Missions & Endeavors

Going Hobo Chic in Bangkok

• Courageous
• Inspirational
• Weird

Have you ever had a dream? Have you ever had a dream that was so deep-rooted in your soul and in your person that if given the opportunity to pursue it, you would put absolutely everything on the line in order to make it happen?

Well, I've been given the opportunity to do something extraordinary. I've been given the opportunity to pursue my passion for writing, adventure, and experimental journalism as a cast member of a web TV documentary about young independent travelers. The show is not about vacation travel. It's not about sipping fine bordeaux's in the south of France or about romantic weekend getaways on the white sand beaches of Spain. The show is about REAL travel. It’s about documenting the realities of life abroad. It's about digging deep into a foreign culture in a way that you just can't when you're on vacation. I would even go so far as to say that this isn't about traveling, it's about living.

So what the hell am I actually going to be doing in Thailand? Well, pretty much the same thing that people across the world do when they move anywhere, try to make it, try to survive. I have to find a place to live, find some work, try to make some friends, figure out how to get around and navigate the culture as more of a resident and less of a tourist.

Who am I? Well I assume you already know me if you're actually on this page. But let's go through the motions here just in case. I'm Jean-Pierre Chery, a free-wheelin', slightly ADD creative with a flair for the unconventional. Unbeknownst to some, I've been quietly writing my entire life. Filling notebooks, and journals, and blogs, and suitcases with poetry and creative writing along the way. Am I great writer? Absolutely not. Am I good writer? Maybe. One thing that I know for certain is that whether the writing be good or bad that it simply will not stop. So why not try to channel this never-ending resource into something valuable, like say….. a career.

What am I asking for? I'm asking for your help. Not so that I can kick back on some beach and drink Mai Tai's for 3 months (although at some point I definitely plan on kicking back on the beach and drinking Mai Tai's, i mean come on now.), but so that I can spend time further exploring the various journalistic mediums that I'm interested in.  I’ve been experimenting with video and audio production lately, as well as developing new writing styles. Being on Jet Set Zero will allow me to work extensively on growing those skills. So far most of my published travel writing has involved press trips where publicists schedule your activities and more or less guide you through their idealized view of a destination. That’s all fine and well, but I can do better. I want show people a journey as I have envisioned it. To tell a story entirely in my style that encapsulates rare and unique experiences that are new to both myself and to my audience.

I've already purchased my plane ticket(one way) and the majority of the money that I'm asking for is to give me "peace of mind" that I won't get stranded in south east Asia. Here's the break down:

• Return flight to Seoul: $500
• Covering the fees involved in changing the departure date of my flight from Seoul to NYC: $250 (at the very minimum)
• Having $1000 in my bank account on arrival in Thailand. Note: This is a three month trip that involves me paying for everything (airfare, rent, bills, subway fares, food, shirts to interview in, etc. ): $300
• Buying a Thai tourist visa (it'll save me boatloads of cash if I don't have to make visa runs every 30 days): $40

* Note #1: Any additional money received will be saved and spent on practical purchases in case of emergency. Or..., in the event that I am successful in find a job and fully supporting myself, the money will blown immediately in a blaze of glory on cheap hookers and champagne. Let's all hope for the latter.

*Note #2: RocketHub fully refunds your money if I don't reach my financial goal.

Thanks so much for your help. You all know that I really appreciate it.