From the earliest hours of the mankind, people traveled the world in order to find better living conditions. Today, however, this idea was further enhanced by the ideas of open market, open borders and the internet. In light of these facts, it would be irresponsible not to raise following questions – what does the phrase ‘work and travel’ mean in 2016 and why travel nomads are the force of the future?
Knowing the Language
While people always wanted to travel abroad, where the wages are greater and life standard is better, that wasn’t always possible. The biggest barrier was, of course, knowing the language. Today, this barrier has almost been breached. First of all, English has come incredibly close to becoming a true international language. The main reason behind this is the fact that English is the language of both IT and the internet. Those who learn it get an open window into a whole new world of communications, knowledge and information that was never available before. This provides a lot of people with intrinsic motivation to master the language.
Still, it would be unreasonable to assume English is the only language needed for working abroad. However, the early 21st century has the solution for that as well. Namely, language courses (and online courses) are more available (and affordable) now than they ever were. Even without this, modern devices and apps can do wonders when it comes to translation, even if they aren’t fully capable of replacing a real translator.
Adequate Digital Tools
Earlier, we spoke about translating apps, but this is not nearly all that a digital nomad should have in their arsenal. For example, instead of spending a fortune on phone calls home, they could simply install Skype app and find a free Wi-Fi. Instead of carrying their eBooks, movies and music on a flash drive or portable HDD, they can just install Dropbox. Furthermore, apps like Uber are pretty much a must-have for any resident of the first world. In a recent interview with experts from Orange, it came to our attention that a modern phone with internet connection has pretty much everything one needs to make it in the unknown place. All they need to remember is to bring a portable charger with them.
Innate Wanderlust
So far, we only talked about moving because of standard and wage, but this can’t be it. There are other reasons for people constantly being on the move and one of them is an innate wanderlust. We were a nomadic species long before we settled and some part of that desire for absolute freedom must have remained in our genetic code. Just knowing that you have an option of leaving everything behind and starting your life fresh somewhere across the globe is quite reassuring. Moreover, this kind of lifestyle can be rewarding in several different ways. One of them is meeting different people and cultures, thus broadening your horizons.
Certifications are Internationally Recognized
Finally, going to a different country to work doesn’t mean starting from scratch. The reason behind this is simple, a lot of certifications and diplomas are internationally recognized, which means that your CV travels with you. This is yet another reason why a 21st century citizen of the world isn’t afraid to go abroad in order to further their career.
Conclusion
Today we live in an exciting world, a world that is more open than ever before. This kind of openness is great for both individuals and global economy. Why? Well, because talent can now migrate to where it is needed or appreciated the most. An interesting idea worth thinking about.
Guest article written by: Dan Radak is a marketing professional with ten years of experience. He is currently working with a number of companies in the field of digital marketing, closely collaborating with a couple of e-commerce companies. He is also a coauthor on several technology websites and regular contributor to Technivorz.