#nomadicscholar

Part I: Taking Advantage of Technology

(screenshot of my actual phone with the actual apps that actually help me but are actually very few because this phone is an actual piece of shit and has no actual fucking storage space)

Let's get started with the basics:

Actually having a phone~

If you've been broke/independent for awhile, you should probably already know about getting and activating a cheap phone. If that's still some foreign shit to you, I'll give you the quick rundown:

Go to a Dollar General or Walmart. Depending on where you are, the phones they sell there should be fairly cheap (got mine for 45$ in MA).

If you don't have a phone plan, buy one (they have cards on display). You can getta decent plan with Verizon for 50$ a month. The service will be linked to the SIM card you set it up with, so if you getta new phone just swap SIM cards.

Boom, you gotta phone.

Set up a cloud~

If you don't have at least one account with Google, make one.

Google Drive is a free to use and easy to access cloud. It already came pre-installed on my phone.

Use Drive to BACK YOUR SHIT UP. You are not gonna have a lotta space on these phones, but you're gonna wanna be able to hold onto photos of notes or PDFs. Not to mention, phones get broken a lot easier when you live outside.

Everything you download that you intend to make use of, add to Drive.

Online Note Taking and Writing~

I jot down random notes a lot, so I personally use Quotev's journal for that cause it's online (so I can access on any device with internet connection) and convenient.

Or just save a draft on Tumblr or email, etc.. OR use Google Docs.

Google Docs is like Microsoft Word, but a lot more accessible, files automatically save to your Drive, and you can even collaborate with others on a document.

Learning on the Go~

I. Love. Podcasts.

They really make learning (whether it's active or passive) so much more convenient.

I personally use the Stitcher app (cause, you guessed it, it's free [well it has a premium option, but idk what it does cause I can already get everything I want on it for free]).

Languages, STEM, storytelling, life skills, and more. There are so many topics for you to learn with podcasts. They really are a lifesaver when you really wanna study but really don't have the energy (or it's not a convenient time to pull out notes).

Extra~

YouTube is obviously gonna be super useful, and any other app that'll help with your studies.

But of course, be wary of data usage. If your data is limited, try going to a Taco Bell, McDonald's, Starbucks (and get a big ass cheap drink at any of these places and slowly drink that shit), or (my favourite) Library and connecting to their public Wi-Fi.

Keep your chargers and phone in a sandwich bag to protect from moisture, and try to getta battery pack (sometimes they're on clearance at Walmart for 5$. They suck but it's better than nothing).

For a lotta of travelers, we've gotta face it sooner or later; we can't pursue a regular education.

We don't have much of a place in mainstream academia unless we can afford a laptop/tablet and internet access, or live in one place for a long period of time.

But being able to afford and maintain an expensive and large piece of technology is unrealistic when you live out of a pack and are constantly at the mercy of the elements.

I'm gonna be honest, I have some family and have the opportunity to have a few places to stay if I chose to attend a college. But straight up, I'd be miserable. I'm not happy staying in one place and I hate having to be dependent on my family. And I know many travelers are in the same boat.

BUT, does this mean we have to give up our scholarly ambitions? Hell no.

You can learn something new everyday. Attempting to learn about the world around us is for everyone! Not just the people who can afford to and are settled in one place for a considerable period of time (roughly at least several weeks).

This simply means we cannot approach studying exactly the same as settled individuals.

I mean, let's take a look at the resources available to us:

Libraries

Cheap ass burner phones (depending where you're at)

Receipts with blank backs (excellent for taking notes and quick access for reviews !!!)

Being in a new place almost everday

I know it doesn't seem like much, but if taken advantage of, these things can go a long way.

Libraries, obviously, have a shit ton of information you can access. You can learn about local or foreign history/culture, languages, local flora and fauna, etc..

You can take notes on the blank back of receipts, or with a phone (can be as cheap as 30$ at a DG or Walmart depending on what state and town), you can take photos of pages you want to study later.

Not to mention, all that aside, since you're traveling, you're immersed in the world around you. There is so much about people and the environment you can learn from observation alone.

Just keep learning and teaching when you can, and don't forget that you still have a place in academia. Even though you're not apart of an institution, you can still pursue your scholarly ambitions.

((Ok, I went through my followers... and I have things drafted... But in case anyone's missed them... here. 0:

protecting-what-matters/Silveramante

The-forgotten-prince

Silencedsilver

Axeltheassassin

And then here's starting posts I posted but never got replied to.

Summerdreams-08

xxembraceyourdarknessxx

If you replied (but forgot to tag me, because I can't find your posts if you don't tag me "brokendreamsterra"), then please send me fanmail with the link.

If you have it drafted, just tell me and I'll stop putting your name up here.

If I'm tagging wrong, or maybe you know one of the people here and they changed their name or something... please tell me?

If you're not on THIS list, please tell me.

If you want to roleplay with me, please tell me. XD

I have:

Marlyfireheart11/fleur--innocente

Surane-spiral

moonlightxdancer

Nomadic-scholar

Rainfell-keeper

celestialxlight

and tons of starter posts drafted. If your name is not on here, or above... Please tell me. Thank you. <3

nomadic-scholar replied to your post: (( Ok, I just realized… It’s been like what, 6...

(( We never started it though. I think it was a ” you go first—no you go first” day))