Leaving a Career to Teach Abroad and Travel After 30

Do you think you’re too old or entrenched in your career and mortgage to travel and teach around the world?

Rory Cummins explains why you’re not.

Teaching Traveling: Rory, tell us about your background.

Rory: It all started back in 2009. My desire to travel the world and fulfill my dream was a thought that was continually in the front of my mind, though it was one that I had been putting off as “someday.” With further inspiration from fellow travelers I’d met and an itching desire to make it happen now and not “someday,” I soon decided that it was time take the plunge.

I started putting together a list of all the places I wanted to see and experience and finally made a step by step plan to be able to turn this dream into a reality over the next 6 months.

As I began to save and plan, I was also tying up all the lose ends in my daily life that would free me for world travel that I’d hope would last for a year or more. At 33 years old, there was a part of me that was skeptical about taking such a venture this late in life as typical travelers that take a gap year are in their 20s and haven’t gotten rooted into a career and mortgages.

Still, I wasn’t going to let it hold me back and I knew that even traveling solo, which is what I started out doing, shouldn’t be an obstacle.

At the time of planning my trip, I had given thought to both volunteering and teaching English along way as I had researched many different countries where this was an option including Taiwan, Korea, China and Thailand.

At the time however, I decided to see where my travels would lead me, keeping an open mind along the way and allowing flexibility in my travel route. Today, I am still traveling after having left the U.S. back in the summer of 2011 and I haven’t looked back since or regretted my decision to leave. I have since traveled through twenty countries so far, mostly by overland travel and I’m now teaching and tutoring Chinese students in Shenzhen, China.

TT: Fascinating! How did you find this travel opportunity after 30?

R: When I first completed my university studies, I left to travel abroad on a four week solo backpacking trip through Europe. It ended up being the best experience I’d had so far in my life up to that point and it turned into two months of travel after postponing my return trip back home.

From that point on, it fed my desire to ultimately travel all over the world, and the “travel bug” had taken over. Unfortunately, my career and social life in my hometown kept me so busy that my world travel dream got put on the back burner.

However, after almost ten years since my first backpacking trip, the desire to go was still there and I decided it was “now or never.” There was no more room to make excuses in my life of why I should or should not go. I decided the worst that could happen is that I turn around and come home but the biggest fear was leaving a stable job I’d had the past 5 years and a solid career path.

In reality, I realized “work” would always be there and I could pick back up where I left off. When this decision was made, I started researching round the world travel blogs, forums and speaking with fellow travelers for additional inspiration and planning to make the venture a success.

I also decided it would be beneficial to write about my experiences to both keep in touch with friends and family along the way as well as to help offer other aspiring travelers for help in making the transition from 9 to 5 worker to full time traveler on my travel blog: Planet and Go.

TT: Wow! How did you find the money to fund this travel?

R: I wish I could simply say that I was given travel funding by an organization or that I won the lottery, but truth be told, the trip was funded by my own savings. And after doing my homework on how to plan and budget for such an excursion, I realized there were ways to save tons of money on transportation during travel, as well as how to route your trip through certain countries and regions of the world to maximize your travel time without sacrificing the places you wanted to travel to and experience.

Long term travel is all about setting a realistic budget and you have to plan for mishaps along the way. Of course, I also realized that minimizing any recurring debts from home such as a mortgage, a car payment and other expenses would help to prolong my travel budget so this was also a focus during my pre-trip time spent at home.

TT: Tell us one moment from your extended RTW travel that was particularly powerful.

R: It is a bit hard to narrow down my travel experiences to the one most powerful or moving moment, but if I had to choose, I would pick two places. Iceland and Tibet. Both held the most majestic and stunning landscapes I’d ever seen before and they moved me in a way that is nearly indescribably in terms of natural beauty. Put simply, they will take your breath away. If you have the opportunity to travel to either place, you won’t be disappointed.

TT: Interesting! How have your travels impacted you in your career?

R: Before leaving on my trip, my entire career experience had been in the real estate and construction industry for sales and management. However, as mentioned before, I had given thought to both volunteering as well as teaching English abroad along the way. I ended up doing both.

I began doing some volunteer work in a small village in Laos which included teaching to the local village children a few months ago. All in all, it was an unforgettable experience and something I’d recommend to anyone on a trip around the world.

The organization I volunteered with was the SAELAO Project in Laos and it was very rewarding however, there are many volunteer programs all over the world which you will discover along the way as you travel.

And for teaching English in China, the experience has also been rewarding and has taught me how to interact with the Chinese culture and broadened my knowledge of Chinese business and customs.

TT: How have your around the world travels impacted you as a person?

R: My travel worldwide has definitely affected me on a grand scale. I have a much larger “international view” of the world than before I left and it has afforded me networking opportunities all over the globe from those I’ve met along the way.

It allows you to see first hand how one culture differs from the next and makes you reflect back onto your own culture and upbringing in your home country. It has been a daily learning experience along the way so you gain more and more knowledge for each day that passes. It also leaves you with the fulfillment and satisfaction of having achieved your dream if you aspire to be a world traveler.

TT: Love it! What advice do you have for other teachers who are dreaming of travel, or travelers curious to teach?

R: For some advice I’d give to anyone looking to travel… if you truly want to go, then make a plan, set a date and do it. You have absolutely nothing to lose and you will gain more from the experience and be better fit when you re-enter the working world than when you left. And trust me, work will always be there when you get back so don’t feel travel will damage your career!

If your company loves the work you do, they will likely want to hire you back upon your return. You will also live without the regret on what you didn’t do in life. They have said that what people regret most in life is not the mistakes they have made but the opportunities that they missed!

I am happy to answer any questions you might have and offer help and recommendations. Wishing you travel success!

TT: Thanks so much, Rory! Clearly, travel and teaching abroad is possible at many ages and life situations. Readers, what questions or comments do you have for this inspirational traveler?