| In our discussions about budgeting and financial planning for your trip, I talked about having to plan sufficiently to accumulate enough money and to take care of your personal obligations. The same is true for the other aspects of your pre-travel preparations. Preparing for a long trip abroad takes a large amount of thoughtful preparation, and though there are no set guidelines for how long it should take, expect that it may take six months, a year, or even longer. Interestingly, a well known researcher in the field of change, James Prochaska, found that the more time spent in contemplation and planning for a change, the higher the chance that the change would be successful (Prochaska, James, Changing for Good). During this time, you will be preparing yourself for the long journey—a lifestyle change. Preparations to consider should include the following:
Learn about your destination
- check for travel advisories
- ask someone what they thought of the location
- learn about the climate
[More on this topic in the Full Version of Quit Dreaming & Go!]
Be sure to have:
General Arrangements
What to bring
Some things to leave behind
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