Anyone Travel Internationally for Work??

[tliss]

I'm looking at applying for a new job here at Nortel whe I would be going overseas quarterly. Question I have is what do you think of international travel for work? I would think it would be exciting until that 5th hour on that damn airplane and the jetlag.

Tom

[98Cobra]

I have friends that travel for work. You will rack up all kinds of mad airline miles. Plus get to see places you havent seen before!

[Nuhklz]

I'm looking at applying for a new job here at Nortel whe I would be going overseas quarterly. Question I have is what do you think of international travel for work? I would think it would be exciting until that 5th hour on that damn airplane and the jetlag.

Tom

I used to have responsibility for manufacturing plants in Malaysia and England. The flights to England weren't that bad at 8ish hours but the trips to Malaysia got to be a real drag. Flying Business Class helped.

[tliss]

From what I'm told I will be spending three weeks on the road in April in Raleigh, NC, London and Bangkok. July would be one week in Brazil and October would be three weeks in Raleigh, London and Beijing. I've put my name in the pot to apply, so we'll see what comes of it.

Tom

[Silver_2000]

I'm looking at applying for a new job here at Nortel whe I would be going overseas quarterly. Question I have is what do you think of international travel for work? I would think it would be exciting until that 5th hour on that damn airplane and the jetlag.

Tom

5 hours is domestic - 24 hours is international ...

I personally dont fit in coach seats the distance between the back of my seat and the back of the one in fromt is 1/4 inch longer than the lenth of my leg -

Company doesnt pay for Business class - I wouldnt accept a job that requires travel - Most travel jobs are under stated - they say its 20% travel it ends up being 50% ...

I currently travel 4 or 5 times a year - mostly domestically...

Doug

[99WhiteBeast]

I have a few times. Its true you'll get to see some places you haven't seen before but most business is so packed in (to make the most out the expense) you won't get to enjoy it.

I traveled 22 weeks one year and like Doug said it was only suppose to be 20%- my salary sure didn't make up for the hassle of the travel, expense report crap, and getting caught up around the house when you get back.

[True Blue Aggie]

I have a few times. Its true you'll get to see some places you haven't seen before but most business is so packed in (to make the most out the expense) you won't get to enjoy it.

I traveled 22 weeks one year and like Doug said it was only suppose to be 20%- my salary sure didn't make up for the hassle of the travel, expense report crap, and getting caught up around the house when you get back.

Plus the parties his daughter had were crazy!!!!!! :d

[dboat]

I traveled about 300,000 miles over a 5 year period with my former employer. It wasnt all bad. I did a lot of day trips to all kinds of places. I also had times where I was out on Mon home on Fri, then back out again. That part sucked overall. You dont get anything done at home and by the time you are rested up from the week you got to pack again to get ready to go. The three week thing gets old real fast too. You are out there without a lot of friends and not a whole lot to do and all you have is a freaking rental to drive.
Prob even more so than Doug, my bod is not made to travel in coach for any period of time. I flew enough that I became gold and then platinum so upgrades were a way of life for me. Without them, I would have been crushed.
The upside is that I still have a ton of miles and I fly 1st class on long trips so that I am comfortable. Do the bennies out way the downside, its all personal. Depends on how much you dont like being at home.
Good Luck Tom...
Dana

[my2002lightning]

Yes, it's exciting to see all the cool places on the company nickel, but it gets old quick, like spending Thanksgiving/Christmas in a Raddison Inn with a$$-deep snow outside in OH. But, another friend of mine has been almost everywhere from Hong Kong to Monte Carlo in the telecomm. business and loved it.

Another thing to think about, out of the handful of IT road-warrior friends I maintain contact with, 2 (almost a 3rd) got divorced recently as a direct result of them travelling extensively on business - they were never home with the wife/kids.

This new prospective gig in DC is looking good to me, but Elaine's not liking it.http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif

Milton, you buying the first round of beers at happy-hour? http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Just something to keep in mind and good luck, Tom.

[dboat]

Yes, it's exciting to see all the cool places on the company nickel, but it gets old quick, like spending Thanksgiving/Christmas in a Raddison Inn with a$$-deep snow outside in OH. But, another friend of mine has been almost everywhere from Hong Kong to Monte Carlo in the telecomm. business and loved it.

Another thing to think about, out of the handful of IT road-warrior friends I maintain contact with, 2 (almost a 3rd) got divorced recently as a direct result of them travelling extensively on business - they were never home with the wife/kids.

This new prospective gig in DC is looking good to me, but Elaine's not liking it.http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif

Milton, you buying the first round of beers at happy-hour? http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Just something to keep in mind and good luck, Tom.

DC aint so bad but it aint cheap either.. but a job is a job..
Dana

[L8 APEX]

Handguns are illegal in DC:eek2: . Tom, depends if you plan on kids anytime soon. I would multiply what they asstimate.

[99WhiteBeast]

Plus the parties his daughter had were crazy!!!!!! :d

:rll:

[blueoval01]

Going overseas was great if you had someone at the other end to pick you up and handle the details.

Flying into Heathrow at 7:00 am on a Sunday morning, then having to rent a car and drive myself (on the wrong side of the road) for 4 hours, then make a 6:30am Monday meet was not fun.

[Ivanhoe_Farms]

I have almost 2 million miles on the airlines traveling in the US and abroad. Great fun for about the first two months --- but it gets old very quickly!
The hardest part really isn't the flights, but the airports. Depending on the country you fly to determines the problems and time you spend in the airport.

If you are thinking about coming to DC, the multiplier to cost of living from Dallas is 1.6, so if you make $1000 in Dallas, you would need to make $1600 in the District to break even.

Guns are completely outlawed in the District unless it was grandfathered in when the law was passed. The District still has the highest murder rate by firearm of any comparable city its size :throw: What does that tell you?

If you are going to work in the City, you may want to consider living in either Maryland or Virginia, because it is very convenient to use the Metro and you can actually commute on the metro quicker than you can drive in DC.

GOOD LUCK ;)

[dboat]

If you are going to work in the City, you may want to consider living in either Maryland or Virginia, because it is very convenient to use the Metro and you can actually commute on the metro quicker than you can drive in DC.

GOOD LUCK ;)

Love the Metro, at least the underground part.. very futuristic looking.
Dana

[Mark #2]

Tom,
I travel quite a bit, about 100K miles/year. Mostly Japan and China now, but a few years ago it was France, Italy, and Switzerland. It is really cool to go to a place the first time.

Coach sucks, and Business is survivable. We are back to coach only now, and it is difficult to endure. I have about had it with international travel. Internal to the US is a breeze.

Emotional and physical demands are severe as some have mentioned above.
Good luck,
Mark

[dboat]

The hard part for me was understanding the wear and tear on you even though all you are doing is sitting in a seat on a plane.. but it does create some stress on you..
At least it was that way for me.. how about you guys?
Dana

[Mark #2]

The stressful part on me is that I constantly work, no down time. Get up travel, work all day, dinner and work at night, back to hotel, work till bedtime, get up and do it again.

[dboat]

The stressful part on me is that I constantly work, no down time. Get up travel, work all day, dinner and work at night, back to hotel, work till bedtime, get up and do it again. W

yep,, been there and done that..

[Silver_2000]

The stressful part on me is that I constantly work, no down time. Get up travel, work all day, dinner and work at night, back to hotel, work till bedtime, get up and do it again.

Yep - Me too...

While I enjoyed being in St Thomas and I did get to go sailing 3 times and snorkling - I also worked 11 days in a row from about 6-7 am to 11 pm or later ...

Yes there was some alcohol involved BUT I was still working and as Mark said had very little time to truly unwind...

Glad to be home

Doug

[tliss]

I know I'll be putting in long hours while on the road, and that is fine. Not really looking forward to 25 hours on a plane, tho...:vomit:

The good thing about this job (if I get it) is I know what the schedule will be ahead of time. No unannounced trips... Basically I will be gone the first few weeks of a quarter, then I'm home the rest of the time. I go to these various places to hold a three-day training (this job is as a facilitator of a training class) and then come home. I have follow up trainings, but these will be via VOIP and collaboration software from my home..though the training with people in Beijing and Bangkok will be at very odd hours (I'm hearing 1am or later).

Basically, as I move forward with hopes of getting this job, I do know exactly what I am getting into as far as travel is concerned. I just wanted some opinions, and they were as expected.

I'll keep you posted on the outcome...

Tom

[dboat]

Tom,

Good Luck..
Dana

[03LightningRocks]

The stressful part on me is that I constantly work, no down time. Get up travel, work all day, dinner and work at night, back to hotel, work till bedtime, get up and do it again.


Yeah, me too ;) .

[tliss]

For those of you that are interested I found out yesterday that I got the job!! :banana: . Now it's time to expedite getting my passport and corporate Amex...my first trip is coming quick. Raleigh NC, then London and then Bangkok...

Oh boy...this is going to be fun knana

Tom

[Mark #2]

Tliss congrats, but please read up on international travel safety tips. Especially in China

Inflected forms: shang·haied, shang·hai·ing, shang·hais
1. To kidnap (a man) for compulsory service aboard a ship, especially after drugging him. 2. To induce or compel (someone) to do something, especially by fraud or force: .

[tliss]

My head will be on a swivel 24/7, believe me.

[my2002lightning]

Congrats on the new job, Tom! http://www.talonclub.com/forum/images/smilies/nana.gif

[dboat]

Tom,
what does the wife think about this?

also, dont catch any of those STD's in Bangkok.. :evil
Dana

[jim woods]

OMG, your going to Bangkok.You lucky dog.When I was there in the 1974-1975.That place was the most beautifull city I ever seen.I dont know how it is today.I never been back since then.Try not to get in any trouble because you are going to have the most beautifull young ladies at your hotel to serve you.LOL ;)

[L8 APEX]

I will offer my free on site L checkup services while your are out of town Tom.:D

[tliss]

Tom,
what does the wife think about this?

also, dont catch any of those STD's in Bangkok.. :evil
Dana

The wife is kind of torn. She is happy that I am getting this opportunity, but she's upset about the time away. The whole reason why I really like this opportunity is the fact that my schedule of travel is set to occur only the first month of every quarter..no other times, and no surprises. Working the off-hours upon my return is going to be interesting (I have to teach 8 additional weeks of courses via Internet for the folks I train in the places I visit). Bangkok is only 13 hours ahead of us, so when we're turning over for our next 10 winks, they are having lunch!

STDs? No worry. I'm taking plenty of rubber gloves, vaseline and saran wrap! :evil Can't be too cautious. I am actually going to focus most on not getting sick while there. Rumor has it the sanitary standards are not really up to par in some parts...don't wanna be on a plane for 20 hours in the lavatory doing :vomit: ! That would suck...

And Terry....Don't worry, the truck will be fine. I appreciate your concern tho :tu:

Tom

[99WhiteBeast]

Not really looking forward to 25 hours on a plane, tho...
:vomit:


Make sure you get your arse up every few hours to get the blood moving to your lower extremities- you don't want "economy class syndrone" better known as blood clots.

[dboat]

Make sure you get your arse up every few hours to get the blood moving to your lower extremities- you don't want "economy class syndrone" better known as blood clots.


pulmonary embolisms... :nono:

[Mark #2]

Many good suggestions, especially if you drink at all. Get up, walk around, wash hands often, and stay away from the ladies(as hard as it might be), do not get into any local taxis, use only hotel cars in China. I'll be going back soon, how funny if we could hook up in China.:)
Mark

[tliss]

Many good suggestions, especially if you drink at all. Get up, walk around, wash hands often, and stay away from the ladies(as hard as it might be), do not get into any local taxis, use only hotel cars in China. I'll be going back soon, how funny if we could hook up in China.:)
Mark

I appreciate all of the suggestions. It looks like April's trip will be London and Bangkok only. July I'll be in Brazil and October is Ottawa, London and Beijing.

I spent yesterday at the company health services center getting shots and other stuff. Gotta go to my doctor for a physical, and I'm getting ready with my antibacterial soap and stuff. I will definitely stay away from the ladies....:nono: . Not interested in any of that noise.

Tom

[True Blue Aggie]

So how many meetings are you going to miss with your travels? Four? If you travel every quarter????

[tliss]

So how many meetings are you going to miss with your travels? Four? If you travel every quarter????

Yep...one a quarter. I'll be missing April and October for sure. July and January are still up in the air.

Tom

[dboat]

I will definitely stay away from the ladies....:nono: . Not interested in any of that noise.

Tom

Tom, we understand what you have say publicly... :evil :evil

Dana

[True Blue Aggie]

HOOKER
Hey, baby, you got girlfriend Vietnam?
TLISS
Not just this minute.
HOOKER
Well, baby, me so horny. Me so horny. Me love you long time. You party?
TLISS
Yeah, we might party. How much?
HOOKER
Fifteen dolla.
TLISS
Fifteen dollars for both of us? (Assuming Tom has a co-worker there)
HOOKER
No. Each you fifteen dolla. Me love you long time. Me so horny.
TLISS
Fifteen dollar too boo-coo. Five dollars each.
HOOKER
Me suckee-suckee. Me love you too much.
TLISS
Five dollars is all my wife allows me to spend.
HOOKER
Okay! Ten dolla each.
TLISS
What do we get for ten dollars?
HOOKER
Everything you want.
TLISS
Everything?
HOOKER
Everything.
TLISS
Well, old buddy, feel like spending some of your hard-earned money?
CO-WORKER
Just a minute.

(thanks to Stanley Kubrick for the following hilarity).....:tu: