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A bit of a dilemma
Thu, 05/18/2006 - 14:30
New Member
I’m in a situation where I either have to cut my trip a bit short, or else bring my laptop and do some work while I’m in Europe. I figure I could get most of the work done while on trains, etc. This isn’t for checking e-mails and uploading photos, this is doing stuff using multiple files and Word/Excel. If MS Office is generally available at internet cafes, it would be a possibility to store stuff in my Gmail account or something, but that might prove to be challenging, and I suspect that Office is not something internet cafes typically have. Given the nature of what I need this for, converting between MS Office and some other office program is likely to cause major headaches.
I have a laptop that is on the smaller end of things, but not super small (14" screen, weighs in at just under 5lbs). I would make damn sure to back up everything before I go. It’s nearly 2 years old and looks it; and if it were to get stolen there’s a $250 deductible (it’s basically a lease arrangement through my school). It just got a new battery though, so that should help on the trains 
The ac adapter is rated for up to 240 V, so I wouldn’t need a converter, just something to make the plug fit, and I’ll need that anyway for my battery charger for my camera.
I haven’t investigated what would be involved in moving my flight home. I was planning on coming home on the 12th of July, but I am going to call up the airline and ask what’s available for the week before that. My mom booked the flight on points though, so I’m not sure what sort of fees are going to be involved.
The other thing to note is that the first week and a half I will be travelling around Ireland with my mom, and staying in hotels, travelling with a rental car, etc. and the 2 weeks after that I will be taking a Spanish course in Valencia and staying with a host family. The rest of the trip would be hostels, so for like 2.5 weeks.
So, what would you do? Cut a 6 week trip down to a 4-5 week trip, or carry a laptop around for 6 weeks and spend the equivalent of a day or two per week working?
Gee, Kaylya, I don’t know, it pretty much depends on you. One one hand, a week more of travelling does sound appealing, but sticking to math, you’d be working 6-12 days, 1 to 1 1/2 weeks. Now, the good thing is these days are spaced out. The bad thing is carrying a laptop, although it can have it’s uses.
It depends on you because maybe in travel mode, you’d find it hard to work, or maybe you want to dissapear from your life for a while and not have work related stuff. Maybe you need a day to chill out while travelling and a break from sightseeing, in which case working is a good excuse.
I don’t know what are your priorities, and if you’d rather have quantity rather than quality, although everything is subjective.
If it were me, I’d probably cut my trip short beause I know I cannot commit to any sort of responsibility while travelling. I don’t know how you operate when on the road. Is there no way you can work in advance?
This is a dilemma!
I think if you "weigh" the issues associated with bringing the laptop at the end of the day you will have a much more relaxing and enjoyable trip if you focus on traveling.
you will be worried about getting your work done which may become distracting.
You will be lugging an extra 5 lbs. around everyday even though only using it occasionally.
You will have to worry about backing up your files not just avoiding having your backpack stolen.
The idea of working remotely might work better than you think.
Have you considered staying a few extra days, not a full week and then work twice as hard/long when you first get back to work?
Well, I think it’s down to the bring the laptop option. As I mentioned, the flight is booked on points, and I called and asked about my options for changing it and she looked pretty much everywhere they had flights from in Europe for around the first week of July and they had exactly one flight available from Frankfurt on June 29th.
i met a girl on my travels who had to work…she was studying law and had an assignment..
no fun for her and no fun for us watching her, either lol
but, hey, she got it done and, at times, had to stay up late waiting for phonecalls ( dont know why but it was related to the work) and then she was a different person !!
i dont know… if ur the type to get stressed out…id come home and start saving for another soon…
i know i cant relax b4 a trip cos theres so much to organise at work and home ..i couldnt imagine taking work with me!!!dont forget that u will be tired too…the trip will get to u ..and if ur partying as well u just may not be able to function when u need to…
have as much prepared as possible b4 u go away ..at least a plan so that ur not stressed coming back on the plane, either, thinking about the work to be done
ultimately it’s up to u ..each one of us has a different way of getting thru responsibilities and the associated stress]
enjoy ur trip!!!
I think it depends on how you’ll be traveling. I mean, if you are going to be on the go the whole time and staying in hostels, carrying your stuff around during the day, I would NOT go for the laptop option. You think 5 pounds isn’t much now, but after lugging that around for 6 weeks you are not going to be a happy camper. However, if you are staying in hotels or rentals where you would feel safe dropping it off for the day, you will probably be okay.
If I were you, I’d just leave the laptop at home, take the full 6 weeks, and do it all the night I got back.