For Colleen Kinder, author of the campus bestseller "Delaying the Real World," there is something to be said for eschewing the post-graduation office environment and jumping into the wilder parts of the world.
Kinder offered advice and guidance from her life while signing and talking about her book over the weekend at the Dartmouth Bookstore. Kinder made it clear to the mixed audience of adventurous students and approving town-folk that "Delaying the Real World" was more than just a vacation catalogue to browse through before stepping into a cubicle -- it was an inspirational guide for a new kind of living and a new definition of the "real world."
"The title of the book is lighthearted, but it really doesn't have to be about just delaying office work -- you'll see I don't ever use the word term 'gap-year,'" Kinder said. "Start doing what you're passionate about and it will lead to meaningful real world things you can do as you get older."
Kinder, 23, a recent graduate of Yale University, took her first such delay when she traveled to Cuba to work on a yearlong public service fellowship despite dozens of travel embargoes and applications. Living in Cuba and spoon-feeding plantain puree to the elderly at Cuban nursing homes, Kinder collected many of the stories, connections and inspirations she needed to finish her book.
Kinder's book covers ways to live and work abroad, travel, volunteer and find adventures in even mundane areas.
In each chapter, Kinder combines quotes and anecdotes from many contributors with all the necessary links to a number of bizarre job offerings, such as working on a sheep farm in New Zealand. The book explains where to apply, how to get there, how to get a green card and how to find a place to live down under.
Other unconventional ideas suggested included working for a hot-air ballooning company in Europe, teaching English in Korea and riding the Russian railway across the country, which happens also to be a quarter of the way around the world.
"As someone who did this sort of stuff when she was younger, let me promise that if you keep living for adventure then your life can come together in a really satisfying way," an enthusiastic 60-year-old woman said at the book-signing.
Kinder spoke with confidence, but she could not help showing her shock at the popularity of her book and her niche status as a guru for adventure.
Talking with bookstore employees before the signing, Kinder said she could not believe the number of her books they had sold already.
"The idea of strangers reading my book is still, like, wow," Kinder said.
