Comments on: Not so Sweet Dreams – Langkawi

By: Janelle

Janelle — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 21:21:57 +0000

I guess I wonder if everyone feels this way. By that I mean, does everyone else come up with crazy ideas, plans, and want to change their lives? Maybe it’s just a few people who actually DO. you’re a doer. I believe that many people can’t understand doers. We are all dreamers, to some extent. But the doers amaze us all. They seize life and we envy them. Others may not be baffled by your ideas, but rather envious. Perhaps they see them as completely impractical, as pipedreams. But you must always know differently. Maybe you can even help those people realize they can work on their own dreams.

By: Craig

Craig — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 12:05:01 +0000

It’s normal to have this “culture shock”. Painful, but normal. Unlike the normal pop-description what you describe sounds like the real thing. Making such big changes is hard.

In terms of work and travel, why don’t you consider a TESOL or CELTA and teach English as you travel?

We have a job that sends us to a different city in Europe or Asia every week…That’s a decent travelling job with short contracts. When you want to settle down for a bit, just choose a city and find a 6-12 month contract.

The pay isn’t great, but the freedom is.

By: Sherry

Sherry — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 03:09:05 +0000

Hi Brian! Thanks for reading the blog and leaving comments – I love to hear from people. You ask a good question – why am I in a rush to come home….well – I’ve been gone traveling the world for over a year now, and I feel like I need to check in for a bit. Check on my apartment, see my friends and family for the holidays, etc. However – I do refuse to go back to the status-conscious, overworked, fast pace of NYC completely. I’m not sure how long I will stay or what I will do next – but I would bet that it will be something to do with travel!
I hope you can get off the roller coaster of NY and enjoy some long term travel…it’s been the best decision of my life so far!
Sherry

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 02:23:59 +0000

Sherry-why the rush to come back to NYC? You sound like you’re having a blast in Langkawi. My situation is the mirror image of yours–I’m working in NYC and I’m looking to get out. The pace is too much, people are too status-conscious, and its insanely crowded. I yearn for the days I can travel for months on end. I guess I have a vagabonding heart!

By: Lynn Nill

Lynn Nill — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 22:56:42 +0000

Sherry,

You are experiencing the same thing that I will experience one day and so will Cindy. Its different, because we’ve both lived overseas instead of traveled, but its the same. We’ve been changed by our experiences and we’ll go back to places where we may not fit very well any more. Cindy and I both have the added twist of spending our time in Asia not working. For Cindy, will she go back to work? And what will that be like for her? For me, I’m retired, and I have no intention of working anymore if I can help it. But what will it be like to be retired in the US? Will I be able to stay as busy and happy as I have been in Hong Kong?

I’m sure I will be watching your return to the US with interest. After reading your blog for all these months I definitely have ideas about what I think you could do…so it will be fun to watch and see what you really DO end up doing!

My advice – don’t lose that sense of adventure!!

Hugs, Lynn