Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Insurance

In addition to using this blog as a way to help my friends and family keep track of me once I'm gone, I hope to leave a few tips for fellow travelers looking to do similar things. God knows plenty of other blogs have helped me thus far, so I should pay it forward, I suppose.

I need medical insurance 1) because the terms of my NZ visa say so, and 2) because I won't be employed and, god forbid, i need to be covered if anything should happen to me. Lots of travelers pick World Nomads, because it is dirt cheap. But really, it doesn't cover you for jack if you were to really need medical attention. I, most likely, will go with International Medical Group (IMG). Certainly not as cheap as Nomads. But, at a $1000 deductible, I will get $5 million in lifetime coverage, with a very short list of coverage exceptions. This includes the United States, and only for 750 a year. That's cheaper than what most people pay for regular coverage. I definitely would recommend this for anyone who wants to ensure they're covered while abroad.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Fun at work?!

It's thursday night at MSP airport, which means there's a lot of business travelers running around, looking absolutely miserable. Complaints are filling the air (mine included), and folks are ready for the week to be over. But one group seems to be consistently happy at the aiport--the pilots. Always smiling, joking around with eachother, being here obviously isn't a drag for these guys. How great to love your job that much, huh? I suppose having an office with such a view as theirs surely helps. (Look how excited that guy is!)

Maybe I've found my calling afterall...

In a winning kind of mood

Lucky week for me! On Tuesday, I won $250 toward hostel stays through BootsnAll's Treasure Hunt. Totally awesome. (Definitely gunning for the grand prize--$2000 toward a round-the-world ticket.)

Then, through Gadling, I won a copy of Susan Griffith's Work Your Way Around the World. ANOTHER great prize, as that's a topic I'm quite interested in. I probably would have bought the book regardless.

Maybe I should go buy a lottery ticket or something.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

TravMonkey.com: 5 Reasons To Quit Your Job and Go Traveling

TravMonkey's got a great post today about 5 Reasons To Quit Your Job and Go Traveling. Good man!

For those who have never visited his blog, he's a Brit living in Australia, and letting his readers help make some of his decisions, such as where to go and where to live.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Thank god for support

Lots of folks seem to deal with unsupportive parents and friends. Thankfully, I've found nothing but support. My friends are thrilled for me. It was my mom's idea to move back home. My dad's taking an interest in my plans. Everyone seems to want me to have a successful trip; and I'm very thankful for that.

Friday, May 04, 2007

Ditching my stuff

I have very little to my name at this point. I got rid of all my furniture, my 30-inch HDTV and a lot of my CDs and DVDs. I'll sell my car before I go. The only thing i'll keep is my laptop and some clothes. It's been surprisingly easy to get rid of all this stuff; and to be honest, I don't miss it a bit. It feels good to put everything you've got into a personal goal as big as this. And when I finally go, I'll be even more separated from stuff--everything I need I'll carry on my back. It'll be a weird experience.

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Results-only work environment

Check out these articles on Best Buy's new culture. No required office hours or mandatory meetings. Wanna sleep in today? Go for it! Leave early for a movie? No problem!

THAT is a corporate culture I might actually enjoy.

Entrepreneur magazine

Business Week