Author	Message
rememo Member	# Posted: 14 Oct 2006 06:40:59 Hey all, I really could use some advice. First off, I'm a 17 year old living in New Mexico, about to graduate from high school in may. I've been working since i was 14 saving to travel for 1-2 years around the world, but my family is so adament against it. All my brothers and sisters are older than me, all went to college and have good jobs....but i always felt different, i never wanted to stay in this little corner of the world and struggle in the 9-5 rat race. i really want to just write, travel, meet new people and see new things. I have about 10,000$ saved, which should cover me for at least a year of traveling abroad. i want to see the whole world, going from south america to africa to europe to the middle east. Should i disregard my whole family and make the final plunge?

JaMeZ Moderator Amsterdam	# Posted: 14 Oct 2006 13:40:03 · Edited by: JaMeZ I started travelling myself at 17, and never regretted it. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. (Mark Twain) In other words, follow your heart. You want to travel and you have the means. Go for it! "It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase 'As pretty as an Airport' appear." - Douglas Adams
HorseHead Mcgee Member	# Posted: 26 Oct 2006 19:17:37 It's a tough call...most people tend to do the travel thing after college, at any rate, the college education gives you a better context for your travels. $10,000 for an entire year is probably unrealistic, unless you plan on trying to work while you are out. Your airline travel alone will eat 15%-25% of your money. What I would suggest, instead of trying to travel the whole world, go someplace closer, i..e Central America and see how you like it. Spend about a month there and see how it goes. If you really like it, then keep going. If not, than you haven't wasted a bunch of time and money. Travelling is not as Bohemian as some make it out to be and it's not what most people expect. In some respects, it's actually harder work than the 9 to 5 rat race. Your young, so you have some time...I'd say, "test" the waters after you graduate highschool by going some place for a month, and see how goes.