- Hey, I’m Erica, and I am getting to know the world – one country at a time with my best friend/husband Matthew. My husband and I packed up our house and quit our jobs to travel and explore the world. http://www.gettingtoknowtheworld.com aims to be a compilations of our adventures, life lessons, foreign teaching experiences, travel advice, and culture from my perspective.
So you’re asking:
Are they rich?
– No! We like to think of ourselves as your typical middle class Americans (but who doesn’t). I am a self employed non-profit development consultant and a social media consultant, and my husband is a financial analyst.
So you’re not rich. How will you survive?
We have a little bit of a cushion fund not much. In terms of income I will be able to maintain some of my contracts while abroad and we both will teach English. We are currently taking online “Teaching English as a Foreign Language” (TEFL) courses through the TEFL Institute, and have begun our practicum at Drexel University’s English Language Center. In addition to teaching English and managing social media sites I hope to volunteer with a non-profit organization in each of the countries.
Are they crazy?
– No! OK maybe just a little. But seriously, we just got married in November 2010, we don’t have any kids, we’ve lived in the United States our whole lives. The better question is why not? We had an amazing honeymoon in Belize and Guatemala – which I like to describe as an “Indiana Jones Epic Adventure”. So why not live our lives like that? What’s holding us here – another meeting, a conference call, a deadline, sitting on my comfy couch watching TV, or an hour and 45 minute commute to work? (On a side note – PLEASE stop telling your children to buy a house! The mortgage is the one thing that is complicating this situation).
When does all of this happen?
Well, right now we are in the middle of April and we’re leaving in June. So I will keep you updated on our progress while we are preparing to leave and while we are on our “Epic Adventure”.
Please leave a comment, advice, and any questions. I’ll see you next time!
Getting to Know the World 
Good for you Erica. My old American next door neighbor. I am glad you are enjoying life and have someone you can enjoy it with. Wish you the safest experience for you and a hubby. 🙂
Im so proud of yall….Sandz I would have never dreamed you would do this but I’m enjoying the site…..
Erica,
I came across your blog through the TEFL Institute Alumni Facebook page. I currently am not certified but just went down to Chicago to the headquarters to meet and gain some info on becoming TEFL certified! I would love to be able to ask you some questions about your experience. I have really put some interest into going to Peru when I do become certified. I do not have a BA degree and have done some research and heard back and forth things about your potential of finding work. Do you have a degree? If so, have you come across anyone who has not had a degree, but was able to find work? I would appreciate any info and will definitely keep reading your wonderful page…it’s getting me pumped =) Hope to chat further! Also, if you would like, you can contact me through Facebook and then I could go about sending you my personal email as well. Thank you!
Hi Hillary,
Feel free to ask away. Yes I have a degree, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t. But I don’t really think its necessary in all cases. No one that I work for has ever verified my credentials so that’s what makes me think that. If you were really motivated you could even find private students of your own.
Talk to you soon,
Erica
What is the pay rate like? How did you go about finding living accommodations, did you and your husband have that set up before you arrived to Peru or after? Have you only taught in Lima? How easy or difficult was it to find work? =) I am sure there will be more, thank you so much for your assistance, Erica!!
Hi Hillary,
The pay rate is around S/.20 – S/.30 an hour when you are hired by an institute. You can negotiate for a higher rate if you find your own students. I found living accommodations once I got here. There are two websites I used mainly – http://www.livinginperu.com and http://www.expatperu.com We stayed with a family when we first arrived and found the homestay on http://www.airbnb.com . It was pretty easy to find work, I submitted resumes and worked within the same week. Let me know if you have any other questions. Some of my earlier blog post my be helpful to you too.
I love this adventure you’re on!
Erica, Matthew. Thanks for the follow. I pray that you both have safe and joyous journeys. I have taken up thel international live/travel lifestyle. And have friends that ask the same questions and say the same thing. I think it is just a matter of shifting priorities and needing different things from life. If you decide to go to Costa Rica or Colombia (check your spelling) let me know. If I can help I will be glad to be of service. Thanks for your follow of my blog http://www.blackinlatinamerica.wordpress.com
Wayne
Thanks – made the edit! We are thinking about spending some time in Colombia. Where are you now?
I am in Atlanta now. Going to China and the Philippines in about two weeks. I should be in Costa Rica June 1 to Sept. I was in Barranquilla, Colombia most of last year. I have been going to both countries for the past five years.
I have a friend from the Philippines. She lives in Peru now. But she should have some really good contacts. We’re thinking about Thailand next – August/Sept. And we are considering Columbia in the in-between time. How did you like Barranquilla? Any specific post of yours I should read?
Erica, I forgot yo ask about your work. I will be starting a nonprofit to launch my book, High School Is Not Enough which will include a website. Send me an email to left me know a bit about the services you offer. My email is DocBranch@aol.com. Thanks
Very cool! I will shoot you an email.
Hi Erica,
I saw the comment you left on my page and thought I would respond here. Lucky for us, most “move in” things were taken care of by the HR department at the school we work at, but here (http://cassieincali.blogspot.com/search/label/Moving%20In) are some posts I have about moving in. If you are looking for other specifics, I’d be more than happy to share. I might be asking for some advice soon as I am thinking about language school in Peru this summer! Hope this helps!
Hi Erica and Matthew!
Thank you for visiting, and following our blog. I hope you enjoy all our stories.
It seems we have quite a lot in common, only we have no mortgage and no plans to work, just some savings.
Not rich either so don’t know how things will pan out, just that we knew we had to have a life while we were still alive. Being nomadic is both challenging and fun.
I look forward to following your stories too.
Cheers
Alison
PS I hope this works. I’m having trouble leaving comments on non WP sites, and also on WP sites that have a personal domain. Can’t like on either. V frustrating.
Hi Alison! I love your stories about India. I’m reading them now. I hope to travel there in April. Yes your comment made it through!! Oh I also listed your blog on my “blog roll” below.
Cheers!
Erica
Thanks for the list on the blogroll! Really appreciate that.
We can follow each other around the world!
You’re welcome.. FYI all of your comments have gone through =)
Thanks so much for the blogroll entry!
Love your photo of Machu Picchu. I hiked the Inca trail 30 yrs ago! using a hand drawn map. Fun.
This is the second time I’ve tried to reply. Maybe this one will get through.
WOW a hand drawn map! That’s amazing. I didn’t have time to do the inca trail. Next time I go I will definitely do it. Thank you for going with the hand drawn map and paving the way! My home stay mom in Cusco was one of the people that helped forge the trail when she was in high school.
Yes it was an amazing adventure, and we did get lost for about 2 or 3 hours at one point but in the end made it through just fine. A lifetime experience.
You’ll find it much more organized now but still def worth doing.
Must have been fun and rewarding for your “mom” to have helped blaze the trail.
Exploring the world with my boyfriend is something I want to do too. I’m looking forward to reading your posts.
Thank you Stephanie! Enjoy the journey!