On Digital Nomading

Wikipedia defines digital nomading as “people who travel freely while working remotely using technology and the internet”. While an albeit simple definition, it does capture the gist of my and many’s appeal with this way of working; the ability to move freely while remaining connected. When I thought about what I wanted my work life to look like, I always had a fascination with people who took their work “on the road”. So I kept my eyes and ears open for the opportunity that would enable me to try.

*Remote team bonding with the V2I crew!*

In August of 2021, I joined a special team at an NGO called Venture 2 Impact (V2I). A team that after COVID-19, made the choice to remain a remote based company, like many others in Canada and elsewhere. Once I got my bearings, and learned the professional and personal tricks to support myself and V2I, I made a request to relocate to South America.

After selling most of my belongings and moving what remained to my parents (thanks, Mom and Dad!), I left for Argentina on November 21st, 2022. From here, the only plan I had was to meet up with my cousin, Christina, and travel through Patagonia over the Christmas holidays. So, I found myself in a new city, with no real plan, no physical community, and no Spanish.

But I had my work. Which was surprisingly comforting, as I always had a purpose no matter where I was or who I was with. Below, I’ve shared a few of my tips and tricks as a digital nomad.

Tip #1 Come prepared with a proposal emphasizing a smooth transition.

While I had recently started working with V2I, I had quickly developed a strong relationship with our Executive Director and the team. But, I knew I had to be intentional about gaining their trust and demonstrating my work ethic prior to asking to take my work on the road. When the right time came, about three months into the job, I presented my ED with a proposal to relocate articulating how I’d ensure little to no interruption to my work or the organization. Or, you can take the approach of many nomads I met, and use the background feature in Teams/Google to your advantage, needing to never tell your boss you’ve left your living room (shoutout to Hannah!). I’ll let you assess your risk tolerance…

Tip #2 Keep your data loaded and devices plugged in, always.

I can remember working in Lago Puelo, Argentina, a small mountain town in Patagonia, when I was in the middle of a work call and the power completely cut and thus the wifi. A common experience in this publicly-owned power province. My Airbnb host quickly alerted me that if I got in a taxi and drove to the next nearest province (twenty minutes away), I would be back online in no time, being an area on a privately owned power-grid. So off I went, rejoining the meeting 20 minutes later with many apologies…

Always move with enough data on your phone (to not have to rely on wifi) to take a call or hotspot your computer in the instance that the power goes out or your bus is running late. And keep those same devices plugged in, as it might be your last chance to charge for awhile.

*Co-working space, Selina, Punta Del Este, Uruguay*

Tip #3 Sleeping enough to keep your full-time job.

One of the biggest game changers I stumbled across in South America was Selina. A chain of accommodations that found the perfect middle ground between a hostel and hotel. While, I was super reluctant to book at first because I love my sleep, Selina really changed my view on hostels and dorms. Not only are their designs incredible, including the dorm set up, but they have a dedicated co-working space at every location, making it affordable and fun for an early-career solo traveler, like me, while being clean and reliable.

Even if you’re in a remote area, like Tena, a small town in the middle of the Ecuadorian rainforest, you were guaranteed wifi, a quiet place to work, and an instant digital nomading community. The perfect play and work combo. If you’re still hesitating, book 1-2 nights to get a feel and if you like it, you can always extend (so long as they aren’t fully booked during a busy season)

*Dinner with my host, Laura, and her family*

Tip #4 Find community where community already exists.

While sometimes you head to your next location with a pal you had worked with or met on a hike the week prior, often times nomads are moving at their own pace. So, you and your bags might find yourself setting off solo in search of your next adventure. While Selinas are a great way to join an instant community, bear in mind, you are often surrounded by other English speaking foreigners. Depending on the experience you are looking for this may not be your best option, all the time. Staying in a room in a local’s home provides a completely different opportunity for connection and learning. Also a great opportunity to start piecing together your broken Spanish and learning about local hotspots.

Thinking of that same town in Patagonia where I’d lost power, my Airbnb host, Laura, and I are still connected and exchange messages often. Other times, you might find yourself flying solo in a rented apartment. Before arriving in a new town, I would always search for bike or walking tours, running groups, frisbee clubs or other extra-curriculars that interested me. This not only helped me to quickly get my bearings in a new place, but also allowed me to find community. Check out Instagram, Airbnb Experiences, Facebook or Google Maps to find you next community.

Tip #5 Eat well, cheaply, on the road.

If you’re able, always carry snacks, a small bottle of olive oil, and basic spices. From here, you can easily make any cooking or accommodation scenario work after quickly grabbing your perishables from town. I religiously moved with salt and pepper, red chilli flakes, apples, nuts, and peanut butter - filling and decently healthy.

*And if you’re lucky, you’ll meet a partner in the field*

Tip #6 Work smart, not hard.

Fortunately, my working hours were fairly easy to manage as I was only one to two hours ahead of the team back home. Where possible, I’d work from 6-2pm or 7-3pm to free up my afternoons for touring or for completing the next leg's bus journey. A few tools that enabled me to do this included daily 15-minute check-in calls with my team; Trello, a cloud-based work-planning tool that allowed team members to see deadlines and priority deliverables; good (noise canceling) headphones; and Spotify premium. I also found that by having an activity or something I wanted to see each day helped me remain focused and work smart, not hard.

Tip #7 Its all about the money, money, money.

Except when you work in international development…its about ensuring you get the best bang for your buck. In the case of Argentina, there were two parallel currencies, one the government controlled and one was the blue or market rate.

Fortunately, Western Union, the most accessible money exchange for foreigners, used the blue market rate which meant my Canadian dollar went much further. Setting up a Western Union account took less than five minutes on the app. The cheapest way to send CAD and receive local currency is via direct bank transfer but it takes the longest time to complete the transaction. So be sure to plan ahead!

Your other option is getting a money changer directly to your door or meeting them in a sketchy ally in the pouring rain (sorry, Mom) to swap USD cash. If you head to Argentina, I have a few money guys I can put you in touch with, just be sure to carry USD. The last point also generally applies to any country you’re travelling to, people are generally keen to change USD to the local currency.

Tip #8 Plan a big activity over the Christmas Holidays.

The best Christmas I’ve had overseas (I’ve had two in a row now) was when I was engaged in a major activity, like a multi-day through hike. You still have the opportunity to celebrate, like cracking a snickers bar on the trail and reading a card from home, but you aren’t as idle, therefore, not noticing what or who you might be missing at home.

I think I’ll end it there for now!

If you have any specific questions regarding digital nomading or recommendations for places in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil or Ecuador, don’t hesitate to reach out. Digital nomading may not be for everyone but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone, at least once, so you too can explore all the peaks and valleys, and make money too!