Taking a break from the US of A might be a very smart move. Or one of the biggest mistakes of your life.
Are you thinking of abandoning the American Titanic for a lifeboat abroad, traveling overseas to spend a year or two teaching English in Japan, blogging from Buenos Aires or just bumming around Laos on $5 per day? Here’s something to consider before you take the plunge.
Apart from his well-intentioned and misguided attempts to sustain the unsustainable U.S. economy, President Obama has sent two strong messages in his short time in office. Both of these messages have implications for people like me, who struggle to balance extended overseas travel with the desire for a more stable lifestyle that is grounded in one community.
Americans Welcome!
The first message, directed to the global community, is that the Bush era of bellicose foreign policy is over. Obama is determined to usher in a new era of international cooperation, and has even reached out to Iran.
These diplomatic overtures and the change of tone in Washington mean one thing for travelers: After 8 long, shameful years, it’s once again OK to be an American abroad. Even in places like Iran, strangers are greeting Americans with hospitality. Job opportunities are opening overseas, and even the State Department is hiring. Vibrant countries with low costs of living look like great harbors to weather the economic storm.
What an opportunity for American travelers! But don’t buy that one-way ticket to Tehran just yet…
Better To Put Down Roots?
The second message from the new administration suggests this may be a time to get grounded. An organic vegetable garden is being planted on the South Lawn of the White House.
The symbolic gesture of the White House vegetable garden demonstrates the importance of getting back to basics, renewing our connection to the Earth and nurturing healthy, local and self-sufficient economies.
No matter how you break it down, jetting off to another continent in search of work or adventure is not a sustainable activity. Shouldn’t we learn to grow our own potatoes instead of sampling an international buffet? Shouldn’t the recession be a time for reflection?
What say you, readers? Please leave a comment below.
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12 Comments... join the discussion!
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I am currently traveling abroad. I rented out my home in Utah and planned to travel around Europe for 6 months. I’m currently in month #4 and just rented out my home for an additional 5 months, meaning that I now won’t return to the United States until some time around October 2009.
While I love my home in the US, my main reason for wanting to stay here in Europe is because the people here don’t seem to be scared.
Everyone I talk to back in the United States is running around like their life is about to end because of the economic crisis. But here, it just doesn’t seem that way. Maybe things are as bad here as they are back home, but I just don’t get that impression.
Whatever the case may be, my main reason for wanting to stay here in Europe is because I don’t want to go back home and be surrounded by people who are afraid. I don’t want their negativity to drag me down with them. I’m having a great time here, I’m making more money while traveling than I have ever made in my life before… and returning to the States at this point in time is pretty much the last thing I want to do.
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I’m not sure if I accept the “either/or” foundation upon which your question is based, particularly because the notion of sustainability as it’s explored here is solely about environmental sustainability, it seems, not inclusive of cultural, social, and economic sustainability. Agreed- continental hops via airplane– there’s nothing environmentally friendly about them. But if you’re otherwise living your life as environmentally consciously as possible, I think travel’s a justifiable activity when undertaken thoughtfully… for all the reasons you’ve explored in other articles, especially about youth travel. I was left wondering how you resolve the tension you set up in this article.
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Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Julie and Soultravelers. I haven’t come to a conclusion on the dilemma I raised in this piece. Travel has tremendous benefits – I agree wholeheartedly – but its just not possible to really ground oneself in one community while also taking the time to travel slowly and thoughtfully.
How to resolve the tension? I’m not sure….maybe my 20s are for traveling, and from the 30s on I’ll be grounded in Vermont, traveling to the corner store, the fishing hole and once in a while to Quebec.
-Tim (logged in as admin, gotta change that)
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Thanks for the note, Darren.
I agree – the sky is falling attitude in the States is depressing. But do those of us who aren’t scared of the recession have any responsibility to our friends, family and home community? Should we help lift them up instead of letting them drag us down or fleeing the scene?
-Tim
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I decided to head out before the “crisis” happened. I would have gone whether the economy was booking or not. Obama may be the bees knees but he’s got to fix this worldwide with dudes like Gordon Brown (geez), and under the hand of The Fed, The Bilderberger Group, etc. I can’t think of a better time to be out of America. It just depends on what kind of a person you are. If you’re happy to be anxious and worried about payments, sitting in Boca Raton or Spokane or Culver City might not be a bad thing. For me, I saw it as a cheaper option to living in NYC and an ideal year to duck out.
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Interesting topic, for sure. I have actually found myself debating this issue over the last couple of years–root or travel? travel or root? partially based on the fact that I’ve been immersed in a holistic health program that makes me constantly question what balance means in my life.
I do think anything is possible–even living in the US and NOT jumping on the “sky is falling” bandwagon. Yes, I know I have a lot of “law of attraction” type people around me (and I won’t open that can of worms), and live in a town that is all about love, community, and more (sometimes unwanted) love, and some might say we are in denial, but man, it sure feels better to live with the notion that anything is possible and that we can make this crazy thing called life work with just a little ingenuity. So, for me, setting up deeper roots in the past year than I ever have before in my life has given me a much better appreciation of what it means to live every day to its fullest, traveling or at home. And sustainability is possible either way, if you are conscious of your actions.
Thanks for the question, Tim.
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I have to say that I am much more comfortable traveling, working, and living abroad now with Obama as president. I recently moved to China to teach English for the following year and have already had two “Obama” encounters within the first week. The first was a Chinese native at the airport who was helping me with something and after a short chat where he found out I was from America, he recited part of the Obama speech for me. (sadly and honestly, I couldn’t tell you one sentence from his speech) Yesterday while registering with the police department (something you have to do while living and working here), the officer told me “Tell Obama I said Hi” as he was saying goodbye.
This is a much different experience than when I was traveling abroad in SE Asia and Europe over the past year. During that time, people like to blame any American for everything President Bush did.
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Correction: it’s still not ok to be a Texan abroad, unless you happen to hail from Austin.
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I actually view the two as totally compatible. Going abroad can fast track an understanding of alternative ways to live and think, it can provide new values. Short of living in Portland, or somewhere equally progressive, change can be difficult without examples and support. You might say it’s like going away to the College of Life.
It should be noted the “rooting” President is a citizen, literally, of the world whereas the former President hadn’t been abroad until elected. It’s too early to compare but I have my private bets wagered and I’d bet most people who read this do too.
One of the biggest problems in America has been a lack of comprehension about the world outside of America. What the reflection should be is: how can I travel in a way that makes me an Obama citizen instead of a Bush citizen?
A Bush citizen uses a stronger dollar to order endless mango milkshakes and massages in Thailand. An Obama citizen WOOFs it. A Bush citizen voluntours for two weeks in Africa and takes a lot of facebook pictures of themselves with orphans. An Obama citizen learns Swahili and spends a year teaching what skill she knows in exchange for learning about how a community functions – culturally and politically. A Bush citizen stays home on the ranch and studies the history of Texas as told by white Americans. An Obama citizen embraces ideas and traditions from everywhere he’s been (Demonstrated from Shaka throwing to Chi-town basketball games).
And hey, who said living at all was sustainable?
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I just quit my job to travel to Central and South America for quite a while. I did so because I was not happy with my job. I don’t look at it as only traveling and relaxing, I look at it as an extension of my education. I will be learning Spanish, bettering my communication, interacting with new people and will experience incredible culture-shock – you cannot learn this in school
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You have to respect people’s autonomy. Some people will want to cut their cards up, dig in at home, hang on to their jobs and weather the economic storm. Others will prefer to wander off and see the world while fares are cheap, cheap, cheap. In the course of 2009 many will do a bit of both
Both choices have validity so your either/or is really dependent on your personal circumstances. Buddha travelled. Lao Tzu travelled. Heck even Jesus travelled. (Slowly.) Good enough for me… You don’t have a serious moral issue here. Travel and home-building are both good things and both should be done. What you focus on in 2009 is your free choice.
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