Category Archives: career break

February 4, 2012

Buying Travel Insurance

By simply three cents

For something that caused me so much stress and had me doing so much research, actually clicking ‘purchase’ for travel insurance, was strangely simply.

So simple that I had to triple check that I wasn’t missing a step.

You could buy in increments of weeks or months. But the way they count the month, my return would count just over two months. Like just over, as in a day. I decided not to risk it and purchase enough to cover myself for the duration of my trip, even if it was to cover that extra day. It actually worked out cheaper to buy three months, than to buy two months and add a week.

For something so important, it’s really reasonable. Let’s just hope it’s a purchase I never ever have to use. Ever.

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February 3, 2012

Setting up a second bank account

By simply three cents

After reading this, I realized I would definitely need a second bank account.

My biggest concern was fees. I didn’t want to pay a fee from the US bank, a fee from the foreign bank and that dreaded foreign transaction fee.

My current US bank has agreed to waive their fees until April. I had to go up the food chain for that agreed waiver. But I will still have to pay the foreign bank fee.

What I find amazing is that my primary US bank partners with several foreign banks – but none in the countries I will be traveling. I was told if I find those banks in my travels, they cannot be sure the fee will be waived as the partnerships are identified on the website for those banks in specific countries. We shall see how that works out.

Needless to say I realized I wanted to have a bank that had actual branch locations in South America. I visited many, many banks to find the right one.

I had even received a suggestion to check out Bank of China. I did and they don’t link their accounts outside of the US.

I visited Capital One, and even though they have few fees, making them a key bank for international travelers, I had heard from several people, Katie included, that their customer service from outside the US is sub-par. And customer service is huge for me.

I eventually went with Citibank. They have locations in most of the places I am going and if I lose my card (please think good thoughts that I don’t) they can issue me one at the local branch, wherever in the world I may be. 

This is a huge plus as most banks will only send a new card to a US address, which would ultimately be problematic for me, since I wouldn’t be in the US.

And the guy who set my account up was super friendly, super helpful and most importantly, he answered all of my questions.

So, we’ll see. I’m hopeful.

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February 2, 2012

Visiting the Consulates

By simply three cents

Being based in NYC, I have access to various consulates. Unfortunately there are no tourist boards based in NYC for most of these countries, so I used the consulate as my tourist board. Some were more helpful than others.

To be fair, they offer services to their citizens and it’s not really their role to provide tourist services. I wanted them to talk about their favorite places. Only Ozzie from the Peru Consulate took the challenge 🙂

Uruguay Consulate: The woman I met recommended Colonia, Punta del Diablo and Cabo Polonio. She also recommended Tas’ de Viaje hostel in Punta del Esta because Aco and Juan, the owners, are her friends, and told me to tell them that she recommended me if I made it that way.

Address: 420 Madison Avenue 6th Floor

Bolivian Consulate: I learned that if I want to get my Bolivian visa in advance I will need to provide a police report from my local police station noting that I am an upstanding citizen. 
 
Address: 211 East 43rd Street Ste. 1004

Ecuador Consulate: The woman at the window seemed shocked that I wanted information and found me a bunch of worn-in brochures that looked like they were stuffed in a drawer for a few years. When I asked about her favorite places – she gave me the name of one beach.

To be fair, the Ecuador Consulate was the most crowded. I had to take a number and wait to be called. In the meantime I chatted up the security guy to see if I could get additional information. I wanted to find out what he loved best about his country (thinking he was from Ecuador), and he told me that he was from Nicaragua. So our conversation went something like this.

Me: It’s supposed to be a beautiful country. Do you know much about Ecuador?

His reply: No.

And then my number was called.

Address: 800 2nd Avenue (at 42nd Street)

Chilean Consulate: She told me that the wine region is great (duh) and in South Chile there’s a town called Chiloe that’s worth visiting. It’s pretty far south and I won’t be heading back that way during this trip.

She did send me away with some brochures.

Address: 866 UN Plaza #601 (48th Street and 1st Avenue)

Argentina consulate:

I had gone to the Argentine consulate before our trip last year and also not very helpful. Just brochures.

Address: 12 West 56th Street

 

Peru Consulate:

Ozzie, my new best friend, gave me his thoughts based on when his friends go for normal US vacation – so take the days in mind when you know you will be there longer.

Address: 241 East 49th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)

 I received tons of info. We talked for nearly twenty minutes. He told me:

  • LAN is best airline within Peru
  • Lima – 2 days is plenty
  • Arequipa – canoeing and chocolate and v good food – spend three days here
  • Mancora – beaches, there is an airport and you can get a bus to Ecuador from here
  • Piura – I don’t remember what he said but it’s next to Mancora in my notes and I have a big star and a box around the name – so clearly was good recommendation.
  • You can get from Tacna to Cusco from Atacama or from Calama (Chile) to Arequipa by air
  • Cusco – 5 days. You need one day to adjust to the altitude. Go shopping but take it easy.
  • Drink coca tea and don’t plan any tours that first day.
  • On the third day in Cusco plan to go to Machu Picchu – if you are not hiking you will take a bus, a train and a van at various intervals of the journey
  • Avoid Puno and Lake Titicaca – big protests happening.

But I say keep an eye out on the political situation because those floating islands look amazing. And where would they even protest here?

 

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January 31, 2012

Relief

By simply three cents

That’s how I felt the day I got my last shot.

Oh boy, finally, done!

Well, until I have to go back in six months for the Hepatitis A booster. That’s the only one that requires follow up as it is two jabs given six months apart — but don’t worry, you are fully protected after the first jab.

Hallelujah! Now I have started to research more places where I am protected. Can’t let all these jabs go to waste!

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January 30, 2012

Jabs: Yellow Fever and MMR

By simply three cents
Yellow Fever and MMR are live vaccines. I’m not exactly sure what that means other than it’s the live virus which totally freaked me out.
 
If you need both, you can either get them at the same time, or at least 28 days apart for the best efficacy.
 
What I also found out that when you get the MMR vaccine, you can potentially be contagious to unvaccinated people for up to two weeks. Well, two women close to me were pregnant.
 
Being overly cautious, I checked with several nurses and the places where I got vaccinated but I gave a list of all possible vaccines I was going to get, and then some, and made both women check with their OB-GYN to ensure that if I got vaccinated I could be around them, and their unborn children.
 
Both of their OB-GYNs confirmed we were good to go. 
 
Better safe than sorry I say. I’d never forgive myself if I passed on anything from these vaccines to an unborn child.
Again, I am not a medical professional. Please refer to one for any needs relating to your health, vaccinations or unborn children.

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January 29, 2012

Jabs: TDAP and Freak Out

By simply three cents

As part of my annual physical, my regular doctor gave me a the Tetanus Diphtheria Pertussis (TDAP) shot. Even though I had a TD shot just four years ago from a pedicure gone wrong, I guess there’s an outbreak of Pertussis in the US and it’s recommended to have the vaccine.

I was slightly, okay, very, nervous before every.single.jab.

I read the CDC VIS (Vaccine Information Statement) for each vaccine, and just before each jab I re-read it so I knew what to expect.

After each jab, I would be very aware of my body to see if something weird happened. After 24 hours passed, I could breathe easy.

I mean, what if they gave me the wrong vaccine? What if something went horribly wrong? What if I moved? What if it was expired?

And for those of you who know me, I asked all of these questions.

In fact, when I was getting the TDAP vaccine I asked my doctor so many questions that he just handed over the label from the TDAP bottle so I could take a look.

Of course when I got to a computer I Googled it and it and I noticed that the logo from the actual vaccine was slightly different from the logo on the pharmaceutical website. So of course I worried for a hot ten minutes that it was a fake.

Who does that?

But, just for the record, the shot that made me feel the worst…TDAP. I was under the weather for over a week. A WEEK!

And it was THE MOST NORMAL JAB TO GET. No problem with Typhoid or Yellow Fever. The TDAP.

It shocked me too.

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January 28, 2012

Jabs: Hep A and Hep B

By simply three cents

In this process, I learned a lot about jabs so I wanted to share some additional information that I have learned along the way.

Hep A is a series of two shots. You can travel after the first but you need to get the second six months later.

Hep B is a series of three jabs, and you can travel after you have two, which are given a month apart. The third in that series is also six months later.

You may have had Hep B before entering university and from my research the efficacy can vary after 15 years. Me personally, I found out that I still have immunity to Hep B, so did not need to worry about this series. Which saved me hundreds of dollars.

If you do need both Hep A and Hep B you can get something called Twinrix, which is both shots in one. Same vaccination schedule as Hep B, but you are also getting the immunity to Hep A — with two less jabs. I found it to be a little more expensive but if you hate shots, like me, I think the extra cost would have been well worth it for three jabs versus five (ouch), especially if you are getting a full battery of jabs for your destinations.

Again, I’m not a doctor or a medical professional. I did a ton of research and asked A LOT of questions. But please, see your medical professional for advice for what is best for you and your situation.

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January 27, 2012

CDC and Me – BFF

By simply three cents

Oh CDC. You and I have become best friends the past few months.

I know you have so much information it’s scary. I know where I can find your maps pointing out risk areas for various diseases I never heard of. I know you have the most updated VIS (vaccine information statements) for any vaccine I could ever imagine wanting to know anything about.

But if I can just say one thing, your VIS’ scare me just a little. I read the warnings before the jab, and then I’d read it a few hours after the jab to make sure I was still okay and not suffering from any of the possible side effects, no matter how miniscule the odds were.

You can Google CDC VIS [and whatever vaccine you are looking for information on].

Examples of my Google searches: ‘CDC VIS Typhoid’ and ‘CDC VIS Yellow Fever’ and ‘CDC VIS Meningococal’ etc.

Go on, take a look.

What’s the most obscure travel vaccine you’ve ever needed?

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January 26, 2012

Jabs: Overview

By simply three cents

I have never traveled anywhere where vaccinations were necessary.

Though now after I have done a boatload of research, I think every traveler should have a Hep A jab. This is only my opinion. I am not a medical professional.

Sorting out my vaccinations and figuring out what’s what caused me the most strife out of anything else in the planning process.
First, shots are not cheap.
Second, I needed a lot of shots.
Third, I switch between calling them shots, vaccinations and jabs. They are all the same thing. I think I like jabs best.
For my actual health consultation, I went to Passport Health. Highly recommend.
The nurse I met with was great and I got a ton of information – like clumping malaria prone countries together so you aren’t taking malaria meds for the better part of your trip. At $11USD per pill this is crucial planning information. Highly recommend.
Key takeaways:
1 – Shop around for the best price. Prices for the same vaccines can vary, sometimes by $40.
2 – Start the process well in advance of your departure date, at least six weeks prior.
Some jabs (Hep A, Hep B) are in a series and you need two jabs a month apart for Hep B before you travel. Others are live vaccines (Yellow Fever, MMR) which can either be given together or at least 28 days apart.
Also, you don’t want your last jab to be given as you are running to the airport as some jabs take two weeks for full efficacy.
 3 – Some of the vaccinations are specific to the region of a country, so you might not necessarily need certain ones.
4 – You can’t drink alcohol for 24 hours after each jab so you must plan accordingly.
5 – CDC.gov/travel had so many hits on their website thanks to me.
6 – I am a wimp.

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January 24, 2012

Who Else Does This?

By simply three cents

Now that I have made my big announcement, you may be wondering what inspired me.

First, I was always so jealous of people that I met on my travels who were traveling longer than ten days or two weeks at ‘normal’ intervals of vacation time. I had written about meeting an Italian who said it’s our (Americans) fault for not standing up to get more than two weeks of vacation time.

Second, there is a very inspiring community of bloggers. The people listed below, whether they know it or not, helped me tremendously with research and further inspiration for my upcoming adventure in South America!

This is not the be all end all of blogs I have read to prepare and loosely plan my trip. But, some of the names below may be familiar to my parents, sister and the boyfriend as I sent daily email barrages full of links with great reading material.

If you still think I am crazy for quitting my job to travel, you will see that I have plenty of good company.

Since I love to make lists, here it is, in ABC order:

Warning: If you have even the teensiest bit of wanderlust, reading any of these blogs will up that wanderlust tremendously!

A Little Adrift – Shannon has gone RTW a few times and is currently traveling SE Asia with her 11 year old niece.

Bacon is Magic – Ayngelina traveled solo throughout South America for 18 months. She has been a huge inspiration for me. When I read her writing, I feel like she has taken the words out of my mouth.

Hole in the Donut – Diagnosed with Lyme Disease, Barbara says that she was ‘solid on the outside, but empty on the inside.’ Determined to find joy in life, she left with a backpack to see the world.

Johnny Vagabond – Wes goes around the world ‘low and slow’ – he is currently in Latin America.

Katie Going Global – Katie, a former lawyer, left Chicago to explore the former countries of the Soviet Union. She left in August 2011 for a year.

Legal Nomads – Another former lawyer, Jodi photographs and eats her way around the world, most notably in and around Asia.

Lost Girls World – Three New Yorkers in their twenties who left for a year around the world. Amanda, one of the Lost Girls, has been a huge resource for my questions!

Married With Luggage – Betsy and Warren sold nearly everything they owned and have been on the road for over a year. They are currently in Thailand.

Nomadic Matt – Matt started with a one year RTW that morphed into an 18 month trip, and has now had him on the road for over five years.

Otts World – Sherry calls herself a ‘corporate cube dweller turned nomadic traveler,’ also a co-founder of Meet Plan Go.

Rainer Jenss – Rainer, his wife and two young boys visited 28 countries in one year. Rainer is the one that introduced me to the Meet Plan Go group and has been a huge supporter of my plan even when I was torn between two continents!

Solo Traveler Blog – Janice traveled solo in her twenties and she’s doing it again. Her story is bittersweet but answers the question, if not now, when.

The Frugal Traveler – Seth ‘seeks first-class living at steerage prices.’ His is the Frugal Traveler blog from the New York Times.

Wandering Earl.com – Earl’s blog was one of the first I found. He left in 1999 for a post-graduation trip that was supposed to last three months. He’s been on the road for over 12 years.

World Travel for Couples.com – I found WTFC early on in the process when I was trying to convince the boyfriend to do this with me. Adam and Megan are a married couple who completed a RTW, and are still married 🙂

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