Working Your Way Around The World » Travel

Passport Day: Make the Application Process Easier

leslieajoy — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:30:04 +0000

Been putting off getting or renewing a passport? The government has set aside a day called “Passport Day” that eliminates any excuses as to why you’ve been putting it off.

Passport Day is a federal government initiative started by the U.S. Department of State where passport offices take walk-ins — no appointment required — and eliminate any expedite fees.

Passport Day was started in 2009 after stricter travel rules were put into place in 2007 and 2009. As of 2007, everyone traveling in and out of the United States by air needs a passport. As of 2009, everyone entering or leaving Canada, Mexico, and the Bermuda Islands must present passport documents.

On all other days of the year, an appointment must be booked with a Passport Agency. Passports normally take 4 to 6 weeks to clear with standard services and 2 to 3 weeks with expedited service. Expedited service comes with a hefty fee. In addition to that, the cost of passports has been rising steadily.

Hours of operation vary by passport agency, so make sure to call beforehand. However, no appointment is needed. You are able to walk in and wait for service, much like when you get a hair cut.

Still not sold? Think about it this way: you decide you want to take a trip. Nothing major, you live in New York and want to go to Toronto for a long weekend. You need a passport. If you don’t have a current one lying around, you have to book an appointment in advance (including working around when there are appointments available and trying to co-ordinate them with your schedule), then wait 2-3 weeks minimum for your information to clear and your passport to be renewed or issued-and that’s if you pay the fine for expediation.

On Passport Day you get to eliminate an entire step-booking an appointment in advance. You get to just walk into the office, wait patiently in line, and start the process. You can even have the expediation fee waved. You’re now free to be able to travel at whim with your currently-active passport, without worry.

This convenience only comes once a year, so make sure you take advantage!

The Problem with the 4-Hour Workweek

Thursday — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:30:00 +0000

I read the 4-Hour Workweek not too long after it came out. I bought a copy for my dad, recommended it to my friends and generally considered it a solid inspirational piece. But as its popularity has grown and Tim Ferriss has effectively become synonymous with words like ‘lifestyle design’ and ‘productivity,’ I’ve noticed a serious problem.

A lot of people seem to take Ferriss and his book at face value. They try to replicate exactly what he’s done to make his life fun and enjoyable, becoming confused when they can’t match either his success or his enjoyment of that success. The problem is that the book isn’t a how-to manual, unless you’re actually Ferriss.

Do you already have a moderately successful business up and running?
Do you enjoy spending hours learning new skills?
Are you ready to put yourself first over just about everything else?

If you can’t answer yes all around, you’re certainly not Ferriss and, straight out of the box, you’re not going to wind up with an ideal lifestyle if you follow “The 4-Hour Workweek” precisely.

A Moderately Successful Business

Before Ferriss started working a four-hour workweek, he built up a successful business. I’m willing to bet that when he started out, he worked on a more typical entrepreneur’s schedule — sixty hours per week doesn’t sound out of the question to me. Ferriss does point out in his book that you shouldn’t assume that you can jump into running a business that covers all your expenses, but his approach does have a certain ‘you can do this now’ vibe.

That’s great for some people, but not so much for others. Some people just don’t want to run their own businesses. That kind of responsibility, especially when they can pick up a part-time gig that covers their needs, just isn’t worthwhile for everyone. For other people, it’s necessary to have a better safety net. Ferriss is a single young man, after all: while he includes examples in his book of families that travel around the world together, he doesn’t make mention of the sort of safety net many parents want to have in place before taking the slightest risk with their offspring’s well-being. It’s just not a practical system for everyone.

There are other options out there beyond trying to build up a business fast enough to make the changes you want to make in your life. Treat Ferriss’ suggestions as an inspiration and explore what sort of work would really be enjoyable for you — whether or not you’re spending four hours a week at your desk. Honestly, I can see the appeal of spending as little time working as possible, when your job involves reselling something.

Enjoying Work

The things Ferriss talks about pursuing in his free time don’t appeal universally. Personally, I have a lot of things I’d rather do than learn how to expertly tango. Ferriss seems to love going out and learning everything there is to know about certain topics, usually trying to hack the system in the process. And if that’s you’re idea of a good time, go for it.

For the rest of us, that sort of goal doesn’t always make sense. Personally, I’d rather never get down to just four hours of work a week. I actually enjoy my work and I’d probably go a little crazy if I had to amuse myself day in and day out. But I have cut down on the total amount of work I do. I’ve found a balance that works for me and the things I find enjoyable.

it’s worth taking a look at the things you find to be truly enjoyable, as well. Maybe it’s a certain type of craft, maybe it’s spending time with particular people. Focus on how you can make those things into an everyday part of your life — perhaps by building a more enjoyable job or business out of them. If travel’s your thing, you can still make that a part of your life without absolutely reducing the work you do.

Putting Yourself First

One of the things I struggled the most with when reading “The 4-Hour Workweek” is how much of Ferriss’ strategy relies on putting yourself first. Even his email system is based on the idea that his time is more valuable than anyone emailing him. That approach isn’t necessarily bad, but a lot of people have reasons why we can’t just flat out put ourselves at the top of the heap. Certain clients would walk if I took that approach, and I’m pretty sure it would drive my family crazy.

That sort of mindset works when you have specific types of responsibilities, but it doesn’t work universally. For most of us, true prioritization is necessary before we can really start thinking about how to build a lifestyle that works for us — and don’t think that there aren’t other options. There are plenty of tools these days that will allow you to let specific people get in touch with you immediately while excluding those who aren’t among your priorities.

Finding Your Own Way "The 4-Hour Workweek" can be a great source of inspiration if you need a starting point for building a lifestyle that works for you. But it's not the end all and be all. Find approaches that work for you and the realities of your life, whether those are your family, a job you love or interests other than becoming an entrepreneur.

Using a Weapon as a Travel Hack

Thursday — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:32:00 +0000

When you’re flying domestically within the U.S, a gun — even a starter pistol — can be a useful travel hack. You have to specially register any baggage containing a projectile weapon, which means the TSA will go to extra efforts to ensure your bags show up in the right airport and on time.

But it pays to be very careful when using a travel hack like this. Packing a weapon can guarantee that the TSA will handle your bags with care, but it can also guarantee a kind of reception you do not want.

Many states have very specific laws about gun ownership and if you don’t have the proper permit, you can wind up in some trouble. While a starter pistol may not be an issue, anything larger could result in confiscation or some legal issues.

Taking a weapon overseas is even more of an issue. Depending on your destination, any kind of weapon may be strictly controlled. Even packing a knife can get you into trouble — I’ve actually run into trouble on my pocket knife when I moved between states. The legal limits on length, serration and other factors differ between both states and countries.

Be sure to carefully research not only your destination when you’re considering taking anything that can be construed as a weapon with you when you travel, but the layovers in between. Getting in trouble over a weapons issue in a country you were only planning to see from the airport does not sound appealing.

Photo — Jayel Aheram

Places I’d Love to Visit: Micronations

Thursday — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:30:12 +0000

I have a certain fascination with micronations — places that are in many ways their own countries, but may or may not actually be recognized as actual countries. There are quite a few, ranging from abandoned gun platforms in the middle of the ocean to cities that have declared their independence. Some are easier to visit than others, but I’d love to make the attempt.

Sealand, for instance, is built on a gun platform left over from the UK’s defense efforts during World War II. A family living on the platform declared its national sovereignty in 1967 and the British courts supported their claim, due to the fact that platform is in international waters. Since then, Sealand has issued its own passports and money. However, visiting Sealand has never been easy and in the past few years, it’s become highly restricted. Sealand leases much of the island to HavenCo, an internet colocation service, which restricts access as a security precaution.

In contrast, Key West is a tourism haven and (debatably) an independent republic. The city declared itself the Conch Republic in the early 80s as a protest: the U.S. Border Patrol had created a roadblock and checkpoint on the highway from Key West to Florida, due to concerns that people could enter the U.S. through Key West. There have been other protests over the years, leading to Key West’s continuing ‘independence.’ It’s also used as a tourism booster and is a bit tongue-in-cheek: the motto on the flag of the Conch Republic reads ‘We seceded where others failed.’

I’ve been to a couple of places that view themselves as independent countries to a point, although it’s typically more an on-going joke than fact. I’ve got an ‘Independent Republic of Cork’ t-shirt — a legacy from the period of time when Ireland was fighting for independence. I’ve also been to the People’s Republic of Boulder and hung out in Gibraltar for a day. I’d love to see more, though. Considering the fact that over the past twenty years or so, creating micronations has become something of a fad, there are now plenty of places to visit. Australia alone has something like twenty of them. Of course, there are a few, like Andorra, which have existed for hundreds of years and are recognized by larger nations, like Andorra and San Marino.

Visiting many of these countries is a little harder than planning other trips, though. You usually have to arrange transportation to a country with an entirely different name and make arrangements from there. In many cases, you can have your passport stamped at the border, but the visa process can be far more complex: in the event that the micronation in question is someone’s personal property, you need an invitation to show up, rather than having the option of contacting an embassy and setting up a visit. For those micronations established with specific communities in mind, such as libertarians, you may have difficulty entering if you don’t ascribe to the appropriate beliefs or have the correct characteristics. To make things a bit easier, though, Lonely Planet has issued a guide book to micronations: Micronations by John Ryan, George Dunford and Simon Sellars (Amazon Associates). It’s a quirky guidebook to some even quirkier places.

Image — Wikimedia Commons

Residencies: A Way to Go

Thursday — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:14:16 +0000

If you’re a writer or another type of professional creative, you can find residency opportunities all over the world. Most have requirements that you must meet, but as long as you do, you can get inexpensive or free room and board. Residencies are meant to provide artistic types with the opportunity to work away from the bustle of the every day and, typically, you’re expected to have a specific project that you’re working on.

Not every residency is the same, of course; many have an application process, while some accept only internal nominations. Many have a specific type of creative project they hope to nurture, although others are more generalized. Some are connected with schools, others with foundations. Some have specific programming, while others are entirely self-directed. It’s a matter of finding a residency that is not only in a location that you want to visit, but offers an opportunity to actually get work done on your project.

A residency may not be a good fit for every one. But if you need a little structure to your traveling and maybe just a little help with the expenses, a residency may be a useful way to go.

There are thousands of residencies out there, as well as plenty of directories. The directory maintained by the Alliance of Artists Communities is a good starting point.

Photo — Pedrosimoes7

5 Tricks to Keep Souvenirs Under Control

Thursday — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:02:48 +0000

When we talk about travel in my family, we have great memories as well as a few cautionary tales. When it comes to souvenirs, there’s one story in particular that we tell. It’s been floating around the family for decades now (the events in question actually took place before I was even born), but it’s become a part of family legend.

My grandparents took a trip to Hong Kong. They took a lot of pictures, got a few small souvenirs and enjoyed themselves. And then my grandmother found a store that sold china. She maxed out her credit card, buying several complete sets of china and shipping them back to the States. The family has been pretty much set for dishes ever since.

In a way, her choice of souvenirs was brilliant: the china sets were useful gifts, that family members wouldn’t have bought for themselves. In another way…well, I try to travel light, and the thought of that many dishes is intimidating. It’s a good thing she had them shipped.

As we travel, we find incredible deals, neat toys and wonderful reminders of our time abroad. But it’s surprisingly easy for souvenirs to get out of control. Here are a few tips for keeping your souvenir collection under control.

Photographs first, souvenirs second: How much does an extra photo add to the weight you’re carrying around? Assuming that you’re using a digital camera, absolutely nothing. Even if you take a couple thousand photos, a spare memory card will fit in your pocket. If you just want something to help you remember, a photo will do the trick. While little mementos are wonderful, you do have to carry them around. And if you’re planning a long trip abroad, maybe months or even years, you probably don’t want to schlep that memento around too long.
Ship your gifts: Many souvenirs are gifts for loved ones back home — a way to show them what you’re up to. If that’s the case, send those souvenirs home on a regular basis. Once you fill a box, find the local post office and get it on the road. And if you wouldn’t pay to ship it, your loved ones might not be so interested in it anyhow.
Consider clothing: When I travel, I tend to pick up a few new clothes along the way. In some cases, I just pack less clothing than I’ll probably need, especially if we’re talking months at a time. Why bother with more than one suitcase when you can pick up a cool t-shirt along the way? It can hep to fit in abroad, as well.
Look for bargains: The reason my grandmother went a little overboard with the china is because it was a bargain — beautiful dishes at a fraction of a price they would be at home. Since most of us can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars on souvenirs in each country we visit, shopping for bargains can keep your souvenir budget within reason.
Make sure you know why you’re buying: It’s easy to think something’s cool in the rush of the moment, but it may not be the best souvenir, nor have the best price. If you’re in a touristy part of town, in fact, those prices are probably sky-high. So make sure you know exactly what you’re buying — and why you want it.

Photo — Mr T in DC

‘Internet Pal In Trouble?’: Beyond the State Department

Thursday — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:18:05 +0000

If you visit travel.state.gov, the website the U.S. State Department operates for travelers, you can see a link in the side bar that reads ‘Internet Pal in Trouble?’ When I noticed it, I was excited at first — the number of stories about an American citizen Twittering as he’s being arrested overseas or otherwise getting in trouble where only online connections really have an idea of what’s going on seem to keep growing. I thought that the State Department was ahead of the game if they’d provided some tips on what to do next in such situations.

Actually clicking on that link tells a very different story, unfortunately. The link will take you to a page titled, “International Financial Scams.”

The Consular Affairs Bureau receives daily calls about international scams involving Internet dating, inheritance, work permits, overpayment, and money-laundering. Many scams are initiated through the Internet; victims range in age from 18 to 81 and come from all socio-economic backgrounds.

While such confidence schemes have long existed, the advent of the Internet has greatly increased their prevalence. Individual Americans have lost considerable money on these scams, ranging from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

To put it mildly, the State Department is not ahead of the game on this one. There’s a phone number you can call and not much more. Here are a few tips to follow if you have reason to be concerned about the safety of an American currently overseas.

Try to record any message you’ve received. If you get a Twitter message, that might be as easy as taking a screen capture. If you’re in the middle of a Skype conversation and something happens, you might have more difficulties. If you can’t create a recording, write down all the information you have as soon as possible. Before you can call in the cavalry, you need to have details like the full name of the person in trouble and their last known location. An address is best — if all you know is the country your friend is in, tracking him or her down could prove tricky.
If the problem is a natural disaster, provide the information you have to the State Department through the Office of American Citizen Services and Crisis Management. The phone number is (202) 647-5225.Trying to get in touch with your friend or a local embassy may prove impossible as natural disasters often disrupt communications. The State Department takes responsibility for gathering information about the well-being of American citizens in such situations.
If the problem is medical in nature, there are a few alternatives. If it is not life-threatening, contacting the Bureau of Consular Affairs by phone is generally the simplest method to ensure that the local embassy is aware of the situation. The number is (888) 407-4747. If you’re calling from outside the U.S., call (202) 501-4444. If the situation is an emergency, choosing what to do next can be tricky. The Bureau of Consular Affairs staffs its phone line after hours, but if time is of the essence, it may not be the best option. Unfortunately, most countries do not have a set method of dealing with international requests for help, but if you have precise information about your friend’s location and condition, calling the local emergency responders may be an option. Otherwise, it’s back to the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
For situations where an American citizen has been arrested or detained abroad, the Bureau of Consular Affairs is once again the point of contact. They’ll be able to coordinate with the local embassy to resolve the situation.

There are certain situations in which the State Department can’t provide a lot of help. If, for instance, your friend ran into some financial troubles and ran out of money, the State Department isn’t obligated to do a whole heck of a lot. Someone in a local embassy may take pity, but that can be it in some cases. The State Department will also limit the actions it takes regarding anyone who isn’t an American citizen. You can get messages passed along about natural disasters or medical emergencies, but that’s about it.

Admittedly, there are also some scams out there. I’ve received messages from hacked accounts purportedly sent by friends that claimed they were overseas and needed money immediately. Be willing to dig a little deeper when a ‘friend’ is asking for money, especially if you’re asked to send it anywhere but to your friend.

Review: The Third Tower Up From the Road

Thursday — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:40:08 +0000

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The book is a collection of stories, each of which incorporates Dolgin’s own travel experiences, history, literature and anything else he managed to pick up along the way. While The Third Tower Up From the Road is ostensibly a travel book, it is by no means a guide book. Even if the contents had actually focused on one area, Dolgin’s storytelling style includes more than a few twists, including tips on how to linguistically bait freelance travel guides and a count of the number of waterfowl Dolgin spotted in Windsor, England.

Dolgin lives in Paris, but that fact hasn’t limited his travels to Europe. There are plenty of Asian anecdotes, a side trip to Brazil and even a few pages devoted to the American West. Dolgin is an ex-pat, but during his time living in the U.S, it seems that he managed to avoid just about everything west of the Mississippi. On a trip recorded in The Third Tower Up From the Road, Dolgin convinced his European friends and family to climb aboard two RVs for five weeks and explore the American West. The trip included Dolgin’s first trip to Wal-mart, an experience smoothly summed up by a query as to where American grocery stores might keep their wine.

Among Dolgin’s writing credits is a long running column for McSweeny’s, titled, “Kevin Dolgin Tells You About Places You Should Go.” He’s been writing the column since 2003 and it provided a substantial chunk of the material for the book. However, Dolgin also wrote material specifically for the book and included his Puschart Prize-nominated story, “The Corsican Swallowtail.”

In the end, it’s Dolgin’s wanderlust that makes The Third Tower Up From the Road a particularly wonderful read.

…If I hadn’t been born with this wanderlust I might still be living in the South Bronx. It’s a drug, travel. It’s the drug of discovery, and it perches on your back banging on your head if you don’t feed it from time to time. Hold out to me the opportunity of discovering someplace new and it’s very difficult not to go.

The Third Tower Up from the Road is available on Amazon, but I’m also offering m review copy up as a give away. You can enter to win it by leaving a comment with the name of the destination you’re headed next before Saturday morning (December 5th). I’ll pay shipping anywhere in the US (international entries are welcome, but I’ll ask any international winner to cover the difference between postage within the US and outside of it).

Go Abroad: It Will Make You More Creative

Thursday — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:27:20 +0000

Research at INSEAD has demonstrated that travel abroad can directly relate to improving creativity.

If you don’t want to watch the whole video, here’s a fast summary of what William Maddux, professor of organizational behavior at INSEAD, has to say:

If you live abroad, you score higher on tests meant to measure creativity and problem solving.

The longer you live abroad, the better you score — the more creative you are. We’re talking about more than a weekend in another country.

Studies have tested if there’s a relationship between being willing to live abroad and already being creative.

There is an increase in creativity over and above beyond that which seems to be standard for those people simply willing to take the risks of living abroad.

Needing to adapt to new circumstances seems to increase the growth of creativity. New languages, new situations and new cultures all help.

The earlier (or younger) you go abroad, the more extensive the affects on your creativity.

A related study shows that entrepreneurs who go abroad also do better.

If you aren’t able to travel, you can still build your creativity by interacting with other cultures at home.

Maddux is careful to describe the study’s results in terms of research that still needs to be conducted. He also points out that culture and travel is only one element of creativity and that if you go abroad, it’s still possible to limit your exposure to new situations. In general, though, Maddux’s able to point to examples and other research that supports his point.

What Does This Mean?

Travel is more than something we do because we happen to want to see a few sites. The more you can travel, the more you can improve your chances in business as well as in creative efforts. A trip abroad isn’t a guaranteed ticket to creative or entrepreneurial abilities, but it can definitely help.

All things considered, a few months in another country is a pretty easy way to improve our creativity levels.

Digital Nomad Training Wheels: 3 Ways to Get Started

Thursday — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:11:51 +0000

When I first learned to ride a bicycle, I had training wheels: my dad knew I was going to need some help in order to get used to the idea of balancing on my own. After a few weeks of riding around with my training wheels, my dad adjusted them so that we weren’t actually touching the ground any more, although they were pretty close in case I got a little wobbly. Pretty soon, those training wheels were off and I was peddling down the street.

I know there are kids out there that learn how to ride a bike with no training wheels, but for some of us a gradual process is a little easier to handle. The same can be true of changing your work to the point that you can head to any location that strikes your fancy, without having to worry about how you’re going to pay the bills. With that fact in mind, here are a couple of options for finding your balance on the way to becoming a digital nomad.

1. Go Job Hunting

If you’re like most of the people working towards a location independent lifestyle, you’ve likely been thinking about creating a business you can run while you travel or a telecommuting position that doesn’t require you to work from an office. But there are plenty of overseas jobs you can look at that will give you a starting point for planning for long-term travel. A popular option are the Peace Corps and other non-profits that are always looking for help — but there are also plenty of jobs in every industry, depending on what country you want to see. Try for an international position that will help you move abroad and let you get your bearings with a solid base.

2. Focus On Local Trips

Your travels don’t always have to take you thousands of miles from wherever you call home. If you do have responsibilities that tie you to one location, start exploring the area around you. I’m currently based in Maryland — I can reach half of the U.S. in a day’s drive. Shorter trips to nearby cities and states can make the most of the time you have, while letting you get accustomed to being in a new place. Sure, it may only be a weekend trip if you have a 9-to-5, but it’s progress.

3. Travel For Work

Depending on your employer, you may have travel opportunities at the office. If you can step up for such trips, you can do more than satisfy your wanderlust. You can start building a reputation for being able to get things done on the road and for being self-directed. That sort of reputation can come in handy if you want to convince an employer to let you try telecommuting, especially if you’re planning to work from the other side of the planet.

Photo — kate at yr own risk