Sep
Creating Our Own LIP future
“So where are you going now?”
I always like asking Lea that question because the answer is usually a surprise and I’m always envious! I hope to even up the envy stakes with our first “LIP year” which we plan will look a bit like this:*
Jan - Mar: New Zealand
April - July: Zurich
August - Sept: Greek Island
Oct - Dec: Florionopolis (Brazil)
* Terms and Conditions apply and changes are subject to the whims and fancy of the LIP.
Granted, Claudia and I realise we are still in the initial planning and research stages but we’re on the right track. When I look back at the places we want to live in during our first LIP year, I’ll be honest and say “how the hell will we afford this?!!”
But, in reality three of our four destinations are relatively cheap to live in. For example, monthly rent in Florionopolis (2 bed apartment on the beach) costs £100. Even rent in Zurich is a third cheaper than in London. The big expense is the flights, the prices of which can be reduced if you do your research.
In our second LIP year we will probably spend longer periods in South America and in Europe respectively as I’ve not seen a great deal of other South American countries and Claudia wants to further explore Europe.
What about money? I hear you cry. When I first hired Lea as a business coach I wanted my business to be one that can be conducted online. I had enough of the stressful commute during my corporate days and wanted to avoid that at all costs.
As a success and wellbeing coach a lot of the tests, analysis and coaching that I do to help my clients achieve what they want whilst staying healthy can be done online with the use of email/msn and skype. My coaching courses are a minimum of three months but it usually takes longer for really great results from a wellbeing perspective.
£2000 per month will help us live:
- like kings in Florionopolis
- like chilled out arty types in Zurich
- like sun gods on our greek island (ok yes, I will be under the umbrella…wearing a T-Shirt)
…and like professional adventurers in New Zealand.
At the moment I’m feeling a little scared but also very excited. Doing this is the exact opposite of what I’ve been brought up to think I would be doing at this stage of my life.
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Is it totally foolish to go to Brazil without speaking spainish?
Hey Allan - thanks for all the comments! As far as I am aware, you need Portuguese for Brazil, not Spanish…and in some places they also speak German.
Greg’s the Brazil expert however, so I’ll get him to respond too…
Cheers,
Lea
Hi Allan,
Lea is right in saying that the language spoken in Brazil is portuguese. However, if you do speak spanish the locals will usually understand you (if you speak slowly) but you may not get a reply in spanish!
Plenty of tourists head out to Brazil not speaking a word of portuguese and seem to do ok for a 2-3 week period. However, they usually stick to the tourist areas and stay in the main hotels, all of which employ english speakers.
If you’re planning to stay in Brazil for more than a few weeks my advice is to at least get a few lessons of portuguese under your belt before going. If you can understand and speak a little then this will help you integrate a little more quickly.
Hope this helps.
P.S
Brazilian portuguese is a little different to the portuguese spoken in Portugal. If you can find a brazilian language teacher all the better.
PPS
All other Latin American countries speak Spanish