SUITSUIT INSPIRED BY | Working abroad: this is how nomad Rosa does it
More and more often, you hear about people working and travelling at the same time. Sounds like a dream, doesn't it? To work behind your laptop somewhere on the beach, with your feet in the sand, and occasionally taking a refreshing dip in the sea. This is what we usually think about the life of a digital nomad, someone who can work from her laptop from anywhere in the world. Rosa Bertram (31) works while she travels and tells us what it's like for her to work abroad.
In 2020, Rosa decided it was the perfect time to take her work abroad. At the time she was the editor-in-chief of BEDROCK Magazine, and due to covid, she could run the online magazine from her home in the Netherlands. This gave her the opportunity to work from other places. "I always travelled a lot before, but now I could also travel through the country in my camper and continue doing my dream job," says Rosa. "I became inspired, which reflected in my articles. From living in nature to exploring different ways of life and visiting eco-campings."
"I don't have a quick bucket list, I prefer to take my time to discover a place."
Off to Another Country
When summer was over, Rosa packed her bags and headed to Portugal to work on her book 'De magie van reizen’ (the magic of travelling). Portugal eventually became her base after she had many beautiful travels and trips: "I travelled to Brazil, Mexico, and various countries in Africa in the last few years. Sometimes I had to go back to the Netherlands for work and to record a podcast series, which allowed me to visit friend and family as well."
The Freedoms of a Digital Nomad
The biggest advantage of being able to take your work with you while travelling is that you can go wherever you want, according to Rosa. "One important condition is that you need good Wi-Fi and connectivity. I once made the mistake of going to a deserted island and hoping to work from there. It didn't work out as I expected, and I had to look for a town with a good Wi-Fi connection."
New Insights
Furthermore, Rosa believes that you gain a lot of new insights through travelling. "Besides getting to know new cultures, you learn so many life lessons that you wouldn't easily learn at home. When you arrive in a new place and don't know anyone, there’s no one waiting for you or helping you. You'll have to manage on your own at first. That makes you self-reliant. But you’ll also discover that the Western way of life is not the only way to live when you travel to non-Western countries. There are still so many ways to live life, why stick to how it's done at home?"
During her travels, the author discovered various hobbies that she wouldn't easily try at home. "I learned to surf and started hiking more, for example. You learn by trying new things. Eventually, you become a mix of all the things you have learned and encountered."
Slow Travel
Constantly travelling from one place to another also has its drawbacks. "If you're always on the move, your friends in a place are temporary, which is why I'm a fan of slow travel: taking time in one place and getting to know the people. Especially if you work part time while travelling. I like to have time to enjoy the place, that's the reason I'm going there after all. And it’s also a reason I choose not to work on my laptop full-time but sometimes do volunteer work or work in a bar on the way." Once she’s on a trip, Rosa often stays in one place for a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on how she likes it. Last year, she was in Brazil and usually stayed in one place for a few weeks. Rosa: "When I'm there, I don't have a bucket list, but I take the time to discover a place."
If you stay somewhere a little longer, you can do much more and get to know a place and the culture better, according to the writer. "You slowly discover where the best restaurants are, where you can get local groceries, and where you can take a good sports class. I think if you travel without a goal, it can quickly feel empty. It's nice to be able to contribute something somewhere - even if it's in the smallest sense."
Not Just Behind A Laptop
Rosa prefers to work part time behind her laptop. "This way, in addition to sitting behind your laptop, you can still contribute something to the community or take the time to meet locals. In Portugal, for example, I started a skate community where young and old come together weekly to skate. This way, you quickly meet other people and still mean something to others."
When travelling from place to place, she alternates between having a place to herself,guesthouses, and communities to meet people. "This way, you meet people who have been living there for a long time more quickly and you build contacts more easily."
Creating a Routine While Travelling
Creating a routine while travelling from place to place can sometimes be a challenge. "Naturally, I don't like routines. I don't like too much predictability. I didn't set my alarm at the same time every day in the Netherlands either. Every day, it went off at a different time." She has now found that a certain rhythm in her life does have its advantages. "If you don't have structure, you're much more focused on organising your day rather than enjoying your freedom."
Ultimately, Rosa has a routine for herself now, but there's still no alarm clock involved. "I wake up early naturally and then immediately do some form of exercise like running, fitness exercises, or walking. In the morning, I do my work so that I can do what I feel like in the afternoon, from surfing to a beautiful hike."
"It's important to give yourself time to get used to a new place."
A Book About Travelling
It was briefly mentioned before, but Rosa recently wrote a book called ‘De magie van reizen’ (The magic of travelling). With this book, she hopes to inspire others: in her book, she explains what travelling can do to you and how it can help you lead a more conscious and free life.
One of the chapters is about adapting to new cultures. "You arrive at a new place and usually experience a sort of culture shock. No matter how well you prepare, reality is always different." According to Rosa, this feeling can be overwhelming: "People speak a foreign language, you don't know your way around, you might be ripped off by a taxi, and you don't have any friends yet. It's important to give yourself time to get used to a new place."
An Adventurous Book that Guides You Further
Rosa mainly shows the readers of her book why some people choose a lifestyle where travelling is a priority. If you're unsure if it's something you want to do, this book can help you. "Travelling can bring you so much. People still often think it's about lying on the beach and drinking from a coconut, but that's not reality. It's not always fun, but those difficult aspects make it so valuable, and you only grow from them."
This book is also for you if you're curious about what travelling is like, why we do it, and what it can bring you. And this can be done without having to fly to the other side of the world. "I have received many responses to the book from readers who now want to step a little further out of their comfort zone, with themselves and in nature."
Favourite Destinations
Tasmania and Namibia are at the top of Rosa's list of the most beautiful destinations she has visited. "The nature in these places is fantastic. There are just a few people there, which makes it even more special." Yet she is also very fond of Brazil. "In Western countries, we have an individualistic culture, and we hardly even know our neighbour's name. In Brazil, people are very warm and welcoming. There's dancing in the streets, the houses are colourful, and everyone talks to each other. The country lives, in every possible way."
New Destinations
There are always new cultures to explore and places to discover, Rosa still has a lot of places she wants to visit. "At the moment, I'm happy to stay in Portugal for a while, but I have plenty of places I still want to see. For example, I would like to go to Kazakhstan with a jeep or travel through Scandinavia with my van."
The destinations you don't immediately think of are the places Rosa likes to visit. "I like to deviate from the beaten path. For example, I once went snowboarding in Georgia with friends. I like to go to places where there aren’t many tourists."
Responsible Travel
Because Rosa travels so much, she likes to do this in a responsible way. She does not hold on to unnecessary material possessions. That doesn't mean she doesn't value things at all, think of a wrap skirt she received and has carried with her since living in Australia. They are usually items that are not very special at first glance but have a lot of value because of the story behind them.
During her travels, Rosa tries to make conscious choices. She doesn't make short, long-distance trips and does a lot of micro-travelling. Once in a faraway destination, she mainly uses local transportation and stays away from an airplane. "I prefer to take the train or bus to get somewhere, which immediately makes it a much more local experience."
Still in doubt? Just Do It!
If you're unsure whether the (part-time) digital nomad life is for you, Rosa has one last piece of advice she wants to give: "Just do it! That's the only way you'll find out," says Rosa. "It’ll always stay scary. Maybe the lifestyle is not for you, but you'll only know if you try it."
