• The Art of Non-Conformity Blog – Chris has blogged twice a week with out failure for four years.
• Unconventional Guides – A very successful series of ebooks and programs including: Travel Ninja, Frequent Flyer Master, Art + Money, Break out of 9-5, Freelancing 301, and The Empire Building Kit – teaching how to build a business in a year by doing one thing per day.
• Travel Hacking Cartel – A membership site where you learn exactly how to accumulate frequent flyer miles.
• Free ebooks – 279 Days to Overnight Success – Chris’s hugely popular free ebook. A Brief Guide to World Domination – Another free ebook with over 100,000 downloads. The Tower: a Free Report for a New Way of Life
• The Art of Non-Conformity best-selling book. A great read for those looking for more out of life.
• The $100 Startup Chris’s latest book. (I haven’t read it yet, but I’ve ordered it.)
• World Domination Summit The yearly conference the sells out in minutes. (I’ll be going this year, are any of you? Please get in touch!)

Chris is in the middle of promoting his new The $100 Startup book and getting ready for the sold out World Domination Summit in Portland, but he took some time to answer a few questions here.

Photo by Casey West

How do you feel now that you are getting so close to visiting every country in the world?

It’s funny you ask this—a lot of people are wondering the same thing. However, visiting every country was never just a stunt for me; it was something that seemed conceivable and got me even more excited about the travel I was already doing.

Right now I’m really focused on continuing to help the community of readers I engage with every day and doing the best I can to support the entrepreneurs highlighted in The $100 Startup. I’m also working on lots of other projects, so there’s always more than one thing happening.

You are one of the world’s top bloggers and authors, did you expect all this to happen when you were starting?

Absolutely not. A lot of this started because I happened to be sharing information as I traveled that was interesting to other people. Simultaneously, I knew it was going to be important for me to set a routine for myself—routine is key to working independently—so I set up a Monday/Thursday blog post deadline for myself.

I’m very privileged to have the attention of people who care about what I have to say. I try to be mindful of the value of their time and the honor that it is to have the opportunity to serve them.

Can you outline some of your key success factors?

Again, doing something well and doing it consistently are probably two of the primary factors of whatever success I’ve had. I also happen to be doing work that’s not incredibly common, so there is a bit of a fascination factor when people hear about what I do.

However, I’m not sure that the unusual elements of this are what are really important. More than anything, I’ve really chosen to hang in there over the long haul and let this grow into something bigger than myself. The factors that have proven to be the most valuable to getting there are hard work, consistency, and a relentless interest in helping others accomplish their own goals.

Please tell us about your new book?

The $100 Startup is both inspiration and how-to for creating a life and work that you love. It’s based on fifty case studies of people who have struck out on their own and created lives and businesses, many of which are even more interesting than what I do.

People have been asking me for years how they might begin to take steps to a more fulfilling and free life. Rather than write about myself—I do enough of that on my blog—I thought I’d shine the spotlight on some of the unconventional entrepreneurs I had met around the world.

Please tell us about the World Domination Summit?

WDS is a gathering space for remarkable people; it’s a welcome environment for people with shared ideals who are enthusiastic about supporting each other’s goals. Our team works hard on putting together a great program, but we also realized that the best thing about it is all of those other people who attend and participate.

 What is next for Chris Guillebeau?

I don’t really think about my life in that way. I just go through my daily routine of writing, connecting with people, traveling, and learning. Hopefully what’s next is a great deal more of that.

Links
Follow Chris Guillebeau Twitter
The Art of Non-Conformity Blog
The $100 Startup  Chris Guillebeau’s latest book.

Related posts:

1. Interview with Long-term Traveller, Roni Weiss
2. Interview with Perpetual Traveller Craig Martin of IndieTravelPodcast
3. Travel the World without Flying – Interview with Niall Doherty

In Canada, just getting a dentist to look in your mouth for a few minutes will likely cost you $60 or $70. In Thailand, that will get you two hours of a dental specialist’s time. Your home doctor will probably warn you of the dangers of venturing abroad for medical services, but are those criticisms valid?

Myth 1 – Western doctors are better.

I have visited lousy dentists and doctors in very developed countries and great ones in less advanced countries. Sure some countries should be avoided, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your country’s doctors are always superior. If you can afford private doctors in the top U.S. hospitals, you will likely get some of the best medical care in the world. If you are going to lessor known, public hospitals you will likely get a standard of care that is comparable to most other countries in the world. Higher medical profits and salaries do not necessarily translate into better service.

In Canada, dentists collude to set standardized prices. While that is illegal in most industries, these pricing practices are normal in the medical profession in Canada and are driving up costs at many times the rate of inflation.

Myth 2 -All doctors are they same.

There are great and less than great doctors and dentists in every country. Do your research, visit several professionals and get second opinions. You should do this in your home country as well. Doctors are human and they make mistakes. Find a doctor that takes time to explain everything and is pleasant to deal with. You will judge their quality more from their bed-side manners than their medical skills.

Myth 3 -Foreign medical professionals lack the training.

You can’t assume that foreigners have inferior training. For example, I find the holistic approach of Japanese chiropractors much better than their western counterparts. They have different philosophies that might actually be superior.

Increasingly, doctors and dentists in your home country are foreign trained and have immigrated. The fact that they are in your country doesn’t necessarily mean they are better or worse educated. Also, many of the doctors and dentists you find abroad have also been schooled in the US.

Myth 4 -Foreign dentists and hospitals lack the equipment.

In some of the less developed countries you are probably not going to find the expensive lobbies and waiting rooms of some of the private hospitals or dental clinics in the west. However, western technology is widely available. While I wouldn’t trust the technology in really backwards countries like Burma, North Korea or even India, most places that you would consider for medical tourism will have modern, high quality equipment. They couldn’t be offering the services you are looking for, if they didn’t have the tools to do it. Also, the fact that you find out about these medical services online, demonstrates a level of investment and professionalism that most lessor equipped facilities couldn’t afford.

Some countries even have superior facilities and equipment to what you would find at home.  In Thailand, most dental offices have large comfortable lobbies, relaxing gardens and even offer pick up services in comfortable vans. I have never seen that level of service in other countries.

Myth 5 -Materials used are lower quality.

In terms of teeth crowns and fillings, there are a wide variety of materials to choose from, just as in Western countries. You can choose, and pay for the quality you want. Often you will pay similar prices as in your own country. The savings generally come from the labour, not from the products used. Again do your research and find out what products will be used. They can all be readily found online.

Hungary in particular is famous for its dental industry and has invented and manufactures some of the supplies your dentist will be using. Not everything was invented in the west.

Myth 6 -Foreign medicine is cheaper so it can’t be trusted.

Yes, medicine prices can be as little as 10% of what you pay at home, but that doesn’t mean it is inferior. In fact, a lot of that medicine is produced by the exact company that sells the same product in your home country. It is just sold at a lower cost to developing countries. Of course, don’t buy your pharmaceuticals on the street or over the Internet. If it is prescribed by a real physician, it will likely be safe. (As safe as any medicine can be.) As with every medicine, do some research and understand what you are taking. The insane side-effects listed on US pharmaceutical advertisements should be a good indication of what to expect with any medicine.

Myth 7 -Foreign dental assistants have less training.

This may be true, but in my experiences in Hungary, Mexico and Thailand, the assistants didn’t touch my mouth. They were there to assist only. In more developed countries, assistants have been trained to do more of the routine cleaning and basic work. In many lessor developed countries, the dentist still does all the work. I would much rather get my teach cleaned by a Mexican trained dentist, than a US trained dental assistant.

Foreign medical services are always cheaper.

This is not always true. Patients can be charged exorbitant bills, particularly for emergency services. Make sure you know exactly what you are paying for in advance and how much care will be needed in total. You don’t want surprises after the fact.

In emergencies or accidents, you don’t have the luxury of shopping around so there is a higher likelihood that you will be over-charged. This is why travel insurance is generally a good idea. However, make sure you choose an insurance provider that has a reputation of paying. A Thai nursing friend has said that several of the top US insurance companies are black-listed in major hospitals in Thailand because of their history of not paying claims. Medical insurance is a business. Those companies make money by paying out as little as possible. Again, it is your responsibility to find a reputable insurer.

Myth 8 -Foreign doctors and dentists don’t speak English.

Most medical professionals speak decent English now. English is the language of science and the Internet so more educated people around the world will tend to have decent English skills. If you are in doubt, just ask. I found a great dentist in Mexico, just by walking in off the street and asking if they spoke English. The answer was yes, so I booked an appointment.

In Thailand, one dentist I visited didn’t take time to explain clearly and I felt her broken English was part of the problem, so I apologized and said that I prefer a different dentist. It might have been somewhat rude, but it is my mouth and my decision.

Myth 9 – Travel costs will eat up most of the savings.

This may be true, but I look at it in a different way. The inexpensive medical services subsidize my travel. For example, in Canada it can cost $300 or more to get your teeth cleaned and polished. In Mexico, Thailand or even Japan, it can be as low as $30. That is a $270 savings. Last year, my wife and I went on an all inclusive resort vacation in Mexico for a week, with airfare included for about $700. By saving $270 on our teeth cleaning, the trip really only cost $430 each. That is a pretty good price for all our food, drinks, accommodations and travel expenses.

Our recent trip to Thailand for two months was entirely paid for by the money we saved in dental visits there. If you are looking at getting serious medical procedures done, the money you save will likely pay for your trip and you will have the opportunity to recover in an exotic location. Why not turn your medical issue into a family vacation?

How do you choose a great doctor or dentist?

I certainly don’t want to promote getting any cosmetic or elective surgery. Any surgery is still surgery and should be avoided if possible. If you really need some medical procedure start by researching online. You will find hospitals and dentists catering to foreigners all over the world.

When you find some prospective clinics or hospitals, search for review sites to see what others have said about that organization. Use your judgement with the reviews, sometimes people with minor grievances dominate the results.  (“My teeth are too white” or “my first appointment was cancelled so I had to wait two weeks for another.”) Also, look out for planted reviews that sound exceedingly positive. Reviews can be faked, so a little bit of criticism is probably an indication of honest experiences.

The best place to get unbiased reviews is from city specific traveler and expat groups. Try to visit the country in advance of your treatment, connect with the local expat community and find out where everyone shares their information. You can often find these expats and forums through Twitter and Facebook.  Connecting in person will give you much higher quality recommendations. In the Chiang Mai, Thailand Facebook group many people have offered suggestions on dentists, accommodations and a whole list of other products and services. Those types of recommendations are first hand and are likely to be the least biased.

Should you use a medical tourism broker?

Brokers,  who will arrange everything, are becoming increasingly popular, but I haven’t gone this route. I am sure there are reputable brokers, but profits can often get in the way of making the best recommendations. I know of one Canadian service that goes and inspects clinics in Mexico for cleanliness and verifies the credentials of the dentists but I suspect that you would have to pay a substantial premium for this. If you are getting heart surgery or another serious operation, paying a few hundred dollars to a third party might make sense. For more routine services, like teeth cleaning, that much scrutiny is probably not needed.

US Residents.

As a US citizen, your only feasible option for health care may very well be overseas. For chronic conditions that require expensive pharmaceuticals, you can likely save a great deal of money by going to nearby countries like Mexico or Cuba. In countries with state sponsored health care, minor problems are often treated free of charge. My wife and I have been given free treatment in three different countries now.

Don’t Be Foolish.

You can potentially save a lot of money using overseas medical services and you might even get great vacation while you are healing, however surgeries and other serious medical services should not be taken lightly. Although it is rare, people die from cosmetic surgery. Are you willing to take that risk for an unnecessary procedure?

Related posts:

1. Teach English in a Foreign Country, 10 Interviews with Experienced Teachers
2. The Fastest, Easiest and Cheapest Way to Reset Your Life in a New Country
3. Chiang Mai – The Digital Nomad Capital of the World

Backpacking with a backpack is crazy

I don’t understand why anyone would travel with a backpack. That’s such a barbaric way to travel, especially if you are traveling long-term. A good hard shell suitcase like my Samsonsite is far more convenient and effective and here are 8 reasons why.

1. Why carry a backpack when you can roll your gear?

It’s insane to carry heavy stuff on your back when you can easily roll everything. It’s not like most backpackers are trekking through mountain trails. For the times you are trekking, you don’t need a full-size backpack anyway.

The huge wheels on my Samsonite make it easy to roll over any terrain. When I was younger, I didn’t mind carrying stuff on my back. Unfortunately, my shoulders and neck don’t like that punishment anymore.

2. You can’t carry your backpack on board anyway.

With stricter carry-on luggage limits, most backpacks will have to be checked in anyway. A good hard shell suitcase is more durable and will protect your belongings much more effectively.

3. You already have a computer bag, you don’t need to carry two backpacks.

Almost every long-term traveler has a separate carry-on backpack for their computer, camera and other valuables. Carrying two backpacks at that same time is damn heavy and uncomfortable.

4. Backpacks are dirty.

Your backpack will be set on the ground repeatedly. It’ll be on the floor in public bathrooms. It’ll ride in the back of trucks and luggage compartments on buses. It’ll be on the floor of restaurants and hostels. It’s going to get abused and soon become filthy. A hard shell suitcase is very easy to wipe clean.

5. Backpacks are hard to access.

Even with well designed backpacks, you will inevitably have to repeatedly sift to the bottom of the bag to get stuff out. Suitcases have much wider openings so it is much easier to get what you need. In fact, for shorter stays you don’t even need to unpack, because all of your stuff is always there.

My Samsonite Suitcase

6. A hard shell suitcase is a great safe.

Combined with a hard to open suitcase strap, a good hard shell suitcase is the perfect place to store valuables. The built in lock on most suitcases is enough to deter most thieves. That makes it impossible to access in crowded tourist areas. You can’t stop a crowd of gypsy kids from rummaging through your pockets on a packed train, but there is nothing to grab from a good suitcase.

I also use a an old feed-through-the-loop suitcase strap because it takes time to open.  Sure someone with a box cutter and screw-driver could get in if they really wanted to, but that is unlikely in any hotel or public place.

7. Hard shell suitcases are waterproof.

The plastic shell on the suitcase and rubber seal are very water resistant. I have no worries about my suitcase getting wet. A wet backpack on the other hand, will stink you right out of your own room.

8. The suitcase is better protection for your belongings.

It’s possible to check in semi-fragile items like liquor bottles, glass, and other items that are unlikely to fair well in a backpack. There’s always about 10 to 20 cm (3 to 7 inches) of empty space above my things in the suitcase, so breakable items are well protected.

It’s also very possible to take apart an electric guitar and bring it in the suitcase. I haven’t done this yet, but I likely will on future trips.

What suitcase should you buy?

I’m a huge fan of hard shell Samsonite suitcases. Don’t buy the fancy ones that are ultra-light, have complex locks or small wheels. Make sure you get the old-fashioned ones that are made of the thick plastic. They have large wheels that role over everything and the large simple locks are extremely durable. They weigh about 4 or 5 kg, but that is probably only a couple of kilograms more than your backpack.

My wife and I bought our first Samsonite in Europe about 7 years ago, and have gone through three other cheaper suitcases in that same time. Spend a little extra money and get something that will last.  The small wheels and locks frequently break on lower quality suitcases.

A couple of years ago, I was lugging around a heavy bag in Montreal and was killing my back so we went and bought our second Samsonite. Normally, we only travel with one suitcase between the two of us, but for longer trips we still sometimes bring the second suitcase. It was one of the greatest travel purchases we have made. (I am not making money from promoting Samsonite either. They really are that good.)

All you really need in life are good friends, a good suitcase, a good computer (that means Mac) and good coffee. The rest will take care of itself.

The Case for Backpacks

Collin Ferry shared this picture of his small backpack. If you are traveling this light and plan to do some overnight trekking, then yes a backpack is the better choice.

Collin Ferry and his Backpack

Related posts:

1. 14 Reasons Why I Hate Travel
2. 15 Reasons I Love a Location Independent Lifestyle
3. 8 Reasons Why You Should Work in a Foreign Country

Every thought of writing a book? Karen van der Zee has 34 published books now with more on the way. She has a gift for telling great stories, which most bloggers, including myself can learn a lot from. Karen talks about how the publishing industry has changed over the years, living around the world and gives some writing advice in this fantastic interview.

Please tell us about yourself?

Hello dear readers, I am Miss Footloose, aka Karen van der Zee. I hail from the Netherlands, land of wooden shoes, dikes, bikes, windmills, and cheese, aka Holland. I never owned a pair of wooden shoes, but I did possess a bike or two and I ate and eat plenty of cheese. I am a writer and my husband is an agricultural development economist and works on foreign aid projects in developing countries. Right now we live in Moldova, Eastern Europe.

Please tell us about your travel background?

My first expat experience was as a foreign exchange student to the US where I lived with a family for a year and was introduced to life as a teenager in an American high school. Talk about culture shock. Later I met my American husband-to-be in Amsterdam, a very romantic place! A year later I followed him to exotic Kenya where he was a Peace Corps volunteer. We were married there in a bizarre wedding ceremony. You can read about it here: How (Not) to Get Married in Kenya. Fortunately it stuck, and I’m still the first and only wife.

That was the beginning of our travels. After Kenya, my husband’s work has taken us to Ghana, twice, for a total of almost 8 years, Indonesia for 2 years, Palestine for 1.5 years, Armenia for 6 years, and now we are in Moldova. In between we’ve lived in the US, which for much of that time was an expat location for me. Now I have dual citizenship so it is home.

What is it that you like or dislike about living as an expat in Moldova?

Moldova is a former Soviet Union Republic in Eastern Europe and not the most exotic of locations, but it’s generally considered an easy and safe country for expats. It’s a fertile country with a low hilly landscape and the vineyards produce some really nice wines. I live in the capital Chisinau and the people are friendly and helpful. There are good supermarkets and good restaurants. The center of town, where I live, is a very walkable place, and in the summer streets and parks are green and pleasant. In the winter the ugly Soviet-style apartment blocks are more obvious and the place looks less cheery.

I can’t think of anything that I particularly “dislike.” Moldova is a poor country and you see on occasion old men and women begging in the streets, which is hard to take, especially in the winter when it’s cold. Chisinau is not a large metropolis and some call it a rather sleepy place. The expat community is small and not very diversified.

How expensive is it there?

The cost of living in Moldova really depends on your lifestyle. It can be much lower than the US if you live and eat “on the local economy,” but not many expats here do, since most of them are employed by embassies, international companies and so forth, and have a “foreign” income.

As in many capital cities, there are at least two housing markets here, and the one for expats is very pricy. Rents for expat housing are high by American standards (and again, that depends on location). A three bedroom house in the suburbs can cost you US$ 3,000 or much more a month.

Housing can be much, much lower on the local market, but kitchens are basic and by American and Western European standards, furniture is often of what we might call the great-grandma variety or over the top “fake fancy.” If you’re interested in reading about my own expat housing saga in Moldova, read my tale How to Bond With Your Bidet.

Food: Again, the cost depends on how you live. You can live perfectly fine on the local diet, but it is not France, Spain or Italy here. However, buying imported foods can run up the grocery bills. I’m a bit of a foodie and love – for instance – French, Italian and Dutch cheeses, and I am lucky to be able to get them here, but they’re expensive. There is plenty of decent local cheese, so you don’t have to do without if you don’t want to buy the imported varieties.

Public transportation in Chisinau, the capital, is excellent and cheap, and although a car is nice, it is not essential.

The restaurants come in varying price levels and decent meals are available at prices much lower than in the US and Western Europe. Meals in upscale restaurants here are still lower than comparable ones in the US and Western Europe.

How many books have you written so far?

I’ve written 34 romance novels published by Harlequin Books. I’ve also written non-fiction tales about my (mis)adventures living abroad and some of my articles have been published in the Washington Post, the travel-humor anthology I Should Have Just Stayed Home, the anthology Female Nomad and Friends by Rita Golden Gelman, and various ezines.

I am presently working on a longer novel and have a finished non-fiction book with lighthearted stories about my (mis)adventures living in foreign countries. I am looking for an agent or publisher for this opus, which is not an easy task and very time-consuming.

How did you get started as an author?

Even as a kid I filled notebooks with stories and drawings. By the time I moved to Kenya I’d had a few small successes in Holland, but once I was married to my American globetrotter I knew I had better shift over into English, which was a second language for me, and needed some work.

A few years later I wrote my first romance novel in Ghana, West Africa, inspired by reading a romance novel I found at a friend’s house. I had no idea what I was doing and boldly sent the manuscript to the London address I found inside the book: Mills & Boon Ltd (now Harlequin Mills & Boon). It took a year before I even got an answer. My manuscript had been discovered in the slush pile and deemed worthy of publication. I was off and running and kept writing more novels, which they kept publishing, so I had my portable career.

The world of publishing has changed enormously, and I was very lucky to get started when I did, which was at the beginning of the “romance novel explosion.”

How many hours a day do you spend writing?

When our children were young I would start after they were off to school and I stopped when they came home. It was the perfect job for raising a family. I was quite disciplined, which you have to be as a writer because you are your own boss, but it still gives me flexibility in terms of vacation and holidays. I still spend most of my days behind the computer.

Is writing fiction more lucrative than non-fiction?

It all depends on how you get published, what is in your contract, what kind of deal you manage to get, how famous you are (not) and in the final analysis how many readers will actually pay money to buy your work. There is no simple answer.

How has blogging and social media affected your writing over the years?

I stopped writing romance novels a few years ago to work on a longer women’s fiction book, and to write my non-fiction opus about my life abroad (which is now finished). I do not enjoy marketing myself, working the social media, and self promotion. I’m terrible at it and wish I could simply spend my time writing and not mess with it. I do enjoy the blogging because it is writing my stories, and perhaps eventually this might help in promoting my books. I am on Facebook (Karen van der Zee) and Twitter (@missfootloose) and the challenge there is to not let these media take over your life.

Having a large blogging audience doesn’t hurt, but when you start talking about building an “author’s platform” it takes much more than that, such as acquiring speaking engagements that deal with your topic, having articles published in magazines or papers, and getting interviewed on radio or TV. It’s more and more clear that writing talent alone is not enough; you have to be a business person with marketing savvy. I have to admit that I have not gone very far down that business road yet.

Do you see yourself shifting from traditional publishing to blogging?

My blog is not meant to be or become an income generating affair and to take the place of traditional publishing. I prefer traditional publishing over self-publishing; it is what I’ve been used to. Self-publishing itself is easy. Finding readers to buy the book is not. It’s an enormous amount of work, and if you’re not famous already, or have 250,000 fans, it’s not likely to make you a living wage. At least that’s what the word is on the street. Besides, I’d rather be writing than marketing. Unfortunately, even when you get published the traditional way, publishers now also expect writers to do a lot of self-promotion.

You are a great story teller, can you give some writing advice for novice writers or bloggers? Most travel bloggers write about facts, not compelling stories. Can you please offer some advice?

Writing as Miss Footloose, I started my blog LIFE IN THE EXPAT LANE as an additional outlet for my non-fiction stories, and to connect with other expat writers and people who enjoy reading expat stories.

When I write about my own (mis)adventures, I use my fiction writing techniques. I never intended to write “reports” about places or events as seen from an objective journalistic viewpoint. I write about events and places as I experience them, as these affect me, subjectively. I see them as stories, not reports.

Advice for novice writers or bloggers? First of all, read the sort of writing that you like and study and analyze how the writer has handled the material. Secondly, since my own experience tells me that my fiction writing knowledge is invaluable in writing my non-fiction, I suggest new writers and bloggers learn about fiction techniques (unless they’re writing straight academic material). There are many online articles and materials and even courses that are free. You have to love the writing itself to want to learn how to do it better. And it is a never ending process. I’m still learning.

For support and advice, join a writers group and/or critique group. Writing can be a lonely business.

What is the best way for an aspiring author to break into book publishing?

How I wish I had the magic answer! I’d be rich! I started writing before the Internet and e-book era and the publishing scene has changed drastically. It’s a jungle out there in the publishing world. There is much talk about the need to have an “author’s platform” before an agent or a publisher will even look at your work, which is totally depressing because creating a platform is an entire job in itself. The Internet is awash with books, articles and blog posts about how to get into book publishing and how to build the dreaded platform. As an example, check out this article by Arielle Ford on the Huffington Post blog about platform building.

In short, there is no easy answer, no “best way,” and no magic trick. My advice is to do your research, study the subject and have patience. And if the gods are with you, you’ll be successful!

Links
Life in the Expat Lane – Karen van der Zee’s blog – (Great storytelling and writing style here!)
Karen van der Zee on Facebook
Follow Karen on Twitter (@missfootloose)

Related posts:

1. Interview with Long Term Traveller, Expat and English Teacher – Nomadic Samuel Jeffery
2. Interview with Author and Global Citizen, Maya Frost
3. Interview with Taiwan Expat, Carrie Kellenberger

Mt. Everest Base Camp

Looking to explore the world, but don’t have the bank account to match your ambitions? Consider teaching English. It is the fastest and easiest way to go abroad and you don’t need special qualifications other than a university degree. Nicky Wetzelberger and Rhys Farrow, have funded their travel bug by teaching English in both Korea and Vietnam. They share their experiences and offer advice in this interview.

Please tell us about your travel background?

I’m Nicky and have been traveling alongside my boyfriend Rhys for the past 2 years. We left home in 2009 with a one way ticket to Bangkok and traveled all over South East Asia for 3.5 months before moving to South Korea to teach English. We finished our one year contracts for public schools in Ulsan before hitting the road again through India for nine weeks and then on to Nepal for a month. We are currently living and working in Ho Chi Minh City, teaching and traveling once again, but this time in Vietnam.

What was the impetus to move abroad?

Our Trans-Atlantic relationship wouldn’t allow us to do anything besides move away and travel the world together. I am from Maryland, USA and Rhys is from Cardiff, Wales. It’s strange that it is 100% easier for us to live in Asia than either one of our actual homes! Damn immigration laws. Plus, when I was a junior in college I took the leap to study abroad in England, and from that moment on I was hooked. The travel bug has never stopped crawling through me making me itch to get on the road and explore! Then Rhys Farrow, the Welshman, happened and once we started dating there were two options. Either runaway to Asia, or get married. So, duh..the choice was easy, go runaway to ASIA!

Where are you now?

For now, home is Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Life was like a cake walk teaching in Korea, everything was set up for us. Life was almost too easy, and after two months struggling through India we were ready for an adventure. We did some research and quickly realized Vietnam was our very own land of opportunity. With hundreds of English Schools scattered across the city, teachers are in high demand. We moved here and in less than a month had three jobs each, two motorbikes, and an apartment. It was as easy as ABC. We had traveled through South East Asia two years before, and fell in love with the endless abundance of sunshine, beautiful beaches, and tropical fruits so making the move back to South East Asia was pretty brainless.

Here’s a post about our initial move to Vietnam.

How do you earn an income now?

Teaching is the way to go if you’re desperate to travel but don’t have anything in your savings account. When we left home nearly three years ago we had no idea what would happen. If you would have told me I’d still be in Asia three years later I probably would have laughed at the idea. But, teaching to travel and traveling to teach has somehow landed itself as our own little travel slogan. The pay is great, work is minimal, and life is a vacation. I teach kindergarten and third grade at an elementary school (all subjects) and Rhys teaches law and geography at a high school. By the way, neither of us are teachers at home. We’ve got bachelor’s degrees and that’s it. No need to worry about CELTA’s and TEFL’s.

You taught English in both Korea and Vietnam, which do you like better?

Eeek! The question that gets asked all of the time. What’s better? Vietnam or Korea? Comparing Vietnam and Korea is nearly impossible. Both experiences are entirely different. The cultures, people, and work. Korea is easy. If this is your first move to Asia and first time teaching English, go to Korea. Life is amazing, you’ll get hooked up with unforgettable friends upon arrival and will watch your bank account continue to grow with little effort exerted.

Need a challenge? Come to Vietnam. It’s an extremely rewarding experience when everything falls on your shoulders. We moved here with a handful of resumes and a bag of clothes. No apartment waiting, no friendly face to greet us at the airport, just Rhys and I. Life is harder because it is a developing country, but we will walk away with experiences so true that offer a whole new outlook on life because Saigon is truly one of a kind.

This post goes into the nitty gritty about teaching in Vietnam and South Korea:

 Which country offers a better quality of life?

Quality of life is high in each country. Saigon is really dirty, crowded, and polluted but there is a huge expat scene here that helps you forget you live in such a chaotic city. South Korea is so advanced and technology creeps into everything. Seoul, South Korea is nicer than most US cities. My monthly pay in Vietnam is higher than it was in South Korea. However, in South Korea both of my flights (in and out) were paid for, we received completion of contract bonuses, and I swear every time I blinked we were getting handed money  for some small brainless task we completed. Our monthly wage is higher in Vietnam but we have to pay for things like flights and apartment, while bonuses are non-existent. In each country you can walk away with $15-20,000 saved up for the next adventure or backpack trip!

What are you living expenses in Vietnam?

In Vietnam everything seems to cost pennies. I eat dinner for $1-5 and buy beer for $1. Rent is $400, and my motorbike costs $4 to fill the tank up. I can go out for the best massage I’ve ever had at the nicest place with all the right incences burning and music playing for $20. Or I can get a massage from the little place over the train tracks that last three hours for $2. Dinners and fancy Western bars are everywhere and affordable, if that’s what you want or need to feel like you live a somewhat normal chaos-free life for an evening.

Is it easier or more difficult travelling as a couple?

I’m all about girl power and not having to rely on anyone but yourself, but I’d be a liar if I didn’t say I was so glad to have Rhys by my side. After our insane time in India, I am certain we can take on anything life throws at us. We’ve slept on filthy train station floors and used book pages for toilet paper, nothing really phases us too much anymore! Advice for couples: avoid hungry, angry situations at all costs especially when you’re trucking your backpack around on your back and it is 100 degrees. Have a snack ready for all hungry, angry situations, it keeps you thinking rational!

How long do you plan on living abroad?

It looks like we will be living abroad until we feel it’s time to take the plunge and marry. Which were not planning on anytime soon! Some days I think, ‘man life would be so much easier to just move home where language barriers aren’t a problem’… but then I look out my apartment window at motorbike traffic weaving in and out, shops taking over the sidewalks, the fruit lady selling mango for $0.50, and kids playing in flooded streets from the recent monsoon rainstorm and don’t know how life at home would ever be able to compare again!

Do you have any advice for aspiring English teachers?

Patience. Patience. Patience. Like any job some days I’m the happiest girl in the world, and other days I feel like kicking every student out of my class. In the end though, I feel live I’m living a dream in a country that was so alien to me at first, and now makes more sense than home does at times. Oh, yeah and don’t smile for the first week because then they know you mean business!

 Links
2Nomads1Narrative.com – Nicky and Rhys’s Blog
Follow Nicky and Rhys on Twitter

Related posts:

1. Teach English in a Foreign Country, 10 Interviews with Experienced Teachers
2. What is it like to Teach English in Korea? Interview: Linsday Nash
3. Interview with Long Term Traveller, Expat and English Teacher – Nomadic Samuel Jeffery