From this June Nat and myself are heading off on a right old jaunt across the middle east, Indian subcontinent and South East Asia finally arriving in South Korea where we plan to work as teaching assistants, earning more money than I currently am back home and actually being able to save some money! While all our friends are worried about paying bills and rent, we'll be living rent free eating food costing nothing per month, it's going to be tough, but I'm sure we'll manage.
Now i know we've reasons to stay put. Not just our little family, but this recession is going to take effect on all of us whether we like it or not. We may both be educated, fortunate people but there are thousands like us, being made redundant every week.
Unemployment figures released recently showed that from August to October 2008 the number of unemployed was 1.9 million (6.0%) - up by 137,000 unemployed on the quarter and 238,000 from this time last year. John Philpott, CIPD Chief Economist commented: "Although there is some comfort in the fact that there are still thousands of vacancies to be had, the number of jobseekers chasing each vacancy is growing by the day as unemployment heads toward at least 2.8 million in 2009. The abrupt increase in the number of people who have been made redundant is the most striking aspect about today’s figures. The ominous news is that this is not an anomaly, with the worst job cuts expected to hit between Christmas and Easter."
Mr Philpott ( despite making great sandwiches ) speaks of a very distressing period coming next year, but is this really something that should stop us taking the trip of a lifetime?
Let's be honest, the most sensible option would of course be to stay, make ourselves as attractive to prospective employers as possible. Masters? PhD? but come on now, if you know me, you know that I'm not ready to be going back into education...not yet anyway. So what, we wait around hoping that everything doesn't get too much, hoping that we aren't made redundant to pay bills etc etc I think not, this could still be affecting us in 2-3-4 years, I'll nearly be 30!
Or...
We fly out to Saudi and see mum and dad, then fly to Istanbul and travel overland through Turkey into Georgia, Armenia and Iran. Spend a month travelling through Iran, an ancient and fascinating country with more history and culture than can possibly be seen in only one month.
If that's not enough of a trip, we are hoping to fly to India and take part in the 'Rickshaw run, a very stupid, but worthwhile and honourable event raising money for local charities that really need our help. Check out the website for more info http://rickshawrun.theadventurists.com/ " The most stupid way to spend 2 weeks of your life "
Finishing in Kathmandu we hope to spend a few weeks volunteering and living in home stays, waking up every morning with the Himalayas surrounding us...no stop Nick, we have to be sensible and stay here...I won't keep going but that's half way along our route, so take it from me, I'll be thinking of you all, however whatever happens in the future is not predictable.
I believe we have to live for the present a bit more, of course everyone has their own priorities, right now I'm trying to figure out our route, where we want to visit and dreaming of the day I no longer have to get up every morning in the 'fine drizzle' to go bang around on a keyboard for 7 hours! However if I'm being honest, I want to work at Canada Life forever!!!!!!
