Geraldine DeRuiter knew she was going to get laid off.
Her boss told her to go to Italy with her friend on a trip they had planned. While she was there, a coworker told her the entire office was being let go. She finished her wine and told her husband, who was back home, preparing for a work trip to Iceland. When he asked if she wanted to go, she said yes. This was in the spring of 2008. She hasn’t stopped since.
After a year of traveling with her husband who travels regularly, Geraldine “was bullied into” to start a travel blog by friends. She wrote about the things she did on her own during their trips. She quickly discovered blogging made her happy. Today, thanks to her training as a journalist and ability to infuse her writing with her witty personality, Geraldine’s blog, The Everywhereist, is one of the most popular travel blogs on the internet.
Quotes from the Explorer:
"Even a miserable travel experience can make a good story. When things go awry, I remind myself this will be funny eventually. And I've found that most things are."
What we cover:
How being laid off gave Geraldine the permission she needed to travel the world nonstop.
Why planning too much on your travels can set too much of an expectation, and not result in the most remarkable experiences.
Why the authentic world is largely undiscovered.
The Everywhereist's Travel Advice
The first step: Getting back to your hotel is only a cab ride away. Remember that, and I think you can extrapolate that to, "Home is always a flight away." You can always get back.
Money saving tip: Don't buckle to the pressure of having to eat out every night you're traveling. Try a local grocery store, market, or bakery. It's a great way to expose yourself to a culture and save your funds.
How to find cheap airfare: Try not to obsess over it. At some point, you're going to be willing to pay $30-40 to NOT wake up at 3am to catch a flight.
Packing tip: Do laundry so you can pick from everything, and not wind up having to dress like a clown!
Favorite travel book: Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe, by Bill Bryson
Favorite travel gear: Eagle Creek Travel Gear Pack-It Cube Set
Weirdest food ever eaten: Geraldine grew up eating plenty of entrails. "I tried guinea pig in Peru and it was wonderful."
Music Credit: Moth's Wings (Artec Remix), Passion Pit
The post 7: How Getting Laid Off Led Geraldine DeRuiter to Embrace a Life of Travel appeared first on The Daily Travel Podcast.