BootsnAll Travel Community
BnA Home BootsnAll Travel Forums Travel Forums Talking About Travel BootsnAll Members' Forum Confused Youngser Seeking Sage-Like Advice.. SA? EU? RTW? Help!
BootsnAll Travel Forums Travel Forums Talking About Travel BootsnAll Members' Forum Confused Youngser Seeking Sage-Like Advice.. SA? EU? RTW? Help!Page 1 2
|
Go
|
New
|
Search
|
Notify
|
Tools
|
Reply
|
|
|
Thorn Tree Refugee |
Hey guys, my name's Ryan Dolan and I just signed up for Bootsnall. I suppose this post will serve as an introduction as well as my question. And thank you to everyone who reads through this whole thing, it'll help me more than you can imagine.
Where to start... last year I graduated as a Junior from High School, in hopes that I would backpack Europe the following year. I presented the idea to my parents, but it was met with much resentment, to say the least. Being 17, I couldn't go without their permission, so I put those dreams to rest and instead decided on a NOLS semester, which is where I spent three months this Fall. Since then, I went to Japan for a week with my dad, and I've also traveled around the US a bit. I've done the college application thing, and I thought I had everything ready for next year, with a college picked out and all. But I've just felt terribly lost and displaced over the past few months, even though my life has been very easy-going. And then a couple of weeks ago I started to again question college as a whole, and now I'm contemplating what other options I have. So of course my mind found it's way back home to dreams of travel. I've spent the last few days figuring a lot of stuff out, but here's what I got so far. I have 5 months until I would normally leave for college, and if I was travelling I would probably leave around then. So I spent all last night figuring out these finances, and through full-time work, I could have a $6,000-$8,000 budget to work with. As for time period, I'd be looking at August through March, so that's 7-8 months I have to work with, and possibly more. Right now, I'm just trying to figure out a general idea. I wanted to study a language in college, but I know that for me to really learn a language, I would need to be completely immersed in it. So I'm thinking of spending this summer learning as much Spanish as I can, and travelling through South America. For that time period and that amount of money, I should be able to have a budget of $30-35 a day. From what I've researched, this should be more than enough. Of course, this is where you guys come in. 1) Is it realistic for someone who's never been travelling alone before to just spend 7-8 months travelling solo through South America? 2) Is a few months enough time to learn enough Spanish to be able to get by in South America? 3) What would be the best mode of transportation? I would like to interact with the people as much as possible, but while being able to see a significant part of the continent. I was thinking Bicycle, but is that feasible for extended periods in South America? As a backup plan, in case this is unrealistic, I was thinking of perhaps backpacking Europe, as that might be a better environment for me to learn to travel. Also, with that budget and time period, is a RTW trip a realistic possibility? So basically, to summarize this ridiculously long post, I'm an 18-year-old High School graduate who isn't sure college is the best option, and am considering the above? Is this realistic, and if it isn't, then what might be a good alternative? P.S. If I stick with travel instead of college next year, my parents are basically kicking me out, saying I'm on my own. That includes car insurance, medical insurance, and everything else that comes with being a legal citizen. So just to let you know, I'll be on here with a lot of questions from now on =) =). |
||
|
World Citizen |
First, welcome to the boards. Second, where did you go for your NOLS semester? That's on my list of things to do, I'm planning on doing the Patagonia semester two years from now. Thirdly, I'm not a sage but I can answer the first two questions for you.
1) Yes 2) Yes, sort of. It's very feasible for someone who's never traveled before to travel alone for prolonged periods of time in unfamiliar territory. This site is packed full of great travel stories written by first time travelers. Think about the practice of the Gap year in Europe and Australia (the places where it's most common). Kids on a gap year go all over the world for months at a time. As for learning Spanish, the majority of people when traveling know very very little of a local language. If knowing the language was a prerequisite for traveling, I don't think many people would be able to  . Studying vocab, basic sentance structure, a few key phrases for a few months can go a long way in a foreign country, although you won't exactly become a master at the language in a few months. Reading maps and matching names to signs allow you to navigate easily enough. Also, in cities you'll find that quite a few locals know english, or at least can communicate enough to point you in the right direction. That being said, diving into the heart of South America you'll find less and less folks who know english, so in depth communication would be a problem.I'll be returning to this thread with my thoughts on your current situation in the near future, but I must end this post here for now. ______________________ Don't worry, I tend to make a big deal out of everything. Keep on keeping on. |
|||
|
Not the First Dork |
Hi Ryan,
I agree with Taylor as far as questions 1 and 2 are concerned. I have no idea about your third question, but mostly I just wanted to say welcome, and also, Go Illini!! I grew up in Bloomington-Normal. Whereabouts are you? Secondly...I'm typically not the person who is in favor of encouraging someone not to go to college right away, but frankly it sounds like you're very together, intelligent, have really thought this through, and are realistic while at the same time trying to follow what you really want to do. Honestly I'm a bit taken aback that you seem to have a lot of focus and really know what you want - I think that's awesome. I don't think there's any problem with you traveling right now, becoming immersed in a language and culture, and learning that way -- especially since you were wanting to study a language in college. My only 'sage' advice would be to really consider going to college later on. While it's not a necessity per se, it sure would make long-term job stuff easier for you. But that's way down the road! Good luck, Lynn |
|||
|
Street Food Connoisseur |
I've been on my own since I was 17- I travelled around the US for quite a while after I dropped out of college.
You have to be kicked out at some point. Might as well be on your terms and not theirs! |
|||
|
|
Thorn Tree Refugee |
Taylor My NOLS Semester was in the Rocky Mountains, but I actually know someone who is taking a semester in Patagonia right now. Patagonia's reputation in NOLS is basically as the most demanding semester by far. You're out in the field for 70 days straight, with no stopping in-town between sections, which is what almost all other semesters do. Plus the weather is absolute insanity and it is tough living, for sure. But it's one of the most beautiful places on earth, and you'll definetly have the time of your life.
And thanks very much for the response, and I am looking foward to what you have to say about my situation. =) Lynn Thank you so much for the compliments, they meant a lot to me, and it was great to read that. I'm just in a position where I could definetly go to college and have a great time while studying some very interesting stuff. But I just have to ask myself,is it worth these four years and all the money at this point in my life?? And Clay, your story is very inspiring, and how you described being displaced and lost is exactly what I was feeling. I also feel like I might just be being my old impulsive self by wanting to just travel, and am just in the same confused place you were. And, again, your solution is very inspiring, and I'd love to hear how that goes for you. |
|||
|
|
Street Food Connoisseur |
I wish I could say it worked out!
Another thing I should add: You can always defer a college acceptance. IE you get accepted but don't attend for a year after they accept you |
|||
|
|
World Citizen |
You have a large decision on your shoulders, and while the thought of college is just so quaint, the more exciting life of travel is calling you. What's a guy to do? At first I would tell you to blow school off and jet off, but the prospect of being kicked out by your parents is daunting. I think you'll find that in life the more friends you can keep the better. So what's at stake by traveling? Let's analyze the situation.
- First and foremost, you will not be attending college during the time you are on the road. - You'll spend at least a year and a half saving and traveling, and when you return your on your own. - This will delay college for a few more years as you find a meanial job, save up for tuition expenses and pay for a place of your own. So now you've put college off for another three years. Is college in your future at all? Did you plan on taking that much time off before shooting off to college? I'm not saying you have to go to college right after high school, but maybe that's not what you initially had in mind. Now, I'm not going to deny that the wealth of knowledge and incite granted by traveling will be incalculable, and very well might give you a better understanding of what it is that's your calling in life. And besides that, it's just awesome. But say you took advantage gracious cover your parents provide. - You apply to college X, you get in to college X, and you do one of two things. a) convince your parents to let you defer enrollment for a year, work your tail off until September saving, head off until next August and enroll in school, having accomplished both goals. or b) forget travel this year and enroll in college. - From this point, you still have a wide variety of options: a) Study abroad is absolutely an immense experiance. Kill the college bird and get a chance to live elsewhere too. b) Get a work study program in another country, like an internship abroad. Learn the insides of international business. c) Go to school fully in the US and volunteer abroad in the summer and winter breaks. Or if either of those paths don't float your boat, just enroll directly into a foreign university and try fending for yourself in the wild. So this is where I tell you what you don't want to hear. While I'm very aware that travel is a great experiance, it will always be there. College will always be there too, but will it always be paid for, all amenities included? Probably not. And say you want to travel after college? I'm sure after four years of not seeing you all the time they wouldn't mind having you stay at the house for a few months so that you can save for your RTW. So unless you convince your parents that a gap year is the thing for you (you might try having them read Taking Time Off by Colin Hall and Ron Lieber if you're interested in this idea), then I'd say tough it out and get college out of the way. It's not that bad, despite what they say.  Either way though, you seem like a smart kid with ambition who will make it work out one way or the other, and regardless of what I said, the path you walk should be of your own resolve. Good luck. ______________________ Don't worry, I tend to make a big deal out of everything. Keep on keeping on. |
|||
|
|
Thorn Tree Refugee |
be careful with you money, get an atm card and credit card, memorize the pins, make a copy of all id and cards...keep in a safe place...good luck......never advertise how much money you have........chuck
>chuckyeo@hotmail.com< |
|||
|
Squat Toilet Professional |
Youngster,
I agree with Lynn: you sound like a very intelligent young person. Almost never do I say, don't travel. I'm not gonna do it now, either. I will say this: having a college degree can open some doors that would otherwise be closed to you. Go out and see the world. Enjoy your life, but don't limit your options. And don't get into credit card debt. It's a little something us sage folk know a little something about.  Jet P.S. I've posted this quote before, but since you're a Thorn Tree Refugee, here it is again. "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon "That would have been predictable. This way it's poetry." -- Joey the Lips, The Commitments |
|||
|
|
Thorn Tree Refugee |
Ryan, hows it going. I'm from New York, 26, college graduate, and obsessed with travel. All I can say is this - college was maybe the most fun 4 years of my life. I wouldnt trade that experience for anything. Oh yeah and i guess i learned some stuff too.
Having a degree is important in my opinion. Yeah it leads lots of people to graduate and spend meaningless lives sitting in a cubicle. But you seem to be a strong person and you don't have the FEAR like those people do. If you stay true to yourself college can only help you. Seriously, having a degree helps you to get just about ANY job - including those that you really may want. You shouldnt look at college in a negative way, or as an establishment that you must fight. Being educated is so important. In college you will meet tons of people and definitely grow as a person, and that's really what all life experiences are about - gaining perspective. Hell, you can study abroad for a semester or whatever. It's much harder to go back to school when you're older, and the social aspects will be totally different. So you want some sage-like advice? You're 18 now, and believe it or not, in many ways you will not be the same person when you are 26. Change is just a fact of life, and you don't always know where it will lead you. One of my biggest fears is feeling like I'm 'stuck' in life. Travel is great but it doesnt last forever - change is inevitable. Good luck. -Brian ------- You drink, you drive, you spill |
|||
|
Token Dork |
Wow, some really great responses (and one rather bizarre one). BnA people are the best.
I'll just add this....if you really want to travel before college...try to convince your parents that taking some time off to travel before you go to college might very well help you get more out of college when you do go (a bigger return on your parent's "investment"). Traveling will help you grow as a person, help you understand yourself better, etc. If you can persuade them in terms that they'd appreciate, it might help. Good luck. |
|||
|
Extra Pages in Passport |
It's hard to add to what's already been said, but I'm going to try.
I spent a lot of years at university and really have nothing to show for it. I dropped out earlier this semester because I was stressed out, unhappy, and hated 90% of my classes. From this perspective, I would say that if your not sure that your ready to commit to a college degree yet, then it's probably best to put it off. Now I don't know your parents, but my experience with mine, is that even if they're opposed to my decisions, when push comes to shove, they're not going to let me sleep in the street. If they're the type that was going to provide you with support to go to college, I'd guess that they'd still be willing to support that a year later. (Though again, I don't know your parents, so judge for yourself). At least try to convince them that there's a benefit to doing this now. Okay, on Spanish...I'd suggest not so much bothering taking classes before you leave. I don't speak Spanish, but my experience in learning French was that 10 years of french immersion education was a useful base, but I couldn't hold a conversation until I'd lived in Quebec for a couple months. There's lots of language schools in major south american cities (I believe Quito, Ecuador is a popular place to learn Spanish at the beginning of a South American backpacking trip), and you'll learn the language faster and better (and likely, cheaper) if you attend one of them. Make sure there's a homestay component that will force you to speak Spanish, and you should be good to go. Good luck with this choice. I'd say that if taking this trip would seriously jeopardize your having the opportunity to attend college in the forseeable future, then you should go to college, but if it's at all possible to travel now and go to college a year or two later, do the travelling. |
|||
|
Vagabonder |
Just to add my two cents... I thought about waiting and going to university later on, but finances and societal pressures sent me to university directly out of high school.
So, what did I do? I moved from Ontario to Nova Scotia, a good seventeen hour drive from my parents. I also immediately commenced researching terms abroad, going through a few options (Copenhagen, France) before finally deciding to jump in headfirst and head to Korea. I'm writing this from a Korean dorm room, and I don't regret my decision at all. Had I taken time off after high school, I don't know if I would have gone back for another few years. As it was pointed out above, I would have had to do some serious saving, travel, and then go back to the saving in order to pay for my education. I also didn't want to be that weird older kid in the class, who doesn't really fit in (we had a few of those). That being said, it sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders. If your parents kick you out, however, you will have a much harder time saving the money. Have you considered attending a university abroad? I know that Yonsei, where I'm on exchange in Korea, is trying to capitalize on its "Harvard of Korea" image by starting a new, English language, four year liberal arts programme next March, made up of students from all over the world and Korean nationals. If you're really interested in studying Spanish, maybe you could find a similar programme in a Spanish speaking country. I would have loved to spend my four years of university in a sophisticated, fabulous city like Buenos Aires. Although a lot of schools charge ridiculous international student fees, there are some places that you will find that are pretty decent. I think the Scandanavian countries are pretty good with tuition... ditto some in Western Europe. Do you have any ideas of what you want to do after your education? "When you grow up?" Haha. Oh yeah. Car insurance? Sell your car unless it's an absolute necessity. You'll save a bundle. |
|||
|
|
Knows What a Schengen Visa Is |
Hi Ryan,
It sounds like we have consensus over some things here, but it never hurts to have more peer pressure. First, I agree with the other comments that it sounds like even if you're uncertain what you want to do, you appear to at least be thinking carefully about both options. Regardless of which way you go, I'm worrying less about you than the other people our age who just say how much they hate their town and parents and want to never come back. From what you've written, my guess is that even if you travel now, you're hoping to go to college at some point. I agree with Almost Free that while your parents may sound hardline right now, if they're anything like a lot of parents, they'll relent eventually. That said, I think your best chance of getting to both go to college AND travel is to go to college first. As others have said, once you're in college, there are a ton of travel opportunities. I go to the University of Oregon, which is just a regular public school, but you can go to just about any country in the world and study for the same tuition, and still get financial aid, etc., if you qualify. Besides that, there are things like the IE3 Global Internships, Semester at Sea, etc. At my study abroad orientation, I saw that my school sends out hundreds of kids each year around the world, all of them getting to travel in a way that makes it more palatable for parents. If none of these structured things sound like fun, pick a school with a long winter break and early summers (so you can beat some of the high season), and travel independently then. I guess I'm basically trying to say that you can really blend these two options so that you aren't picking one over the other, but are doing both at the same time. Hell, I know lots of people who have done multiple study abroad programs (myself included); you could spend multiple years of your undergrad in foreign universities, comparing the Spanish of countries on multiple continents. This is really longwinded, but we're about the same age, and I've been considering some of these questions myself as I plan out my post-undergrad plans, so hopefully it's somewhat helpful. |
|||
|
Squat Toilet Professional |
I'll try to keep my two cents short and sweet. If you absolutely know what you want to do as a carrear or basic field of study, go to uni now and take advantage of any travel opps that you can through uni.
You sound like you do, though a lot of 18 year olds sound like they know exactly what they want to do but really have no clue. If thats the case travel now cause you'll just be wasting your time in school. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is the fact that even if after your travels your parents refuse to help with paying with school, odds are you'll be making a lot less than they do and thus qualify for more financial aid! "I'm forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air!" |
|||
|
|
Thorn Tree Refugee |
this is true. i feel like i am wasting time being school, when i have no clue what i want to do. i graduate in '07 and i am taking an RTW trip.
|
|||
|
|
Thorn Tree Refugee |
hillbillyhippie, where are you from?
|
|||
|
Vagabonder |
My question would be:
Are your parents going to pay for your college if you DON'T go on your trip, and NOT going to pay if you do? It kinda sounded like that in your earlier post. If so, it seems a no brainer.... Please can I go back to Thailand |
|||
|
|
Thorn Tree Refugee |
Ohhh man! Thank you all so much for all these posts! I'm incredibly tired, so I haven't been able to collect my thoughts as well as I'd like, but these all seem to be very insightful and caring. I have sort of come to a conclusion on this, but I'll post more about that tommorow when I'm in a better frame of mind. But again, thank you all for taking the time to give me some advice, and I hope you have a great Easter weekend!
|
|||
|
|
Thorn Tree Refugee |
Yo dude! I travelled S A at the age of 22. Columbia, ecuador peru. you can do it and the best mode of transportation, would be bus. don't take the express buses. more expensive, and not the immersion into the culture and language that you desire. no bicycle. Don't fuckup your college experience. there is nothing like it, and your growth will be phenomenal. you can be just as excited as you are about travelling as you can about your education. travelling will come when the time is right. no sweat. don't force a square peg in a round hole. i'm kinda taoist about it all. scott b |
|||
|