If you are going to travel around the world, it requires patience.
I hear from many people who want to travel, but they have to wait for the right time to begin their journey.
Sometimes they have to wait for money, for a school degree, banking enough time off, for a wedding, for a child to leave the nest, or for work reasons. If you don’t have the patience to sit it out and wait for these things, then I can guarantee that you won’t have the patience to survive the rest of the world like India, SE Asia, and certainly Eastern Africa.
Table of Contents
I Had to Wait for the Right Time To Travel Around the World
I started my around the world trip in September of 2006, however leading up to that point I had to do a lot of waiting. I came up with the idea of taking a career break and traveling around the world in 2005, but due to financial reasons, I couldn’t just quit my job immediately and then start planning my around the world travel. Lord knows I wanted to as I was miserable in my day to day life and knew that I had to make changes. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in this thought.
Lady in Waiting
However, once I did some research and ran my financial numbers, I knew I had to wait for about 1 1/2 to 2 years before I could really leave my job to go travel. Two years is a long time to wait for something as exciting as around the world travel, however it was a necessary part of the preparation process.
9 Useful Things You Can do While Waiting to Travel Around the World
1. Take a Class To Improve a Skill You’ll Need While Traveling
Odds are that when you do launch into your trip you’ll want to record it digitally via photos or video. So why not use this waiting period to learn one of these skills or improve upon what you may already know. Take a photography class or video editing class and finally learn how to use your camera(s) BEFORE you are on your trip fumbling with the controls and trying to read the user manual.
Camera Gear
The year before I left, I took a multiple photography classes in Manhattan after work to learn how to use a DSLR, composition, and storytelling. Prior to that, I had never taken a photography class in my life.
For Photography or Videography, you can look online for local in-person classes in your city/region, or you can go the online route.
2. Learn the Technology You Will Use to Communicate and Teach it to Others
A communication plan while you are on the road is important. How will you stay in touch with family and friends when you are on the road. If it’s texting, WhatsApp, Zoom, Facetime, Duo, Skype, Messenger, or the myriad of other technologies popping up. If you have older family members or friends, they may not be as comfortable using this technology – so this is your time to ‘train’ them on how you want to communicate. My parents were 75 when I taught them how to use Skype and even though it had some bumps along the way – they now know that’s how we stay in touch and can see each other when we are so far apart!
3. Use Guide Books for Inspiration
Make a trip to your local bookstore or online store and ‘wander’ through the travel section. I could spend hours in the travel section of a bookstore. Looking thru guides and glossy photo books; reading about festivals all over the world and plotting my own itinerary and dreaming of what is to come. This will provide you inspiration and keep you focused on your goal.
4. Read Travel Blogs
The travel blogs are plentiful and I can guarantee that with a little research you can find one that ‘speaks to you’ and your situations or style of travel. This is a great chance for you to ask questions and get to know others who have done what you are planning to do! Don’t just read them, engage the bloggers in conversation; we love that! Don’t know where to start? Here are a few of my favorites:
Insatiable Traveler
HoneyTrek
Dangerous Business
TravelPast50
CleverDeverWherever
TravelingJackie
Hecktic Travels
5. Meet Up
Meet up with other travelers in your area. This is your chance to find a ‘travel buddies’ in your area to keep you inspired. People who you can share your plans with and ask questions. One great way to find people is simply go to Meetup.com and search on travel groups in your area. You may be surprised how many people there are out there like you!
Socializing after dinner via a Bookalokal event in Brussels
6. File it!
Use the above ideas to start a file of research. Cut out clippings, save website urls, bookmark guide books and start jotting down notes about what you want to do and where you want to go. Get organized!
7. Speak the Language
Why not start to embrace your international wanderlust and brush up on or learn a language of one of the countries you intend to visit. It will most certainly get your excited about your upcoming travels, and you’ll learn more about that country through simply becoming more in tune with the language.
I took Italian classes while I was waiting to travel. During those classes I learned about an Italian language school in Italy. I decided to add it to my itinerary by signing up for a month in Italy to also brush up on my language!
8. Start Researching and Buying the Travel Gear you Will Need for your Around the World Trip
Start researching gear that you may want for travel and start getting some of the stuff you need now. In fact, by planning early on this you’ll also find sales and specials. One good place to start is my Amazon online travel store to get ideas of items that are great to take with you and that make your travel life easier!
9. Start Your Own Blog
Start to record your journey; many people blog about their travels, but few people blog about preparing for their travels. You may inspire others by blogging about your preparation mentally and physically.
And if you are looking for a great course on blogging, check out Nomadic Matt’s Superstar Blogging. This will get you inspired and motivated to start blogging about your travels so you have a record of your trip!
Consider this ‘waiting period’ as your training for future travel; if you can work at perfecting this skill, then you will be on the road to a good travel experience!
By Chris (Amateur Traveler) April 27, 2010 - 1:37 am
And of course listen to travel podcasts 🙂
By Sherry April 27, 2010 - 1:47 am
Of course!!! Especially Amateur Traveler Podcast! Honestly – that’s how I found your podcast – as I was waiting to travel – that was way back in spring 2006 – it was a great way to prepare!
By adventurer April 27, 2010 - 1:50 am
it is a great travel write-up.thanks
By Earl April 27, 2010 - 10:59 am
Before my first trip, I purchased a backpack and just kept it in my room right next to my bed during the time leading up to my departure. Every morning I saw that backpack when I woke up and I couldn’t help but see it every time I was in my room. This helped me stay focused on my travel goals and maintain my excitement. It was almost as if having that backpack made my travels already seem somewhat real.
By admin April 28, 2010 - 1:19 am
What a great idea to ‘hold a carrot out in front of you’! I never thought about doing that – but I love it!
By Rhona April 27, 2010 - 11:56 am
Great tips. Before I went away to Germany, I started my travel blog and I have to tell you, it was so exciting for me to plan via the internet connection. Some people sent me emails or commented on suggestions and I had not left the country yet! Also, having a blog helped me focus on what I really wanted to see once I was in Europe. It was also a way for me to educate myself on Swabian everything. I did extensive reasearch and logged it all on my blog. It worked wonders. Kept my excitement levels high, was a place for fellow travelers to guide me and a reference tool once I was actually in DE.
By Laura April 27, 2010 - 3:19 pm
Sherry,
These are all such great tips! Most of these I actually did myself in that waiting period. About 8 months before I left, I had 23 Lonely Planet guide books stacked up in my room. I raided the library and would just flip through one of them randomly at any given time. It helped me to narrow down my route and also to get a brief cultural or history lesson. I’m, um, also kind of a library geek so I would read travel themed books. Playing the waiting game is tough, especially when you’re in a job you hate (that was me!) but planning, researching, and engaging other travelers in conversation helped the time go by quickly!
By admin April 28, 2010 - 1:18 am
I also had a stack of LP books…they were my pride and joy!
By Stephanie April 27, 2010 - 5:20 pm
Oh Sherry this post is perfect for today, as I sit at my desk, counting down the days until I can finally give notice. I’ve been planning this trip for almost two years now and I am so ready to go, learning to sit still and save money has been an epic lesson in patience.
I’ve passed the time largely by reading and planning, and writing my own blog which has helped me more than anything else I think, to stay motivated.
I’m under the 6 month mark now and it feels so very close!
By admin April 28, 2010 - 1:18 am
Well, as it gets closer it goes faster and faster and then at some point it flips…you feel like you are leaving tomorrow and you aren’t ready! Strange how our brains play tricks on us like that! Yeah…only 6 more months!!
By Adam April 27, 2010 - 5:44 pm
We started planning our RTW trip over 3 years ago, have traveled for a year and been back for 6 months, and I still gravitate to the travel section of a book store IMMEDIATELY. It’s like instinct. I don’t even think about it. Then it was exciting, and now, well, it kind of sucks. So if patience is anyone’s problem and you just can’t wait to set off on that trip, just remember, you’ll be home from that trip someday.
By admin April 28, 2010 - 1:17 am
Oh – so very true. I’m currently home and don’t have a plan to get out of the country on the horizon…it’s driving me nuts! Maybe I’ll go spend the day at the bookstore tomorrow!
By Mark H April 27, 2010 - 7:47 pm
Great lessons and tips. Travelling slowly and with enjoyment and not getting frustrated by little bumps in the road is the most priceless of all travel lessons.
By Donna Hull April 29, 2010 - 2:58 pm
Good advice. Patience, preparation and education are the keys to any successful trip – long or short.
By brian April 30, 2010 - 5:42 pm
I wish I did more language study before I left on my trip, but then I thought I was going to be encountering so many languages why even bother. But I think learning one would have been really cool and enhanced the experience in that particular country.
I had NO idea the blog I originally started to just keep family and friends abreast of what I was doing would turn into all of this!
By Anil May 1, 2010 - 5:09 am
Setting little milestones and goals along the way and celebrating each one helps chop up a big wait 🙂
By Barbara at Hole in the Donut Travels May 3, 2010 - 12:51 pm
Good tips, although patience is not my long suite. I also think patience should be done in moderation. People put impediments in the way of long-term travel. There are a thousand reasons why you cannot go, and most get stuck in that mire. Sometimes, you just have to DO IT!
By Ellen Barone May 7, 2010 - 9:43 pm
I spend my time between trips, loving life at home. I have friends who live to leave, but not me. As much as I enjoy the stimulation of travel, I need the solitude that home provides. Creating the right mix is my challenge.
As for ideas for when I’m ready to go again, inspiration is everywhere – books, online, friends, magazines, a conversation at the coffeehouse. That’s the joy of it.
By Heather on her travels May 10, 2010 - 4:04 pm
I’m itching to get away, the winter in Bristol is so dreary – I’m spending my time reliving memories of past trips throuh my blog posts