On Sabbatical With Anna Lynch

At Understanding Recruitment Group, we believe in rewarding dedication and hard work across all our businesses. That's why we offer a unique benefit for our employees: a 3-month sabbatical after 5 years of service, and again after 10 years. Recently, we sat down with Anna Lynch, a Principal Account Manager at Understanding Recruitment, our tech recruitment brand, based at our HQ in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, to discuss her incredible sabbatical journey. Join us and discover how our supportive environment and exceptional benefits, like Anna's sabbatical experience, can enhance your career and life.

Where did you travel during your sabbatical, and what motivated you to choose those destinations?

My husband Chris and I embarked on an approximately 8-week journey through South Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and Dubai. I had never visited this part of the world before and was eager to experience its diverse landscapes, cities, foods, and cultures. Additionally, November and December offered the perfect weather for our travels!

Can you share some of the most memorable moments or experiences you had while travelling?

There are so many memorable moments, but a few highlights include seeing Bangkok at night, the view across Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, visiting Hobbiton in New Zealand, and participating in a penguin parade on Philips Island near Melbourne. 

Were there any destinations or activities that exceeded your expectations? If so, what made them stand out?

Snorkelling and in general experiencing the nature in Australia was exceptional. We spent a couple of nights in the rainforest in a cabin which was a truly unique experience. We had only included Singapore in our itinerary because it was “convenient” but we had a great day in the beautiful sun strolling through the Botanic Gardens and taking in the city. We also witnessed a thunderstorm in the distance from the rooftop of the famous Marina Sand Hotel which was very picturesque.

Did you encounter any challenges or obstacles while travelling, and how did you navigate them?

My husband had put a lot of effort into researching everything beforehand so I feel we were very lucky with how smoothly our trip went. Of course, with so many things on the list, we were slightly tight on time so using public transport and flying so often (overall 17 flights together) had some challenges. Like the buses in Vietnam, where nobody spoke English and we were never 100% sure we were actually going to the right place. We also had a bit of a frightening moment when we had a stop-off in Manila. Security took all our passports and made us wait for a couple of hours without explaining why they had done it. Lastly, our bag was lost once but luckily this was on the return flight to Heathrow. 

How did you go about planning your itinerary and balancing between exploration and relaxation during your travels?

We focused heavily on exploration, with only a few fully free days on the beach. This approach suited us well, allowing us to maximise our experiences and see unique attractions rather than spending too much time relaxing, which we could do closer to home.

Did you engage with the local culture in any meaningful ways during your trip? If so, what cultural experiences stood out to you?

We definitely tried, especially in Asia where the culture was so different to ours. We visited many temples and local museums to learn about their religion and history. We always tried to eat local food (which didn’t work out every time) and drinks. What we learnt was that sometimes the local culture has been a bit commercialised and tried to show unrealistic examples of common life. For example, we visited a village in North Vietnam which you had to pay to go in and everything had been newly built, which took a shine off the authenticity we’d hoped for.

Were there any particular landmarks, sights, or hidden gems that left a lasting impression on you?

There would be some obvious ones like the Opera House in Sydney or the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore but what we found we probably enjoyed most were less obvious places like a remote Bird Sanctuary which we cycled to in a small village in Vietnam or a fun market in the hearts of Melbourne which again brought us close to the local culture. 

How did your travel experiences contribute to your personal growth and perspective on the world?

It taught me a lot about many differences but also similarities of people living all around the world. It made me appreciate a lot of things in my life and made me miss what we have here home. 

How do you think your travels have influenced your approach to work and life upon returning from your sabbatical?

After 5 years in recruitment, a lot of people would agree it’s a good time to take some time off. It definitely allowed me to get a bit more perspective and helped with managing my workload and all the highs and lows of the recruitment rollercoaster better than before. From a wider life perspective I was able to live purely in the moment.

Finally, what advice would you offer to someone considering a sabbatical?

It is a great idea! If you plan to spend your sabbatical travelling, take some time before to decide on what you would like to see. Times flies during this break and you don’t want to miss out on the exciting adventures available to you!

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