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The Jews of Kochi, India
Published on 2012-05-15 15:29:30
Even though you know exactly where the water taxi is headed, the first glimpse of the sign at the end of the dock can be unsettling for any Jew steeped in the dark memories of Russian pogroms, the Warsaw Ghetto, … Continue reading → > read more
On My Own Dime, This Time
Published on 2012-05-02 05:00:11
My wife and I recently returned from a glorious, six-week Pacific odyssey during which we visited the Cook Islands (see Relaxation, Island Style), Sydney, Tasmania (A Tasmanian Toilet Tale), Laos (The Beauty of Travel; The Ugliness of War), China, and … Continue reading → > read more
On The U.S. State Department’s Dime
Published on 2012-04-19 05:00:12
In an earlier post (The Clues Are All Around You) I addressed the single most common question from readers of this blog: “OK, you convinced me of the personal, professional, and cultural benefits of short-term working vacations. Now, how do … Continue reading → > read more
The Beauty of Travel; The Ugliness of War
Published on 2012-04-08 08:00:18
In the 1960′s and early 1970′s I was fiercely opposed to the Vietnam War. I protested, marched, sat in, and obtained a deferment by teaching at a local college.  However, I think this opposition was more closely related to my deep-seated … Continue reading → > read more
Relaxation, Island Style
Published on 2012-03-23 04:29:49
The Cook Islands, an independent nation in the South Pacific near French Polynesia, is a unique place–quite unlike any island where we have lived or worked. It is what tropical travel used to be like before the arrival of infinity … Continue reading → > read more
A Tasmanian Toilet Tale
Published on 2012-03-15 19:51:51
(Dear Readers. Rather than take the six-week hiatus I had planned I have decided to share some experiences from my Pacific Rim odyssey. While not related to the theme of this blog–working vacations–I hope you find them fun to read. … Continue reading → > read more
Intermission, Part 3.
Published on 2012-03-06 05:00:53
Dearest Readers, My wife and I leave today for a Pacific Rim odyssey around. (I am embarrassed to admit this trip is on my own dime! I hope that does not ruin the “cheap skate” reputation I have so carefully … Continue reading → > read more
The Flying Postman of Broken Hill (Rerun)
Published on 2012-02-24 05:00:50
(The following story first appeared on June 7, 2010. I think readers who did not see it at that time will enjoy looking at it now.) One of the joys of a working vacation is that it gives travelers time … Continue reading → > read more
Travel Contest–Part II
Published on 2012-02-18 05:00:20
A little while back I ran a travel contest in which readers were asked to identify an unknown location from a set of clues–much like Conde Nast’s monthly “Where Are You” feature. It was a lot of fun and over … Continue reading → > read more
The Way to a Culture’s Heart Is Through Its Stomach
Published on 2012-02-10 05:00:36
Donkey carts clatter across cobblestone streets; butchers wielding massive cleavers hack away at sides of lamb, beef, and camel; women and fruit sellers haggle over prices in Arabic, French, and Tamazight, the local Berber language. We are in Fez’s meat, … Continue reading → > read more
A Little Mathematics, Maestro!
Published on 2012-02-01 05:00:24
(The following is a reprint of a June, 2010 blog post. Since its arguments are still valid I thought you might enjoy reading or rereading it.) In my latest travel book, On The Other Guy’s Dime, I describe one of … Continue reading → > read more
The Why and the Wherefore
Published on 2012-01-23 05:00:36
I have argued, rather vociferously, for skilled professionals to take working vacations–short-term, overseas postings which pay enough to cover most or all your expenses and do not require you to quit your day job. Well, a reader wrote me asking … Continue reading → > read more
Thaipusam–The Ultimate Sensory Experience
Published on 2012-01-13 05:00:15
Imagine trying to describe the smell of a fresh-cut rose or the taste of a superb French meal–words alone cannot do it justice. This is the problem writing about Thaipusam, a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Subramaniam. The … Continue reading → > read more
Driving in Nepal: The Ultimate in Adventure Tourism
Published on 2012-01-05 15:23:24
I used to believe that driving the Dan Ryan or FDR at rush hour would be the most stressful activities you could undertake. Fuggedaboutit! Nepalese drivers make New York cabbies look like models of decorum. The primary rule of road … Continue reading → > read more
Poverty Tourism
Published on 2011-12-19 05:00:48
(This article first appeared on June 30, 2010. I thought it was interesting enough to warrant a “rerun” and hope you will agree.) A friend from Minneapolis gave us the name of a former parish priest, Father George, who left … Continue reading → > read more
The Clues Are All Around You
Published on 2011-12-08 05:00:44
The most frequent question I get from blog readers is “OK, I’m convinced of the professional and cultural benefits of short-term working vacations, but where do I find them? How do I locate opportunities to live and work overseas?”  I … Continue reading → > read more
Happy Holiday!
Published on 2011-11-24 05:00:57
Thanksgiving is the most American of holidays; a window into our country and its people. Whenever we host international visitors at Thanksgiving time we enjoy watching them soak in what it means to be American–from football and family to turkey … Continue reading → > read more
How NOT To See The World
Published on 2011-11-10 05:00:26
A big thank you to Adele for sending the following quote from the book Dream, Save, Do by Betsy and Warren Talbot: “The longer you invest in your current reality–with your time, attention, money, and habits–the harder it will be … Continue reading → > read more
Such a Big, Big World
Published on 2011-06-30 05:00:01
If I have been doing my job I will by now have convinced you of the benefits of a short-term working vacation and demonstrated the relative ease with which it can be accomplished. Now the question becomes “Where should I … Continue readin > read more
How To Rent Out Your House
Published on 2011-06-22 05:00:23
Finding responsible (and paying) tenants to live in your home while on a working vacation is neither difficult nor expensive, and it should never be an excuse for turning down a short-term overseas posting. Here’s how: If your city is … C > read more
Don’t Be Afraid!
Published on 2011-06-15 04:00:14
One of the reasons often cited for not taking a working vacation–a short-term, one to six month overseas posting–is “What would I do with my house?” The answer is simple: Rent it out! Renting your house while living and working &# > read more
Short Term Travel; Long Term Benefits
Published on 2011-06-08 05:00:14
I received a comment from a reader finishing his 17th year of teaching at a branch of the University of Maryland in southern Germany. This individual writes “I have yet to take advantage of the return air ticket that the … Continue re > read more
A Great Web Site For Working Vacation Planners
Published on 2011-05-27 05:00:28
There are numerous Web sites to help you locate and plan a working vacation. I mentioned some in earlier posts–Great Blogs to Check Out and Working Vacations for (Almost) Everyone–with another dozen or so in Chapter 14 of my book. … Conti > read more
Why Should I Close The House, Pack Up The Kids, and Head Halfway Around The World?
Published on 2011-05-17 11:00:24
(The following was originally posted on April 1, 2010) Fair question! It isn’t trivial to plan and pull off a short-term, overseas working vacation. It takes time to apply for a sabbatical or leave of absence; it takes time to … Conti > read more
I Can Do This!
Published on 2011-05-09 05:00:44
I recently received a comment that reflects a common belief among many skilled professionals. Debra, a public school teacher from North Carolina, posted the following on this blog:Â “I heard you on the radio yesterday and was so excited to > read more
Out Of The Blue
Published on 2011-05-01 05:00:05
The most common question I get when speaking to groups is “How do I locate a working vacation?”  I spend a good deal of time on this topic in my book and have an entire chapter devoted to search strategies … Continue reading U > read more
A Working Vacation?! OK, What’s In It For Me?
Published on 2011-04-25 05:00:54
Fair question! It certainly isn’t trivial to plan and pull off a working vacation: It takes time to apply for a sabbatical or leave of absence, rent out your home, find housing and transportation in the host country, arrange schooling ̷ > read more
How To Turn Your Holiday Into A Recruiting Trip
Published on 2011-04-18 05:00:09
Hello dear readers. I just returned from a lovely three-week holiday in sunny Spain.  I will not bore you with the details since I traveled on my own dime, thus violating the spirit of this blog. However, there is one … Continue reading > read more
Intermission, Part Two!
Published on 2011-03-25 05:00:35
Dear Readers, I will be traveling in Spain for the next three weeks and will not be posting or blogging while away. (I hate to admit this, but I will be traveling ON MY OWN DIME. Ouch!) Please feel free … Continue reading → > read more
Media Overload
Published on 2011-03-17 05:00:25
The last couple of weeks were extremely busy in terms of media exposure. On March 5th I was interviewed by Rudy Maxa, aka the Savvy Traveler, on the radio show Rudy Maxa’s World, syndicated on a hundred stations across the … Continue re > read more
Working Vacations For (Almost) Everyone!
Published on 2011-03-10 05:00:10
One of the popular misconceptions about working vacations is that they are exclusively for academics–only possible during the months of June, July, and August and only to schools and colleges around the world. At book signings and call-in sho > read more
My Television Debut!
Published on 2011-03-09 19:15:03
Dear Readers, I invite you to watch my TV debut, an interview on the local NBC show “KARE-11 Today” from Minneapolis. The streaming video of the interview is at http://www.kare11.com/today/article/912515/449/Travel-on-someone-elses-dime > read more
What the Heck is a Working Vacation? (Act III)
Published on 2011-02-26 05:00:43
… and now the final act. Previously, I discussed what a working vacation is (Act I), followed by who might benefit from such a beast (Act II). In this post, Act III, I address what is probably the most important … Continue reading & > read more
What the Heck is a Working Vacation? (Act II)
Published on 2011-02-18 05:00:09
Now that the last post has introduced you to the what, let’s talk a little about the who–namely, who is the audience for this thing I call a working vacation? When I started this blog last year I assumed it … Continue reading → > read more
What the Heck is a Working Vacation? (Act I)
Published on 2011-02-12 05:00:41
Dear Readers, It is coming up to the one-year anniversary of my blog, and I am flabbergasted at how much it has grown. I have reached five figures in page views and am well past a thousand unique visitors, many … Continue reading → > read more
Come and See Me in New York City
Published on 2011-02-03 18:36:13
I will be signing copies of On The Other Guy’s Dime at the New York Times Travel Show, Saturday, Feb. 26th, 11:30am and Sunday, Feb. 27th, 12:30pm at the on-site Border’s Bookshop in the Javits Center. If you live in … Continue re > read more
Some Sound Advice From Two Great Guys
Published on 2011-02-02 05:00:58
I recently came across a wonderful blog entitled Two Guys Around The World. (It was voted outstanding travel blog of 2009.) In the words of Sam Powers, one of the two guys: “I’m young, single and just graduated from college. … C > read more
Listen To My Latest Interview
Published on 2011-01-26 05:00:42
On Sunday, January 23rd, I was interviewed about my book On The Other Guy’s Dime by Lizz Sommars of KMTT radio, 103.7 FM, in Seattle. Lizz, a veteran reporter with 25 years experience in radio, is host of the weekly … Continue reading & > read more
The Moral of the Story
Published on 2011-01-20 05:00:56
In the last three posts I described my failure landing a working vacation on the South Pacific island nation of Palau. This type of dream-shattering disappointment is well-known to first-time authors, newly minted playwrights, and novice actors. Un > read more
Failure Is Not An Option
Published on 2011-01-11 05:00:23
OK, neither plan A nor plan B worked, and I was batting 0 for 3 in my attempt to live and work on a tropical island paradise. However, it is not yet time to throw in the towel as there … Continue reading → > read more
Plan A, then Plan B, then Plan C
Published on 2011-01-05 05:00:00
As described in my last post, I dreamed of living and working on the island paradise of Palau. So with a cocky swagger, I sent an email off to the head of IT at Palau Community College (PCC) and waited … Continue reading → > read more
Happy 2011!
Published on 2011-01-03 05:00:08
I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year, a year that I hope will include some adventurous and culturally rewarding travel to places far and wide. Your loyalty and continued readership have made this first year of “OtherGuysDime” a R > read more
Ask, but Ye Shall Not Always Receive–Part Two
Published on 2010-12-26 05:00:36
Almost every traveler fantasizes about life on a remote South Pacific island—a thatched-roof cottage ringed by date palms, white sand beaches, and turquoise colored surf.  I wanted to live this idyllic lifestyle, not just dream it. I had already > read more
Ask, but Ye Shall Not Always Receive
Published on 2010-12-21 05:00:31
Reality check time: For the last few months I have described my resoundingly successful cold-calling exploits–all sevens, blackjacks, and cherries across the bar.  These cold calls led to an amazing three-month stay in Nairobi (Hakuna Matata, No > read more
It Ain’t Just for Teachers Anymore
Published on 2010-12-16 05:00:19
Let’s give a big thank-you to Kirk Horsted for his insightful post, It’s About the Time, Not Just the Dime. His story helps me clear up a big misunderstanding with my readers about who I am writing for and who … Continue reading > read more