Definitions

After living a long time in one place and in the same rut, I feel that for a certain time it is enough, that I must refresh myself with other horizons and other faces... and at the same time must retire intro myself, strange as that sounds.  The superficial definitions of the journey do not interfere.

There are people who prefer to get away inwardly, some with the help of a powerful imagination and an ability to abstract themselves from their surroundings (for this a special endowment is needed, bordering on genius and insanity), some with the help of opium or alcohol.  Russians, for instance, will have a drinking bout for a week or two, and then go back to their homes and duties.  I prefer shifting my whole body to shifting my brain, and going round the world to letting my head go round.

Perhaps it is because I have a bad head after too much drink.
Alexander Herzen

Courier: Air couriers help transport packages to other countries. By simply occupying a seat, couriers enable transport companies to move goods through customs without difficulties. There are hundreds of courier companies and thousands of couriers. Couriers give up the right to check in some or all of their baggage in exchange for low airfares. The best courier spots are available to people who can travel on very short notice. Typical packages include legal documents, television scripts, and even occasionally human organs. The courier takes no responsibility ? in fact, he or she never even sees ? the contents of the packages he or she is transporting.

Consolidator: Consolidators are travel firms that buy large blocks of seats from an airline for substantially below market cost and then sell these seats to customers and travel agents. Typically, the seats they sell cost to the public cost around 30-40% below normal airline tickets.

Backpacker: Backpackers are travelers who don a backpack and travel around the world. Usually backpackers travel cheaply by staying in hostels and frequenting low cost restaurants, tours, and other travel services. Until twenty years ago backpackers were mostly under the age of thirty. However, now backpackers represent all ages and lifestyles. Over time, backpackers have established routine itineraries (for example, backpackers in Latin America typically follow a travel route called the ?Gringo Trail? from Mexico to Patagonia) and use tourist services recommended by guidebooks like Let?s Go and Lonely Planet.

Gap Year: The Gap Year refers to the year just following graduation from college. In much of Western Europe (particularly Britain) it is common for graduates to spend this year traveling around the world.

Sabbatical: A sabbatical is a leave of absence that is granted by your employer to allow you time to pursue personal goals. Most of the time, the leave of absence is unpaid and people take the time off to travel or live in another part of the world. Usually, sabbaticals last between six months and a year.

Vagabonding: Vagabonding is backpacking done with a different attitude. Vagabonders don?t follow the beaten backpacker?s trail. Instead, they, in the words of Rolf Potts, ?Gain the courage to loosen their grip on the so-called certainities of this world...Refuse to exile travel to some other, seemingly appropriate time in their lives.. and take control of their circumstances instead of passively waiting for life to decide their fate.?

Sofa Surfing: Sofa surfing refers to staying on friends' and families' couches over an extended period of time. In some cases, it is a way in which people who are in danger of homelessness avoid staying in formal shelters. In other cases, it is a way to travel cheaply and safely.

Extended Travel: Extended travel refers to travel that is longer in duration than the average vacation. Typically extended travel is at least a month long.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL): TEFL instructors teach English to students in countries where English is a foreign language. In the past, it was easy for native English speakers to get TEFL jobs without any teaching experience or training. Lately, it is harder though TEFL jobs are often plentiful for teachers who have completed training courses (usually one month length) recognized by CELTA (Cambridge English Language Teachers Association) and other recognized school accreditation agencies.

Adventure Travel: Adventure travel usually refers to travel experiences designed for people who seek a physical challenge such as hiking mountains or horseriding. However, it can also mean any travel that features off -the-beaten-path experiences.

Exchange programs: A catch-all term for home exchange, hospitality exchange, homestays, meet-the-people programs, and student exchanges.

Home exchange programs: People exchange their homes with each other for a period of time (usually two to four weeks). Home exchange listing services allow the owners of these homes to find each other and get some basic information about the location, amenities, availability, and size of the homes. After reading the listings, potential exchangers contact each other and discuss their expectations and the conditions of rental. Usually no money exchanges hands, though it can. Often travelers also exchange cars and sometimes even make arrangements for maid service. Many people fear that others will steal or misuse their belongings. However, I have never heard of any of these types of problems. In fact, most people are surprised to find that their homes are in better shape than when they left. That said, you need to let exchangers know if you are fussy about your things and your home (put away valuables and breakables to be on the safe side). The most common issue of contention between exchangers regards different cleanliness standards.

Hospitality exchange programs: These programs maintain lists of people who are willing to open their homes to travelers for free. The usual stay lasts from one to three days, though longer stays can be arranged. There is usually no expectation that these guests will open their homes to their hosts or even other travelers. The only expectation is that the travelers will spend a bit of time with the hosts and share some of their interests, life stories, and friendship. Probably the largest and best established (and safest) hospitality exchange program is through Servas.

Homestays: Homestays are similar to hospitality exchanges except that travelers pay families to put them up in a room in the host's home. Typically, homestays are part of a learning vacation (particularly a language program) or volunteer experience. Many cities have agencies (especially in Eastern Europe) that make arrangements for tourists to set up a homestay in their city. A homestay is often is different from a Bed and Breakfast because you are usually the only person paying to rent a room in the house.

Student exchange programs: Student exchange programs involve college and high school students living with a family in order to learn about life in another country. Typically, the families are not paid to host the student. Contrary to popular myth, there is usually not a requirement that the student exchange is reciprocal. Students usually pay the firm arranging the student exchange program (many are non-profits) for the program administration, an orientation, tours, and other support services.

Meet-the-people programs: Include formal programs to encourage people?to?people exchange like the Sister Cities program or People to People International and informal efforts for people to meet each other based on membership in a club or professional affiliations.

Educational Travel: A catch-all term for study abroad, learning vacations, some independent travel experiences, educational tours and seminars, and reality tours.

Learning vacations: Learning vacations can take place at an amazing array of small primarily for?profit schools that have opened in recent years to teach travelers a variety of subjects. The most common classes are in foreign languages. These schools are located in countries throughout the world and cover a wide array of class. The most common school is dedicated to teaching languages such as Spanish (the most common ? there are 500 such classes in Latin America alone), Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Russian, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Turkish, and Greek. Usually, these schools also will help students make arrangements to rent a room from local families and will arrange cultural, educational, and evening events after school for students. These schools also may offer many classes on other topics as well including surfing, skiing, winemaking, ecology, herbal medicine, dancing, martial arts, massage, and several academic subjects (history, sociology, etc.). In Latin America and Asia, these small schools are typically quite inexpensive (usually $3-$12 an hour). Most of the cheaper classes have three to seven people per class. Individual classes are usually always available though they cost more ($6-$20 per hour). Throughout the world, if you are competent in the language, you can also take some excellent classes (with larger groups) through established colleges (check out community education programs at Community Colleges in the USA) and some private for?profit schools at very low cost ($7-30 per hour in the USA and Europe; as little as a $1/hour in Asia and Latin America). Despite the name, learning vacations can take place for a long or short period of time.

Study abroad: Hundreds of colleges and universities in the USA and Europe offer multitudes of study abroad programs (usually one semester or a year in length) that allow students to take classes abroad for college credit. While these programs can be a bit expensive (remember you are paying for college credit) they are often open to travelers of all ages (not just college students) and cover some really intriguing topics. For more information, refer to Transitions Abroad magazine.

Educational tours and seminars refers to a variety of small scale tours and organizations that integrate special interest classes into their programs such as Elderhostels (classes and wilderness adventures for seniors) and the Findhord Foundation (a Scottish foundation dedicated to promoting and teaching ecologically sensitive lifestyles). Educational tours can also include some specially designed eco-tours and walking tours

Reality tours: Reality tours are small group tours, offered through organizations such as Global Exchange, that are designed to encourage travelers to meet locals through visiting their institutions and workplaces.

Independent Travel: You can also organize independent travel experiences that will give you a glimpse of other societies by seeking out?of?the way places and experiences that hook you up with real daily life and rhythms in other communities and sometimes even staying in their homes. 

Volunteer programs: There are numerous organizations that seek volunteers. Some are geared toward people who are willing to commit to work for six months or longer. Others are specifically designed to accommodate visitors with shorter time commitments (as little as a week). The longer programs sometimes help defer the volunteers? expenses. A few shorter programs will defer expenses if the volunteers have hard to find skills. Often, you even pay extra for programs that find the best placement for you and facilitate your arrangements. Some volunteer experiences including teaching English in Russia, working as a reporter in Bolivia, helping preserve turtles in Costa Rica and butterflies in Mexico, digging up artifacts in Mayan temples, ancient French villages, and Israeli biblical ruins, assisting to set-up small craft cooperatives in Latin America, working on HIV prevention programs in Botswana, and building orphanages in Eastern Europe. Volunteer program can also include working on an intentional community (formerly called a commune). One of the largest database of inexpensive volunteer experiences anywhere is through Service Civil International . In addition, there are some excellent books on volunteering in my book picks

Living, working and retiring abroad: There is no better way to become a part of a new community abroad than pulling your stakes and setting up a new life abroad. You learn a lot about another way of life. You get to know local shopkeepers on a first name basis, get invited to co-workers and clients? homes, and use local doctors, handymen, and services. Sometimes, it can be a bit frustrating but it is also a great way to save money, enjoy a slower pace of life, and see the world. It is also a great way to learn a new career. You?d be surprised how many successful English teachers and freelance journalists in the USA started their career by working overseas. Check out my book picks for a great list of resources to help you plan your adventure. Though a bit costly, there is probably no better source for information on living and retiring abroad than International Living magazine.

Definitions prepared by Paul Heller, Founder of the Big Blue Marble.