Live, work and play: tales of a lifestyle on the road

Play drums, will travel is a recipe that worked well for expat musician Goran Rista. He is one of millions who travel the world on their OE, financing the experience through a variety of employment scenarios.

Once he had finished his music degree, Rista, then 21, called up a cruise line and got his first sea gig based on a verbal interview.

He played most nights of the week with the in-house orchestra, backing singers, instrumentalists, comedians, jugglers and production shows in many different musical styles.

As he specialised in music, Rista had more free time than some cruise-ship staff.

"The more specialised the job, the less hours you do. For jobs that require just a basic training, you can expect to work 70 hours a week.

"It's a kind of modern-day slavery on the seven seas. If you're a guest cruising you would have no idea."

He says the pay is similar to onshore rates and accommodation and food are provided. Lifestyle depends on the kind of job and individual ships.

Crew "hang out" in the crew bar and access the guest areas only when on duty.

"During the day you go out exploring and then come back tired to the safety net of the cruise ship.

"While you sleep the ship takes you to another port and when you wake up you're in another country. I've seen some incredible places."

Rista has travelled to many destinations around the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska and New Zealand. And although shipboard romances with guests are forbidden, as a guest entertainer Rista had some leeway and met his Puerto Rican wife through a shipboard romance.

They are happily settled in Miami, where he has a sound studio. At the age of 30 he still takes to the high seas, about one month in every year.

"It's lots of fun and a life-enriching experience. But if you spend too much time on ships, you can get lazy and lose your direction."

Sharyn McCullum, now a freelance writer working in Melbourne, sowed the seeds of her present career over 20 years ago when she took herself off to Britain on a working holiday.

"It was something I had always wanted to do but after a very bad day at work I resigned and one month later was standing at Heathrow Airport with no friends, family, work or anywhere to go."

She soon found herself a place to stay in Earls Court, as do many Kiwis and Australians, while she worked out her next move.

McCullum registered with several office support and nanny recruitment agencies and was offered work for one week as a secretary in Knightsbridge. The position lasted for 18 months and ended only when she left to do some travelling.

A one-week tour in Turkey got her started on travel writing.

"We arrived in Ankara and travelled around to cities such as Troy but the highlight was the 75th anniversary of the landing of the Anzacs. I have never been so proud to be Australian as I was that day."

On her return to London she wrote an article for an expat magazine about her time at Anzac Cove.

"I was paid £25. The travel writing bug got me, so I began to write more articles and had more and more published."

Now in her 40s and with two children she takes on road trips, McCullum publishes guidebooks, advising prospective travellers of all ages on how to live, work and play around the world.

"We believe it's a lifestyle. When you stay long-term in a country you immerse yourself into the culture. Our guidebooks try to help you with the fundamentals of such a trip - travel options, work options, living options, so you can get on with what you have come for - to live, work and play in a specific place."

And for wannabe travel writers she advises: "Persevere, believe in your writing, file negative feedback under your wing and use it to your advantage by adapting your work."

Teaching English overseas is another lifestyle choice made by people of all ages. Brian King, a PhD student at Victoria University, was 30 when he took off to South Korea. A trained teacher, he armed himself with a Celta certificate in teaching English as a second language.

He says the certificate gives an edge with hiring agencies and stands teachers in good stead, as there is no training on the job. A bachelor's degree is obligatory.

King advises people to either apply for jobs through contacts already in Korea, as he did, or to do so once they arrive and can research the best schools.

"There are some dodgy fly-by-night organisations that can try to make people pay back their airfare if they aren't happy with you for whatever reason. And the conditions of employment are not always good."

People who find work on the spot do a "visa run" to Japan to get a work permit outside Korea. A "midnight run" is not uncommon among those who are miserable and want to escape paying back the airfare.

King worked with adults. He says there are many schools and that Korean children can be challenging with foreigners.

A job with a Korean co-teacher is the best bet as this helps with discipline and bridging cultural gaps.

"Once you have got the job, earned your feathers and taught for a couple of years you can even find work at universities."

People of all ages can work there and Koreans respect older people, but for those over 50 it is advisable to front in person to the Western employing agencies to show your suitability.

From his base in Seoul over five years King travelled through Korea and Southeast Asia.

He speaks highly of the warm welcome he received from Koreans, of the beautiful countryside and excellent transport. He says a favourable conversion rate also allows students to save money to pay off their student loan.