Comments on: How To Fund Your Travels With Creativity

By: Why Entrepreneurs Should Consider Starting A Biz Overseas | RecentGradsOnly.com

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:00:01 +0000

[...] Earl Baron, a perennial nomad and world traveler, created a straightforward but clever business selling English lessons in [...]

By: Earl

Earl — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:55:01 +0000

Hey David – I actually just began my travels with $1500 in my bank account and no plan to travel for so long. Once I decided I wanted to travel indefinitely, I started teaching English in Thailand, earning just enough to pay rent in a good apartment and enjoy myself over there until I figured out a new plan. My next step involved working on board cruise ships as a Tour Manager, something I did on and off over a period of 8 years. And once I decided to leave ships behind for good, I began working on my online projects and businesses.

I did not have a job to begin with as, after graduation, I worked as a substitute teacher for a few months and then began traveling. And in terms of visas, when I taught in Thailand, I was simply there on a tourist visa that I renewed every 30 days by crossing into Myanmar for lunch and then crossing back into Thailand

By: david

david — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:43:19 +0000

I have a few questions. I’m currently in China (Qingdao) teaching English. It’s been about five months and I’m bored. I want to move around. How much money (rmb) did you collectively start with to get your housing taken care of and food until you got your independent work off the ground? Did you have another job to subsidize your living costs? How did you get your visa situation worked out? Did you just head out with some savings and try to make money afterwards? If you had a job to begin with when (if you did) did you abandon your “job”?

By: Earl

Earl — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:09:36 +0000

Hey Kat – Thank you so much for the comment and consider yourself steps ahead if you already know that you want to do some traveling and are ready to make that happen. The key to getting started is to simply look at all the factors involved. If you are going to have $1,500 to start off with, then Australia and Japan should probably be taken off the list as both of those countries are very expensive. So I would try and choose another destination that still appeals to you but that is much cheaper to travel around as this will remove much of the pressure of having to watch every dollar you spend and worrying about whether or not you can afford your next meal. And considering that you’re young and you have plenty of time to travel, don’t worry about trying to get to the perfect destination on your first trip. Just get out there and start traveling, anywhere!

And exchange rates and all that stuff shouldn’t be a worry at all. Once you get out there in the world and you are forced to deal with all of those things, you’ll pick it up quite quickly and soon enough it will all become natural. Hopefully the travel book you ordered will help but in the end, the best way to learn is to just communicate with other travelers and to get out there and start traveling yourself!

By: Kat

Kat — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:50:01 +0000

P.s… Its amazing how you have picked up languages along the way, I would LOVE to speak another language besides english but have always thought it would be wayyy to difficult for me personally

By: Kat

Kat — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:46:18 +0000

Wow! Firstly I would just like to say that what you are doing here is so self-less and inspirational! So thankyou for all of your help you seem like a really decent open-minded experienced person and its so refreshing to see you using your knowledge to empower others!
I am 20 years old and have a-levels behind me, but have decided to travel next year rather than go to university which I can do at any point in my life…
At the moment Im working full-time trying to save some money, with all other expenses aside Ive worked out that I will probally have about 1 & 1/2 to 2 thousand saved up by the time Im ready to up and leave. I have the right mind set to do this, its a dream waiting to happen! Amongst other things I have much strength and creativity which you have highlighted the importance of. I also have hope and faith, there is so much I want to acheive including a novel which will take years but gotta start somehwhere?! I think teaching english is an amazing idea. Everything you have written has related to me. I understand that travel is not all about money but using the resources around you to the maximum, grabbing every opportunity with both hands and appreciating whatever positivity comes your way.
I beleive I can do this… But Earl there are a couple of things which make the beginning of this journey very un-clear for me…A bit blurry…
Where the hell do I start! The problem with me is that my weaknesses are geography/history/numbers & figures etc… I meen geography is my worsttt subject a couple of years back I thought liverpool was a country lol! How would I know where to head off to first or the expense of living in different places, I dont understand exchange rates, its all alien to me The world awaits me, its calling my name…It fascinates me but I am clueless!
I have ordered a book from amazon called “The travel book” by lonely planet publications…Im hoping it gives me a better insight as to where I want to go, what would benifit me personally and give me some info about other countries/cultures. I just need a sense of direction as I truely dont know where to start…theres so many places I would love to explore, from the top of my head japan!…I have a friend who went to austrailia to travel last year, he wanted me to leave everything behind and go too but I needed to finish college and save, Im sure he wouldnt mind me visiting which could be a good starting point but ultimately I would prefer doing this alone. Any advise you could offer would be much appreciated, thanks again
- Kat

By: The A to Z of Gap Year Travel | The Working Traveller

The A to Z of Gap Year Travel | The Working Traveller — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 03:27:46 +0000

[...] option is to set yourself up in a park and offer private lessons just like Wandering Earl did in Chiang [...]

By: Earl

Earl — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:47:28 +0000

Hey Liana – At this point, I can speak Spanish decently but that’s about it apart from the basics of several languages. Basically, when you teach English, your students will generally already have a basic understanding of English and you will be required to teach your classes only in English (as this helps the students learn much more quickly). As a result, knowledge of the local language is not necessary. Trust me, there are thousands upon thousands of people teaching English around the world and the overwhelming majority of them are not fluent in the local language at all!

By: Liana

Liana — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 04:08:12 +0000

Hi! I’ve always wanted to travel and i really thought I’d have to have a lot of money to do it. I thought comfortable travel would be completely out of reach for me, but your story has really inspired me. One question I have for you though: How many languages do you know?
As of now i only know English and Italian. How did you teach English to people who didn’t speak the languages you speak?

By: Earl

Earl — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:03:30 +0000

Hey Kristen – I know it can be a challenge to get started but it’s one of those things where if you can somehow figure out a way to make it happen, chances are you won’t regret that decision. So even if it takes a little more time to get in a position where you can travel, just think about how happy you’ll be when you board that first flight!