Updating the “Vagabonding” resources: Week 1, Chapter 2
In case you missed it, last week I announced that Rolf’s book, Vagabonding, will be going into a second edition within the year, complete with a fully updated resources section. We put a call out for you to help us update that resource section for the second edition, and this is the first week in a 10-week-long series asking for those website links, books, and other resources that fit into the various categories found in the book.
Chapter 2 of Vagabonding deals with four topics ranging from quitting your job, to finding careers overseas and general travel safety. Let’s first look at the resources for each category in detail as they appeared in the first edition of the book, and then I’ll start things off with some suggestions of my own.
Sabbaticals, unpaid leave, and quitting your job
Six Months Off: How to Plan, Negotiate, and Take the Break You Need without Burning Bridges or Going Broke, by Hope Dlugozima, James Scott and David Sharp (Henry Holt, 1996)
A detailed, action-oriented how-to book about planning and negotiating employee sabbaticals and leaves of absence.
Time Off from Work: Using Sabbaticals to Enhance Your Life While Keeping Your Career on Track by Lisa Angowski Rogak (John Wiley & Sons, 1994)
A practical guide to planning and implementing sabbaticals. Includes tips on long-term financial planning.
I-Resign.com
Online advice on how to diplomatically quit your job, sample resignation letters, discussion boards about quitting, tips on finding a new job.
Finding jobs and careers overseas
Work Worldwide: International Career Strategies for the Adventurous Job Seeker by Nancy Mueller (Avalon Travel Publishing, 2000)
Step-by-step advice on how to research, apply for, and get an international job.
Work Abroad: The Complete Guide to Finding a Job Overseas by Clayton A. Hubbs, Susan Griffith, William T. Nolting (Transitions Abroad, 2000)
Practical guide for finding jobs overseas. Country-by-country listings of employers and organizations.
Overseas Jobs
Online information and resources regarding international jobs, careers and work. Country-specific online job listings.
Overseas Digest
Employment tips and cross-cultural information for Americans working abroad.
Teaching English Overseas: A Job Guide for Americans and Canadians by Jeff Mohamed (English International, 2000)
A comprehensive practical guide for finding English teaching jobs overseas. Includes detailed information and advice on choosing a training program, teaching without training, and how to conduct a successful job search. Useful companion website.
Dave’s ESL Café
One of the oldest and most useful Internet resources for overseas English teachers and job seekers. Includes discussion forums and job listings.
International employment references
International Jobs: Where They Are, How to Get Them by Eric Kocher, Nina Segal (Perseus Press, 1999)
International Jobs Directory : A Guide to over 1001 Employers by Ronald L. Krannich, Caryl Rae Krannich (Impact Publications, 1999)
The Directory of Jobs and Careers Abroad by Elisabeth Roberts, Jonathan Packer (Vacation-Work, 2000)
Travel safety
U.S. State Department Travel Warnings
State Department Consular Information Sheets are available for every country of the world, describing national entry requirements, currency regulations, unusual health conditions, the crime and security situations, political disturbances, and areas of instability. In the event of a specific and current danger in a country, a special “Travel Warning” is posted alongside the consular information.
World Travel Watch
Travel publishers Larry Habegger and James O’Reilly have been writing this weekly travel safety and security update since 1985. Succinct, current and useful information about dangers and disturbances (and odd happenings in general) around the world.
“A Safe Trip Abroad” Online Tipsheet
Available online, this Department of State tipsheet has good, basic information for keeping out of danger overseas. Included are tips for staying safe from pickpockets and general crime, as well as political violence and terrorism. Online links lead to specific tipsheets on travel to the Caribbean, Central and South America, China, Mexico, the Middle East, Russia, and South Asia.
The World’s Most Dangerous Places by Robert Young Pelton (Harper Resource, 2000)
An extensive guide to the danger zones of the world, by journalist Robert Pelton. This book evaluates the danger factor in destinations around the globe (including the United States), as well as providing relevant historical, cultural and geographical information. “The message is that travel can be dangerous if you want it to be and it can be very safe if you want it to be,” writes Pelton. “Even in a war zone.”
What Every American Should Know About the Rest of the World by Melissa Rossi (Plume, 2003)
A useful and entertaining crash-course on global political science, current events, foreign affairs, and history.
I’ll get the ball rolling:
For Finding jobs and careers overseas, I highly recommend Susan Griffith’s Work Your Way Around the World, and Mark Ehrman’s Getting Out: Your Guide to Leaving America. And for Travel Safety, I’ll offer Robert Young Pelton’s website, ComeBackAlive.com. The Australian government also keeps a handy travel advisory website called SmarterTraveller.
Now it’s your turn. What websites, books, or other resources are missing from the list? It’s important to suggest web resources that are going to have some kind of permanence; a blog that’s only been around for a few months, for instance, wouldn’t be a safe bet.
Now let’s see what you come up with!
Next week, we’ll be tackling chapter 3, which includes resources for lifestyle simplicity, money management, and vagabonding with children.
January 28th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Matador Travel (www.matadortravel.com) has a section devoted to listing opportunities (internships, volunteer positions, and real paying jobs) all around the world. At last check, there were 1300 listings: https://matadortravel.com/idealist
While you’re browsing the listings, think about joining the Matador community! Networking there has already led me and others I know to guidebook writing stints, (paid) published articles, couches to sleep on, new friends, and more. I know I sound like a PR hack right now, but seriously, it’s a fantastic site.
January 28th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Thanks, Eva. I’ve heard of Matador but haven’t really looked into it much. I’m gonna head over there and see what it’s all about.
As for other resources for working overseas, I’d recommend Transitions Abroad, PeaceCorps.gov, and Craigslist, which covers just about every decent-sized city in the world.
January 28th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Take a look at
http://www.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk
http://www.yoursafeplanet.co.uk
http://www.voluntourism.org
all of which offer advice and opportunities to travel responsibly
January 31st, 2008 at 6:29 am
There are a few new sabbatical/career break books on the scene since Vagabonding was published:
– The Family Sabbatical Handbook (https://www.familysabbatical.com)
– Power Sabbatical
– Escape 101 (https://www.escape-101.com)
I haven’t read Power Sabbatical yet – it came out right around the same time as ours, but The Family Sabbatical Handbook’s a solid read.
Good luck with the next edition!