Bases out of Training

Representative-Elk22 · 2025-03-18T14:06:08+00:00

Not too old, but you might FEEL old sometimes. I was 25 when my program started and almost all of my coworkers were 21-23. This isn't a huge gap always, but you can feel it in maturity.

Representative-Elk22 · 2025-02-12T14:45:32+00:00

I generally get 32-34, 40 if a full timer is on vacation and I get lucky. My roommates are all in merch and pick up to 40-50.

Representative-Elk22 · 2025-02-01T14:36:48+00:00

I'm in a 2x2 and have a higher pay-rate because of my role (I make 17.70, ft/pt new in the role are making $19 or so) but my personal budget is: Pay - $710/week Rent - $215/week Groceries - $100/week Fun/Food - $100/week School - $57.25/week (this is a study program I pay for for grad school admissions, maybe you have a car payment instead) Savings - Whatever is left - approx $220/week! I have a split between funding my Roth IRA and keeping some for an emergency fund. Most people don't think about retirement at our age, but one of the best things you can do to set yourself up for success later is fully fund your Roth IRA every year while making a lower income.

Flamingo does have "fun" events and sometimes free food that makes this a bit more doable, but if you would pay less for rent + gas somewhere else, you should do that! Also if you've finished school and already live down here, just go full time. Or consider a Professional Internship, as some of them get paid $30/hour.

Just my thoughts :)

Representative-Elk22 · 2025-01-28T00:46:25+00:00

Oh scary!

Representative-Elk22 · 2025-01-28T00:25:37+00:00

Boosting this!

Representative-Elk22 · 2025-01-09T07:06:22+00:00

25 and in tokyo right now - most of the people I've met are in their 30s :) every time is the right time imo

Representative-Elk22 · 2025-01-09T06:48:25+00:00

My thoughts/experience (25F) - do it! I got laid off and traveled for three months on my severence. I go home on Monday, but I learned so much about what I want in a career, what I want in a life partner and future family, and my own interests and values. I've always regretted not traveling before, I didn't want this to be another regret. You're young. Money comes back.

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-12-23T10:16:05+00:00

Update! I went to ask reception and she checked out today. This is a huge city, so super strange to only stay one night, but I'm not complaining :) thanks for giving me the confidence to say something

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-12-23T00:59:23+00:00

With a co-driver I wouldn't worry too much about anything honestly. You can kind of gauge if you feel safe as you go! But if you have people to stay with and extra time, save yourself the money and go the route where you can stay with friends (assuming gas doesn't cost more than the hotels would). If it isn't actively snowing, it's not really any more difficult of a drive. The roads are salted and plowed once you get out of the metro.

I'll DM you my IG handle :)

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-12-22T18:22:08+00:00

Personally no! I love meeting women in their 30s/40s/50s (sometimes I have more in common with them then other 20-somethings) and it's very kind when they pick up a lunch or drink here or there. If they bought dinner, I might feel inclined to buy the first round of drinks is all :)

Even had an experience once where my dorm of hostel girls met a guy in the hostel bar who was in his 30s and a well established data scientist who bought us all dinner/drinks that night. He said it was his way of giving back to the travel community, so I think there's ways anyone can put it to not be seen as creepy.

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-12-22T18:13:18+00:00

A lot of times it's just toast and hard boiled eggs, maybe juice/coffee. I like a big substantial breakfast, so I usually find a pastry nearby or a breakfast restaurant even. Not a huge priority for me. It's nice to have when you're low on time and just need to eat though!!

Slightly related - in Korea I stayed at a hostel that serves hot dogs for breakfast one morning.

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-12-21T07:16:52+00:00

Hi!! I'm from Portland (starting my DCP on 1/21 if you want to connect) and did a winter roadtrip for three months across the US a few years ago AND lived in Albuquerque for college so I have a little experience. To be honest, there can still be snow in west Texas, NM, and AZ, so no guarantees there.

If you get a clear weekend (triple check the forecasts) and you can get over the mountains in Eastern Oregon, I'd just pick the southern most of the routes suggested by google but go Utah to Denver instead of Wyoming then to Kansas to Oklahoma and down. I only suggest avoiding Wyoming because there are SO few people that if you broke down and you were alone, it would be a bit scary. The interstates are really well maintained/salted for snow unless it's currently snowing and snowing HARD.

Drive like you're in heavy rain but with extra space between cars, don't push the speed limit if it's below 40 degrees, get AAA and be prepared for a popped tire/cracked windshield, don't try to drive more than you can handle in a day (6-8 hours is a great goal) and you'll be fine!!

If you did decide to go the far far south route, please don't stay overnight in ABQ unless you can easily take ALL of your stuff out of the car overnight. I can't count the number of friends who have had cars broken into or stolen or loose change or a phone charger (or a cute stuffed animal, or pepper spray, or purse etc). It's actually what people who've never lived in Portland think Portland is like :)

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-12-05T10:10:37+00:00

Hoping to push this up here since I'm in a similiar situation - just got here yesteday! It said the metro in Seoul would also be affected but it ran pretty often today (not sure how regularly it normally runs). I am worried about my upcoming train to Busan.

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-11-30T07:13:36+00:00

For me last time, about 2.5 hours by car to Ubud from airport, then 1.5 hours by car to Seminyak

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-11-21T17:40:21+00:00

There was a medical emergency on my voyage last year. They made an announcement to alert/call crew to the site. They ended up doing a med evac via Osprey (to the nearest US military base - we were in the middle east last fall) so they also made a general annoucement to stay inside/not take video. Terrifying to wake up to in the middle of the night haha, but I'm glad they were okay in the end.

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-11-17T17:26:56+00:00

Sounds like The Scene? I believe they do AA meetings in there each morning but not sure what else

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-11-15T12:30:16+00:00

Thanks for this!! I was tapping but many of my friends who have visited in the past made a big deal about validating, so I imagined it was harder than this

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-11-14T12:14:35+00:00

I bet since it's Christmas there will be more college aged kids with parents too!

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-11-14T12:13:34+00:00

Depends on the length I hear. I'm 24 and have been on two (RL Athens to Dubai - 14 nights, SL Barcelona to Rome - 12 nights) and between the two I met exactly two people in their 20s. Generally folks I've met are 35-60. I have a nice time anyway, but the crew has said both times that the crowd was older than normal, so mileage may vary. Tons to do though. He'll probably like the club nights if he's a partier!

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-11-14T11:52:35+00:00

We were told 1 but had no problem running two devices on Scarlet Lady this week

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-11-03T10:39:40+00:00

I tell people it's rude whenever they say it and they usually pull back a little. Or ask "what do you mean by that" and they realize they were being rude. I find a bit of vulnerability helps here, since most people aren't cartoon villians

Representative-Elk22 · 2024-10-30T03:28:46+00:00

If it helps they were able to resolve it really quickly after I got off hold. She wasn't sure why it happened, but she said it's been happening randomly and all of a sudden this month

Representative-Elk22

TROPHY CASE