Delaying the Real World: A Twentysomething's Guide to Seeking Adventure - Softcover

Colleen Kinder is a graduate of Yale University. She has delayed the real world by living in Cuba, traveling through Latin America, and volunteering with the elderly.

Recent Yale grad and island-hopping adventurer Kinder advises fellow 20-somethings to shun the fluorescent-lit cubicles of the corporate world in favor of the great outdoors in this useful guidebook. Writing in a comfortably hip, conversational manner, she offers ideas for exciting changes of pace that will appeal to others in her age bracket: work in a rural New Zealand vineyard, lead a group of teens on a Caribbean yacht trip, be a flight attendant, try out for a Las Vegas show, etc. She covers some of the beaten paths (the Peace Corps, Teach for America) and encourages ventures into the unknown, such as riding the Russian rails or working at Thailand’s Wild Animal Rescue Foundation. The pages are filled with blurbs from young people, both those who have taken time off before getting a job and those who wish they had; they tell their stories and give tried-and-true tips on making the most of the post-college, pre-"real world" experience. Perhaps recognizing that those who lack her privileged background or daring may not be convinced, Kinder provides some ideas for utilizing downtime at home, though many are decidedly less interesting ("go on a pub crawl;" "gut your closet and have a yard sale"). Kinder includes numerous Web site addresses so people can research her suggestions, and she grounds each chapter with a section on how these out-of-the-box experiences can be beneficial in the long run. Even the most timid will find her enthusiasm infectious, and both the book’s subject and style are sure to appeal to college seniors and those who don’t want to settle into the rat race just yet.
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