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I’ve been in New York City for 5 months now; it’s time for a change.
During this time in NYC I’ve been challenged with many things; reverse culture shock, living on a tight budget, finding my ‘place’ again in the world, taking teaching classes, trying to get business ideas off the ground, finding medical insurance, and starting a freelance career in writing/photography. I’ve went through all of these challenges with one goal in mind, to get back on the road in that everlasting search for happiness. I needed to figure out my next steps that would keep me from re-entering the regular corporate working world, and get me back on the road with a small income.
I’m happy to say – I finally have a plan! Being a former project manager, my feeling is that a plan is like a drug…your miserable when you don’t have it, but when you realize your plan, it’s ecstasy!
Drum roll please….
In the beginning of June I will be moving out of my apartment, selling 80% of my possessions, and heading to the Midwest for the summer months of June/July. I will have the chance to travel to some new places, see family, and have a proper summer vacation.
In August I will come back to New York City for a couple of weeks, soak up every last bit of westernized culture and cleanliness that I can, and then take off on a worldly journey again! My first stop is Nepal where I will be doing volunteer work in villages for 3 weeks. Next stop will be in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, my new home for the next year. Starting in mid September, I have accepted an ESL teaching position with an English Language School in Vietnam. I will teach adults English on a year contract – becoming a true expat and international citizen!
My hope is to take my 30 days of vacation I receive while teaching and do more traveling around the area into SE China, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Mongolia. I will also re-visit some places such as Singapore, Bali, Borneo, Cambodia, and of course travel through Vietnam.
I will also use this time to continue freelance travel writing/photography, blogging, and working on the Briefcase-to-Backpack startup (more to come on that)! No rest for the weary!
Over the next few weeks – check back on the blog as I will go into more detail about some of this stuff – and most importantly – I will be writing about my experiences of liquidating my life in search of a dream to be free form a desk and cubicle!
Sherry- I just found your website a couple of months ago, after listening to the Amateur Traveler. I am so excited for you and your adventure. Hopefully I won’t be too far behind you, I start my TOEFL training in the fall.
I look forward to hearing more of your planning – seeing you do it helps me figure out what I need to do. Thank you for sharing it all!
Good luck!!
Sherry,
I am so excited for you! I am thrilled that you are realizing your dreams. I’m delighted that you will be so close by for the next year – we want to go to Vietnam again and Saigon is definitely on our list. AND we expect to see you in Hong Kong at some point!
I’m disappointed that you won’t be in NYC when I’m there in June, BUT please send me your midwestern schedule. Depending on where you are going to be and when we may just run into each other. Also, my kids are a lot of fun and you would enjoy them and they would like you too! So, if you are going to be in Columbia, Missouri, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Austin or Santa Fe at any point in June please let me know!!
Hugs, Lynn
Hi Sherry – I have been following your blog for a very long time now and am so excited to see that you will be getting back out on the road and following your dreams. I am desperate to escape the cubile and corporate world that I live in and travel around the world and your writings have been extrememly motivating and encouraging for me to read (most people think I am crazy when I tell them). I noticed you said you would be in the midwest for a couple months and was wondering if that may include Minneapolis? If it does I would love to meet you and buy you several beers in exchange for hearing all about your travels and answering some of the many questions that I have. So if you think you will be in the area shoot me an email. I even have a spare bedroom you could use should you need a place to stay.
If not, that’s fine I will continue to follow your blog and good luck in this next phase of your life.
Stacey
Thanks Stacey! I’m glad you have stuck with me for such a long time!! I’m happy to answer any questions you have about long term travel or taking a break from corporate America! Stay tuned as I will have yet another website launching soon for Americans wanting to take career breaks!
I may be in Minneapolis this summer – so I will definitely take you up on your offer!
Finally – you are definitely not crazy. I think people are crazy for staying in a miserable job!
Best of luck!
Sherry
I found you blog about 4 months ago and have read all of your posts. You are actually an inspiration to me- an aspiring traveler.
I have to say that you are one of the bravest women I have read about. People who move out of their comfort zone and choose the live the life THEY want make me so proud. Good for you.
I look forward to reading more about you adventures and good luck in the Orient. I can’t wait to see what exciting things will happen next.
Congrats! I am so happy for you…
A big congratulations, Sherry! I’ve been reading your site off and on for awhile, and can relate to the extremely strange and unsettling reverse-culture shock. I was in Italy for 5 weeks, on my own, and felt extremely uneasy when I returned. I felt like I was losing my mind! (And I think my friends felt I was, too!) So I can’t imagine the depths of the strangeness upon your return after months away. Reading about your emotions after returning made me remember all those feelings all over again. I’m so happy to read that you are ready to pack it up (or sell it!) and go.
You are a true inspiration and I wish you the best of everything on all your new adventures! And good luck with the exhibit!
Wow! This is great. I’ve been following your blog since the beginning and was sorry when your adventure was over because I wouldn’t be able to check up on you and see what was happening. I was so happy when you continued to blog and now with this new adventure….
As you have been extracting yourself from the corporate world I have been slowly been becoming entrenched. My oft delayed three month trip to SE Asia (two weeks last year in Thailand just whetted to appetite) is now planned for the end of the year (one of the planned stops is Ho Chi Minh City so will definitely look you up) but may be delayed again depending on what transpires in the next month or so.
Good luck on your future endevours and I’m looking so forward to your dispatched and photos.
Patricia
Montreal
Lynn – of course I will come see you in Hong Kong again…I will be loving to get some western living in again after a while in Vietnam! And you definitely must visit! Sorry I will be missing you in NYC…bad timing.
I’ll keep you updated on my schedule!
Sherry
Patricia – you should definitely stop by my new home if you can ever get yourself out of Montreal! Anyone who has followed me for this long I would LOVE to meet in person!
Sherry
Hi Sherry- I have read your blog on several occassions throughout the course of 16 months! I too am an ‘older’ women (but damn, I look good
and I am currently traveling round the world. I too have a bootsnall blog:
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Rachelleb/
I quit my job(s), sold and donated all my posessions and bought my ticket….anyway more info about me on my blog.
Anyhoo…..I will be in vietnam in November or December and I was thinking maybe we could meet up….think it would be interesting.
Let me know and we can keep in touch until then.
Good Luck and take care,
Rachelle.
Oh- Please don’t include my comment for view….thanks a bunch. r.