Would You Rather? With Robert From Getting Canned

WOULD YOU RATHER? A series of interviews with Travellers, Bloggers, Travel Bloggers and just generally interesting people. We’ll ask a series of difficult travel questions with two possible answers. They’ll tell us what they would choose and why.

For this Article we have Robert from Getting Canned a blog about finding freedom after job loss, an event many may experience at some point in life. Robert lost his job right as the Great Recession of 2008 kicked off. This led to him being long-term unemployed for two years, struggling with no job income until he decided to think outside the box to ensure it never happened again. His blog is about the lessons that followed and how you can avoid the struggle.

Robert moved to Asia and taught English for about three years, finding a lot of opportunity and a new way of thinking and now wants to share with those pursuing financial independence. He created his site initially to be an outlet to vent about work life and job loss but it’s now focused on showcasing ways to prosper after losing work, how to get into another job, field or ditching office work entirely!

Now to the questions …

Would you rather have unlimited first class flights or never have to pay for food in restaurants? 
I’m going to go with free food in restaurants. Two reasons.
1. At some point flying and travel gets old.
2. I eat every single day. I would love to rarely have to pay for a meal again. I could buy a few first-class tickets with the money saved each year. But beyond that, without any restrictions on this offer, now I’ve got free access to world class restaurants with gourmet dishes that might go for $500 and upwards a plate. Sounds like a good regular Friday night.

For the rest of your life only be allowed to leave your home country for 2 weeks a year or only spend 2 weeks a year in your home country?
Two weeks of exploration a year for the rest of my life is QUITE a restriction. I think I could get by on two weeks in my own country then get out. If I miss the US I could just go to Canada … it’s not THAT different eh?

At all times when travelling only be able to wear flip-flops or hiking boots?
I’ve done too many days of walking in flip flops. It’s pain and blisters and no fun. I’ll take the hiking boots and just look like a tool with hot sandy feet on the beach.

Get an unlimited travel budget in one country of your choosing for the rest of your life but that’s the only country you can ever visit or you can visit anywhere but you have to pay for it all yourself?
Well option two I already have 😉 … so would I accept an unlimited travel budget in one country but I can never visit anywhere else? Nope. I value freedom a lot, there’s always money to be earned if you work, I don’t want restrictions placed on my life.

When you leave your own country you can only eat fast food either McDonalds or KFC – what do you eat?
Oh this is scary. Fast food outside of the US can be a bit unpredictable. The way KFC fries the chicken in most Asian countries i’ve been to isn’t good in my opinion. I think I’d go with McDonald’s. They are pretty consistent with the taste. A Big Mac in Chicago is a Big Mac in Taipei is a Big Mac in Tokyo from my experience. They also change up the menu with variations in each country. US has Apple and Cherry Pies. I’ve seen mango, taro, spinach egg, durian, and more.

Would you rather be able to take amazing selfies but all of your other pictures are horrible or take breathtaking photographs of anything but yourself?
If I could take amazing photos maybe my Instagram would get some followers, no one wants to look at my mug anyways. I could just have my lady photoshop me until I’m handsome.

Never be able to use a plane or a car again?
I think I would be willing to never DRIVE a car again. I’m not sure if I could deal with never riding in a car again. There are some times you kind of half to take a car to get to places. Maybe if a motorcycle or bus are available alternatives. But there’s too many places you need a plane to get to that I wouldn’t give up. Maybe a boat is an option though.

Would you rather sleep in a room with a Tarantula or a Snake?
Sleep wouldn’t be possible in either. I can’t even sleep in a room with a couple mosquitos.

For the duration of a two week trip, would you rather eat Japanese food in Italy or Italian food in Japan?
Funny question. I feel like a Japanese take on Italian food might be interesting. Incidentally, I kind of like sushi in America more than some other places in Asia. Japan does it well though.

Every time you take a flight you have to get the booking reference tattooed somewhere on your body or you can never fly again and all travel must be overland?
This is so mean. I guess I could have the soles of my feet tattooed to start with. 10 years later and I’ve got face tats like I’m Post Malone.

Every flight starts with a slap in the face or ends with a slap in the face?
I thought this was already standard policy on United.

Pick 3 countries that you can travel to as much as you like from now on but you can’t visit any other countries or you can still visit any country you want but once you leave it you can never go back?
Hmm so kind of my 3 favourite countries. Difficult. Taiwan, Japan, Singapore. This is based on places I’ve been. Oh wait … now I’m going to miss Thai food from Thailand 🙁

When you visit any country you can only have 30 hours before you have to leave or you must run or walk a marathon within the first 30 hours but then you can stay as long as you want?
I could definitely walk a marathon I think. Charge up my cell and give me my headphones and I’ll see you in a day or two. 

When you visit a new country you must trek to it’s highest peak or when you leave your home nation you can only eat plane food?
I’m not too fond of heights. I’ll take the plane food, you didn’t say it can’t be the first class meals!

You have to listen to Nickleback songs on repeat on every flight under 3 hours or every flight over 3 hours?
As I get older, my hearing is starting to go a bit … there’s a bit of ringing in my ear. It’s not the happiest thing in the world. But I take some solace in the fact that if I do lose my hearing completely, I’d never have to listen to Nickleback again.