Gina,
I really like this post because it’s not the usual Why-You-Should-Travel post. Your post is fair, I think. Not everyone can travel, and those who do can for a variety of reasons. I was in Korea because my husband was Korean, and we are now in China because of his job. I’m not living here because I chose to, but circumstances brought us here and we’re having a blast. But not everyone can do it for their own respective reasons, and not everyone necessarily wants to. Thank you for being fair with your post. š
That is a wonderfully positive way of looking at it! I’m glad you’re making the most of China and enjoying it together. Not everyone can just quit their jobs and that’s what counts!
Preach sister! I honestly get so tired of the excess of posts advocating to leave our jobs and the counter arguments that accompany it. I’ve always said if you want something, jump into it practically hence why I opted to teach abroad. I think those who advocate long-term travel without a clear plan of action really come from a point of privilege. You are so right; its just not sustainable to go about traveling via that approach. Great overview and points made, it really resonates with my own logic as well š
I was totally tired of them too! I completely agree that those who travel long term are privileged and exclude those who didn’t have the resources they did. I like having a job and stability feels so much better than, “OMG do I have enough money to eat?”
I love all your costumes that you got to dress up in, which one was your favorite. I also love the golden hanbok! Beautiful!
Thank you so much! I really loved them as well. I can’t really choose which one I loved the most as I really, really love my yukata. Japan will always be a special place in my heart and I bought my purple yukata brand new.
I’m also the strategic sort. Why bin a liability before figuring out if you can convert it into an asset? I haven’t moved to travel, but I do manage my career so that I don’t hate it (quite like my job actually), it gives me more than enough to travel with, claw time back to do it in, and piggyback on business travel! In exchange my travel gives me the experience and breadth to possibly give me an edge in my job. They feed into each other now, but I had to play it by ear and engineer it to be so. Reimagine, is what I say! All this either-or thinking is just a lack of imagination!