Monday, November 23, 2015

Justifications to Travelling NOW and Finishing School Later

I know when I finally got around to breaking the news to both of my parents that I was taking another
semester away from my University to take a working vacation, they took it... alright. Thankfully, they both were bitten by the travel bug pretty young as well, and tend to be wonderful supportive people. However, I would be crazy if I didn't walk in with a few reasons other than "wanting to see the world" and "insatiable wanderlust", otherwise I would get the dreaded lecture about "abandoning my education and destroying my future". 


Study Abroad
This may seem like the obvious one, but it has to be said. Many schools offer excellent opportunities to work on your classes while abroad. I know in my case, tutition is the same, and you just need to finance your cost of living/flights/etc., which is often cheaper outside of Canada. Check in with student services and see if this works for you!
     
Working Holiday Visas
Working holiday visas are a great way to get yourself into a country for a full year and still be entitled to work legally wherever you want in the country, however they usually have age restrictions at 30 or 35. As someone with the intent of life long travel on a limited budget, working while I'm gone is pretty essential. This might mean being a waitress or bartender and less of a focus on classes for a semester, but everyone needs a break sometimes right?

Online Classes
I'm lucky in the fact that my university offers a good selection of classes online, so for example, I'm still technically going to be a full time student while I'm in Maui this semester on a WorkAway project. If you can pull off being location independent while not actually putting off your education (or not putting it off as much by only taking one or two classes), why not? Online classes are often actually a bit cheaper as well!

Summer Classes
I know this is a bit of an odd sidebar, but many people don't consider that most schools offer intense summer classes where instead of spending a semester on a course, you crank it out in a month. Traveling during the Fall and Winter off season can be a lot more affordable than going in summer prime time, so picking up courses in the summer can be a great way to offset missing time during other semesters.

Travel Interning
Chances are, at some point in your college career, you're going to be doing an unpaid internship. It's great for resume building and has kind of become an expectation (I have my qualms with it, but that's me). If you use WorkAway, go WWOOFing, volunteer overseas, or any combination, PUT IT ON YOUR RESUME. Most long term hosts will be more than happy to write you a simple reference letter if you get along, and you'll be gaining valuable skills in your placement, even if they don't seem to directly correlate with your chosen field.










Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Reasons To Keep a Handwritten Journal

Personally, I've been on and off as a journaller throughout basically my entire life. Last time we cleaned out my Mom's place we found some very basically worded fuzzy pink one dated from when I was 8 years old. I love keeping a record of what's going on in my life and how it makes me feel. So without further adieu here's a few reasons to hop on the bandwagon!



1) Write to work things out
I often find, whether I'm on the road or at home, life tends to throw crazy challenges our way. Looking back, my longest journal entries tend to be an explanation of whatever semi-dramatic event is going on in my life, but from the first sentence to what often becomes several pages, I see myself find solutions to the problem. Writing helps to slow you down a little, think consciously, and come to a defined conclusion.

2) Physical copies to reflect on
As much as I love the Facebook memories feature, and my old blog posts, or my old anonymous livejournal, I love paper. I love physical copies of books, and pretty covers that make me smile. As much as my journal is also one of those highly personal things that I don't let other people browse through, I also recognize that someday I will no longer be on this earth and nothing reflects my thoughts better than those memoirs, should someone want to hold on to them.

3) Boost Creativity
In my opinion, the only way to get better at anything is to experiment and practice until you find out what works best for you. I spend a lot of time changing up my writing style and playing around with new ideas on real paper before I throw them all over the internet, and I would like to think it helps!

4) Books don't need batteries
Long term travel doesn't happen without my Macbook present. But every now and again, I want to go camping for the weekend, or hang out at my Dad's permaculture homestead, or go on a short road trip, on hop on a train/plane/cruise without free wifi. If I'm not going to have wireless access, I don't see the point in hauling my laptop around in addition to a journal when I'm literally only going to use it to play the Sims or Roller Coaster Tycoon (I like a lot of "bad" vintage games).

I hope I've given you enough inspiration to start journalling, or increase the amount that you already do, maybe from once a month to once a week, a few times a week, of even daily.

Cheers,


Monday, November 16, 2015

4 Ways to Make Money (Legally!) While Abroad



1) Blog
I couldn't write one of these posts as an ever traveling woman who blogs both for business and to keep family and friends updated on where I am at any given moment (many still think I'm crazy and will end up living the plot of "Taken"). That being said, new bloggers don't make much. Take some time, build something pretty, throw a couple ads on, and create good content. I'm a firm believer in journaling being good for the soul, and while I maintain my own more personal thoughts on paper, keeping an interesting record of things online as well is a great way to look back on your thoughts. You can read a million wonderfully written articles online about SEO, blogger vs wordpress, and how to use basic HTML. For reference, at the time I'm writing this, I use blogger because it's simple and free, though buying your domain name through a service like GoDaddy will usually run you under 20 bucks a year and looks a lot more professional in my opinion.



2) Teach English
This has become a massive industry that is fantastic for determined life long travelers. Personally I'll be doing my certification next summer when I'm back in my home city tackling a bunch of education and sticking around for a few months. Some countries require a degree but others do not. Pay at the very least usually covers a middle class standard of living, though some countries like South Korea can become quite lucrative with perks like your flights and accommodation included with salary so if you're content to stay in one country for a while you can really build up that travel fund!

3) Sell Photos Online
If you're anything like me, when you're on vacation, you tend to take a bunch of epic photos not only of yourself and companions, but of the scenery and interesting landmarks as well. Sites like Shutterstock will pay for your photographs, so you can create a nice little passive income stream from all the great shots you get!

4) Working Holiday Visas
Many counties offer working holiday visas for people ages 18-30/35, which allow you to legally work and reside in a country, usually for a period of one year. Whether you want to stay in your current field, bar tend, or find a completely random position is up to you!

Friday, November 6, 2015

Maui!

So I'm very excited to announce that I've accepted my first WorkAway offer! In Maui ! Goodbye Winnipeg winter and hello tropical paradise!

You can see the listing for the post I've accepted here.

Omygosh I'm so excited. Hence very short and immediate post.

Cheers,


Thursday, November 5, 2015

25 Reasons I will aways love Winnipeg


1. I grew up wandering around the city, I can't fathom not being connected to your hometown.

2. Bike paths almost everywhere! Cycling is a passion and over the years the city has added more and more!

3. BDI. Living in very close proximity from the infamous Bridge Drive In ice cream shop for 2 summers has been amazing. If you make it to the city in the summer, it's a must do. Highly recommend the Saltzberg, a waffle cone with nutella on the inside, vanilla soft serve, dipped in chocolate, with a light drizzle of caramel sauce on the outside, topped with coarse salt and whipped cream. it's divine.

4. Beautiful old buildings everywhere. Seriously, everywhere.

5. Random walks next to rivers.

6. The St.Norbert Farmers Market in the summer.

7. Shopping down Osbourne street for fantastic and unique indie clothes, housewares, antiques and jewelry.

8. Speaking of Osbourne, A Little Pizza Heaven. Garlic Butter Crust after proper Whiskey Sours from The Toad next door. Enough said.

9. Although we are the capital city of Manitoba, I don't remember the last time I met someone more than 3 degrees of separation away from me. Everyone either knows everyone, or knows someone who went to school with someone who works with your uncle. It's kind of great.

10. Getting crazy defensive about our Slurpee capital of the world title... and the endless 7/11 events people get wayyyyy too into.

11. So really random fun fact, the University of Manitoba and University of Winnipeg do have a combined greek system. It's small but part of the cozy charm of the city. The parties are also pretty great (sue me I'm 21, I like cheap drinking). Also, our University is some of the most affordable in the country.

12. Spring Hill. It's a ditch. We ski in a ditch.

13. Socials. It's a Manitoba thing, but for those unfamiliar, usually it's for a wedding or some other fundraising, rented hall, silent auction, 90s music, snacks, and of course lots of boozin. (Fun fact: my Father featured a shooter bar at his most recent one, and that would be the reason I can no longer drink Baja Rosa)

14. The Golden Boy. Why yes, we topped our provincial legislative building with a giant naked golden dude that we got from France, are you really that surprised?

15. Unless it's rush hour, I can get from one end of the city to the other in an hour absolute tops. Usually closer to 30 mins.

16. There are some cities that think they take hockey seriously, and then there's Winnipeg Jet's fans. I remember literally getting the afternoon off school in high school when we got our team back to go party and enjoy the free concerts at the forks, and everyone waiting in our library watching tv waiting for the official announcement.

17. Train schedules. This is one of those "grew up on railroads" things not many of ya'll will relate to, but I can leave Winnipeg on Thursday night, hang out in Toronto all day Saturday, and be home Monday morning/afternoon. Perfect relaxing weekend.

18. Museums. Again, we're a small city, but we have a ridiculous number of museums. The Manitoba Museum (also contains our sweet planetarium and an interactive science centre), the Children's Museum, The Electrical Museum, The Costume Museum, The Craft Museum, The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Air Force Heritage Museum, that's not even a complete list.

19. First Fridays. On the first Friday night of every month, most of the art galleries in the city host evening events. If my museum list was any indication, we also have a borderline obscene amount of art galleries.

20. The Phantom of the Paradise. If you know this movie, you're probably from Winnipeg or Paris, as those were the only areas it ever really took off. If you like Rocky Horror, you'll probably be really into it. The soundtrack is amazing, basically it's a rock opera where Phantom of the Opera meets Faust meets Rocky Horror? Seriously just go watch it online somewhere, so great.

21. Oh a bear from here inspired Winnie the Pooh. You're welcome world.

22. Tons of great performance venues. MTS centre and Investors Group Field are the usual for larger shows, but the Pantages Playhouse, Burton Cummings Theatre and the Park Theatre are really awesome mid-sized but pretty venues. The Manitoba Theatre for Young People is another amazing space which provides so many great opportunities for youth to get used to being on stage!

23. Well housing prices have exploded all over Canada, Winnipeg is still relatively affordable. I'm currently renting a pretty sizable entire top floor bedroom in a shared house (one of my girlfriends owns it), and pulling it off on a university frugal budget.

24. So many festivals around the city! Folklarama, Folk Fest, Dauphin Country Fest (Manitoba so it totally still counts), Phantompaloza, Festival du Voyageur, Jazz Fest, Comedy Fest, Nuit Blanche. I'm at the point where when in doubt there is some kind of fest going on at any given time.

25. Our winters may get colder than Mars, and our summer's may get hotter than imaginable, but it's home.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

How I'm Financing Extended Travels



 One of the major concerns my friends and parents seem to be having with the idea of me flying off on a one way ticket for at least a few months, is quite understandably how the hell I'm planning to pay for it. It's a pretty reasonable question in all fairness.

1) Selling my Crap
I may be a college student, but oh boy do I have a lot of stuff. Spending the last year splitting a house with a few awesome girl friends meant I've acquired a good chunk of funiture, in addition to my stockpile of clothing and art supplies. I'm holding on to a few things, but for the most part I'm posting whatever I can't carry on Kijiji and Craigslist (I'm keeping my mattress, one clothing rack, a few milk crates, my sewing machine, old journals, and a few sentimental things, in storage with my parents). That means my bookcases, futon, coffee tables, mirrors, most of my clothing collection, all going bye bye. I'm trying to use up as many art supplies (read: yarn) as possible before I go, and selling the product dirt cheap just to move it out of the house.

2) Budget Travel / Working Vacation
There are enough wonderful options on the internet to find people willing to exchange labour for food and meals while traveling, so I'm not going to list every option here, but the one I'll be signing up with first is workaway.info, given that 2 years of membership is only $29 US and they have listings all over the world. Visas for every country are different, but luckily since I won't actually be "working" per say, I can easily spend up to 6 months in the United States exploring.

Be smart! Set Google flight alerts and look for the best possible deal! Eat street food instead of at the 5 star places! Do a quick search for free activities in the area you want to see if it's touristy! Economize so you can be there longer instead of confining yourself to 2 weeks out of the office once a year!

3) The Sweet Joy of Working Online
While I do want to focus my travels on the obvious joy of traveling, and I do think blogging is a beautiful way to keep track of my life while simultaneously sharing it with the world, I would be lying if I said that blogging for income isn't something I've done before, am pursuing now, and enjoy. By using my affiliate links and clicking the ads that interest ya'll, you can directly support me making great content and finding radical awesome new spaces. It's a wonderful cycle!



Sunday, November 1, 2015

Wanderlust from Winnipeg

I've been lucky enough to be raised traveling, in cars, on planes, on bikes, and on trains, never mind my own two feet. However, Winnipeg has always been home. I'm one of those people who've really come to appreciate my city over the years, I really do love it here despite the harsh winters, sweaty summers, and limited range of activity. I love the art scene, I love the minimal degree of separation between people, I even love the obscene amount of gray in the buildings. I love my University, and at some point I do really plan on finishing my degree (BA in Religion, in case you're curious).

But I need out. I need more time to explore every corner of this wonderful crazy planet we live in. School isn't a rush for me, I'm only finishing it to open up my travel opportunities teaching English long term.

The game plan was to run away to Spain for September 2016, but life has been messy and crazy and I'm not so into finishing another semester here if I can at all avoid it. So I'm beginning my dive through Workaway.info (a wonderful search engine for accommodations and food in exchange for working 20-30ish hours a week), and maybe I'll dig up something for January instead, hopefully. The universe sends us exactly what we need from it.

Cheers,


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