Overseas adventure for Empty Nester? Inspiration needed!

[MillyMollyMonday]

I’ve just turned 50 and my youngest is about to go to university.

We’ve had a very tough few years as both DC have had dangerously poor mental health over the past five years.

Suddenly, they are both well enough for me to have space to consider my own needs and wants and I’m questioning everything in my life, including my career as a p-t teacher and my home in a beautiful but dull semi rural area.

I suddenly feel a bit purposeless and trapped in my life which feels a bit like an extended lockdown . I feel really drawn to the energising effect of being in a big city but our rural family home is DH’s idea of heaven so I don’t think he’d forgive me if I pushed for selling up!

I can also be a bit single minded and get sucked into the idea of pursuing a dream and then find the grass is not always greener… I found this out when moving here a decade or so ago and now miss the town where we lived.

Any ideas to help me scratch my itch for adventure/life without moving house? Nothing high octane but something rewarding or energising to make me feel alive.

I am so lucky in that we can afford for me to take an extended sabbatical but I don’t have endless funds.

Any ideas?

Safari in Africa
Costa Rica has exceptional nature and wildlife

@7Worfs I think I’m looking for volunteering or something rather than a holiday. So I need to think of something that’s more than just an amazing place to visit IYSWIM

Ah sorry… I suppose a good place to start is list the causes you are passionate about and research charities that have overseas operation?
Hopefully knowledgeable posters will chip in soon with direct experience of overseas volunteering.

No ideas I’m afraid but I would say go for it when you find something! My single mum went on a couple of adventures when we’d gone to uni etc & it left me feeling so relieved that she’d not had to waste all her best years on us but got her moment! Also the sense that life doesn’t just endlessly slow down & you have options well into your older years. What a great example to set your children.

Thank you @7Worfs I need to think of something that isn’t aimed at gap year students and isn’t ‘voluntourism’.

It doesn’t have to be voluntary work necessarily. Maybe working abroad for a couple of months or even a backpacking adventure for older people!

Teaching English as a foreign language part time somewhere?

Does VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) still exist as an organisation? My teacher parents travelled all over Africa with them in the 1980s

@MoiraRoseRules what a lovely post, thank you.

I do feel a bit stuck because we moved here to provide a safer villagey environment for the DC but it was never a forever plan. Now I feel like I’m going to be trapped here forever surrounded by young families and retired people…

@NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy I think VSO does exist. I have considered TEFL- think I look into that. Might even try to train abroad if that’s possible.

It used to be possible to do the official CELTA tefl course in different overseas places as I nearly did that at one time, Barcelona and Cairo were 2 I looked at. That would be a great month to really get to know a place and people and get a recognised qualification as well. Once you have that and your existing teaching qualification you would be in a very good position to take your pick of teaching jobs overseas. Some can be short term, have seen quite a few short term contracts in China, flights and accommodation usually provided, which would be a great experience as well. There are a lot of the international tefl jobs advertised on this page: www.eslcafe.com/jobs/international?koreasearch=&koreapageno=&koreapagesize=&chinasearch=&chinapageno=&chinapagesize=&internationalsearch=&internationalpageno=1&internationalpagesize=60
Good luck op, you sound awesome.and in sure you'll find something brill

@pisspants what a lovely post. You’ve really motivated me and I feel genuinely touched by your kind words.

Want to come with me? 😂

Do you like animals? You could volunteer for an animal sanctuary. Or an orphanage? Living in South East Asia is relatively cheap. And lots to see and do. I would recommend Thailand and Vietnam. Safe, welcoming, amazing local food and beautiful countries.

"Volunteer in Vietnam with IVHQ - #1 Rated Projects & Lowest Fees" www.volunteerhq.org/gb/destinations/vietnam/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwwfiaBhC7ARIsAGvcPe7gh8TilM96F5cDCd7pS0qKrRXHTq73Mt_QvR1mV791216WdJq-plwaAsxMEALw_wcB

@MillyMollyMonday Would definitely stow away in your suitcase for sure! I've a few more years till my youngest leaves home but I have started perusing that jobs page recently and day dreaming! It's a fab position to be in and I'm sure you'll have so much fun and meet some fab people x

volunteer at one of the guides world centres

"Volunteer Programs in Thailand | Find the Best Volunteer Projects in Thailand | Go Overseas" www.gooverseas.com/volunteer-abroad/thailand

I stumbled across a volunteering opportunity on the Galapagos recently, that would be an amazing opportunity.

I would be weary of teaching English in China. A lot of people I know have not really enjoyed the experience. It's better for young people. Teaching English, when done properly, can be like a real job. If I was you, I would prefer something where you're 'helping' as opposed to 'teaching'. If you know what I mean. I'm a teacher but the way and lived and travelled in SEA for 10 years. Good luck and go for it.

Thank you so much everyone. I’m not really into wildlife/ animals or the idea of working with British teenagers (am primary trained) but would feel confident about going to south east Asia (have been to Malaysia and Thailand and would go back). I love india but the health aspect worries me. For some reason I find Africa and South America more daunting than Asia 🤷‍♀️
Truth be told I’m a bit risk averse/ anxious but also love the idea of an adventure so it’s a tricky combo!

@guildingthelily yes, a TA overseas would be perfect! Do such helping roles exist? And how to ensure I’m not the only one over 20??

Take a look at Workaway too

keep an eye on that Dave's esl cafe page as there's all sorts on there and its quite an active page with new jobs being posted on there all the time. I guess it would he hard to know who else is doing it but by searching the school online I reckon you'd usually see a staff list to get a better idea. If you were living and working in a place you'd probably get to know the established local teachers well and thered probably be an expat community of older adults in most places you went not just gap year types.

Totally recommend doing a CELTA abroad with International House.
Its a great experience (you quickly become part of a very suppportive group and network)
and can lead to a very rewarding career or volunteering and travelling.

Have a look here too
www.tefl.org/tefl-jobs-centre/

A friend of mine (late 40s) did a TEFL course then spent some time teaching English in Cambodia. She absolutely loved it. She is not very well off so I don’t know the details but she was able to make it work. From there you could also do some travelling in SE Asia. We are in Aus and lots of people I know have had some great trips to Vietnam.

Have you thought about getting in touch with smaller charities?
If I was in your position I'd go to India and offer myself to The Hope Foundation, a charity educating young girls to help them get off the streets in India. India is an i incredible place to visit and I think volunteering there could be extremely rewarding. I visited a few years ago and fell in love with it x
My youngest DC also goes to uni next year and I can relate to the feelings you have described. You say you don't like where you live but DH wouldn't contemplate a move to the city but it there a compromise somewhere where you'd both be happy? I couldn't live somewhere that made me miserable x

I'll 2nd/3rd etc a Tefl course but make sure it's the CELTA or Trinity Tesol .... lots of other random courses but pretty much worthless. I know the CELTA can be taken full time overseas or part time/blended. I'm pretty sure the same applies to the Trinity as well .
Just be aware though that most of the decent jobs will want a 6-12 month commitment especially if there are visa costs.
Davesl has already been mentioned but also look at International House and tefl.com.