Yesterday, we received a new comment on the video Trang, Vietnam Idol left by a ‘fan’ named Billy.

Billy says: “What’s the point? Why don’t you just get a real job and then travel. The premise does not match the actual outcome of the show. You guys come off looking like a bunch of morons, aimlessly wandering. Who the hell would want to live like that? Stupid.”

This may be the only negative comment I’ve ever seen left on this site, so instead of simply ignoring it or burying it as spam, I think it deserves a post of its own and a response.

If you’ve spent any time on this site, you’d know that we all had real jobs… careers even. Before I joined Jet Set Zero, I spent three years as a Software Engineer. Needless to say, I took one hell of a pay-cut to join Jet Set Zero and work more hours for less money with almost zero job security. Who would want to live like that? I do, and an amazing number of other people, judging by the number of applicants we get on a regular basis!

The problem with real jobs, as you call them, rarely afford the opportunity for extended travel. A paltry two to three weeks of vacation is barely enough to visit family during the holidays. Combine that with the pressure to meet constant deadlines and move up the corporate ladder and some people find themselves not even taking what little vacation time they have. What traveling with Jet Set Zero has given me isn’t money, it’s time… which IMHO, is much more valuable, but most people don’t realize that until it’s too late.  Yes, we do still have to work, but the jobs we work now are just jobs, not careers. They also put us smack in the middle of the country and culture which we’ve chosen to learn about and have helped us meet wonderful friends and have led to great adventures. What little money we earn still manages to cover rent, food, and fun, and when we’re ready to move on, our jobs are never the things holding us back.

Don’t just take my word for it, here’s Jen to explain why she joined Jet Set Zero:

I also had a ‘real’ job back home.  A job that I absolutely loved, but I wondered on a daily basis what else is out there in the world?  I was given the unique opportunity to become a part of Jet Set Zero and I jumped on it.  I had a thirst to learn more about what was in this world, the people, the places, the food…..  I’ve traveled in short stints before and I find you never really get a feel for a place.  You go to a place and you see the tourist sites just because you have to and that’s all you do, then you go back home to your normal life.  You never REALLY learn about the place you’re at.  So there you have, my reason for living an impoverished life is to spend time somewhere to learn about it and to understand it.   – Jen