Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#371

Post by bklaasen » Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 5:44 PM UTC

rhn_mk1 wrote: post #352

bfirsh wrote: post #285

When I quit my job and went travelling I used this framework: 1. Go via land. You see everything in between all the places you should see as a tourist. You immerse yourself in how a place actually feels. You meet people who aren’t just trying to extract money from you. I cycled, because I like cycling, but any form of transport works. 2. My algorithm was something like “Go east. Stay somewhere if it’s interesting, un…

Where did you find places to sleep? Hotels are not guaranteed, and camping is not allowed everywhere. Without having a pre-planned journey, it seems a bit risky.

It depends. You can ask permission to pitch up overnight on someone's land, or you can discreetly find a hidden spot.

Most people are friendly and unafraid of strangers.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#372

Post by npsimons » Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 5:46 PM UTC

bfirsh wrote: post #285

When I quit my job and went travelling I used this framework: 1. Go via land. You see everything in between all the places you should see as a tourist. You immerse yourself in how a place actually feels. You meet people who aren’t just trying to extract money from you. I cycled, because I like cycling, but any form of transport works. 2. My algorithm was something like “Go east. Stay somewhere if it’s interesting, un…

I've never done a trip this long, but I have to say I like your idea of traveling by land, especially by bicycle. I'm reminded of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" and his commentary of "being in the scene" instead of "watching it on the TV that is a car window" (paraphrasing here).

Also going by land is cheaper, and lower impact for those who care about that. It does cut your options, requires more time, and at least in America there's an awful lot of nothing in between even the non-touristy places.

I hiked the Haute Route (Switzerland and France) with my father and his friends in 2019, and while it was only two weeks, it was such a wonderful experience.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#373

Post by vmception » Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 5:48 PM UTC

noname123 wrote: post #162

vmception wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve gained perspective that I can get into important rooms because of my background, easier than I can in my own country. It makes considering to fight for inclusion in my home country seem to be a waste of my life and that I can choose causes to spend energy on without feeling like I was neglecting an obligation to my gender or heritage or race/ethnicity. I’ve gained perspective that there are a mixture of politica…

Thank you for your honest and personal answers! As an Asian guy living in America and reading between the lines re: your xp dating and how different cultures treat you, I can relate to a lot what you're saying. >It helps me really resonate with the concept of going where you are treated the best, and building a life where that is possible. Maybe it's me becoming institutionalized and just used to this by now in Ameri…

oppression towards you is not universal, and the constraints you refer to don’t have to be oppression based

there are plenty of art forms and styles born from privilege

but are you an artist? Is this diamond forging pressure even beneficial to you?

to me, I am long past the idea of trying to proselytize or debate about how an advantage in another society could or couldn't work in a much larger less homogenous society, and can simply see how I can choose which one I want to be in when I want to be in it

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#374

Post by npsimons » Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 5:49 PM UTC

breakfastduck wrote: post #346

volkl48 wrote: post #269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 3. Try to blend in and adopt local clothing, culture, foods, etc. Read books by local authors, watch local films. A bit obvious, maybe, but I've met many people who insisted on only eating Western food, reading Harry Potter, and watching Netflix while abroad. At that point, why even bother traveling? Depends on the purpose/intentions of the travel. While I feel similarly about much of my own travel as you do, it's…

This post is specifically about traveling the world while working though, not a relaxing beach holiday - so I think the advice is valid on that basis.

On top of this, I feel that part of traveling is expanding one's awareness and empathy, something the world could use much more of. It really does give perspective to "walk a mile" in someone else's shoes.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#375

Post by bklaasen » Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 5:50 PM UTC

batmaniam wrote: post #358

devoutsalsa wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dating apps, couch surfing, and getting out of the house & going where the people are. Expat groups on Facebook and WhatsApp, too.

How do you avoid getting mugged or murdered from people you couch surf with? Basically avoiding the scammers...? I feel like in Europe, there are so many street scams and that if police aren't even willing to curb that issue, what recourse would you have if someone were to harm you while couch surfing at some random place? The risk feels pretty high to me. I guess you would have to travel really light in these situat…

It's actually very hard to get murdered in Europe if you're actively trying to avoid it. Same for getting scammed. The overwhelming majority of people are decent. The ones who aren't make the news because their behaviour is so unusual.

I highly recommend you give international travel a try!

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#376

Post by dehrmann » Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 5:55 PM UTC

hayst4ck wrote: post #84

aerovistae wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> and all have more to do with people I met than the place itself. Did you speak the local language?

Nope. Until you travel you don't even have the slightest clue what a privilege it is to speak English or be from America. Educated middle/upper class people everywhere except china (where there is almost no english at all) generally speak at the very least broken English, if not fluent english. That being said: One of the most interesting people I met was in china, and I'd say complex ideas were 75% communicated in e…

> Until you travel you don't even have the slightest clue what a privilege it is to speak English

Agreed; almost everywhere, you can find someone who knows some English. The other time I realized who a privilege it is was looking for a second language to learn. There isn't a clear answer if you already know English. The English privilege you might completely miss is that, outside of China, the internet is English-first.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#377

Post by Murgen_90 » Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 5:58 PM UTC

mpaal wrote: post #10

In 2019 I went on a solo Biketouring trip spanning across Canada, USA, Peru, NZ and Taiwan lasting 10 months. While obviously the means of transportation was draining both physically and mentally it was amazing to be truly immersed in region I was currently visiting. In general it was great but if I were to do it again I would go way easier and slower on my bike instead of trying to race it plus I would have shortene…

I see people nonchalantly saying they've done these cross-country bike touring trips, and I have an ignorant question: how do people feel safe while actually riding on the road?

Riding bikes around neighborhoods I can understand when cars are only going 20-25mph, but to travel between cities you'll certainly have to go on either very fast, very busy, or very fast and very busy roads, right? I'd like to understand this because I imagine long distance biking must feel very freeing and exciting.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#378

Post by alexashka » Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 5:59 PM UTC

You should ask how it went for people who didn't quit their job and travelled 'the world', for a few weeks every year.

You may be surprised to find that that's a far more common and well rounded way of living :)

People who glorify travel don't seem to grasp that everywhere you go, people are living the life you left behind to go travel. They've got jobs, they've got kids, they've got their pub, their netflix, whatever.

The people who comment on here about how much travel has changed them are mostly young. When you're young, anything changes you. You don't need to go half-way across the world, just go volunteer at a homeless shelter, join a martial arts school, whatever. That'll change you too and you're far more likely to meet your wife/friends in your local community, than half-way across the world and have it work out.

Of course you don't get to share cool Instagram pics and get likes when you volunteer at a homeless shelter vs going to Egypt, but that's a whole nother story.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#379

Post by dehrmann » Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 5:59 PM UTC

Grustaf wrote: post #131

keiferski wrote: post #12

Absolutely worth it, however I'd offer a few short tips: 1. Try to stay in one place for a few months, minimum. If you can stay a year or two, do that. Jumping from city to city every week seems exciting at first, but it quickly makes everywhere feel the same. 2. To quote Lao Tzu, when your work is done, forget it. If you work remotely, actively disconnect at the end of the day. It's too easy to be constantly plugged…

I agree with your points, just want to add: The best way to connect with the culture and people is to get a local job, or studying at a local university or at least taking courses. EDIT: Basically become an immigrant, even if it's only for a couple of months. Ideally don't plan your return, make your journeys open ended!

I used to work for a company based outside the US, but with a significant US presence. A colleague embedded in another team in the foreign office for three months and ended extending it to four. Probably the easiest way to do it because the company sorted out visa issues (or if he kept it to 89 days, he'd just be traveling for business), and he had a job on both ends of it.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs to travel the world, how did it go?

#380

Post by bfirsh » Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 6:02 PM UTC

rhn_mk1 wrote: post #352

bfirsh wrote: post #285

When I quit my job and went travelling I used this framework: 1. Go via land. You see everything in between all the places you should see as a tourist. You immerse yourself in how a place actually feels. You meet people who aren’t just trying to extract money from you. I cycled, because I like cycling, but any form of transport works. 2. My algorithm was something like “Go east. Stay somewhere if it’s interesting, un…

Where did you find places to sleep? Hotels are not guaranteed, and camping is not allowed everywhere. Without having a pre-planned journey, it seems a bit risky.

It was never a problem in 2 years of traveling. My priority order was hostel, Airbnb, camping, hotel. Camping got higher priority if there was good nature or it was expensive.

Airbnbs (the kind where you stay in somebody's spare room, not a whole place to yourself) are plentiful and cheap outside major cities, and mean you get to meet locals. I had so many good experiences doing that. More often than not I would book an Airbnb in the afternoon for that night, when I had figured out how far I would get that day.

Homestays are abundant and cheap in India and other parts of Asia. $10 for dinner/bed/breakfast. I didn't camp in India once because they were so cheap and abundant -- I'd rather eat delicious food and meet a local family.

Wild camping is much more of a normal thing outside of the US, even if it is technically not allowed. You just find somewhere discreet. In Europe, I was discreet but always welcomed if somebody found me. In Asia nobody gives a shit, you can just do what you like.