Citizen Of The World — Max Peterson
This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play. — Alan Watts
It was the day before Max Peterson’s 26th birthday. He was ten days into his new life traveling around the world with WYCO. Between living in a new city to working alongside a group of fellow Roamers, I had to hear his thoughts on the experience so far. We grabbed a coffee and sat out on the terrace at Opero to catch up. Learn more from Max on what life is like as a citizen of the world.
Okay so you’re ten days into this experience, what do you think so far?
So far, it’s blown all of my expectations out of the water. The accommodations, the workspace, and the city have exceeded everything I imagined. Prague is beautiful, definitely my favorite European city that I’ve been to.
Where else have you been?
I’ve been to Berlin, Florence, Zurich, Amsterdam, Dublin. But this will be the longest I’ve been in one city. It’s great so far.
What do you think about visiting cities on vacation versus living somewhere?
Living in a city for a month is a lot more relaxed than being a tourist. You don’t feel the need to rush around and see everything in three or four days. It’s really nice to settle down, unwind, and take time to soak it all in.
What made you join a WYCO, a group experience, versus going solo?
The community aspect was the single biggest thing for me. I like being around people, but meeting new friends in each city where English isn’t the primary language is hard. Having a group of people that I can experience the world with really sealed the deal. Everyone is really open and easy to talk to. We all have similar thoughts about travel and work, and life. There’s a common thread that causes people to sign up for something like this, so connecting was natural for us. I’m really looking forward to having new people join each month. It’ll be a good mix up.
I went to college in the same town that I went to high school and elementary school in, so I knew a lot of people when I went to college. I’ve never really had a chance to go into something where I don’t know anyone. This is a big learning and growing experience for me.
The work aspect of the WYCO community is nice as well. We all have different backgrounds and skillsets, but it’s nice to tap each other for help or advice. Zach needed help with programming last week and I was able to lend a hand. If he were back in the states, working around people who do the same thing as him, he might not be able to get quick feedback or assistance.
What are your thoughts on your apartment and the workspace?
If I were to do this on my own, it would be impossible to find the same quality apartments and workspaces. It would just take too much guess and check and I just don’t want to deal with that. I was really impressed with how my apartment turned out — furnished, clean, I have my own kitchen, and it’s close to public transit. The workspace is so open and nice. I can work from a desk, the terrace, and take calls from a private room. It has everything I need. I love that I don’t have to worry about anything at all.
Tell me about your line of work. How are you able to work remotely?
I’m a software engineer and a team lead for other software engineers at Workiva. I plan and prioritize work for everyone and help determine our goals each quarter. I have to be online with them for daily check-ins. The timezones can be a bit of a challenge, but we’ve been able to adjust just fine.
What was your company’s reaction when you asked to work remotely?
I was already working with people remotely, so it wasn’t that big of an ask to see if I could work in a different time zone. They were so supportive and immediately said yes. My boss told me that he wished there was an opportunity like WYCO when he was my age and didn’t have anything tying him down.
What are you looking forward to most?
I think it’s really just building lifelong friendships and experiences that will shape future decisions I make. Traveling to these places and meeting new people is making me a more well-rounded person and it helps me develop a better understanding for different cultures. It’s opening my mind up to new ideas and new ways of living. So really, I’m looking forward personal growth.
What about the destinations? Do any of them standout?
It’s so hard to pick one. But I guess I’ll go with Croatia. Before this, it was so off my radar. But it looks so amazing and beautiful. I‘m really looking forward to living in Eastern Europe.
How long do you plan to stay on?
WYCO allows for flexibility. I didn’t want to commit to a full year. I wasn’t sure how I would like it. This was big reason I picked WYCO over the other options out there. I didn’t know if I’d be able to get work done and be productive, so I’m committed to five months now. I’ll go home and spend the holiday with my families in December. But because this is all working out so well, I’m really considering extending for six months in South America.
Any advice for someone considering WYCO?
We’re lucky to live in a time where working abroad from around the world is not only possible, but comfortable. Take the opportunity while you can. You won’t regret it.
For questions or to speak with one of our team members, shoot us an email at — info@thewyco.com
