Slashdot Mirror


Visiting the World, as a Geek?

Han Onymous asks: "In nine months my contract as a research assistent at my Alma Mater will come to an end. It will not be renewed, I don't want it to be anyway. But outside the economy is too ill to welcome me. I am young. I am healthy. And I want to see the world before I've got the wife and the kids and the double mortgage. I have no money saved, and I don't plan to save some until then. What can a skillful geek (electrical, electronical and software engineer, speaks three languages fluently) like me do to see the world. Volunteer ? Working for a multinational with exchange programs? Something with no connection at all to the tech world? Please share your experience."

27 of 624 comments (clear)

  1. How to see the world... by surfcow · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... accept a job where "very little travel is involved".

    That did it for me.

    aloha,
    =brian

  2. Well... by NanoGator · · Score: 5, Funny

    ..you could join the Army and visit the Middle East. Sunny skies, high tech environment, and the lucky winner can play a game of "Whack the Laden"!

    *hopes that joke wasn't in too bad of taste, midly bad taste is acceptable*

    --
    "Derp de derp."
    1. Re:Well... by _ph1ux_ · · Score: 4, Funny

      ARMY: (Army of one FPS v1.0)

      set sidearm = 1
      set MaxAmmo = 9999
      set AllowCamping = 1
      set RespawnCount = 0

      No thanks!

    2. Re:Well... by bcemoli · · Score: 5, Funny


      Texas?

  3. Obvious.. by IamTheRealMike · · Score: 3, Funny
    What can a skillful geek (electrical, electronical and software engineer, speaks three languages fluently) like me do to see the world

    Teaching English is always good....... ;)

    1. Re:Obvious.. by Hunterdvs · · Score: 3, Funny

      me fail english, that's unpossible!

  4. What to do.. by Maskirovka · · Score: 5, Funny
    The choice should be clear...
    1) learn to speak three lanuages fluently
    2) become a tech god
    3) leave school
    4) set up your own international smut business
    5) PROFIT!

  5. Join the Army! by jheinen · · Score: 3, Funny

    Join the Army. I'm sure you'll get an opportunity to visit the Middle East.

    Soon.

    --
    -Vercingetorix
    "Necessitas non habet legem." -St. Augustine
  6. Language is the key by rholland356 · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you want to see the world, earning your keep as you go, then you'll have to rely on your three fluent languages.

    I hope they aren't too modern, for much of the world has yet to catch up. For instance, you might be fluent in Java 1.4, but that won't help you when you are in Perl territory.

    I suppose you could travel a ways on COBOL--particularly through Europe--but I'd have to say it is C that will take you around the globe in good fashion.

    Robert

  7. Go back to school... by Atomic+Frog · · Score: 2, Funny

    Honestly. You may think you're skilled, but electrical+electronic+software guys are dime a dozen, even ones that speak 3 languages.

    At least they are around here! Can you do physics and biology too? Can you play 3 different musical instruments, cook like a chef and also be near-top level athlete? Now you're talkin...

    If you're so clever, go back to school for a graduate degree in something else, write some papers, go to conferences (in other parts of the world) with other people's funding.

    Travelling on the cheap is nowhere near as fun as travelling in luxury, which you can do after you get a real job.

    Or go teach English in Japan...

  8. er by cpuenvy · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm sorry, I only know how to traverse the universe on thirty altirian dollars a day ;)

    --
    DISCLAIMER:

    I don't believe what I write, and neither should you.

  9. Re:Armed Forces by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Ahh yes, the Military option: Where you get to visit many different places with lots of interesting people and you can kill them without going to jail!

  10. Just remember... by sterno · · Score: 5, Funny

    If travelling the world and having problems, just remember this one important phrase:

    "Don't shoot, I'm Candian!"

    --
    This sig has been temporarily disconnected or is no longer in service
    1. Re:Just remember... by SmoothOperator · · Score: 5, Funny

      This will not work. They will immediately recognize you as an American. You have to say "I am CanAdian!"

      --

      Veni, vidi, vici.

    2. Re:Just remember... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
      "Don't shoot, I'm Candian!"

      Don't shoot, I'm made of candy??

    3. Re:Just remember... by red5 · · Score: 3, Funny

      It's an old American tradition to make a fool of yourself and country while abroad. Just like when JFK delared to the people of Berlin that he was a doughnut.

      --
      I know I'm going to hell, I'm just trying to get good seats.
    4. Re:Just remember... by DEBEDb · · Score: 3, Funny

      Didn't work very well for these soldiers
      bombed by US, eh?

      --

      Considered harmful.
  11. India by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Visit India. You can even get a job replacing Americans there.

  12. a little presumtious, I'd say by SethJohnson · · Score: 5, Funny


    If you're an electrical engineering major who reads slashdot, I wouldn't be too confident that the wife and kids thing will just fall into your lap later on down the road. You might want to get to work on that part right away. It could take some time to implement.

    Seth
  13. Here's a thought by The+Bungi · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hear Saddam Hussein is hiring electrical engineers that know a lot about high-speed centrifuges. Apparently they use them for making baby formula, go figure.

  14. Re:Armed Forces by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "I wanted to meet strange and interesting people with an ancient culture, and kill them."

  15. Re:Go Spooky by PissingInTheWind · · Score: 4, Funny

    Comment about joining terrorist: 5, funny.
    Comment about joining the CIA: 5, interesting.

    Since both do about the same activities, I'd take that as a sign that moderators are once again on crack.

    --

    A message from the system administrator: 'I've upped my priority. Now up yours.'
  16. Re:Teach English by pipingguy · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...LOOK american...

    Try to look Canadian, that seems to work better (say, "eh" a lot, talk about hockey and drink tons of beer)

  17. Re:Peace Corp by Chundra · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's the spirit. Hey, I just bought an American flag sticker today, but I didn't put it on my bumper. Nah, that's not appropriate for my country, instead I put it smack dab in the middle of the gas cap on my BMW. God Bless America!

  18. Re:Peace Corp by Meefan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Gee, tough choice: tell my grandkids I was boring, or be dead. ;) Dave

    --

    ------
    http://cooltech.org
    If it ain't cool, it ain't coolt
  19. Re:Peace Corp by aethera · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, that's it: Join the army, travel to exotic places, meet interesting people...
    And Kill Them!

    Just the way to see the world.

  20. Male Companion? by thebudda · · Score: 2, Funny

    How many old rich hags would drop major $$$ in a heartbeat for a boy toy? Used to work with a guy who had one that his wife knew about. She loved it because the old hag paid for the house, his Porsche, 57 Stingray, his side business ventures that always failed, and of course Travel. Too easy.