It’s been ten years since I first started writing this blog from Pearson International Airport while waiting to board a flight to Bangkok.
(https://bertbrandon.blogspot.com/2011/05/toronto-to-japan-to-bangkok.html)
I told people that I would leave for a month or so and if I didn’t like it, I would come back home. If I did like it, I would find a job teaching and see what happens. Ten years later, I’m about 60 days away from finally coming back home for good. Here are some thoughts on the last ten years.
-I wasn’t super excited to go to Thailand. I just wanted to see what life was like outside of North America. I wanted to mix things up a bit and see why everyone loved travelling so much. The expectation was not to be away for just under a total of 3000 days. I didn’t expect to become a certified teacher, dislike Japan, fall through a roof, become obsessed with personal finance, get 4 tattoos, take a year off from drinking, visit 27 countries, live in Warsaw, Shanghai, Seoul, New Zealand and Nakhon Si Thammarat. I’m glad I had no expectations and it’s a lesson we should all keep very close to our hearts. Having expectations leads to disappointment.
-Make a list. Going on a trip? Make a list. Starting a new day? Make a list. Going grocery shopping? Make a list. Breaking up with your boyfriend? Make a list and tell him every reason why. Returning home to Canada? Better believe I have a list.
-Your passport is essentially your #1 priority while travelling abroad. Keep it in the same place and don’t put it down in some random spot. I went 9 years without losing my passport while being away. Almost made it.
-Just because you have made good decisions up to now, doesn’t preclude you from making a terrible mistake in the future. Even if you know better and even if you have been in similar situations before and made the right choice, getting older and more experienced does not guarantee that you will continue making the right choices. Be alert in continuing to make wise life choices.
-Kids are super funny. Just the other day, a grade one student came up to me and said, “Mr. Brandon, I can feel my teeth growing.” Good talk, thanks Iru.
-People over places. It’s better to be with people you love in some crappy basement apartment in some indistinct town than it is to be at the Taj Mahal alone.
-The troublemaking students are 99% of the time boys. This should not be a surprise to anyone.
-We all need help from time to time. Many different people from several different countries have had to help me in the last decade. It’s ok to ask for help and it feels good to help others. Time I get back to Canada and start evening things up.
-Get an International Driver’s License. Being able to drive in a foreign country gives you much more freedom and a chance to see things you wouldn’t otherwise see.
-I have found it’s important to have something to look forward to. It can be something big like a trip or a music festival or something small like a shave, hair wash or all you can eat BBQ. Having a rough day at least got you one day closer to something that will bring you joy.
-Buy, bring and use sunscreen. I am guilty of not adhering to this rule strictly enough.
-Having a Kindle makes reading on the road much more practical.
-Start collecting those Aeroplan or credit card miles sooner rather than later.
-Get your laundry done while travelling abroad if it is cost effective. It will take a load off your mind (Dating my laundry lady worked out well for me so maybe you should try it). I also have someone clean my apartment in Seoul once a month for $54 and get shaved once or twice a month for $11.
-I think a minimalist lifestyle suits me well. You don’t need half as many things as you think you do. The adage of bringing twice the money and half the stuff is very true.
-Keep a journal. Even if you never leave your town, it’s nice to be able to go back and reflect on how things used to be and all of the things you worried about that never materialized.
-Walking Tours are a great way to see a new city. I would also recommend doing a bike tour if you want to be a bit more active and see more places in a shorter amount of time. Or rent your own bike and just go for it.
-I have gone more than a year without a phone number or data. I don’t recommend it. I did it mainly because there is free Wifi at school, at metro stations and at most restaurants. I also did it to save money and to spend less time on my phone. Getting a phone number and data will be one of the first things I accomplish once I get home.
-We all know this but Instagram isn’t real life. Try and not compare your life to what you see on Instagram. People aren’t that much happier than you are and their lives aren’t that much more exciting than yours.
-Don’t go on a snowboarding trip as a first date/meetup.
https://bertbrandon.blogspot.com/2020/12/getting-rejected.html
-I track almost every dollar I spend. I find it helpful to understand where I spend my money and helps me to buy less useless junk. It’s a good way to understand how expensive or affordable travelling really is and also can help understand spending and hopefully help you save. I just use an Excel spreadsheet and list whatever I bought next to whatever day it is. I’m sure there are lots of fancy apps to help you accomplish the same goal.
-Get your laundry done while travelling abroad if it is cost effective. It will take a load off your mind (Dating my laundry lady worked out well for me so maybe you should try it). I also have someone clean my apartment in Seoul once a month for $54 and get shaved once or twice a month for $11.
-I think a minimalist lifestyle suits me well. You don’t need half as many things as you think you do. The adage of bringing twice the money and half the stuff is very true.
-Keep a journal. Even if you never leave your town, it’s nice to be able to go back and reflect on how things used to be and all of the things you worried about that never materialized.
-Walking Tours are a great way to see a new city. I would also recommend doing a bike tour if you want to be a bit more active and see more places in a shorter amount of time. Or rent your own bike and just go for it.
-I have gone more than a year without a phone number or data. I don’t recommend it. I did it mainly because there is free Wifi at school, at metro stations and at most restaurants. I also did it to save money and to spend less time on my phone. Getting a phone number and data will be one of the first things I accomplish once I get home.
-We all know this but Instagram isn’t real life. Try and not compare your life to what you see on Instagram. People aren’t that much happier than you are and their lives aren’t that much more exciting than yours.
-Don’t go on a snowboarding trip as a first date/meetup.
https://bertbrandon.blogspot.com/2020/12/getting-rejected.html
-I track almost every dollar I spend. I find it helpful to understand where I spend my money and helps me to buy less useless junk. It’s a good way to understand how expensive or affordable travelling really is and also can help understand spending and hopefully help you save. I just use an Excel spreadsheet and list whatever I bought next to whatever day it is. I’m sure there are lots of fancy apps to help you accomplish the same goal.
-Travel alone. The majority of my trips have been alone and I think people can learn a lot by not depending on a friend for help and companionship.
-Travelling can be extremely expensive or it can be quite affordable depending on what you want to experience. If you have a budget of $5000 for travel every year, that gives you a lot of options. You could go on one amazing trip for $5000 or you could go on multiple trips either inside or outside of your home country. There is almost always a cheap way of doing something. Couchsurfing, eating at 7-11, visiting free parks or cheap national parks, public transportation, buying fruit at a market, eating street food, using free WIFI, not drinking alcohol, avoiding buying souvenirs and other items you don’t actually need are all ways to keep the costs down. I just had my students create their own travel itinerary for a three-day trip outside of Korea. I hope that they learn to prioritize experiences over things.
-I have only done this a few times but it’s been fun to read a book from the country you are visiting or living in. It can give you a different perspective of how things used to be or inform you about a certain aspect of that country’s history that you might have otherwise never learnt about.
-While for the most part, I like to try random foods in different places, but sometimes you just need McDonald’s. Don’t feel too bad about visiting France and stopping by for a quick Big Mac. As long as it’s not the only cuisine you eat while visiting, sometimes it just has to happen.
-Travelling can be extremely expensive or it can be quite affordable depending on what you want to experience. If you have a budget of $5000 for travel every year, that gives you a lot of options. You could go on one amazing trip for $5000 or you could go on multiple trips either inside or outside of your home country. There is almost always a cheap way of doing something. Couchsurfing, eating at 7-11, visiting free parks or cheap national parks, public transportation, buying fruit at a market, eating street food, using free WIFI, not drinking alcohol, avoiding buying souvenirs and other items you don’t actually need are all ways to keep the costs down. I just had my students create their own travel itinerary for a three-day trip outside of Korea. I hope that they learn to prioritize experiences over things.
-I have only done this a few times but it’s been fun to read a book from the country you are visiting or living in. It can give you a different perspective of how things used to be or inform you about a certain aspect of that country’s history that you might have otherwise never learnt about.
-While for the most part, I like to try random foods in different places, but sometimes you just need McDonald’s. Don’t feel too bad about visiting France and stopping by for a quick Big Mac. As long as it’s not the only cuisine you eat while visiting, sometimes it just has to happen.
-Figure out the currency exchange before landing in a new country. Is 100,000 Laotian Kip enough? Well, since it's only $10, I'm guessing you will need more.
-It’s important to almost always be de-escalating situations whether abroad or at home. It’s rare that turning things up ends up well for everyone involved. Take a breath and turn the heat down. It’s almost always the right call.
-If you are unhappy at home, I don’t think a one-week vacation to Uruguay is going to cure the cause for your malaise. You might even be more unhappy once you return home.
-Your trip will be over before you know it.
-It’s important to almost always be de-escalating situations whether abroad or at home. It’s rare that turning things up ends up well for everyone involved. Take a breath and turn the heat down. It’s almost always the right call.
-If you are unhappy at home, I don’t think a one-week vacation to Uruguay is going to cure the cause for your malaise. You might even be more unhappy once you return home.
-Your trip will be over before you know it.
-Learn how to use chopsticks before going to Asia. (Still working on this one)
-Do less. Don’t try and see everything. It’s impossible. Have a list of a few sights you want to see while you are in this new spot, try and do a few things each day but don’t kill yourself running around all day long. You’re on vacation so just chill out and eat some McNuggets.
-Sometimes you get lucky while travelling and meet incredible people that will be lifelong friends. Sometimes you spend a trip and are alone for most of the time. Both have their upsides.
-Our lives are much more dependent on luck than most of us care to admit. You had no say in your race, language, gender, intelligence, family, or nationality. We do have control over our thoughts, actions, and attitudes but lots of bad things happen to great people and working hard does not guarantee you success.
-Good or bad, hard to say.
-Do less. Don’t try and see everything. It’s impossible. Have a list of a few sights you want to see while you are in this new spot, try and do a few things each day but don’t kill yourself running around all day long. You’re on vacation so just chill out and eat some McNuggets.
-Sometimes you get lucky while travelling and meet incredible people that will be lifelong friends. Sometimes you spend a trip and are alone for most of the time. Both have their upsides.
-Our lives are much more dependent on luck than most of us care to admit. You had no say in your race, language, gender, intelligence, family, or nationality. We do have control over our thoughts, actions, and attitudes but lots of bad things happen to great people and working hard does not guarantee you success.
-Good or bad, hard to say.
https://medium.com/a-good-life/good-bad-hard-to-say-da956f0f690c
-Humans from different countries are much more similar than we are different. While we might believe in different stories of why we are here, eat different food, and have different levels of freedom, we aren’t all that different from each other.
-Here is a post I wrote about travel gear you might want to consider
https://bertbrandon.blogspot.com/2016/10/going-on-trip-bring-these.html
-The world is much more corrupt than I realized before leaving home. Just because someone is a police officer or involved in the government in some way, this does not mean that they are good people or are overly trustworthy. In some cases, it might be the opposite.
-I was asked recently about my perfect day. To keep things general, a perfect day for me abroad while visiting a new place would involve going to be early the night before, waking up early to find a cheap and delicious breakfast. Then, I would either take part in a bike tour or find a park to visit or mountain to climb. Next, eat something local that I couldn’t eat in whatever country I am currently calling home, then go back to where I was staying to re-group, maybe nap or just take a short break. After having some time alone, I would shower, grab a beer from a 7-11, eat dinner then maybe go out with people I might have met during the day or have another beer and see what the world has in store for me.
I hope that I have entertained and informed you at some point in the last ten years. I have written over 210 posts and writing about my travels and random thoughts has made my experience abroad more enriching. Thanks for reading.
-Humans from different countries are much more similar than we are different. While we might believe in different stories of why we are here, eat different food, and have different levels of freedom, we aren’t all that different from each other.
-Here is a post I wrote about travel gear you might want to consider
https://bertbrandon.blogspot.com/2016/10/going-on-trip-bring-these.html
-The world is much more corrupt than I realized before leaving home. Just because someone is a police officer or involved in the government in some way, this does not mean that they are good people or are overly trustworthy. In some cases, it might be the opposite.
-I was asked recently about my perfect day. To keep things general, a perfect day for me abroad while visiting a new place would involve going to be early the night before, waking up early to find a cheap and delicious breakfast. Then, I would either take part in a bike tour or find a park to visit or mountain to climb. Next, eat something local that I couldn’t eat in whatever country I am currently calling home, then go back to where I was staying to re-group, maybe nap or just take a short break. After having some time alone, I would shower, grab a beer from a 7-11, eat dinner then maybe go out with people I might have met during the day or have another beer and see what the world has in store for me.
I hope that I have entertained and informed you at some point in the last ten years. I have written over 210 posts and writing about my travels and random thoughts has made my experience abroad more enriching. Thanks for reading.
“Maybe you had to leave in order to
really miss a place; maybe you had to travel to figure out how beloved your starting
point was.”
Jodi Picoult
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