Comments on: How Jessica and Her Boyfriend Worked Their Way Around the World

By: Christopher Jones

Christopher Jones — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 21:05:58 +0000

Great article. I just read about Oneika too. I’m a guy without the teaching certificate needing to filter out all the advertisements. What are the top 2 or 3 things you would recommend to look for to filter out the “shifty” recruiters to help ensure I review good postings? I already have a graduate degree and getting more education isn’t my first choice, but I’m open to picking up a Cert course.

By: Jo Reynolds

Jo Reynolds — Sun, 04 Sep 2016 09:04:28 +0000

I really wish I had done this when I was younger. Instead I did all the things society expected of me – I settled down in a good job, bought a house and had 2 children. Fortunately, I married a man who, just like me loves to travel. I would whole heartedly advise anyone thinking of travelling to do so before they get stuck in the humdrum of life, but we are proof that you can still travel the world with 2 children in tow. We basically follow Matts advice, we prioritise travel, plan in advance and take advantage of offers, we travel according to where there is a cheap flight and live like locals wherever we visit. We are constrained by school holidays and slightly higher prices, but this has never stopped us. We take advantage of the long bank holiday weekends to make our annual leave stretch that little bit further. My children have travelled the world and experienced so many different cultures. The eldest is now 17, is studying travel and tourism and intends to make a career of travelling. For us not travelling isn’t an option, and articles like this just show that no matter what our income is, we will always be able travel.

By: Nicola Hilditch-Short

Nicola Hilditch-Short — Wed, 14 May 2014 09:32:10 +0000

This is really inspiring. Me and my husband are at the stage where we feel our lives are passing us by a little, we have been building up our travelling over the last few years whilst we are studying and will be setting off on a trip with no set end date once we graduate. Post like this make us even more confident this is what we want to do.

By: Derek

Derek — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 16:15:38 +0000

Jessica, how did you find jobs that let you teach English abroad without having the TEFL certificate? I went to the ESL Cafe website and most require a college degree plus the certificate. I’m really looking into options to get out of my mundane life and start traveling. So I need anything that will help me get abroad and stay abroad. My fiance and I will be traveling together and I’m not sure what he would want to do for work but I would love to teach English or Dance (I studied 5 years for a BFA in dance performance/choreography even though I never quite finished). What do you suggest?

By: Sierra

Sierra — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:14:44 +0000

Great story! I love hearing about people who take this approach to travel, and I think posting about it is an awesome way to get the word out there that you DON’T need to save up $15k before taking off, and that traveling is something pretty much anyone can do.

Thumbs up 🙂

By: Ralph

Ralph — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 10:07:52 +0000

So smart the way they did this…there really are travel, work, and homestay opportunities just about anywhere in the world. You do NOT need to have thousands and thousands saved in order to travel and see the world. Everyone can work as they go. Choosing lower cost countries is a great way to get started, but as Jessica shows us its possible to visit more expensive countries like Japan and still afford to have a great time.

By: Marc

Marc — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 06:37:03 +0000

Well my first period of extended travel from 08′ – ’10, I was lucky enough to get a good-paying long-term job I could do over the internet – I was an English editor editing academic papers (in computer science mostly) from all the big Korean universities. Worked about 4 hours/day over the internet, was lucky enough to be making $100/day from it (so for only 4 hours work/day, that amounted to $25/hr). And I could work from anywhere needing only an internet connection.

Second period of extended travel (’12) I got lucky. Believe it or not, I won the New Zealand national lottery (yes, seriously, it can happen) and with my lottery winnings, travelled France and the UK. Highlight of my life so far. It was like voodoo or magic.

So there you have it, be an English editor and a national lottery winner 😉 Obviously luck is a big factor in my case, but I believe it may be possible to draw ‘luck’ to you based on mental attitude. To some extent, you make your own luck. That is to say, if travel is your goal, and all your mind is bent that way, things fall into place to make it happen. None the less, I cannot entirely rule out the notion that ‘good luck’ is real and can be summoned into reality based on what I have experienced.

By: Harlow

Harlow — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 17:55:43 +0000

Absolutely love this interview! It’s wonderful to read and be inspired by other fellow travelers.
Did you guys end up taking TEFL course? Considering you did not have the TEFL course completed, what would be the one (or many) thing(s) that sealed the deal with you and your employer?

By: Alessandra

Alessandra — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 20:57:28 +0000

Very inspiring, I am planning on leaving for good and start travelling for an undetermined amount of time and your story is a good hint.
and my life philosophy, probably my first tatoo very soon too, is ‘when there is a will, there is a way’! so thumbs up Jessica&Brent =)

By: Olga

Olga — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 14:41:54 +0000

Yep, this is it. I have been talking with my boyfriend about doing something just like this and reading about it being done by someone is perfect. I have family abroad so that will be a great place to start and then find other opportunities as we go along. Pretty sure everyone thinks I am crazy.