When I have finally seen what I consider the must see places in the world and have met my future wife I will be ready to settle down (though not likely in the US). But what will I do?

I will open a combined hostel, language school, and bar that compliment each other in every way. Let’s say I open up the language school in Colombia, for example.

The hostel will obviously attract people especially the ordinary western backpacker on their typical gap year(s). Most young backpackers are interested in meeting people including locals and other travelers, partying, finding temporary work to help fund their travels, and learning a new hobby like salsa dancing or learning Spanish.

The hostel will be great because it will provide the travelers with everything they are looking for in one location.

The language school will employ those travelers looking to earn a little extra money for a few weeks or months by teaching English. With a ready supply of poor backpackers desperate for short term work it will be an ease to hire and offer free room and board rather than a salary. Likewise, I will hire local students to teach Spanish to the foreigners. While I have no direct experience in the language business it won’t cost much to hire a manager with lots of experience and certifications to oversee this part of the operation. I am so sure of this part because I have met so many of those desperate, certified teachers on my travels already.

So with the hostel attracting loads of foreigners and the language school attracting loads of local university students studying English there needs to be a place to allow the locals to practice their English and the foreigners to meet the locals. If they are studying English they will no doubt have a huge interest in meeting foreigners. Likewise, it’s a great way for backpackers to meet interesting locals. I can’t even remember the amount of times I have heard fellow backpackers say “hey, this hostel is great but i’m going nuts hanging out with foreigners all the time”. That’s why the hostel/language school will also have a decent bar on the premises open all day. That’s also tons of potential earnings from drinks and food.

There you have it. That’s the basic concept which assumes the hostel is great in of itself (clean, all amenities, good staff, marketed well, etc.), the language school is well run, and the bar is fun with great staff and events. If I have had one original business idea in my life this is it!

I swear I do my best thinking while trying to sleep. I just now came up with a brilliant plan for the next 3 years of my life!

I need 57 more credits to graduate from the University of Pittsburgh. That breaks down to 15 more credits in Communications and 12 more credits in Anthropology. I am currently enrolled in 18 credits (3 in Anthropology and 9 in Communications). After this semester I need just 39 more credits (6 in Communications and 9 in Anthropology). Did I mention that i fulfill all of my general education requirements after this semester? I do!

I am also enrolled in Spanish 4 to become more fluent in Spanish which is important if I want to make a life in South America. I figured that i don’t have the motivation to study Spanish if I am not receiving some kind of benefit. I tried taking free Spanish lessons in Ecuador a few summers ago and quit because it was boring and i would rather just travel.

The next semester I will study abroad, probably in Argentina at the University of Belgrano, where I will take an easy 15 credits in English while living in Buenos Aires. The great thing is it will cost far less as I will enroll directly in the university. I could study in Colombia but i don’t think I can manage taking 15 credits all in Spanish.

After a great time in Buenos Aires, completing my junior year of college, I will return back to Pittsburgh and take my remaining 15 credits in Anthropology and Communications plus another 3 credits in any subject. That leaves me just 6 more credits to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Communications. That also leaves me with a few options for my final semester.

A) Finish in Pittsburgh as a part time student taking 6 credits. I can relax and enjoy life in the United States while running my 2 businesses (online store and career services) and continue interning for 10 hours a week at the Small Business Development Center. This option also means I can spend travel until late August after finishing in Buenos Aires in June/July.

B) Finish in Pittsburgh as a part time student taking 6 credits. That leaves a lot of free time. It also costs just $1500 in tuition compared to about $7,000 as a full time student. I will apply for a job and get one, making a salary equivalent to $25,000-$50,000 a year. I figure that my strong resume with lots of experience and understanding of how to apply and get hired based on my experience writing resumes and advising hundreds of clients will allow me to find a full time job to work at while finishing school. It probably won’t be something special…an insurance adjuster for all I know. But, and a big but, I will use the $10,000-$20,000 saved up from working the full time job and $5,000-$10,000 earned running my businesses for 4-5 months to return to Colombia where I will continue to run my businesses and enjoy a life of leisure for as long as it lasts (probably 1 year). I won’t feel guilty about not saving the money I earn that year because I would have saved about $12,000-$18,000 from studying abroad in Argentina and going to school part time.

C) Finish my remaining 6 credits attending university in Colombia. The cost of tuition ($1,000 maybe) and living expenses are little. I will also be running my 2 businesses and making money. This allows me to spend another 4-6 months abroad much sooner that option B. While in Colombia I will begin applying for jobs that would start after graduating. When I return home, I will begin my first full time job.

All three options sound great to me!