Leaving

As mentioned earlier, be sure you have enough money to leave a country. It’s easy to forget about the airport "departure tax" until someone asks for it. But more importantly, know what is in your bag. From printed material, which could be misconstrued as subversive or pornographic, to that tiny little “roach” from that Amsterdam coffee house. You don't want the customs people to strip search you for nothing. Of course, never accept to take a bag or package on the plane for someone you don’t know well. It could be contraband.

Returning Home

As one whose life has been drastically, pleasantly, altered these past several years, I can certainly state that traveling abroad is about new experiences. For many, it is the perfect opportunity for self reflection, to do things you have always wanted to do, or to reshape your destiny.

Long term traveling is different than a vacation. A month or so after you leave home and the novelty of being away wears off some, you may start to slow down some and begin to savor your new surroundings even more. And you may come to the realization that this is what you do, at least for now. You are a traveler.

[More on this topic in the Full Version of Quit Dreaming & Go!]