Next Steps

Generally my news was well received and not too much of a surprise. Dad was a bit side swiped when I first told him and for a change, didn’t have much to say! It didn’t take long for it to sink in and make sense to him though. The biggest concern from everyone is how I will cope with my Crohn’s disease when I’m travelling.


I’ve had some great responses from my friends around the world. My friend Mindi in California is so excited for me and can’t wait to meet up with me on my travels. Jenny and Gary in Australia are also pleased as they have been trying to get me to visit them for years! They have kindly offered their house near Brisbane as a base for me when I get to Australia.


I’ve been in touch with Felipe Chavez-Ramirez Ph.D. from the Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust in Nebraska about the possibility of picking up some work with the trust. I met Felipe whilst on an Earthwatch trip in Cuba where he was running a project to monitor the Cuban Sandhill Crane. It turns out that the trust is always looking for help in organizing the data that they collate so I’m hoping that my database skills can be put to good use. I’m waiting to catch up with Felipe over the phone so we can talk through possible opportunities he has for me.
I’m still sorting out the logistics of taking a career break. Regarding my house, I’ve been in touch with my mortgage company and have received permission to rent so now just need to sort out the garden, get the windows re-glazed and the plumbing checked out.


I’ve been reviewing my finances and making savings wherever possible. As most of my friends and family know I’m very good at spending money but I’m even surprising myself at how restrained I’m being on shopping trips now!


Work is the final logistic to consider and the good news is that my company does support career breaks, up to 6 years in 2 breaks. My employment will terminate and all my benefits cease so in effect it is the same as resigning but the doors are left open for me to re-apply for a job and they see if they can find a position available at the same level as when I left. Unfortunately there is no guarantee of getting a job at the end of it but it is slightly better than just resigning. I haven’t approached work about my career break yet but plan to give them about 3 months notice.


Moving onto the planning for my trip, I’ve been investigating what work I could pick up to supplement my budget. Unfortunately my age is against me for working visas in the US and Australia without sponsorship. I’ve been looking into the possibility of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) so I have been researching the different courses available. Luckily my friend Wendy from the Wolf Trust was able to give me good advice on this as she has studied and taught TEFL. She has advised me to study CELTA as this will give me the most recognized qualification and the best chance of work. The downside is that the course is a 4 week intensive program so I will need to do it after I’ve finished work. I’m therefore thinking about finishing work at the end of August, moving in with my Mum in Lancing and taking a course in Hove that starts on 1st September. I can then rent my house out from September which is a better time of year, take my cats down to Mum’s and make sure they settle in OK and have a couple of weeks off before going to Morocco.


I really need to start firming up on my travel plans now as the later I leave my flight bookings, the more expensive it will be. As it looks like Felipe will have some work for me I’m thinking of spending my first 6-12 months in The Americas. I’ve been busy reading up about Central and South America to decide which countries to visit and when the best time would be. I definitely want to visit Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. If I get the chance I would like to see some sites in Venezuela and Colombia as well. I should be able to pick up some TEFL work in a number of these countries as well.


For now the planning continues.