Merry Christmas every one ๐ Boxing Day – it’s always this time of year when you begin to sober up from the partying and start to think about new years resolutions and plans for the coming year. 2017 โ what are you plans? To work and travel? To be a Working Traveller?
Boxing Day for me is always a day of reflection and… to be glad all my family and I are alive. We were in the Tsunami in Sri Lanka on this day in 2004. When we were all washed up and back in London, most people assumed we would be sticking around as now we would realise the world was a dangerous place. We would come to our senses and stop this crazy idea of working and travelling around the world. That was 12 years ago and I am still out here, working and travelling and loving every minute of not being in the London rat race.
If you are thinking of making the jump, to give your boss the keys to your company car and say to himโ You’re dullโ and walk out ( I know someone who did that :). Then all I can say its DO IT! I left the UK in August 2004, it could not have gone worse for me if I tried. I was back in London shipwrecked, within six months. But the will was stronger than ever. No one says going off to be a Working Traveller is easy. But neither is staying in that job you don’t like for the rest of your life.
The world is changing, commutations are getting so much better. Wifi and cheap monthly data deals are everywhere. So take the plunge and don’t leave it too late. The world is becoming one and now is the best time to go out there and experience all the different cultures before they are gone. Once of the best ways to be immersed into the culture of any country is to work with local people there. You miss out all the tourist traps and experience the real deal and warmth of their culture. Working with locals in some amazing places will get you what your old dull manager will never give you. Stories to tell your grandchildren, and work experiences your interesting new boss will love to here.
Yes, this day 12 years ago was not pleasant, but it was the biggest day of my life and I will never forget it. I was lucky to live and to tell the story and even wrote a book about it. You can get the kindle version or paper back on Amazon. Here is the link – it’s called Somewhere Different
So if your not sure what to do… to go from this blog post to the Work Search section or to whats on TV, all I can say is in the 12 years I have been travelling, I have never met a single person who has regretted changing their life for a life of experiences. If you are working for that dull boss, how many people do you know regret working for him for all the years they have. You only have one life.
Merry Christmas and here is to you making the right decisions for you. I made mine and I have never looked back. It’s not for every one, but if you have read this far, I think you know it is right for you. So… whats it to be – here is a link to where you will see all the current work posts in the world and… here is a link to the Radio Times web site for the TV listings.
Happy Holidays – Enjoy ๐
Duncan Ridgley.
