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Yeah (from US/Indiana), living and traveling. I spent a year on a "round-the-world" air ticket, then a year teaching English in Korea, and then another year tr
by daxfohl 9y ago
Yeah (from US/Indiana), living and traveling. I spent a year on a "round-the-world" air ticket, then a year teaching English in Korea, and then another year traveling by bicycle with a couple 2-month stops (studying Arabic in Yemen, Russian in Kyrgyzstan, Chinese in Taiwan).
And I'm not an "adventurer" in the normal sense at all. Just a computer dork who wanted to try different things. I actually hadn't ridden a bicycle in a decade prior to the moment I booked a guesthouse in Krakow that just happened to be right next to a bike shop and I took it to be a sign. (I'd been salivating over other people's bike touring blogs for a year or two but thinking I'm nowhere near "adventurer" enough to do something like that).
Did it change my life? No, not really. I'm back in software at US big corp and raising two ordinary kids in a house bigger than I need and griping about taxes. I'm also the oldest person I know at my level at work (age 42 at level 64 msft).
Would I rather be at a higher level at work and miss out on those experiences though? Not a chance. Do I wish I hadn't come back? Oh sometimes, but oh well. Honestly being on the road is not all rainbows and unicorns either. There are plenty of days you're sitting around wondering why you're there in some guesthouse doing nothing and not back home "changing the world through technology" or something.
I mean, it's a privilege. You're presumably above average IQ and born into a wealthy country to less than horrible parents. It's not an opportunity most have. But, we all live a few years and then die. So it's a bit of whatever. Just try to spend some time doing what you enjoy. Don't die wishing you had.
Some random person once told me when I was young, "the purpose of life is to make memories". I still haven't found anything wrong with that statement.
- mezod 9y agoYour story is awesome. I just answer to say that I didn't like the "ordinary" you used to define your kids. Grow them not to be ordinary, even if they are just not ordinary to you.
- daxfohl 9y agoI don't either. But fact remains, they're totally ordinary. Love princess costumes and glitter and Disney no matter how much I try to nudge otherwise. I just roll my eyes. But I've found I can reconcile that by switching a word: "Grow them not to be ordinary, even if they are just not ordinary to themselves". And that's probably what it should be anyway. I guess....
- kbutler 9y agoDisney and princesses are fine, but you'll also find they can adore time with Dad out riding bikes, having picnics or hikes or even camping out in the wilderness, helping neighbors, building blocks or Legos, etc. Give them the chance. People are just people, but you can give the kids broad or narrow experiences.
- ecthiender 9y agoBut you can inspire them, your kids. Tell them your stories. Your adventures. Your mishaps. How things are different in other countries. Tell them about mountains, rivers and the seas. About different animals that they can't see anymore. Tell them about how mankind came to be. You can be their, potentially, biggest inspiration at this age (presuming they are quite young). PS: Sigh, I'm a hopeless romantic.
- paulcole 9y agoMost people are ordinary though. There’s nothing wrong with it. I’m ordinary and don’t fight it. Just watch TV, go to work, exercise, use my iPad. No illusions about anything bigger or better.
- daxfohl 9y agoWe're all special, just like everyone else.
- throw_this_one 9y agoGreat story man and inspirational. I oscillate between this thinking and the capitalist mindset that I'll "fall behind" by going out and letting it flow for a few months to a year. Just wondering, how old were you when you did it and how much did you have saved up? Also, did your "skills" deteriorate or did you work on "productive things" while you were out in the world? I really just want to go the same thing, I also am into human languages. Even just for the idea, like you said, that you DID it. Get it out of the system and then see what comes next in life. I've met tons of people on the road while traveling before. People you could link up with for business and life ventures in the future. Never a linear path.