Some books grab you just with their titles . . . such was the case with ON THE OTHER GUIY'S DIME by G. Michael Schneider that had an equally captivating subtitle: A PROFESSIONAL'S GUIDE TO TRAVELING WITHOUT PAYING.
Now I don't know about you, but that's a premise that I like . . . and just had to then read more; e.g., to see if it was possible . . . it is!
Schneider, a college professor, has lived and worked overseas more than a dozen times, including four times as a Fulbright Scholarship recipient to teach in Mauritius, Malaysian, Nepal and Mongolia. In addition, along with his wife, he has lived and worked in countries from Australia to Zimbabwe, Turkey and even Tibet.
In his book, he presents useful tips on just what needs to be done to secure such positions . . . for instance:
* If you know any colleagues who have recently returned from an overseas stay, talk, with them about their experiences, accommodations, and the school, agency, or institute where they worked. If they speak positively about their time overseas then ask for the name and address of a contact person and send that individual e-mail inquiring about the possibility of your own working vacation, being sure to include your friend's name.
It would also be a good idea for your colleague to send an enthusiastic letter of recommendation directly to the location or give you a copy to attach to your e-mail. If the people at this site were pleased and satisfied with your friend's work, they should be amenable to a visit from someone recommended by that individual, just as I had personally recommended Paul. This approach does not qualify as a "cold call," like those described in earlier chapters, since this institution has already demonstrated an interest in hosting overseas visitors, resulting in greater likelihood of success. In essence you are no longer scattering seeds randomly but planting them in ground already well watered and nurtured by the work of others.
The author also gives advice on what to do when overseas, such as when renting a car:
* A better choice is to negotiate a private rental. In many countries private citizens rent their personal cars to earn extra money, perhaps generating more income from this transaction than from their regular job. I rented my tired old Nissan from the friend of the mother of a Kenyan student attending Macalester. I contacted the mother prior to my arrival and let her know that I was in the market for a car for three months. She asked around and located someone willing to rent their car for $300 per month, double the average monthly salary of a Nairobi employee, but only a fraction of the rate charged by local agencies. I also had to purchase temporary automobile insurance from a local agent, as my regular policy did not include coverage when driving outside the United States, something you definitely want to check before leaving home. Even including the cost of this temporary policy, the overall cash outlay was far less than what it would have been for a commercial rental.
Lastly, what made ON THE OTHER GUY'S DIME is that it is part travelogue as well . . . the author shares many of his overseas experiences, including this one:
* Five hours later we arrived at the camp where a dinner was to be prepared in our honor, an honor that included selecting the sheep we would eat and watching it dragged kicking and bleating from its pen, slaughtered, and gutted in front of us so we might personally appreciate its girth and fattiness. After a few too many vodka toasts and the singing of some American folk songs at our host's urging (I tried my hand at "Home, Home on the Range" and "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore"), we sat down to an extremely fresh mutton dinner. However, rather than the chops and roasts we were expecting, we dined primarily on the animal's innards-stomach, heart, liver, and intestines. These are prized delicacies and a treat we were expected to consume with relish and gusto. We consumed (and kept down) as much as we could only to see the remaining offal proudly brought to the table the following morning. Eating cold sheep intestines for breakfast exceeds even my ability to transcend cultural differences, and we were able to convince our gracious hosts that we would be quite content with toast and tea for our morning meal.
I'm not so sure that I would be as adventurous as Schneider was . . . nor would I want to necessarily spend several months away from home . . . however, if such ventures appeal to you (or somebody you know), then make sure they get this book . . . it will provide them with everything they need to know for travel that can be done at virtually no cost.
