Compromises...

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So... things have actually been going very well for me lately, I'm doing great in school and I have everything planned out. Since yesterday though, I started getting a bit bummed out, because I realized all of the compromises I will end up making, going down the path I've chosen.

You see, I wasted my early 20s trying to make money as a sound technician, which I barely did, and any disposible income I had, I spent on more gear... so I never really had the opportunity to do certain things, particularily travel, which is something I really want to do.. My best mates have been all the places I want to go, and I honestly get a bit jealous sometimes that I didn't get to go with them. All in all, I just feel like I've missed on a lot, to be completely honest..

What hit me in the head yesterday, was that the downside of the path I've chosen now, which is the path to becoming a surgeon, is that I will only continue to "miss out" on alot more, because I'm currently doing supplementary classes to meet the requirements: 1 year, med school: 7 years, and after that: 4-5 years of specialization. Though you do start earning some moneyduring specialization, I will be atleast 31-32 before I'll be able to catch up on the stuff I've missed out on.. I couldn't care less about nice cars and big houses, I am just scared that the world will stop fascinating me once I get older, and then I will have lost something precious.

I know all of this might seem stupid, because after all it's my own choice, and one can't expect to be a surgeon without being willing to make some sacrifices right? And that's completely true, and I also accept it. I am dead set on medicine, there is no other choice for me. The thing that annoys me the most is the time I've wasted in my late teens and early 20s, because I could have started med school 4-5 years earlier.

Ahh.. rant end.

It's not as much a time issue, as it is an economic one. ^

I am a student after all.

I know the feeling... if I had the money I'd be traveling to all kinds of places, too. New York, London, Oosaka, somewhere in Australia... but nope, no money. Gotta work for that. I don't think my desire to travel will die down with age, but maybe you're different... then again, if you haven't traveled by the time you've become a surgeon and at that point feel like you don't want to travel then won't you be happy about all the money you've saved by not traveling?

Is your weekly schedule completely backed? If not, how about looking for a job? (If you already have one then another.) If you could find one, would you have enough energy for it?

If you just want to see the world, you could find out about different volunteer jobs in other countries. From what I've understood many of these pay a little and let you live in some place for free while you work with them, so that's one option. I'd do that if I were still a student... you'd probably have time for something like that during summer vacation. And how about becoming an AU pair? You any good with kids?

While traveling does always take up some amount of money, with enough effort it can get much cheaper than you have originally assumed. Look things up, look for budget friendly options. Save money from other things you do, like going to restaurants and using it on your hobbies.

I've travelled a lot on budget, so do my friends. It's not that hard, esp. when you go to cheap countries. I would recommend starting with Baltic States, they are cheap, safe and friendly, also quite close to you. You just need to pay for the ferry, hostel prices and food there are a laugh for a Scandinavian. Of course, you keep off the posh hotels and restaurants but once you do, it really costs less than you spend at home. And they have wonderful folk culture festivals in the summer!
You may need some basic Russian because elder people there may not speak English, but the younger usually do and they are helpful.

Once you get some expirience there, you can go further. There are cheap airlines. There are cheap hostels even in not the cheapest cities.

Actually, my friend who earns less than 750€/month is right now on vacation in New Zealand. He did his calculations and found out he can afford it. Travelling is not as expensive as some imagine if you go budget about it.

I’m 57. I have the travel bug....bad!

There's no time like the present to set in on a long term goal. Sometimes you need to "waste," time first learning other things that lead you to the path your on now. Everything happens for a reason, there is no truly wasted time unless you made a decision about a goal and then didn't act on it.

As for travels & life balance, surely you'll have SOME money over the next decade while you go to school. Maybe you can't afford to take multiple trips per year, or even one every year, but you may be able to take a trip once every 2-3 years. That's a few good trips over the course of your studies before you're working and able to do more travelling.

Obviously there are a lot of sacrifices one has to make in order to pursue an academic/career path that takes a decade or so, but it doesn't have to be a 100% complete sacrifice. Take a couple inexpensive trips along the way.

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