For the past couple of weeks I have been grappling with the prospect of minor (not financially minor mind you) surgery. I am currently dealing with my insurance company, trying to find out whether they will cover the procedure or not. Regardless of the outcome I am going to take a big financial hit that may delay my plans of travel. However, I have considered an alternative: WWOOFing and couchsurfing my way around North America.
I would be able to use my own vehicle and also eliminate the airfare which was going to be the bulk of my cost for getting overseas. I am still very much set on going to Japan and other countries overseas but first traveling domestically to places I have never been may enable me to travel more confidently when I do make my eventual passage across the Pacific. I have not fully researched the possibility of entering Mexico, though I do know they have a functioning WWOOF program. If possible a stint in Mexico would be fantastic. The Hispanic population in my region is steadily increasing and visiting Mexico would be one way of connecting with them and learning more about their fascinating culture. If anybody has any suggestions for Mexico, farming or otherwise, please leave your feedback in the comments below!
In light of my medical issues, I will do my best to not let this setback discourage me from learning more about organic farming practices and people from all over the world. I am determined to get out in the world, meet new people, learn new things, and work hard in the process. I sincerely hope you all will continue to follow my progress.
Good day!
August 17, 2011
July 29, 2011
Growing Bamboo
I recently read an article in the Mississippi Business Journal about the first Mississippi-based bamboo company. This got me interested in the viability of growing bamboo here in Mississippi since this region seems to have the ideal climate for such an endeavor. After doing some research I have found that it is indeed viable and bamboo can prosper here in our local southern climate.
Bamboo is among the fastest growing plants in the world. Many associate bamboo with Asia (and rightly so), but it was introduced to the U.S. over a century ago. It has an incredible number of uses, ranging from furniture and housing to medicinal purposes and food. The U.S. imports around 98% of its bamboo, but there are many domestic bamboo farms located in different parts of the country along with research farms and stations. Many value its potential as a crop that could be used to stimulate the economy in very poor areas such as the Mississippi Delta. Others tout bamboo's environmental benefits such as its ability to help decrease C02 levels in the atmosphere as well as its ability to protect soil against erosion. Still others are attracted to bamboo for its aesthetic qualities. Given all of these properties there is certainly a need for serious consideration of bamboo as a mainstream crop in parts of the U.S. able to sustain growth.Given my interest in WOOFing in Japan and other Asian countries, I hope there is a possibility of arranging a stay on a bamboo farm. It would be an excellent chance to get some firsthand experience with a bamboo operation and provide me with a foundation to expand upon when I return home. To me that is one of the fantastic aspects of the WWOOF program. There is an opportunity to experience the culture of a country on a very deep level while also gaining practical skills needed to start or further develop organic farming.
I hope to discover more opportunities throughout the world that I can utilize here at home in my future farming activities. Do you have anything interesting to share about bamboo, farming, WWOOF, or anything else? If so then feel free to comment!
Good day!
July 28, 2011
A Way to Travel and Save Money?
"Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work." ~ Horace
Last night I was doing a bit of research into the possibility of obtaining a working holiday visa. Actually working in a country and staying for up to twelve months (typically) would allow me to get to know the country and culture far better than a short visit. Unfortunately, there are very few countries offering working holiday visas to Americans. The reason as I understand it is that the U.S. does not offer the same working holiday option to other countries. There is an exchange visa, though it does not work the same way. Included in the countries not offering a working holiday option to the U.S. is Japan. Ideally I would be able to visit Japan first since that is my dream destination, but I would be more than happy traveling to another country and living there for a while.
Listed below are a few different working holiday programs for U.S. citizens. I am focusing mainly on the Pacific region as that is where I am most interested in visiting. If you are another nationality, check with the immigration department of your particular country of interest to see if they have a working holiday program set up with your country. For instance, though Japan does not have a working holiday option for Americans there is one available for Canadians and those from the U.K. So be sure and research thoroughly!
Australia has a Work and Holiday Visa available for U.S. citizens for a period of up to twelve months. Here is the basic information regarding the visa from Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship:
There are a number of opportunities available for workers heading out for a working holiday. A very popular option is picking fruit. There are plentiful jobs in this particular field. The pay varies from farm to farm and some farms even offer accomodation for the worker. Of course there are other opportunities available including work for bartenders, waitstaff, and other types of employment.
Be sure to check the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship for complete details and for your application and visit the links below for helpful information.
Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship - Working Holiday Visa Options
Travellers At Work
Fruit Picking In Australia
Workstay - Fruit Picking Jobs Australia
New Zealand:
Like Australia New Zealand also has a working holiday program for U.S. citizens and many other countries. The basic information is outlined below:
Much like Australia there are a multitude of jobs available in the horticulture field. Opportunities also exist on dairy farms, restaurants, hotels, inns, and other places.
New Zealand Department of Immigration - Working Holiday
Holiday Work Opportunities in New Zealand (A very helpful site provided by New Zealand's Department of Immigration with many useful links for finding employment)
Singapore:
Singapore has a working holiday program in place for U.S. citizens, as well as other countries, but you must be an undergradute or graduate student (or enrolling) at a specific university so it is fairly restrictive but worth mentioning nonetheless. If you are a student with a summer off and attend an eligible university then this may be a good program for you. See Singapore's Ministry of Manpower for all of the details.
It's unfortunate that the U.S. has not established similar working holiday arrangements with other countries. Maybe if it ever does so then more opportunities will present themselves to young people who want to travel and work abroad temporarily. Of course there are plenty of other options to travel but working holiday visas allow individuals to stay in a country much longer than they would be able to otherwise and enable them to legally work. Opportunities for U.S. citizens to go on a working holiday also exist in Canada and also in Ireland.
If you are considering a working holiday visa as an option then hopefully you have found this information useful. Be sure to share you travel plans or experiences relating to working holiday visas via the comments!
Good day!
Last night I was doing a bit of research into the possibility of obtaining a working holiday visa. Actually working in a country and staying for up to twelve months (typically) would allow me to get to know the country and culture far better than a short visit. Unfortunately, there are very few countries offering working holiday visas to Americans. The reason as I understand it is that the U.S. does not offer the same working holiday option to other countries. There is an exchange visa, though it does not work the same way. Included in the countries not offering a working holiday option to the U.S. is Japan. Ideally I would be able to visit Japan first since that is my dream destination, but I would be more than happy traveling to another country and living there for a while.
Listed below are a few different working holiday programs for U.S. citizens. I am focusing mainly on the Pacific region as that is where I am most interested in visiting. If you are another nationality, check with the immigration department of your particular country of interest to see if they have a working holiday program set up with your country. For instance, though Japan does not have a working holiday option for Americans there is one available for Canadians and those from the U.K. So be sure and research thoroughly!
Australia:
Australia has a Work and Holiday Visa available for U.S. citizens for a period of up to twelve months. Here is the basic information regarding the visa from Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship:
- You must be age 18-30.
- If the visa is granted you can enter Australia at any time within 12 months of the visa grant date.
- You can stay in Australia for up to 12 months from the date of first entry.
- You may leave and re-enter Australia any number of times from the 12 months from the date of first entry.
- You may undertake temporary employment in Australia for up to six months with each employer.
- You may study for up to four months.
There are a number of opportunities available for workers heading out for a working holiday. A very popular option is picking fruit. There are plentiful jobs in this particular field. The pay varies from farm to farm and some farms even offer accomodation for the worker. Of course there are other opportunities available including work for bartenders, waitstaff, and other types of employment.
Be sure to check the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship for complete details and for your application and visit the links below for helpful information.
Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship - Working Holiday Visa Options
Travellers At Work
Fruit Picking In Australia
Workstay - Fruit Picking Jobs Australia
New Zealand:
Like Australia New Zealand also has a working holiday program for U.S. citizens and many other countries. The basic information is outlined below:
- You usually must be permanently living in the United States of America – this means you can be temporarily visiting another country when you lodge your application.
- You must hold a passport from the United States of America that is valid for at least three months after your planned departure from New Zealand.
- You must be age 18-30.
- You cannot bring children with you.
- You must hold a return ticket, or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket.
- You must have a minimum of NZ$4,200 available funds to meet your living costs while in New Zealand.
- You must meet New Zealand's health and character requirements.
- You must hold medical and comprehensive hospitalization insurance for the length of your stay.
- You must be coming to New Zealand to holiday, with work or study being secondary intentions for your visit.
- You must not have been approved a visa under a Working Holiday Scheme before.
Much like Australia there are a multitude of jobs available in the horticulture field. Opportunities also exist on dairy farms, restaurants, hotels, inns, and other places.
New Zealand Department of Immigration - Working Holiday
Holiday Work Opportunities in New Zealand (A very helpful site provided by New Zealand's Department of Immigration with many useful links for finding employment)
Singapore:
Singapore has a working holiday program in place for U.S. citizens, as well as other countries, but you must be an undergradute or graduate student (or enrolling) at a specific university so it is fairly restrictive but worth mentioning nonetheless. If you are a student with a summer off and attend an eligible university then this may be a good program for you. See Singapore's Ministry of Manpower for all of the details.
It's unfortunate that the U.S. has not established similar working holiday arrangements with other countries. Maybe if it ever does so then more opportunities will present themselves to young people who want to travel and work abroad temporarily. Of course there are plenty of other options to travel but working holiday visas allow individuals to stay in a country much longer than they would be able to otherwise and enable them to legally work. Opportunities for U.S. citizens to go on a working holiday also exist in Canada and also in Ireland.
If you are considering a working holiday visa as an option then hopefully you have found this information useful. Be sure to share you travel plans or experiences relating to working holiday visas via the comments!
Good day!
July 26, 2011
The Beginning of Something New
"All the best stories in the world are but one story in reality - the story of escape. It is the only thing which interests us all and at all times, how to escape." ~ Walter Bagehot
To the casual observer I suppose my life would appear fairly good. I am college-educated. I have a cushy job that is relatively stress-free and pays well. I have a wonderful fiancée. Aside from my student loans I am debt-free. In spite of this seemingly perfect picture, I feel a great emptiness, a longing that has nagged at me since childhood. I know that this emptiness - this great need of mine - can only be sated by a plane ticket and the anticipation of seeing a new horizon for the very first time. And after longing for this for much of my life, I am now pursuing it.
My interest in other cultures and travel dates back to childhood. I grew up in a very rural farming community, the most diverse aspect of that community being that some people were Baptist and some people were Methodist. Luckily for me there was a neighbor (and also a distant cousin as is the case in most rural farming communities) that had a subscription to National Geographic. That served as my monthly escape during my childhood. I was enamored by the photographers and journalists who ventured into the Amazon, brought images and stories from Asia and the Pacific, and engaged in the type of adventurous behavior I could only dream of. I dreamed of imitating their feats, dreamed of seeing these strange, wonderful countries for myself, dreamed about eating exotic foods and meeting people different from myself.
Now, I sit and ask myself, “Why?” Why am I sitting in front of a computer, steadily gaining weight, and letting my lust for travel gather dust? Why did I not pursue study-abroad while attending college? Why did I not take a break for a semester and go on a working holiday somewhere? So many whys and I’ve decided that all of those whys have the same answer – fear.
Fear kept me rooted here. I am fearful of what it will be like boarding an international flight for the first time. I am fearful of trying to make my way around a foreign country where there is a language barrier and I am unfamiliar with everything. I am fearful of whether or not I can actually plan such an endeavor – scheduling flights, obtaining visas, arranging a place to stay. I refer to all of these in the present tense because I still have fear and I don’t really anticipate it going away. The only difference now is that I am committed to travel in spite of this fear. I want to embrace it and prove to myself that I can overcome my fears. It is my hope that some of this fear will dissipate as I experience and overcome obstacles and challenges related to travel.
Currently, I am trying to save as much as I can to fund my travels, but I am quite sure I will never reach that ideal amount. To cut back on costs and to experience a country more fully, I am planning on utilizing Couchsurfing and World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) in the countries I plan to visit. I feel that these two options will enable me to have the kind of personal, meaningful interactions with a country’s people that I desire. I want to see a country through the eyes of someone living there and get out my own western frame of mind when I experience a country. I know this will not be entirely possible (and perhaps a bit naïve) but I will strive for this. As far as the programs are concerned I am especially attracted to WWOOF because I plan on returning to my agricultural roots upon returning home and begin doing some farming of my own. This particular method of swapping labor in return for accommodation, meals, experience, and cultural interaction inspired the name of this blog – Journeys of an Itinerant Farmer. Perhaps with the lifestyle of a farmer, I will be able to work hard during the spring, summer, and fall and then scratch my travel itch each winter.
And now we arrive at my plans. What are they as of now? Save money! That’s really as far as I’ve gotten other than deciding that I had rather do a lower-budget, less-touristy way of traveling. I do know that I want to visit Japan and South Korea first. I realize that Japan is a very expensive country but I have wanted to visit there all of my life. I also know a bit of the language and I have a few friends there so that influences my decision as well.
What’s next? I’m not sure at this juncture but I am going to continue planning and dreaming. I plan on posting updates sporadically on my progress and then (hopefully) while I am traveling. Please continue to check back in and look forward to my coming journeys.
Good day!
To the casual observer I suppose my life would appear fairly good. I am college-educated. I have a cushy job that is relatively stress-free and pays well. I have a wonderful fiancée. Aside from my student loans I am debt-free. In spite of this seemingly perfect picture, I feel a great emptiness, a longing that has nagged at me since childhood. I know that this emptiness - this great need of mine - can only be sated by a plane ticket and the anticipation of seeing a new horizon for the very first time. And after longing for this for much of my life, I am now pursuing it.
My interest in other cultures and travel dates back to childhood. I grew up in a very rural farming community, the most diverse aspect of that community being that some people were Baptist and some people were Methodist. Luckily for me there was a neighbor (and also a distant cousin as is the case in most rural farming communities) that had a subscription to National Geographic. That served as my monthly escape during my childhood. I was enamored by the photographers and journalists who ventured into the Amazon, brought images and stories from Asia and the Pacific, and engaged in the type of adventurous behavior I could only dream of. I dreamed of imitating their feats, dreamed of seeing these strange, wonderful countries for myself, dreamed about eating exotic foods and meeting people different from myself.
Now, I sit and ask myself, “Why?” Why am I sitting in front of a computer, steadily gaining weight, and letting my lust for travel gather dust? Why did I not pursue study-abroad while attending college? Why did I not take a break for a semester and go on a working holiday somewhere? So many whys and I’ve decided that all of those whys have the same answer – fear.
Fear kept me rooted here. I am fearful of what it will be like boarding an international flight for the first time. I am fearful of trying to make my way around a foreign country where there is a language barrier and I am unfamiliar with everything. I am fearful of whether or not I can actually plan such an endeavor – scheduling flights, obtaining visas, arranging a place to stay. I refer to all of these in the present tense because I still have fear and I don’t really anticipate it going away. The only difference now is that I am committed to travel in spite of this fear. I want to embrace it and prove to myself that I can overcome my fears. It is my hope that some of this fear will dissipate as I experience and overcome obstacles and challenges related to travel.
Currently, I am trying to save as much as I can to fund my travels, but I am quite sure I will never reach that ideal amount. To cut back on costs and to experience a country more fully, I am planning on utilizing Couchsurfing and World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) in the countries I plan to visit. I feel that these two options will enable me to have the kind of personal, meaningful interactions with a country’s people that I desire. I want to see a country through the eyes of someone living there and get out my own western frame of mind when I experience a country. I know this will not be entirely possible (and perhaps a bit naïve) but I will strive for this. As far as the programs are concerned I am especially attracted to WWOOF because I plan on returning to my agricultural roots upon returning home and begin doing some farming of my own. This particular method of swapping labor in return for accommodation, meals, experience, and cultural interaction inspired the name of this blog – Journeys of an Itinerant Farmer. Perhaps with the lifestyle of a farmer, I will be able to work hard during the spring, summer, and fall and then scratch my travel itch each winter.
And now we arrive at my plans. What are they as of now? Save money! That’s really as far as I’ve gotten other than deciding that I had rather do a lower-budget, less-touristy way of traveling. I do know that I want to visit Japan and South Korea first. I realize that Japan is a very expensive country but I have wanted to visit there all of my life. I also know a bit of the language and I have a few friends there so that influences my decision as well.
What’s next? I’m not sure at this juncture but I am going to continue planning and dreaming. I plan on posting updates sporadically on my progress and then (hopefully) while I am traveling. Please continue to check back in and look forward to my coming journeys.
Good day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)