It’s here!

This week is the culmination of months of behind-the-scenes work. My book, The Career Break Traveler’s Handbook, is finally here. Since I started my trip back in 2007, I had dreams of writing my own travel book. Then when I started Career Break Secrets, I had dreams of writing my own book. And all along the way, my aunt kept encouraging me to write a book. But, the management of the site and working to get The Career Break Travel Show (coming soon!) launched precluded me spending any time on trying to figure out the publishing world.

The Power of the Network

Late last year Janice Waugh, author of The Solo Traveler’s Handbook, told me that she wanted to expand her book into a series. As you can see from the review of the Solo Traveler’s Handbook (1st edition), I was a fan. She offered me the chance to be a part of the first wave of travel style books under her label, Full Flight Press, and I accepted without hesitation. At the same time, the other authors came on board: Jodi Ettenberg to focus on food travel, Sarah & Terry Lee to focus on luxury travel and Shannon O’Donnell to focus on volunteer travel. Janice took the opportunity to produce the 2^nd edition of her book on solo travel. It’s always great to work with smart people who are experts in their field. The Traveler’s Handbooks series was born.

Why a Career Break Book?

Frankly, I wanted to have a resource that made it easy for anyone with a dream of a career break to get started quickly. There’s a lot of information out there about taking a career break and blogs filled with stories and adventures of people who are out there doing it right now. That’s great for amplifying the amount of information that’s available for the people planning their trip right now. But, it also adds to the time you need to comb through it all to find what they need. And, you still have to piece together your own plan.

My goal was to take the information and put it together in a way that helps you get going and get planning. Not only that, I want you to be able to have a process to follow so you don’t forget any important details.

Finally, there are so many people that I’ve met during and after my career break who have stories worth telling. I try to cover as many as I can on the site. And, the book has many more. Some are stories I’ve told on the site already while others I haven’t. I could have included so many more and I felt bad that I couldn’t include more. I tried to focus on one aspect of their story to help illustrate the various themes of the book. Having those stories also highlights that there are a lot more people than known taking breaks, they come all walks of life and do it for a variety of reasons.

What’s Inside

• The book is only about 110 pages. So, you can get through it quickly
• There are over 20 photos from around that world that I took that will hopefully fuel your wanderlust
• 13 stories from current and former career breakers
• 4 sections covering the career break lifecycle
  • Deciding puts the career break in perspective of your overall life and career, explains why it’s not selfish to take a break, highlights the scientific benefits of taking a break and ends with a pep talk
  • Peace of Mind Planning takes you step by step on how to prepare so you can fully relax once you leave knowing you are ready for anything that comes your way. I cover what you need to do before you quit, how to come out of the career break closet, the art of career break budgeting, planning where to go, dealing with your health, packing and tech tips and more
  • Making the Most of Your Trip gives you ideas for how to maximize the time you have whether you have have one month or one year. I start by highlighting the 3 types of activities that career breakers do, how to adjust to a ¨free¨ life, how to deal with loneliness, how to stay safe physically, digitally and protect your belongings, my list of budget stretchers and discuss whether you should work or not
  • Re-entry helps you get going again once you’re back from adjusting to life back home, how to restart your networking and how to position your career break to prospective employers
• Resource lists (over a dozen) that cover the following:
  • accommodation
  • career break and related books for further reading
  • career break TV and films
  • other career break resources
  • budgeting and money management
  • connecting with locals and other travelers
  • finding great dining experiences
  • flights
  • health and health insurance resources
  • re-entry resources
  • registering your trip
  • free blogging and communication options
  • volunteering resources
  • naturally a list of the other books in the series

And finally, you can check out the Table of Contents and read a sample chapter.

Reviews of the Career Break Traveler’s Handboook

I’m trying to capture the reviews as they come out. Here are the latest of what I’ve seen so far.

“I found the taking of sabbaticals the single most successful strategy in helping me to look at my work as a calling, rather than just as a job. Jeff Jung tells you how to go about it.”
Stefan Sagmeister
Grammy Award winning Art Director and Graphic Designer
Author and TED Speaker
___________________________________________________________________________________
“Jeff Jung helps us realize that Career Breaks are important aspects of our work lives. As a 5-time career changer, talent and career take time to play, study, explore and really live. We are so much more productive, imaginative and interesting when we do these things, and that leads to innovation and a competitive advantage for our careers and the organizations we work for. Taking a Career Break is a “must-do” and this book is a “must-read.”
Ginny Clarke
CEO of Talent Optimization Partners, LLC
Author of Career Mapping: Charting Your Course in the New World of Work
___________________________________________________________________________________
“This book covers everything. From how to quit your job to how to pack your bags, it’s all in there. If you’re ready to turn that secret travel dream you’ve been ignoring all these years into reality, this is your starting point.”
Dan Clements
Author of Escape 101
___________________________________________________________________________________
“Perhaps you have been dreaming about taking a career break. After reading the career break travelers handbook, you will move from dream to action. With inspiring stories, practical advice and an overall can-do, should-do, will-do spirit, this book will have you asking yourself why you’ve waited so long. Even if your career break is not possible today, you will get step by step strategies to ensure your career will not slip away without one.”
Julie Bauke
CEO, The Bauke Group
Author of Stop Peeing on Your Shoes: Avoiding the 7 Mistakes That Screw Up Your Job Search

Where to Buy The Career Break Traveler’s Handbook

The book is in both paperback and electronic versions. It is currently rolling out around the world. Here are the places where you can buy them

• US
  • Amazon.com (paperback and Kindle)
  • BarnesandNoble.com (paperback. Nook Coming Soon)
  • Sony Coming Soon!
  • Kobo
  • iBook Store Coming Soon!
  • Copia
• UK
  • Waterstones (paperback)
  • W.H. Smith (paperback and Kobo)
  • Amazon.co.uk (paperback and Kindle)
  • iBook Store Coming Soon!
  • Copia
  • Hammicks Legal
  • The Book Depository (paperback)
  • Eddington Hook
• Canada
  • Amazon.ca (paperback and Kindle)
  • iBook Store Coming Soon!
  • Kobo
  • Copia
• Australia
  • BetterRead
• Croatia
  • Superbookshop
• Estonia
  • Kristosomus
• India
  • BookAdda
• Japan
  • Amazon
  • Junkudo
• Italy
  • Bol
  • IBS
• Latvia
  • Kristosomus
• New Zealand Coming Soon!
• Norway
  • Bokklubben
  • Studia
• Romania
  • Books Express
• Sweden
  • Bokus
• Wholesalers
  • Baker & Taylor Coming Soon!
  • Alibris (UK) 
  • Gardner’s (UK)
  • Lehmann’s (Germany)

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Book ‘Em Jeffo is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

At a protest in Buenos Aires. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

How to stay safe while traveling around the world on your career break is something we all think about. For some, it can cause paralytic fear, but for most dealing with safety issues is a matter of preparation, making smart decisions, becoming more comfortable with the world as you find it and learning as you go, from your own travel experiences and from other travelers. Smarter travel is possible in this case to help avoid getting into nasty situations.

In January at the Year Out Expo, I met fellow speaker Charlie McGrath. He runs Objective Travel Safety, an organization that helps train all types of people and organizations on how to be safe while abroad and how to respond in case there is a crisis. I had the chance recently to talk to Charlie about staying safe while traveling on a career break.

1. Do you have an overall philosophy about how travelers should approach safety to plan properly?

Researching their destinations is the key, the need to understand enough about the culture, environmental issues( earthquakes etc) crime rate etc so they can ‘aim off’ and so avoid trouble.

2. What’s the scariest safety situation you’ve been in or been called to help with?

I was hijacked at gunpoint in Iraq which wasn’t too good! But cooperated and therefore survived.

3. For people thinking about taking a career break to travel the world, what are the biggest safety or security issues that are most likely to face?

Crime and road traffic accidents are the big 2 with disease/illness some way behind.

4. What are the concerns that people typically have about traveling the world that are least likely to happen?

Getting blown up or kidnapped. Its inevitable that the threat of terrorism dominates the media but the reality is very different. India is a good example, remember the Nov 2009 Mumbai bombing- huge headlines, 180 odd people killed but on average 250 die on India roads every day!

5. What are the biggest safety mistakes that career breakers tend to make while traveling?

Difficult question! I suppose being too worried about safety and not exploring enough, in general terms the further off the beaten track you go often the safer you are,

6. Are there some steps you can take before you leave that are either preventative or can help you in case something does happen while you’re traveling?

Yes many. Acknowledge that crime and road traffic accidents will be greatest threat and prepare. Know where the crime areas are, travel with a mixture of money- casdh, cards, possibly travelers cheques and expected to be mugged at some stage. There only go out with what you need, some cash perhaps one card and leave rest behind in hotle safety deposit box or with host. If you get mugged you just hand over enough to satisfy aggressor (having a reserve in a shoe or bra is also handy. Wear a seat belt at every opportunity.

7. When I was traveling around, I noticed that as my confidence as a traveler grew, my fears of something bad happening dropped. Is that normal or had I lulled myself into a false sense of security?

No I would say this is normal and looking confidence is good (but not over confident). To avoid crime there are 3 key things; lower your profile (rings/watches off), Be aware( know where the dodgy parts of town are)  & look confident.

8. There are any number of products being sold out claiming to help you keep yourself and your things safe. To me many of them seem unnecessary and a waste of money. Are there any that you recommend that really are worth buying?

I agree. A couple of padlocks are useful to hotel/hostel lockers, a door guard/wedge can be handy to stop unwanted visitors in the night- amazing how many female report the hotel heating engineer needing to check their radiator at 2 am.

9. Given the role that the internet plays in helping the traveler do research, stay in touch with friends and family, bank, etc., what tips do you have for people to help keep their personal information safe and secure while traveling?

If possible get money transfers done by a friend or relation at home rather than internet café. Travel money credit cards such as Caxton FX (separate from you bank accounts) are good.

10. Staying healthy and not getting sick on the road is a concern for all travelers. Is there a basic first aid kit you recommend for travelers? What types of medicines should travelers just buy on the road?

A simple travel pack is good but do take some antiseptic cream, oral rehydration salts if you get the runs. Ciprofloxacin is a good broad based antibiotic. Be very careful buying anti malaria tablets abroad, especially if they seem too cheap, too many counterfeit drugs around. ,

11. What is your take on the US, UK and other governmental safety warnings?

Are they really useful to travelers? I ask because in my opinion, they seem to cast countries in very black and white terms – safe or not safe – with no room for nuance. Or, am I just cynical? I do think they are a good starting point as many travelers will do very little research. Yes they may over stress risks but I find the Brit FCO always has some useful advise.

12. What are some of the things you personally do or pack to help you be better prepared while traveling?

I always take a head torch – vital, hand gel to keep hands clean/reduce disease threat & know what the local passionate sport so I can chat to taxi drivers & hotel staff.

12. Finally, what are your favorite places to travel that are a bit off the beaten track?

Romania, was N Pakistan but probably too dangerous now, Chile.

About Charlie:

Charlie McGrath

Charlie McGrath spent 15 years as an Army Officer. He spent five years on operations in Northern Ireland but also saw service in Central America, Southern Africa and during the First Gulf War. He was awarded the MBE for his work in South Africa during the country’s first democratic elections in 1994.  Prior to joining the army he spent a year traveling in South America and has traveled widely thereafter. His company, Objective Travel Safety, provides safety training to a range of clients including journalists and NGOs operating in hostile environments, business professionals and young students travelers embarking on their Gap Year. Objective also provided the training to Ewan McGregor & Charlie Boorman prior to their ‘Long Way Round’ and ‘Long Way Down’ motorbike adventure.  When possible he continues to travel whenever possible. During his time in the army led an expedition across the Sahara desert, spent his honey moon in Papua New Guinea. His second gap year was in India, Pakistan, Burma & Thailand and more recently has travelled in Malawi, Zambia, Romania, Laos, Thailand, the Lebanon and Israel.

How Safe Is It to Travel While on Your Career Break? is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

It's the end of the career break road. Time to go back. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

You haven’t even left and now I’m asking you to think and plan for reentry? Yup. In some ways, this is the easiest part of the budget. Similar to any budget, the formula is simply:

Average daily spend X Days before earning a salary = Re-Entry Budget

See! Easy peasy!

I know, I know. That’s not the whole story, is it? There’s a lot that will go into figuring out how much your spend will be. To be conservative, you could use the same number you calculated from your current daily spend in estimating your travel budget. Essentially, whatever you spend today, plan for that.

That only leaves one tiny little detail. How much time will you be looking for a job before you are drawing a salary again? I can’t tell  you how much time to budget for. But, I can give you some factors to think about as you set your budget. I would love to know how long reentry takes on average. As soon as I know, I will let you know. But, in the meantime, setting this part of the budget is more art than science.

Factors For Setting Your Re-Entry Career Break Budget 

• Do you have a job waiting for you? Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones who works for an understanding, progressive company
• What are the general economic conditions? Hard to tell, right? Especially ever since 2008-2009.
• Start up living costs needed. Do you have any extraordinary costs that you need to incur to get started again?
• Moving expenses. Are you returning to the same city/town or are you going to be starting fresh somewhere else? For most people, you are naturally going back to the same city. But, if the career break comes during a transition period of your life, you may be heading somewhere new to start fresh. Plan accordingly.
• Changing your career or same career? Generally speaking, I would tell you that if you are going to be staying in the same career or profession, your search time for a new job will be less. Why? All of your contacts, expertise, know-how is in that industry. If you are looking to change careers, you should plan for it to take a bit longer. How much? No idea. But, you are restarting without a support structure and industry colleagues to help guide your way. This might be shortened if you used part of your career break to build some skills or knowledge in this new area. Either way, it will impact your search time.

Anyone re-entered and have any thoughts or care to share your experience? Let me know in the comments below.

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Career Break Budgeting Part 4: Reentry Budget is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Six Steps Toward Freedom: A personal story

Six Steps Toward Freedom: A personal story is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Back in 2000, I took a trip with a friend who had been invited up to Avon, Colorado to see a new project by Sheraton. Set at the base of Beaver Creek, Avon is a simple town. Of course, it’s hard to compete when your neighbors are Vail and Beaver Creek. Actually, Beaver Creek and Avon are really one town with a big security gate dividing the two. Long story short, she didn’t buy into the property, I did. I moved to Texas a few years later and continued my journey up making a big road trip from Texas to Colorado.

For years I really got great use out of my timeshare property. Every August during the week before Labor Day, I took off to enjoy the mountains, do a bit of hiking, and just relax. I’ve always been a big mountain fan whether they be the Rockies, the Andes in Bariloche or traveling to Torres Del Paine in Patagonia, twice. I loved that time period at the end of summer. The weather was great, there weren’t too many tourists around. I felt like I had the whole place to myself (almost). But, there was just enough activity to keep things interesting, unlike my no-season trip to the area last October.

But, then my career break came and I wasn’t really sure what to do. Do I keep it? Do I sell it? Do I use my exchange company to access some great resorts around the world? Since then, I’ve discovered a number of options. And, depending on what fits your circumstance, you have options. So, here you go.

Options to Manage Your Timeshare on Your Career Break

1. Sell. If you really just want out, don’t want to deal with your annual dues, how to pay them, etc, you always have the option to sell.
2. Use the exchange services. In Colombia, my mom came to visit. So, I took the opportunity to fly to San Andres to spend a week hanging out. I also made plans to use a banked week in Hurghada, Egypt. We changed our plans and went on a felucca ride up the Nile. So, I lost a bit of money (and my banked week) as a result. But, I don’t regret. If your timeshare is affiliated with RCI or II, there are lots of places around the world you can check out. Keep in mind that local demand and vacation times may restrict your ability to find a place. So, you don’t have to sell your timeshare and you can still benefit from the ownership while you’re traveling.
3. Rent your week. Timeshare rental has become more and more popular over the past few years allowing the owner to recoup their maintenance fees and still keep the property for future years. I’m actually trying to figure right now if I’m going to do it this year.

By the way, if you want to buy a timeshare, check out my place in Colorado.

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This post was made possible by Sell My Timeshare Now. It’s also the service I’m using to try to sell my own timeshare. As always, opinions are my own.

Options for Your Timeshare On Your Career Break is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Gondolas resting until the snow comes again. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

In October while back in the US, I had the chance to spend some quality time with mom and dad. As I’ve made my home as an expat in Colombia, that time is becoming ever more precious. Colorado is a favorite of us all. So, we made the road trip from Texas to Colorado in one…long…day trip.

It wasn’t ski season yet, so I didn’t expect in terms of crowds. And, I always preferred to go to the mountains in the summertime, low season when I lived in Denver. We headed off to the Vail Valley, my favorite. I typically go to Avon. It’s not the most charming town compared to some of the others around it. But, it’s central to many of the little towns in the area and I’ve made a couple of friends there. While I was prepared for few travelers, I wasn’t prepared for this.

It was desolate!

CLOSED!

Everywhere we went, shops were closed, restaurants were empty, streets were quiet. It was as close to a ghost town as I had ever seen the area. Normally, I wouldn’t mind. But, this was eerie.

A Reality Check While Exploring Edwards

I went out a couple of days with mom to walk around Edwards, Vail and Beaver Creek. Nothing was open. We often couldn’t escape from the seasonal biting wind because the shops were closed. And, what was open, wasn’t that interesting.

This was worth going out for - Larkburger's truffle fries

The one ray of hope was finding Larkburger in Edwards. I usually prefer to go to the Gore Range Brewery. But, on the tip of a local, we went for burgers for lunch one day. I think we were only the second customers all day. The burger was great, but the truffle and parmesan fries were to die for. They are a buck more than the traditional fries, but worth it. I may have to divide my loyalties on my next trip to the area.

I’ve also decided that I don’t like Edwards very much. There’s not a lot of charm to it. I guess I never noticed before. Barren streets. No hustle. No Bustle. And, the architecture seemed soulless. There are exactly two reasons to go to Edwards: Larkburger and the Gore Range Brewery.

Where are the people in Edwards?

What About Beaver Creek?

The park made for a great lunch setting

Mom and I decided to head out to Beaver Creek for lunch. Fearing that nothing would be open, we stopped off at the Avon Bakery and Deli to pick up sandwiches for a picnic in the park. This bakery is the bomb. Homemade, artisan breads, rolls, breakfast sandwiches, sweets. You can’t go wrong here. The only thing that left a bad taste in my mouth was the service: slow and unfriendly. Having said that, the food was so good we continued to go back. And, not once did we get good friendly service. Don’t miss this place, but don’t stick around once you have your goodies.

Once we got up to Beaver Creek (free parking, yes!) we encountered an equally deserted town. But, it’s friggin’ Beaver Creek. We headed to a little park in the sun, listened to the babbling brooks and hear what few aspen leaves were left fluttering in the light, crisp breeze. By the way, mom’s BLT from the Avon Bakery was awesome! Here it was actually nice to have the whole place to ourselves. When you have this kind of natural beauty around, you don’t want a lot of people nearby.

The town center was vacated mostly. It was weird. I didn’t like that.

Surely Vail Can’t Disappoint

Eerily beautiful Vail

Yes it can. Sigh. Trust me, it pains me to write this. Mom and I headed off to explore Vail, maybe do a little shopping and grab a bite to eat. The weather conspired against us. Cold drizzle followed us all morning. Normally, that wouldn’t be a big deal. I’ve been to Vail plenty of times when the weather wasn’t perfect. But, with other things going on in town, it was part of the ambience. This time, with the town closed down (practically), there weren’t many places for us to spend our time. After grabbing a hot chocolate to go at the local Starbucks, we headed back to the hotel.

Lesson Learned?

Statue from Beaver Creek

I learned that as much as I like getting off the beaten path or going to places in their off-season, you can go when it is too off. Part of the charm of the Vail Valley, or any small town area, is that you can escape the crowds and have the place more to yourself. But, I also learned that I need more stimuli. I will certainly go back. I’ve been going up for most of the past 10 years and I won’t stop. And, it was great to have the time with my parents. But, lesson learned, there is a difference between off season and no season.

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The Difference Between Off Season Travel and No Season is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Janice enjoying some crickets in Mexico. Copyright SoloTravelerBlog.com

Are you excited by the thought of taking a career break, but daunted by the prospect of doing it alone? I understand. I have friends who can’t bring themselves to go to the movies alone in their hometown. So, to find the courage to take a trip by themselves, especially overseas, is tough to do.

But, a community is forming on the internet of current and future solo travelers. Collectively, they help each other make the leap to take that first solo trip and support each other to continue traveling. The emerging leader of the solo travel movement is Janice Waugh, publisher of The Solo Traveler Blog and founder of the recently formed Solo Travel Society.

She recently published The Solo Traveler Handbook: For those who love and those who long to go solo. On a recent trip between Canada and Colombia, I finally had a chance to read the book.

The Solo Traveler Handbook Review

Copyright SoloTravelerBlog.com

One of the first things you learn is that this subject is personal for Janice. Having lost her husband at a young age, she found herself widowed in her 40s. Traveling solo provided the catharsis that helped heal her and give her life renewal. So, when Janice speaks on the subject of solo travel, you better listen.

The books blends story narration and lots of tips to help give the reader inspiration and perspiration (Janice’s tips are real, actionable and plentiful). Janice doesn’t shy away from the downsides. There is an entire chapter devoted to safety and security. Starting with her first solo adventure in Cuba after her husband died to an awful con encounter in Paris, Janice has a lot to discuss and share. Her safety priorities, principles and tips will serve any new solo traveler well, and aren’t a bad reminder for the seasoned soloists.

What I like most about the book is that it Janice blends her stories and tips effortlessly for the reader. She captures you with her stories before she gives you the medicine, so to speak. As she’s advising you, you have context for the tips. Whether she’s telling you about having coffee with a stranger in Patagonia, dancing all night in Spain or hiking the mountains in England, you’ll see that the advice is earned from her own travel jaunts.

For anyone looking to go traveling solo, The Solo Travelers Handbook will make your journey more accessible and enjoyable.

The book is available at the Solo Traveler Blog and on Amazon in paperback and electronically for your e-reader.

Time to Get Your Solo Butt Out There: A Review of The Solo Traveler’s Handbook is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Last year's cast of Glee, I mean, Meet, Plan Go!

A Career Break Call To Action

Having a Bad Romance with your job? Feeling like you want to Take a Bow? But maybe fears about all those Bills, Bills, Bills is making you feel trapped. Maybe leaving your job to travel makes you feel Alone or like a Loser? Hey Soul Sister, taking a career break isn’t a crazy Teenage Dream when your job is leaving you with No Air. Sometimes you have to just Go Your Own Way, get Physical and make your stand to say “It’s My Life!”  Taking a career break isn’t Pure Imagination. Imagine all the people who found their True Colors and came back Stronger. It’s not about being Lucky. It’s not even about Taking Chances. It’s about looking inward, to that inner, personal place, Somewhere Only We Know, and committing to yourself that this is the Last Christmas before you go Over the Rainbow. It’s about going to the Borderline where your Smile is so big, that you Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore. In fact, you are Burning Up, and on such Fire that your friends and family are screaming for Ice, Ice Baby. You are Defying Gravity and can’t wait to be Leaving on a Jet Plane.

This is How We Do It!

• First, Try a Little Tenderness With Yourself. While your burnout may make you feel less than Bootylicious, or like you want to Bust Your Windows, that’s no way to deal with your Toxic situation.
• Second, Bust a Move. And think about yourself Leaving on a Jet Plane. Then, Dream On, set a goal. What needs to happen to make you feel Like a Virgin on your career break? What do you need to achieve so you can say “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life?”
• Third, Give Up the Funk. Make your plan and focus. Don’t be Proud Mary! You really want to Light Up the World? Then, PYT (Pretty Young Thing), if what you’re doing doesn’t move you towards your career break goal, then treat it like Poison, and Run Joey, Run. And, if you’ve got a few nasty naysayers in your midst, don’t be afraid to say “Don’t Stand So Close to Me!”
• Fourth, My Man, it’s time to put on that Poker Face and go for it. Jump off that Highway to Hell and get yourself Rollin’ in the Deep sooner rather than later. Life is out there and it’s your turn to be Lovin’/Touchin’/Squeezin’ all it has to offer. Just be sure to respect it if it turns around from time to time and says, “U Can’t Touch This!”

And just so you know, I’ll Stand By You.

So, Raise Your Glass and make this commitment to yourself. It will take less than 4 Minutes to open your life up River Deep, Mountain High.

Jeff

Come join us at Meet Plan Go on October 18 at 17 locations around North America for an inspirational night to show you have to make your someday trip a reality. And if you’re in Texas, come to the Austin Meet Plan Go event which I’m hosting.

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Career Break Call to Action (Inspired by the Songs of Glee) is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Jeff with Gap Adventures founder, Bruce Poon Tip. Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

All together now… Ditch The Cubicle! Jeff Jung, the Career Break Travel Guy and host of the Career Break Secrets Travel Show, has teamed up with Gap Adventures to raise awareness of Career Break Travel in Canada. Over the next week, he’ll travel across the country as part of a national campaign to inspire Canadians considering a career break to Ditch The Cubicle.

¨As a recognized leader in the career break travel space, Jeff was a natural fit for our program. His wealth of knowledge and strong understanding about the issues surrounding sabbaticals added credibility to our campaign,” says Timothy Chan, Gap Adventures’ Public Relations Specialist.

The campaign launches just in time for Labor Day, a holiday tracing its origins to the eight-hour-day movement (began over a 100 years ago) which advocated for 8 hours of labor/8 hours recreation/8 hours rest for workers — the original work/life balance movement. And you thought it was just a day off to eat BBQ and drink beer!

¨I’m thrilled to be working with the world’s adventure travel leader, Gap Adventures. It has a history of innovation in the industry and a firm commitment to sustainable travel. The fact that Gap Adventures has recognized the growth in career break travel says a lot about the company’s leadership and how far career breaks have come to becoming more accepted in the mainstream,” says Jung.

Jeff will serve as the voice to the campaign in a media tour across Canada to share sabbatical advice, and speak about a recent Labor Day survey conducted by Gap Adventures on work/life balance and Canadians’ interest in taking career breaks. In addition, Jeff will host the Gap Adventures’ Career Break Series, an online 10-part video series about career break travel, providing tips on Safety and Security, Transportation, Budgeting, Solo Travel, and more. The video series will be posted on the campaign’s website at DitchTheCubicle.ca. Links to the videos, Jeff’s blog posts during the campaign, and additional tips that didn’t make the videos will be found right here on our website at Ditch-the-cubicle.

The Gap Adventures Labor Day survey found that nearly half (47%) of Canadians feel they don’t have enough work/life balance, and more than half (64%) feel overwhelmed or stressed at work at least occasionally. 51% of Canadians often think about taking a career break and three-quarters (74%) would take a career break if nothing stood in the way. Barriers to taking a career break are affordability, security, and the perceived loneliness of solo travel. The campaign, including the video series hosted by Jeff, is targeted to these issues with solutions to make career breaks a possibility for those who want to take one.

You can get updates from Jeff on the road during the media tour on Twitter, @CareerBrkSecret and on the Career Break Secrets’ Facebook fanpage. And, we’ll be updating the site with lots of fresh content content from the campaign to help do what we do best – provide entertainment and advice for career breakers around the world!

Jeff Jung Teams Up with Gap Adventures to Raise Awareness of Career Break Travel in Canada is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures

Every traveler needs to know what this is in Argentina or Chile. Do you? Copyright CareerBreakSecrets.com

It’s hard to believe, but I arrived in South America about 4.5 years ago to start my career break. One of the biggest things I wanted to accomplish was learn to speak Spanish fluently. While I still make plenty of mistakes, basically I consider myself fluent. Since 2007, I’ve had the benefit of rounding out my Spanish in most of Latin America and Spain. One of the things I’ve learned is that there is as much variety in Spanish from country to country as there is in English.

Truth be told, I don’t really speak Spanish or Español. It’s really something I call Jeff-pañol. I speak with a gringo accent (less than your typical gringo, but it’s still there). And, I mix in slang from a variety of countries (which sometimes gets me in trouble). I like to think of it as Pan-American Spanish. I’m sure most native speakers consider it something less enchanting.

Over time, I’ve learned a lot of lessons about becoming fluent in another language. It’s not only vocabulary and conjugation – that’s just the basic stuff. If you want to become really fluent, here are a few things you need to be able to contend with.

12 Lessons To Speak Spanish (Or Any Language) Fluently

1. Vocabulary: You need some basics to get around.  And, the more words you know, the clearer you can make yourself so you can be understood and so you can understand others.  Having written notes, especially for addresses, helps. And, it doesn’t hurt to know a few hand gestures just in case.

2. Conjugation: Spanish has a ton of verb tenses and trying to keep them all straight can give you a headache at first.  But, after lots of practice and messups, it starts to come naturally.

3. Enunciation: When speaking, it’s not enough to say the words.  You have to learn how the letters are spoken in Spanish versus English: consonants and vowels both.  Until this happens, you are speaking with your accent making it difficult for others to understand.  It’s funny to be in a room with new speakers from different countries.  Everyone may be speaking Spanish, but they are doing so in their German, English, American or New Zealand accent.

4. Context: As you master the vocab and the conjugation, the next battle is to grasp the context of what you are reading or hearing.  It still happens to me where I’ve understood perfectly the words someone speaks to me.  Yet, I still had no clue what they were talking about because I didn’t understand the process or the way things worked in that country. It’s kind of like the feeling of reading a legal or academic brief. It’s all English, but…Unless you know the context of the conversation, they are still just words.

5. Ear training: Regardless of how many classes you take, until your ears become accustomed to hearing the foreign language, you won’t make much progress.  Luckily, most Spanish speakers are very patient and will speak slowly and clearly with newbies.  This serves well until your ears can get used to a new language and a new accent.

6. Diversity of language: Spanish, like English, has many variations.  Spoken in dozens of countries, each one has their own twist on Spanish just as English differs slightly from the US, UK, Oz, New Zealand, etc. Sometimes the variances are subtle like differences in greeting someone.  Sometimes, the slang varies greatly and is very colloquial. Finally, the accents vary greatly from Spain to Argentina to Chile to Colombia. Even within Colombia, you can tell where someone is from by their accent.

7. Expression of ideas: Sometimes the problem in communicating isn’t knowing the words, but knowing how people express themselves.  Many times you can directly translate a sentence from one language to another without any problems.  Other times, it has no meaning the same way in the other language.  My best example is when I tried to translate to a friend “Enjoy yourself” in Spanish in the same way we use it in English, like when we wish someone well on a trip or a night out on the town.  Unfortunately, the literal translation (Disfrútate!) meant to tell him to go enjoy himself…by masturbating.  Whoops!

8. Groups, TV and movies: There are some situations in which understanding what’s going on is really tough. The first is conversing in groups.  When the banter gets going, it can be hard to follow the conversation. Add in people talking over each other, speaking quickly and using local slang – your head will explode trying to keep up. And, god help you if the conversation point lands in your lap.  Next are TV and movies.  Following a plot can be difficult especially when you don’t have the context.  I continue to try to understand the shows, news, movies, etc. But, it can be difficult. Funnily enough, watching cartoons is surprisingly  easier.

9. Humor: I admit I have a dry sense of humor that can go awry in English.  But, I used to be almost useless in Spanish. Luckily I’m getting better all the time.  Most of the time when I make a joking remark in Spanish, it comes across as me not understanding what’s going on and whoever I’m talking to feels the need to explain everything to me.  I then explain that it was a joke.  And, if you have to explain the joke, it’s not funny.

10. Real-life experience, Perseverance and Failing: Class time is great to get the basics, the theory and some practice.  But, until you’ve been out, having people not understand you, correct you or give up and start speaking English to you, you’ll never perfect your new language.  Over time, you start to get the hang of it. Completely messing up can painful.  But, it’s a necessary evil to perfect your abilities.  You’ve gotta keep on keepin’ on!

11. Names. Anytime I meet someone and they ask for my name to fill out a form, I know it’s going to be a long discussion. Jeff just isn’t close to any name Spanish speakers are used to. And, my last name, Jung (pronounced young), just sends them over the top. A few friends have their nicknames for me like Jeff-ito, Jefficito. But, for the vast majority, even spelling my name is a challenge. Of course, there are plenty of names I’ve encountered in Colombia alone that I’ve never heard before.

12. Patience. You gotta have patience. It comes, but it takes time to build those synapses in your brain. Luckily for you, most people I’ve met traveling will have an abundance of patience with you. As long as you’re trying, they’ll muddle through with you. I’ve noticed that there seems to be an inverse relationship between how common a language is on the global scene and the amount of patience the locals will be with you. English speakers, less patient. Turks, very patient.

Lost in Translation? 12 Things You Gotta Go Through to Learn Spanish (Or Any New Language) Fluently is a post from: Career Break Secrets: Travel show, independent travel blog and advice for career breaks and around the world travel adventures