Jeannie Mark

http://www.nomadicchick.com

Age: Late Thirties

Hometown: Vancouver, BC

Quote: “This is my dream, let me live it.”

How did you find out about Vagabonding, and how did you find it useful? Interestingly enough, when I began contemplating a trip longer than 2 months.  Useful is not an accurate description, more like inspirational.  I had inklings of long term travel, but never a fully loaded concept at my fingertips.  Vagabonding put a definition to my hunger, showing me that the slow journeys are sometimes the most fulfilling.  So, yes, quite useful!

What is your job or source of travel funding for this journey? I had the luxury of a corporate job, so managed to sock away savings.

Do you plan to work on the road? Ah yes, the goal is to never return to that corporate job.  While on the road, I hope to make a go of it as a travel writer.  The reason is simple: I adore travel and writing, why not combine the two?  If that proves sparse, hopefully an epiphany will hit me on how to generate online income to supplement.

What was the reaction of your friends/family/colleagues as you planned your trip? Most of my friends are travelers, so their reaction was vastly supportive.  My family, not so much initially.  They pointed out that I’m not in my twenties any longer, and could I handle the pace?  I couldn’t reassure them of that, nor guarantee I wasn’t ruining my future.  I simply told them, “This is my dream, let me live it, as I would let you.”  So far, they are!

Any tips or lessons learned from the travel-preparation process?

1. Pack light – cut in half what you intended to pack.
2. Use social media – it’s there to offer support and tips/tricks.
3. Prepare yourself mentally/emotionally – everyone covers the incidentals, but not the core – you.  You are the one doing this, are you actually ready?

How long do you hope to spend on the road? I hope to long haul it for a year, but the idea is to probably morph into an expat somewhere.  I need to log some countries before I decide on one.

Which destinations do you hope to visit? One of my dreams has been to volunteer overseas, so first stop will be India.  After that, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia.  Frankly, the list is endless.

Which experiences are you most looking forward to? This sounds bizarre – breathing fresh air.  After being trapped in a corporate job for most of my adult life, I can’t wait to be present in open air.  Of course, the rest follows on the list – cultural interactions, traveler camaraderie, the smell of a new city, all those juicy things.

What are you packing for the journey?

• Camera.
• Laptop.
• SmartPhone (future purchase).
• External hard drive.
• Small compression pack of clothes.
• Smaller compression pack of toiletries.
• Keen sandals/Low fi hikers.
• Medical kit.
• Passport – most important item.
• Debit cards/credit cards.
• Lightweight sleeping bag.
• One person tent.

Do you have any worries or concerns about the journey? Probably monetary – running out of funds.  I grew up in a family where money was scarce, thus its best to hoard it. Other than that, the main factors of the trip don’t concern me.  My psyche is ready for this journey.  All the obvious worries such as navigation, bad hostels, missed airplanes, even loneliness are part and parcel to this adventure.  Bring it on!

How can we best follow your adventures?

My website and Twitter.  Those will be the 2 most frequented mediums to follow my movements.  Or even Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/nomadicchick.

Are you a Vagabonding reader planning, in the middle of, or returning from a journey? Would you like your travel blog or website to be featured on Vagabonding Case Studies? If so, drop us a line at casestudies@vagabonding.net and tell us a little about yourself.