In celebration of Thanksgiving this week, we’ve asked career breakers past and present to share with us what makes them thankful for having taken their career break to travel.

CAREER BREAKS PRESENT

[singlepic=55,250,,,right]Sherry Ott – Otts World
I’m thankful for taking a traveling career break because…

• it opened my eyes to a world and cultures beyond my imagination.
• it unleashed a creative side of me that I didn’t know existed any longer.
• it helped me understand the definition of patience.
• it provided me options for new careers.
• it provided me a new friend support network all around the world.
• it taught me how to give back through hands on volunteering.

I am no longer doing something that made me miserable wondering what lie outside my cubicle walls.

[singlepic=1577,250,,,right]Jason Castellani & Aracely Santos – Two Backpackers
Jason: I am thankful that I have the ability to financially enjoy a trip like this. My parents ensured that I received a good education and I have worked for many years earning a good living. Now, more than ever, I realize the world has much to offer and we should all get out and see it!

Aracely: I am thankful to my mother for all her hard work everyday of my life. She gave up everything she knew in Ecuador and took a huge risk to immigrate to U.S hoping for the best. Because of her courage, I have enjoyed great opportunities and been able to experience really amazing things.

[singlepic=1528,250,,,right]Cindy & Bill Peterson – The Blonde Wanderer
We are thankful for all the amazing local people we have met along the way that have helped to make our career break so memorable and such an amazing experience. From them we have learned to appreciate each day for the joy that it brings, no matter how little or how much a person has. We have relied on the kindness of strangers from asking them for directions in the street to families and individuals who have welcomed us into their homes and their lives. We are thankful to each and every one of them for helping to get us from point A to point B, and for teaching us about their cultures, their views and their lives along the way. Our views on what we have to be thankful for will never be the same.

We are also thankful for our family and friends who have been supportive of our decision to take a career break and have been patient and supportive through our long-distance relationships over the past twelve months. And, of course, we’re thankful for having each other to cherish all of the wonderful experiences together!

[singlepic=1521,250,,,right]Ben & Alonna Scott – Ben and Alonna
Alonna: I’m thankful that Ben and I decided together to make this change in our lives. It’s great that we both came to the same conclusion – that we wanted to do something different with our lives and there was no reason to wait any longer. Although traveling can be stressful at times, it’s been amazing to share these experiences with each other.

Ben: I’m thankful we never got sick! Several times on our trip we traveled to new cities without accommodations planned out in advance. I often found myself envisioning nightmare scenarios of us stumbling around some cobble-stoned medieval town at night with our massive backpacks dead sick with the flu and trying to find someplace to stay.

[singlepic=1560,250,,,right]Manali Patel & Terry Bettendorf – Manali and Terry
We are thankful that we are traveling because we get to meet wonderful people, experience unique customs and cultures and grow as people. We can’t wait to come back to the States to share our adventures with everyone and share the knowledge!