Hello, my name is Billy (for those of you who don’t know me).
I live in Seattle and I work in one of the hottest and most exciting industries in the world - digital advertising! I’m on a great career path, as an account manager at the biggest all-digital advertising agency in the world, and my client is one of the most recognizable and popular cultural brands in the world. I’m getting paid more now than I ever have in my life. I just got married, and I just bought a big HDTV.
So why would I quit my job and move to Indonesia to teach English, taking an 80% pay cut and possibly committing career suicide?
The romantic answer is that I’m seeking adventure, “the life less ordinary”, the “road less traveled”, or something like that. But maybe I’m just looking to shake things up a little bit. Maybe I just want to scare myself a little bit. I don’t particularly like change, but it’s good for the soul, and it helps you grow. Before I settle down and get old, I want to see what the alternative is.
I’m leaving for Indonesia at the end of April, and I’m feeling very introspective as I sell my belongings and put the rest in storage, find homes for my cats, and settle my affairs. More on that later.
When I get to Indo, I’ll continue to post my observations here, paying special attention to the contrast between the Western World and the Rest of the World. Bookmark this page and visit often! Please share your thoughts too, I thrive on discussion & debate.
Cheers,
Billy
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14 responses so far ↓
1 Denise // Mar 29, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Here’s to a fantastic adventure!
Cheers!
D-
2 Andy // Mar 30, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Cool web site, Billy.
It’s true about the call to prayer. I’ve heard it quite a bit here in Africa, and it’s pretty rough!
There was one guy in Loshoto who had a terrible cough, and he kept coughing into the microphone at 4 in the morning. However, in Dar es Salam, there was one morning where there was beautiful harmonized singing, like an Islamic Simon and Garfunkel, so maybe you’ll get some wake-up music as well…
3 enda // Jun 13, 2007 at 1:15 am
Hi Bill,
Hopefully u’ll have great time in Bandung.
May I know what kind of digital advertising that you were doing in Seattle?
I was managing Adwords account for a travel dotcom while I live in Bangkok for 5 years.
Now I’ve been back to Indonesia, working in Jakarta and go back to Bandung every weekend.
4 Billy // Jun 17, 2007 at 6:38 am
Hi Enda,
I was working at a large agency in Seattle, as an Account Manager. It was mainly banner and rich media advertising for larger brand name advertisers.
Hope you’re doing well, maybe we’ll meet sometime. -Billy
5 Djonggi // Aug 16, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Billy,
post some pix please?
Bandung is a sweetbitter memory for me, sweet at the beginning and bitter in the end.
I grew up there. It was a beautiful small town back then in 60s (and a lot cooler - 70F everyday of the year).
But then the modernization came, everything was ruined. Almost all of the very identity of Bandung was razed. It was starting to get hotter and crowded.
I left Bandung disillusioned and disgusted in the early 90s, hasn’t got any courage to return.
FYI, I’m writing this from a cool summer in east coast.
6 Billy // Aug 17, 2007 at 9:29 am
Hi Djonggi, you’ll find pictures in some of the other posts on this site. I’m sorry about your bitter memories of Bandung’s modernization. Having only been here for 3 months, I don’t have much to compare it to. But I’d venture to guess you probably wouldn’t like it much… it’s very hot, teeming with people and development. Such is the way of the modern world, I guess. I still like it though.
7 Roffi // Sep 20, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Hi Billy,
I’m from Bandung too. In which place are you teaching? nice to know you!
Regards,
Roffi
8 Nita // Dec 10, 2007 at 11:07 am
Hi Billy,
Im jealous hearing you there, Bandung is my home town but curently im living in England now..i cant wait to go home.
hope you’ll enjoy your stay in Bandung.
Regards,
Nita
9 Billy // Dec 11, 2007 at 6:24 am
Hi Nita, nice to meet you! Yes, I am indeed enjoying my stay in Bandung. Hope you get to visit home soon!
10 Eureka // May 7, 2008 at 10:10 am
Hi Billy!
I’m just wondering, how long did it take you to the decision that you can leave your joyful life and start you adventure? There must been lot of pros and contras, right? How can you deal with those things?
I hope that I can learn from you experience; because I am confuse, whether to do the same thing with most of my friends’ (find a good-boring-job) or go with my passion..
Thank you very much!
hope you enjoy your life in Bandung
Regards,
Eureka
11 Billy // May 10, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Hi Eureka,
It really only took a few months from when we first started discussing it, to when we made a firm decision. But I guess you could say that the idea had been growing in my mind as a fantasy for a while, perhaps years, before I decided to act.
I tried the “good-boring-job” thing for a while, and there were times I really enjoyed it. But I’m glad about my career change, and it’s made me really happy.
Try both. If the “good-boring-job” thing really sucks, or you still feel unfulfilled, then try the crazy thing.
12 Billy // May 10, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Or do it the other way around. Crazy thing first. If that doesn’t work, or you don’t like it, then do the safe thing. At least then you’ve tried the crazy thing, and won’t be always wondering.
13 Freddy // Jun 13, 2008 at 4:34 pm
hey Billy, it’s tough tracking you down. really cool website. definately bring to life another part of this world that i know nothing about. congrats on your wedding dude! I only recently found out. email me so we can catch up.
14 Billy // Jun 16, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Hey Freddy, great to hear from you! I tried sending you an email just now, but I’m not sure if I still have your email address…
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