Grateful Gnomads is a travel blog for digital nomads where we help digital nomads create a fulfilling and sustainable location-independent lifestyle. We live by our tagline: Improvise your life! Check out the resources we offer below and sign up for our newsletter!
year of the bucket list
Hey, Gnomies!
It's that time of year when we look back on the last 12 months, and wow, what a year it's been!
Thanks to our digital nomad lifestyle, we had the privilege of exploring 8 stunning countries in 2023 – Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Panama, Mexico, Turkey, South Korea, and Japan.
It truly felt like the year of the bucket list, filled with unforgettable experiences that have left us in awe.
From waddling alongside wild penguins in Argentine Patagonia to soaring high in a hot air balloon over the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia, Turkey, and savoring the legendary Kobe beef in its hometown of Kobe, Japan – it's been a great year of travel.
But that's not all that made 2023 such an incredible year for us. On the professional side, Sasha landed a full-time, fully remote gig with CashorTrade – a ticket resale website whose mission has always resonated deeply with us, and one we've been avidly using since day one. It's a match made in digital nomad heaven!
I decided to take the plunge and dive headfirst into building my own online English teaching business. It's been a thrilling and rewarding journey, connecting with students from all corners of the globe and helping them master the English language.
I also became the Instructor and Coach at the Teacherpreneur Academy, a program I co-created in collaboration with Bridge. Our mission is to empower online English teachers to become independent teacher-entrepreneurs, and I'm so excited about the opportunity to guide and inspire fellow educators on their path to success.
So, as we reflect on the past year, we're not only grateful for the incredible travel adventures we've had but also for the professional milestones we've achieved. We're eager to see where these new opportunities take us in the coming year and can't wait to share our continued journey with all of you!
How was 2023 for you? Where did your travels take you? What were your professional achievements? Hit reply and tell me all about it!
Check out the photos from each of the eight countries we visited and then check out the Digital Nomad Tip of the Month and what we have coming up in 2024.
Where we worked in November and December: Asheville, NC - Johnson City, TN
Digital Nomad Tip of the Month: Do you podcast? I love listening to podcasts. They're one of my favorite ways to learn and be inspired because I can take them on the go. They're perfect for passing the time in transit, on a walk, in the gym, or even during cozy nights in.
As a digital nomad, it's important to stay connected to the world and keep learning while on the move so I wanted to share some of my absolute favorite podcasts that have been both a source of valuable insights and a comforting companion during our adventures.
My favorite podcast - Zero to Travel
Jason is an incredible host who is great at bringing on guests with valuable travel tips, tricks, and insights. He's even been so kind as to have me on a few times. Be sure to check it out for all your travel and digital nomad inspiration!
Here are my other favorite podcasts:
- The World Wanderers
- Badass Digital Nomads
- Design Her Travel
- Digital Nomad Experts
- That Remote Life
What's Coming Up
We're kicking off 2024 in the vibrant country of Colombia!
Mid-January, you'll find us in the bustling streets of Bogota, soaking in the culture and flavors of this fascinating city. From there, it's a two-month adventure in the city of eternal spring – Medellin.
Now, you might remember that we were in Medellin when everything locked down in March 2020. It was a surreal and challenging time for all of us, and we ended up taking a humanitarian flight back to the US – it felt like we were escaping.
But Medellin holds a special place in our hearts, and we believe it deserves its redemption story. So, we've decided to spend the winter there, revisiting the city we fell in love with and creating new memories.
Then we'll head back to the US in April for the Texas Eclipse Music Festival. And that's where our plans end for now. We have a lot of ideas for the rest of the year. It would be awesome to go back to JazzFest or see Phish at the Sphere. Whatever we end up doing, you'll be the first to know.
What are you up to? Got any big travel plans for 2024? You know I wanna hear all about them!
As always, we're so grateful to have you along for the ride. Thank you for being a part of our digital nomad community, and here's to another year filled with adventure, growth, and unforgettable moments.
Happy merry everything and cheers to 2024!
Well, that's it for this newsletter. Thanks for opening and reading it to the end! We appreciate it more than you know.
Feel free to write back! We love hearing from you :-D
Cheers,
Rachel (& Sasha) | gratefulgnomads.com
Resources for Digital Nomads:
Ready to start your location-independent lifestyle but overwhelmed by it all? Rachel can coach you through the prep and mindset to get you started on your journey. Get more info here.
Need help planning a trip? That's Sasha's superpower. Hit him up for more info here.
SafetyWing - Travel insurance for digital nomads. Make sure you're covered! Sign up for just $42 for 4 weeks.
Teachable - Easily create and sell your online course.
BridgeTEFL - Get certified to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) and continue your professional development as an ESL teacher.
21-Day Teacher Entrepreneur Challenge - Learn how to start your own business as an online English teacher. It starts on the 1st of every month. Learn more in this video.
TrustedHousesitters - save money on accommodation by caring for someone's home and fur babies or find someone to take care of yours while you travel!
Xero Shoes - the best shoes for travelers! They're lightweight and fit very nicely into your bag. They have lots of different styles. Click the link to check them out!
Some links may be affiliate links, earning us a commission if you purchase at no extra cost to you! We're super grateful for the support as it helps us keep the lights on ;)
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Grateful Gnomads
Grateful Gnomads is a travel blog for digital nomads where we help digital nomads create a fulfilling and sustainable location-independent lifestyle. We live by our tagline: Improvise your life! Check out the resources we offer below and sign up for our newsletter!
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