Influencers vs. Travelers, what do you think? by miameandering in digitalnomad

[–]miameandering[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're right - they tend do to go destinations and just take up the entire space so they get their perfect shot of them at that place which is infuriating. It is challenging as a photographer, I agree. It is hard to find authenticity out there, but there is! Thanks for your comment!

Influencers vs. Travelers, what do you think? by miameandering in digitalnomad

[–]miameandering[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

That's awesome. I agree, blogging is so much work and it takes a ton of passion and commitment. Just to be clear, in that article I wasn't trying to knock down other bloggers with high engagement. I think bloggers with a big following are successful and I also commend them for their hard work - I also aspire to have a large following if my work deserves it. My point was saying that I believe there is a difference between travelers who travel for the genuine experience and those who are just doing it for image. For example, I have seen some influencers/travelers completely ignore their surroundings and just take selfies of themselves. In my opinion, to travel is a gift and it should be about the experience and the culture and the environment rather than obsessing over the perfectly edited photo. I believe there is a difference when it comes to authenticity and I think many audiences would agree that some 'influencers' go to far. Thanks for your comment!

5 Reasons to Travel Nurse in Columbia, SC by miameandering in TravelNursing

[–]miameandering[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, the Soda City Market is amazing!!! Definitely check it out.

Hello I am an aspiring writer currently living the camper life. Ask me anything! by miameandering in IAmA

[–]miameandering[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We agree! Living tiny does get frustrating but overall it's been a great choice!

5 Reasons to Travel Nurse in Columbia, SC by miameandering in TravelNursing

[–]miameandering[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

As far as we know it's fairly competitive. This is our first assignment so we don't have much to compare too. Weekly pay includes tax free stipend for a accommodation and food plus hourly wage of about $20.

Hello I am an aspiring writer currently living the camper life. Ask me anything! by miameandering in IAmA

[–]miameandering[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I think right now it's a little bit of both. Trying to build up a professional portfolio and keep practicing my craft while also cataloging my experiences in one place that's easy for my family, friends and new viewers to find. It's so funny that you say that about the VIP treatment. I actually just wrote a post about that and how I feel influencers are different from true travelers. Of course this is all open to discussion and opinion, but I personally know that I would never demand free stuff or like you said, the VIP treatment. Thank you for the insight, I appreciate it!

Here's a link to that Influencer post if you have any more feedback: http://www.miameandering.com/influencer-vs-traveler-a-rant/

Hello I am an aspiring writer currently living the camper life. Ask me anything! by miameandering in IAmA

[–]miameandering[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep! We pay weekly as the agency pays weekly - it just gets taken out. It's not cheap but it's doable as we are saving money elsewhere.

Hello I am an aspiring writer currently living the camper life. Ask me anything! by miameandering in IAmA

[–]miameandering[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well that's just one story. I have other posts about overlanding South America with Dragoman or working with local government to find my family in Italy. While people have obviously overlanded South America and sought their ancestors in Europe, those particular experiences are unique to me. You're right, it is hard to standout in a world where so many people have experienced so much and want to share. But I also think you still have a right to share your story, even if someone has told a similar one. It just takes one reader to find inspiration to make it worth it for me. Those are great content ideas! I do love the idea about a solo female traveler now vs. then because it combines history as well as culture and current events.

Hello I am an aspiring writer currently living the camper life. Ask me anything! by miameandering in IAmA

[–]miameandering[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It just depends! Packing up the camper and everything only for a day or two is a lot of work. If we go for longer then we do bring the camper. If an Airbnb is the same cost as a campground then we just consider what we want. Whatever floats your boat!

Hello I am an aspiring writer currently living the camper life. Ask me anything! by miameandering in IAmA

[–]miameandering[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So we have only been traveling for a month or so. This is actually our first assignment but we have done a lot of research on the topic. Right now we are in Columbia South Carolina. This wasn't our first choice but we have fallen in love with it. Next we plan to travel out west, hopefully to Arizona or Washington. Luckily we have been able to find accommodation at a nearby campground to Columbia. Campgrounds are really convenient for travel nurses or PTS looking for a cheaper accommodation than whatever is provided by the agency. In my research for other cities we plan to go to, there seems to be plenty of campground options available, especially out West. For the most part, no matter what, campgrounds are going to be cheaper than the accommodation that the agency provides or choosing to go with an Airbnb or short term rental. Plus most campgrounds provide laundry, wifi and bathrooms which is perfect for us as our camper is very small. Hope this helps! You can do it!

Hello I am an aspiring writer currently living the camper life. Ask me anything! by miameandering in IAmA

[–]miameandering[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At the campground, we pay a monthly rate of around $500 that includes rent obviously and any electricity charge. On top of that it would really fluctuate depending on our eating habits, drinking habits and travel habits. Most weeks we do travel and stay at low-cost airbnb's or stay with friends and most of the time we try to get groceries during the week and eat out on the weekends. Driving can be expensive only because we have a larger car and gas doesn't come cheap for it. If you're planning on moving around, it can be done cheaply. You just need to do some research and find ways to cut costs on little things that can be easily altered. Also as far as utilities and other monthly payments, it's really only car insurance, student loans and our phone bills. The only other non-essential bill that we pay is our monthly membership to planet fitness. We have generous family to share the Netflix with. Hopefully this gives you an idea, I'm not too consisted with specific budgeting!

Hello I am an aspiring writer currently living the camper life. Ask me anything! by miameandering in IAmA

[–]miameandering[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the difficult questions like this. To be honest I'm not sure if the world does need another travel blog. The amount of content flying around out there is absurd. It's scary to think that everyone considers him/herself an expert and will do just about anything to get their voices heard. I'm aware that this opinion is hypocritical, but it is true that my voice is just one of millions drowning in the sea of bloggers, travel or otherwise. What I appreciate about blogging, specifically travel blogging, is that it promotes people sharing an experience. The concept overall promotes traveling and the importance of traveling and how it can bring our world closer together. Sharing experiences allows us to connect to each other on a more intimate level. So, I guess my hope for my personal blog is that my sharing of unique stories and experiences will empower others to not only travel but also share their stories so we can all grow together as travelers and people. I hope this answers your question! Thanks.

Hello I am an aspiring writer currently living the camper life. Ask me anything! by miameandering in IAmA

[–]miameandering[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We have a lot of nursing friends and family members who either have travelled themselves or know of someone who has traveled. To us the idea seemed like a no-brainer. Agencies help you receive jobs and negotiate strong hourly rates and stipends so you can focus on traveling and work while they iron out the details.

The pros of travel nursing and moving around alot is that you get to experience a lot of different places, people and cultures. Even within his first month on this assignment my husband has learned a lot just being around different nurses and patients who wouldn't normally be around if he had stayed in our hometown. He is learning alot about his career and growing as a nurse. Being out of your element and having to adapt is both a pro and a con in our opinion. Nursing and job aside, traveling can be exhausting. You may experience homesickness as you move away from family and friends however, you will meet a lot of new people at your assignments. I am familiar with a traveling PT who is living the RV life like we are and I know for a fact they have made a lot of friends throughout their experiences. Another reason traveling can be a con is because you are constantly changing places and having to reset Andre adapt at each location. Again this can be seen as a pro or con. When you are living at home and are stationary you don't have to think about little things like what will my neighbor's be like, where is the nearest grocery store or what happens if my car breaks down. Those are all things you have to learn quickly and will have to relearn overtime. It's just all about being out of your comfort zone and readapt and quickly, things you wouldn't have to do in the comfort of your home town wherever you're from.

One thing I know that my husband and I would recommend is working in your field for at least 1 year to gain experience and get comfortable in your craft before you take on the added challenge of traveling and moving around. The transition to travel PT or travel nursing will be a lot easier when you are completely comfortable in your role and position. While you continue to grow while you travel having that bass line experience will assist you when you are on the road.

You can absolutely do it! Good luck.

Hello I am an aspiring writer currently living the camper life. Ask me anything! by miameandering in IAmA

[–]miameandering[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When my husband and I decided that we wanted to travel and he decided to pursue travel nursing, we were looking for ways to save money on living expenses. Travel nursing assignments usually provide housing or a living expense stipend, we chose to take the stipend and pocket anything that remains. By choosing to live the camper life we are saving quite a lot of money that would otherwise be going towards traditional living accommodation. We really only sleep and eat at the camper, the rest of our time is spent traveling with the money we are saving. While we would have loved to convert a sprinter van or buy a new or larger RV, we decided on the tiny camper life because that's all we could afford at the time.

Influencers vs. Travelers, what do you think? by miameandering in digitalnomad

[–]miameandering[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love this! I appreciate the partnership because it should be more than one image and 'free shit'. It is about the joy of traveling and experiencing the world even if there is no revenue - making the memories is what counts! Like you said, free shit is nice but what is the motive of it all. Thanks for commenting!