My Craziest Year: How a Visa Snag Gave Me the Best Digital Nomad “MBA” of My Life (and in Pajamas!)
If you’ve ever felt that pit in your stomach from leaving everything behind, or launched into the unknown without a second glance, then you know what I’m talking about: risk is part of the game. And for us, nomads and remote workers, it’s not something we shy away from—it’s almost a dance partner! The curious thing is that, sometimes, the most unexpected turns lead us to the most incredible places.
That’s exactly what happened to me.
The Leap of Faith (With Too Much Time to Think About the Fall)
Hi, I’m Linda, one of the founders of Nomad Stays and, well, a full-time adventurer at heart. My partner, our dog, and I had decided to leave Australia to take our startup to France with the famous French Tech Visa. We had everything under control, the paperwork in order, the boxes checked, and the hope that in about two weeks, we’d be ready for the French adventure.
Reality hit hard: my partner’s visa arrived in nine months, but mine took over a year! Yes, you read that right, A YEAR. Can you imagine? As a co-founder, that “small” slip left us in a kind of bureaucratic purgatory, without a fixed place, not knowing what to do, with gnawing uncertainty and a startup that seemed unable to take off. It was frustrating, very frustrating!
For many, that kind of wait would feel like a complete failure. But for nomads, risk is part of the air we breathe. The magic lies in how you dare to respond to it.
“Security is mostly a superstition. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” — Helen Keller
The Masterstroke: Turning Waiting into Opportunity
Instead of sitting idly by, watching life pass me by, I decided to transform that risk into an opportunity. While my partner and our puppy waited in Spain, I ventured to Scotland and Ireland and started volunteering in hostels, BnBs, and even—yes, a castle!
I know it sounds a little crazy. And it was! But it was also a brilliant idea.
Volunteering gave me something invaluable. Here’s what I learned:
1. An Intensive, Hands-On Course in the Tourism Industry
I was speaking face-to-face with hotel owners, seeing their problems, listening to what travelers really wanted. No theories here! This direct interaction provided unparalleled insight into the real needs and challenges of the travel accommodation sector, which was crucial for my startup, Nomad Stays.
2. A Smart Way to Stretch My Savings
Exchanging my skills for accommodation meant spending less and learning so much more. This strategy allowed me to extend my travel and learning period significantly, demonstrating how resourcefulness can overcome financial constraints during uncertain times.
3. Real-World Market Research for Nomad Stays
With knowledge I could never have gained from behind a screen. By immersing myself in various hospitality settings, I gathered firsthand data on what digital nomads and remote workers truly seek in terms of lodging, amenities, and community, directly informing Nomad Stays’ offerings.
What seemed like a tremendous setback turned into my own particular “nomadic MBA.”
“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein
The Rewards of Taking the Plunge
Here’s the truth: risk doesn’t always look pretty when you’re living it. Some days were a disaster. Others, I was exhausted. And yes, there were days when I wondered if all this sacrifice would be worth it.
But it was worth it. Oh, was it worth it!
I explored new countries, reconnected with my family roots, made key contacts for our business, and gained a fresh, deep perspective on the world of travel. But most importantly, I learned that embracing uncertainty is the secret to building resilience, that indispensable quality every remote worker and digital nomad needs.
“Risk is the rent you pay for the life you want.” — Unknown
Six Years Later, And Counting…
Fast forward: we are now settled in France, visas renewed (thank goodness!), the startup growing, and I, still here, sharing what I’ve learned with others. That “year of waiting”—that risk we didn’t ask for, but decided to embrace anyway—turned out to be one of the most valuable chapters of my life.
The Most Important Lesson for Every Nomad
Fellow digital nomads and remote workers, risks are part of our daily lives. We will encounter visa problems, Wi-Fi that plays tricks on us, cultural misunderstandings, or unexpected twists in our projects. But here’s the treasure: those risks often turn into the experiences that teach us the most, connect us more deeply with the world, and shape our journey in ways we couldn’t even have dreamed of.
So the next time you face uncertainty, ask yourself: What if this risk is actually the reward I’m looking for?
Because, sometimes, the most terrifying detours transform into the stories—and strategies—that make us unique.
“You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” — André Gide
✨ Ready to take a smarter risk? At Nomad Stays, we make it easy for you to launch into the unknown with complete confidence. We help you find affordable and perfect accommodations for remote work. Because when you take away the stress of “where do I stay?”, you can fully concentrate on the exciting adventure of “what’s next?”.
