There is no way I could just be a tourist in the world for 2 ½ years. I knew I had to mix it up to prevent boredom and burnout. I craved variety in my everyday life, so why would my life on the road be any different? Yes, of course, the constant change of scenery, culture, and people was variety in and of itself, but I knew I couldn’t just keep showing up in a new town each week and essentially continue to ‘walk around the world for a year.’ I needed to do, ya know, stuff. I needed to immerse myself somehow in society and feel like a part of it. To start this process, I did different things like a Spanish Immersion program in Costa Rica (Spanish lessons in the morning and yes, surfing lessons in the afternoon) or a two-week, several-hundred mile bicycle trip down the length of Vietnam. But I needed even more structure. I needed…a job (cue shrieking horror music).
Working Around the World
Now, just the sheer fact that I decided to blog about my trip and also write travel articles to be published elsewhere means that I was already working. I was trying to make time each week to sit and just write – a very hard thing to do when you are sitting in Rome or Cairo or Hong Kong and there are so many things around you vying for your attention.
Besides my new ‘day job’ as travel writer and photographer, I landed a few other actual jobs around the world.
- Barrista and sandwich maker at a café in Melbourne
- TV producer and reporter in Chile
- Private business English tutor in Istanbul
- Media proofreader in Istanbul
- Actress in American Feature film in Istanbul
- Research Assistant at the University of Cologne helping conduct an International survey on Airline/Airport Relationships
- Writer and proofreader at publishing company in Berlin
- Publicist for English Immersion company in Madrid
- Extra in Hollywood
- Pet Sitter around the world (Istanbul, LA, Chicago)
How to Find Work When Traveling
But many have asked me how did I find all these jobs? Did I look before I went on my trip? The simple answer is no. I simply arrived in a new place with the random idea that I could maybe find work there. In Australia, I spoke the language (sort of), so it seemed like a natural place to find a job other than teaching English. In Turkey, it’s all about connections and once I met one person…the ball just started rolling. Besides that, I used persistence, word-of-mouth, and friends’ connections and a lot of smiles.
So, on this adventure, I worked all over and found it to be another great way to “go local.” I lived in one place for an extended amount of time. I had a place to live. I took public transport (or a bicycle in Melbourne) to work. I had a schedule. I had a paycheck (well, cash). I truly felt like part of the fabric of society. And I actually gained some new skills, but most importantly I made real friends.
To hear more about my working around the world, listen to this podcast interview I did for Chris Christensen at the Amateur Traveler.
Amateur Traveler Episode 194 – Work and Travel Around the World
Kevin Fitzpatrick
August 12, 2009 at 3:59 amLet's face it. You were a very high class, modern day hobo. While at a base level everyone works "for the money", it's different when the money matters less than the experience. It's been said "you haven't been somewhere until you've lived there". If that's the case, you've "been" to more places than almost anyone. As much as you may be a modern day hobo, you're just as much a modern day Hemmingway. Pick the one that suits you best. They both apply.
Nomadic Matt
August 12, 2009 at 9:34 amYou've had a huge collection of jobs. No fruit picker though? that's a popular one
Cate
August 14, 2009 at 3:59 amYour list is much better than my old one – nanny,waitress,pamphlet hander-outer,encyclopedia salesperson, temping is good for pulling in more cash. Would like to have done barista work but I would have drunk all the profits.
sarah
August 19, 2009 at 2:25 pmGreat story, I often wondered how people could travel for so long without a massive savings. I knew they got work but i thought how in all those different countries where sometimes English isn't spoken. Great to see how you did it.
Cheers Sarah
Ian [Eager Existence
May 18, 2010 at 3:29 pmId love more info on the Spanish immersion program in Costa Rica. I dont know how to look for a blog post on it.
llworldtour
May 18, 2010 at 4:16 pmHere is that post about the Spanish Immersion/Surfing school I did: https://www.llworldtour.com/2006/10/09/beep-beep-t…
It was great!
LL
Alex Quinn
September 29, 2011 at 1:08 pmI've always wanted to travel for a long period of time and be able to work with the people. Great to see that it can actually be done ! Glad you were able to see Chile too! I went down there by myself a few years ago and took one of the Patagonia tours . By far it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I also feel in love with the Chilean people. They were so friendly and accommodating.
Zakaria
February 28, 2013 at 2:09 amHey I got a question. What about visa issues when you enter a new place & decide to work there? Isn’t it illegal? 🙂
Lisa
March 29, 2013 at 11:11 amHI Zakaria – Well, um, yes technically it is. 🙂 I found some jobs that paid in cash. But also since I was ‘freelance’ on some other jobs, technically I wasn’t employed by the company but was a freelancer still based in the US.
Hannah
June 8, 2013 at 6:02 pmI’m 21 and recently single and ready to take on an adventure and this completely jumps out at me.. All day I’ve been looking at jobs online in different areas.. I work full time with a good income but feel no for filament and just really want to travel learn new things meet new people gain experience. Thanks for blogging really inspires me
Lisa
June 10, 2013 at 3:11 pmHi Hannah-
I am so glad my post helped you some. Life is too short to wait for “later!” I hope you are able to go after your dreams!