Getting Some "Experience Education" On Sabbatical

Jeff and Eileen Schoenfeldt are in the throes of planning for a year+ sabbatical, scheduled to start in mid February 2010. The Madison-based professionals have put their home on the market, listed their belongings on Craig’s List, and are planning a worldwide trip, scheduling stops in at least 25 countries and all seven continents.

Due to the economy, explains Jeff, their future job status is unclear. Eileen, chief of staff to a state senator, will most likely lose her position. Jeff, a lobbyist for AT&T, is hoping to secure an extended leave. “My boss is extremely supportive of us doing this,” said Jeff. “Right now we’re trying to figure out how we can hold the position open for 12 months and basically justify its existence.”

In their early 30s, the couple views the trip as a high value learning experience. “We think the biggest bang we can get for our dollar is to actually go out and see the world,” he said. “This is our grad school.”

Jeff’s excitement is palpable, even though the departure date is still nine months away. They’ve been in the planning process for about three years. They focus on one country a month, checking out all the books and DVDs their library has to offer, planning possible itineraries and developing their own digital guidebook. “Sometimes I really feel like I am back in college with all the ‘studying’ we have to do,” Jeff says. “But I’ve had so much fun, even up to this point, that it’s almost worth the trip itself.”

When they come back, he knows employers will be looking at that gap on their resumes. Still, he’s not overly concerned, and views the trip as a conversation starter in interviews. “In life, there are a whole lot of things you can tell somebody how to do, but you are somewhat limited in your learning,” he said. “That kind of verbal education is not unvalued, but experience education-that’s invaluable.”