Post: #1

Just trying to gain some insight from some of the more experienced members of the forum. This might be better in the Travel section but the way I see it is that the choice to travel whether abroad or in your own country is one that's a kind of crossroads. You can plan a big trip or a small one, go for women to just to see the sights... there's a lot to consider. Some people just get on a plane and go if they're able to with their passport.


I myself have had thoughts of traveling to work in places as diverse as Korea, Serbia, Mainland China and Taiwan, Indonesia, Albania... the main motivation is that I want to see the world and get out of a not so good environment, despite worrying about maintaining friendships.
Something that I'm starting to realize though is that once I'm 23-28 or so I'll likely have the money and years established with friends that going abroad for three-six months won't negatively impact my life. That, and it's not like leaving where I am will mean I'm totally cut off from them. Did anyone else have similar hesitations when considering going abroad?


When you first got into traveling, what motivated you? What places did you want to see first? What age were you when you (if you did) decided to take on digital nomad-ing or pursue it?

Post: #2

In college. I was seeking danger and play. I was less interested in planning. Would wing everything in third world hell holes. Had a great time.

I'll say this... in my life, I've almost always regretted taking the safe or comfortable path. Any time I did something where I was nervous or scared of doing it,I've never felt regret, regardless of how things played out. The essence of being a man is courage. It's more important than physical strength, discipline, intelligence or anything else people might associate with being a man (although all of those things require some courage as well). Be bold my friend, try something new. Ticket, Passport, and (possibly) a visa. Everything else you can figure out on the ground if need be.

Post: #3

Will do backpacking for 6+ months I hope.

Ask me anything.

Post: #4

Dumped my fiance, quit my 9-5, started my own businesses, and left the country. Best decision I have ever made, and I am not looking back. If you're serious about it, just pull the trigger man. Don't worry about maintaining friendships, worry about yourself as you will make new friends because you will no longer be able to relate to old ones. Once I left I decided I wasn't going back... You might as well.

Post: #5

When I was 16 in 1999 I did a year abroad in SW France; lived with a family, went to high school, played hockey and smoked a bunch of Moroccan hash. I traveled solo a bit around the EU, drinking, partying and chasing pussy. It was a great time, the world was a different place back then, especially Europe. I went back a couple of times when I was 18 and 20 for hostel type back backing trips and had lots of fun but then I didn’t leave Canada for 7 years as I was focused on education, career and stacking cash.

Travel is fun but don’t become obsessed about to the point where you’re 30+ and still staying at hostels.

Post: #6

Yeah Scotians advice is on point. To live a great life in most third world places you need $2000-3000 a month. If your goal is to travel I recommend building enough passive income up to where you never get stuck living like a backpacker. Traveling to places goes from great to complete shit when you start trying to skimp out on everything and start living like a poor local. Most guys on this forum don't understand the definition of location independent and don't realize that when you're trying to live off of $1000-1500 a month and are only able to live in shitty parts of third world countries it's the exact opposite of location independent.

Post: #7

I got the travel bug back in 1988 when I was in college. My father fronted me the money to SWAP (Student Work Abroad Program) which I think is still kicking around.

In a way is was a bad move because after my freshman and sophmore years of getting a 3.8 GPA I bombed on my return after realizing our definition of "education" is lacking.

So as a word of advice, travel before or after college.

I am a Canadian....a Toronto boy. I am an hour from the border with he USA and yet my first foreign destination was Australia. It was so awesome that I had to go back.

After returning from Down Under I joined some friends in a game company. That gave me the excuse to tour America.

Many years later I was offered a job in Chins and that is now where I am.

To thoughts on travelling are this:

1) Don't chase pussy

2) Are you a tourist or do you actually want to TRAVEL?

As a side note, a pet peeve of mine is the wankers who brag about travellling to 40+ countries. I have travelled extensively in Canada, USA, Australia and China. Setting aside Russia, these are the largest (and most diverse) countries in the world.

Post: #8

(10-14-2018 05:25 PM)66Scorpio Wrote:  I got the travel bug back in 1988 when I was in college. My father fronted me the money to SWAP (Student Work Abroad Program) which I think is still kicking around.

In a way is was a bad move because after my freshman and sophmore years of getting a 3.8 GPA I bombed on my return after realizing our definition of "education" is lacking.

So as a word of advice, travel before or after college.

I am a Canadian....a Toronto boy. I am an hour from the border with he USA and yet my first foreign destination was Australia. It was so awesome that I had to go back.

After returning from Down Under I joined some friends in a game company. That gave me the excuse to tour America.

Many years later I was offered a job in Chins and that is now where I am.

To thoughts on travelling are this:

1) Don't chase pussy

2) Are you a tourist or do you actually want to TRAVEL?

As a side note, a pet peeve of mine is the wankers who brag about travellling to 40+ countries. I have travelled extensively in Canada, USA, Australia and China. Setting aside Russia, these are the largest (and most diverse) countries in the world.

Great advice, thanks so much! I've definitely realized that traveling and not solely being a tourist should wait until I graduate. After that, who knows. Work for a year or two where I am or go abroad all that matters is I'll have my degree. How is your life in China? I've considered going to either the mainland or Taiwan after graduation but for someone in a non-STEM field I'm not sure what my options are outside of teaching English in a second or third tier city (Shenzhen is getting insanely expensive even). I will have 2 years of programming experience under my belt by that point hopefully but no real degree (just a bunch of college classes). What are some things that surprised you most about China?


Thanks so much for reaching out and sharing your experience!

Post: #9

(10-14-2018 02:35 PM)scotian Wrote:  When I was 16 in 1999 I did a year abroad in SW France; lived with a family, went to high school, played hockey and smoked a bunch of Moroccan hash. I traveled solo a bit around the EU, drinking, partying and chasing pussy. It was a great time, the world was a different place back then, especially Europe. I went back a couple of times when I was 18 and 20 for hostel type back backing trips and had lots of fun but then I didn’t leave Canada for 7 years as I was focused on education, career and stacking cash.

Travel is fun but don’t become obsessed about to the point where you’re 30+ and still staying at hostels.

Do people really still stay at hostels past their early 30s? Call me surprised.

I definitely won't let it get to my head, but i would like to backpack in the Balkans at least once before I'm 25 and visit a country in Asia again (Japan seems prohibitively expensive these days but who knows). I'd say those are modest goals. Thanks for sharing your story and giving advice, I really appreciate it.