Grown Up Gap Year: Season 2

Hi, I’m Mandy! Last summer I packed up my classroom and headed out on my one year sabbatical to travel the world. I’ve started referring to it as my Grown Up Gap Year.

I had been saving and planning this trip for 3 years, and it has been every bit as wonderful as I always imagined.

I just returned from 5 months backpacking in Europe and North Africa where I visited 15 different countries.

I watched a meteor shower in the deserts of Morocco, I walked 300 miles through Basque Country in Spain, I got stopped by the police while hitchhiking in Egypt, and again while road-tripping through Albania. My hostel caught fire in Turkiye, I housesat for a sweet old dog named Bertie in England, and I scuba dived in 3 different seas.

And I’m just getting started.

I came back to the US to visit friends and family for the holidays but I’m heading back out to explore Oceania and East Asia starting in February 2024.

I can’t wait to slow-travel through Thailand and start my Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand.

As a public school teacher, I was never going to be able to save enough money to spend lavishly, but I’ve been taking advantage of points and miles, volunteer opportunities, and work exchange programs to keep up the adventure as long as possible.

And I never want to stop.

I stay in a mix of hostels, Airbnbs, and local accommodation. I don’t buy souvenirs, but I never skimp on food. I call myself a budget traveler because I try to always spend my money consciously, but you won’t find me haggling over pennies or sacrificing comfort and safety to save a dollar.

I hope to keep meeting other travelers who aren’t satisfied with the idea of putting our lives on hold until “retirement”. Nothing is guaranteed.

And I really hope that I can inspire more people to take the leap, take more vacations, and see more of this beautiful world.

Thank you for being here and following along.