A career breaker's guide to Asia

Get caught up in culture, entranced by tradition and enthralled by the exciting opportunitites Asia has to offer!

We've all been 'work daydreamers' at some point. In fact most travellers start their journeys in their heads while waiting for their computer to load up. Offices all over the world are full of workers drifting off to the sound of exotic birds, only to realise all too soon that it's just the photocopier that's got jammed again. Airport terminals are no longer just full of bright, backpacked young things but are slowly filling up with a strange breed of career breakers with mysterious grins on their faces; like they've just managed to swap daydreaming for the real thing!

You can't blame us; travelling is just much more fun than working. In fact a survey conducted by 'One life live' found that 58% of 25 to 54 year olds admit wanting to break free from their work to do something fulfilling. What we want to know is, why only 58%! The good news is that the grownup gapper revolution is ready to sweep you away. So whether you're bored in your job, want to take your career in a different direction or just fancy escaping the daily routine, read on and see whether Asia is the place for you, and what it holds in store.

Volunteering

Sometimes, when we are in a job that we don't like we can feel that our efforts go unrewarded. Often we crave the opportunity to make a real and lasting impact on the world. There are more volunteer projects in Asia than you can shake a noodle at and all of them will give you a sense of pride in your work. Asia is a land of contrasts; a continent that overloads your senses but also your conscience. This continent is the battleground for some of the most important questions of social development and climate change, and there is nowhere better to make a difference.

The Asian Development Bank says that Asia's poor account for well over half of the entire number in the developing world and unsurprisingly lots of volunteer projects have appeared which take you straight to the heart of the problem. It's not just people you can help though; Asia is blessed with some of the best wildlife on the planet and some of the world's most emblematic landscapes. The WWF has listed 6 places in Asia amongst their list of 19 places to save, so it's the perfect destination for those who prefer their air purifiers of the green variety rather than the noisy ones that put you off your work! For those of you who want to help out but don't fancy roughing it, why not try our travel upgrades and volunteer in style!

Travelling around

With a long break to enjoy it's natural that you'll want to explore as much as you can. The good news is that Asia is one of the easiest continents in which to travel. Seeing the whole continent is a lot easier than it was when the hippy trail set off all those years ago and you no longer need long hair and a camper van to get around here. Though countries vary, you can find extensive rail and road links throughout South-East Asia making it one of the easiest and cheapest places to explore. Please make sure your iPod has a few songs on it though, otherwise the coach trips may become very boring very fast!

Teaching abroad

Earning while you're away is essential for many people, especially if you have financial commitments at home such as a mortgage. If you are giving up work for a year then it's safe to say that money will be a consideration when planning your career break. If that sounds like you then Asia is the perfect place in which to take a career break. The continent has the biggest demand for English teachers anywhere in the world and pays some of the highest wages. Getting a TEFL qualification could be a great money saver. For a small price you can get qualified quickly and know you have something to rely on in case you get a little too carried away in the markets! With access to TEFL contacts all over Asia it's easy to squeeze teaching into your itinerary, or dedicate your whole trip to it.

Daydreamometer

How does Asia compare to those daydreams you had in the office? Well, if you were thinking of serene landscapes under crystal blue skies then you've kind of already been here, because that's what you'll find. Asia is a never-ending array of picture perfect views that will have photographers scrambling for their cameras and bloggers scrambling for adjectives.

***** Pinch yourself - you might think you're still daydreaming!

Useful links

http://www.i-to-i.com/career-breakers-guide.html

http://www.i-to-i.com/tefl/

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

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