Traveling/Backpacking Your Last Summer of Freedom Forum

[abitaman6363]

I deferred NYU last year in order to complete an incredible global voyage that began during what I thought would be my last year of freedom. Turns out, this summer will actually be the finale, and thus I'm taking off! Off again to India and the gorgeous northern regions of Pakistan (Hunza Valley) to help out at a small girls school where I spent last summer. Anyone else taking advantage of the waning months until law school by traveling?

[UFMatt]

I wish. I really want to spend a few weeks in New Zealand, but I have too many obligations. I feel like Toby in The Office lamenting how he'll have to wait until he's 65 to go to Costa Rica.

Enjoy your trip. Sounds interesting.

[ToadGoDead]

i have been in SE asia for 7 months... best decision i ever made

[abitaman6363]

i have been in SE asia for 7 months... best decision i ever made

You're winning.

[monkeyhead817]

Traveling is the way to go! I just got back from the Middle East, and now I'm going to Africa for the summer to raise soccer balls and school supplies for several schools. And I'm going to the World Cup! Bought my tickets today!

[Zaraa]

Absolutely having a blast before school starts! I decided to take the year in Thailand - working for a non-profit for children's surgeries which means traveling all over the country to local hospitals. Also did some real vacations in Italy, Laos, Morocco, Kenya, France, England. Summer will mean time with family back in the US and a nice long drive coast to coast to move in before school starts. Maybe no money in the savings account but... it has definitely been worth it!

[danidancer]

God it must be nice to have the money to do this. Sooo jealous. Too bad I have to do silly things like pay rent and eat.

[AustinOrgans]

The firm I work at owns a flat in Paris where employees can stay for free! This means a rather affordable trip to Paris before I start LS! Nanny nanny. Poo poo.

[mugrad06]

Traveling is the way to go! I just got back from the Middle East, and now I'm going to Africa for the summer to raise soccer balls and school supplies for several schools. And I'm going to the World Cup! Bought my tickets today!

jealous, I want to go to the WC!!! Last time it was in Germany and I was suppose to go stay with my brother. He lived close to some of the sites, but sadly he and his then fiancee came over here to visit and have their American wedding shower. I was so mad, lol but I was glad I got to spend time with my brother.

[Kretzy]

Iceland, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, and a smattering of other places this summer. Fly back 3 days before I move to campus. I feel like it's a very, VERY good decision, even though I'm spending money I really don't have.

[tsub]

Absolutely having a blast before school starts! I decided to take the year in Thailand - working for a non-profit for children's surgeries which means traveling all over the country to local hospitals. Also did some real vacations in Italy, Laos, Morocco, Kenya, France, England. Summer will mean time with family back in the US and a nice long drive coast to coast to move in before school starts. Maybe no money in the savings account but... it has definitely been worth it!

I'm going to Thailand this summer to catch up with my family and refresh my language skills. Hopefully all the political stuff will have blown over by July.

[sumus romani]

I'm trying to put together a solo bicycle tour of the sierra cascades or pacific coast, and I should have the time for either, but not both. Hope I can make one work. I'd love to do international, but bike touring here in the states is super cheap and just easier to plan overall. Here's to hoping

[mjs92983]

You don't have to do something expensive to have a great trip. A couple of brothers and myself are taking a bicycling trip through Yellowstone, glacier national park and then up to Banff and Jasper in Canada. The bikes make it cheap to travel and really appreciate all the great scenery.

[BaiAilian2013]

Nope, too lazy. But I'll grab a Greyhound home and chill with my friends, and my husband and I might drive down to Florida in August because he has to use his vacation days. Other than that, working and relaxing!

[webbylu87]

Two weeks in London just hanging around with my friends. So looking forward to it.

[chaupa]

I don't have much money to work with, but I'm loosely planning to take a motorcycle trip around the states for the last three + weeks of the summer. If tips are really good at work, I may sell the bike and head for Europe. Don't see tips being that good though.

[gwuorbust]

will be in Costa Rica/Panama/Brazil over the summer, going to be epic fun!! Though that is tamed a bit by the fact that it is a self-employment project and I will be working 60+ hours a week.

[thinkbig]

I wish I had money to travel. I gotta pay rent and try to get out of credit card debt first, which will take up until the start of law school. Then I can take out exponentially more debt to attend.

[Haribo]

Just got back from 6 months cycling through South America, and am planning on taking it easy this summer learning French in Quebec.

Travel by bicycle is really cheap, especially if you camp.

[abitaman6363]

God it must be nice to have the money to do this. Sooo jealous. Too bad I have to do silly things like pay rent and eat.

For anyone thinking of traveling, it really doesn't cost much! Check out Couchsurfing.com, which basically offers you free places to stay as you travel. My name's Christen Romero, so if you join CS look me up and I'll leave you a good reference. CS rocks(!), is free, and has loads of amazing people. In New Orleans alone there are over 1000+ Couchsurfers.

Also, food/etc. costs the same (if not MUCH less) in other countries. Your flight is usually your biggest expense, and after that, just be smart with your money. I tend to spend FAR less when I'm abroad than I do here in the States!

[abitaman6363]

And to all those traveling, safe journeys! Be cool/live free.

[Zaraa]

God it must be nice to have the money to do this. Sooo jealous. Too bad I have to do silly things like pay rent and eat.

It's always possible with some preparation & good planning! I gave up my rental in the US, am actually working here to eat! I either played it cheap with hotels (Laos is ridiculous - you can get air conditioning and breakfast included for $15/night), or did home exchanges. There are plenty of people in Europe willing to give up their houses for a few weeks for a place in Thailand! The big part is airfare - but while working last year I was able to save up enough to have this year!

I'm going to Thailand this summer to catch up with my family and refresh my language skills. Hopefully all the political stuff will have blown over by July.

I hope it clears up! At least they haven't outright rejected the Nov 15 dissolution. My office has been closed for 2 months - although.. there are advantages to working at home! Sounds like you have family here and know what's going on already - but just in case - use http://www.thaivisa.com - CNN is useless.

You don't have to do something expensive to have a great trip. A couple of brothers and myself are taking a bicycling trip through Yellowstone, glacier national park and then up to Banff and Jasper in Canada. The bikes make it cheap to travel and really appreciate all the great scenery.

That sounds fantastic! I love the national parks, especially if you have the time to see it all by bike.

[ToadGoDead]

american media is useless when looking for news on thailand. try bangkokpost.com for better news. i am in bangkok right now, it has calmed down significantly.

[half_farang]

I have also been in SE asia for the past 7 months... I came here with a little over 2,000 dollars of which I saved up last summer. I took an online TEFL course and then flew to Thailand with no job offers, and then within 2 days of wandering the streets of bangkok I found a job in the southern beautiful provence of Krabi. I did a 4 month contract and saved enough money from my teaching job to travel for 3 more months. The only money of my own was for my flight... I'm going home with nearly as much $$ as I came with.

You don't need money, you just need guts.

God it must be nice to have the money to do this. Sooo jealous. Too bad I have to do silly things like pay rent and eat.

[tsub]

I have also been in SE asia for the past 7 months... I came here with a little over 2,000 dollars of which I saved up last summer. I took an online TEFL course and then flew to Thailand with no job offers, and then within 2 days of wandering the streets of bangkok I found a job in the southern beautiful provence of Krabi. I did a 4 month contract and saved enough money from my teaching job to travel for 3 more months. The only money of my own was for my flight... I'm going home with nearly as much $$ as I came with.

You don't need money, you just need guts.

God it must be nice to have the money to do this. Sooo jealous. Too bad I have to do silly things like pay rent and eat.

Half-farang... love the name. What's the other half? Thai I guess?