This Photo Friday is in honor of one of our Basic Training members – Val Bromann. This weekend Val is kicking off her career break travels in New York City, where she will be attending the Nathan’s Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest for the fourth year in a row!

“I’m hopping on a plane to spend Independance Day watching people stuff their faces with as many hot dogs as they possibly can in the sweltering heat of Coney Island. (Is there anything more American than that?) And a few days after that I’m heading off to travel the world!”

Val is starting in Berlin and plans to spend about “3 to 4 months in Europe then maybe head to Southeast Asia then maybe head to Australia and spend somewhere between three months to a year traveling.”

We are thrilled to follow along on Val’s career break on her site Silly America. You should follow along as well!

Are you sitting there staring at your cube walls wondering if there could actually be an uglier shade of gray? Everyone needs an escape from their grind once in a while – that’s natural. But sometimes you need to confront the ugly…and take a good hard look at what you are escaping from in order to stay motivated. We want to see what you are looking forward to leaving behind as you plan your future career break and sabbatical get-aways!

Submit your photo of what you are escaping from via our Facebook Fan Page and it may get posted on our Photo Friday.