Earlier this year, couple Chanel Cartell and Stevo Dirnberger quit their agency jobs to spend a year traveling and documenting their adventures. Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out quite as they planned.
While the couple likely envisioned some setbacks mixed in with the good times, they probably didn’t think they’d find themselves scrubbing toilets. Currently in Athens, the couple recently published a blog post entitled “Why We Quit Our Jobs In Advertising To Scrub Toilets” detailing the uglier side of their journey.
“Although we knew it wouldn’t be easy, we are certainly learning fast that this isn’t for faint hearts, and we need to learn to react and adapt to everything that’s thrown our way,” Cartell wrote in the post. “So far, I think we’ve tallied 135 toilets scrubbed, 250 kilos of cow dung spread, 2 tons of rocks shoveled, 60 meters of pathway laid, 57 beds made, and I cannot even remember how many wine glasses we’ve polished.”
But there are plenty of giggles to go along with the shit.
“Even though we probably have more greys than when we started, dirt under our nails despite long showers, and cheap snack food as a main form of nutrition, this crazy lifestyle allows us to enjoy the freedom of exploring rich Swedish forests, never-ending Nordic fjords, Italian cobbled alleyways, and cosmopolitan cities,” Cartell added. “We have time to brainstorm our own ideas, and push our own creative experiments. It’s like heaven for us.”
So, while the couple have seen plenty of hard times, they’re certainly not ready to give up and head for home. While some, envious of the couple’s freedom of movement, may smugly smirk at their difficulties from their desks, others may very well wonder if scrubbing toilets is really any more demeaning than working for an ad agency.
Image: How Far From Home