By Jen Swanson
The Amalfi Coast in Italy.
Last year I left my job as an assistant account government at a big promoting company in Seattle to travel. While it was a tough decision to go away my associates and a budding career behind, it is one which I even have but to regret. I really have studied Spanish in Barcelona, hopped trains via five Western European countries, waited tables in Sydney and Byron Bay, Australia, driven up Australia’s east coast, joined a bus tour and circled each islands of New Zealand, and I am now catering for military events in Vicenza, Italy (near Venice). The people I’ve met along the means in which, the cultural differences I’ve encountered, haven’t all been constructive (I was robbed in London, I was fired from a job, and I am repeatedly badgered about American politics and overseas policy); but this past 12 months of travel has brought me in touch with individuals, locations, and cultures that I wouldn’t have identified otherwise. Working and studying abroad has offered me an opportunity to stay as a neighborhood and expertise the places I go to as an insider.
The Plan
Study Spanish at a language faculty in Spain for one month, backpack through Europe for one and a half months, work in Australia for six months, and hopefully squeeze in a visit to New Zealand earlier than returning to Italy to keep with pals. I had saved sufficient at my job to get by way of three months of backpacking in Europe, however as soon as I arrived in Australia it was crucial to find work.
The first overseas city in which I lived was Barcelona. If I could go back, I would have taken a job there, however as I had never lived overseas before and did not have a working visa, I opted to check Spanish at a language college as an alternative. I enrolled at the American British College (ABC), in the 4-week program, which consisted of 1.5 hours of grammar every weekday morning, and 1.5 hours of conversation within the afternoon. Classes were taught full-immersion style—all in Spanish. This methodology makes it potential for college kids from any nation to attend the same class.
Gaudi structure and road scene in Barcelona, a city of artwork.
ABC offered a number of housing options, which proved to be rather more costly then finding accommodations through the newspaper or elsewhere. I ended up transferring in with schoolmates after three weeks; they had been paying 300 euros per thirty days, which seemed to be normal for a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom flat. Other housing options include single apartments and homestays.
The good thing about learning a foreign language immersion fashion is that every class contains people from all around the world. Unfortunately, language research would not bring you into contact with many locals. The majority of my pals had been from different nations of Europe. Similar language examine packages exist all over the world; one of the best ways to find out about them is over the Internet.
Because I put aside two months to travel in Europe however did not have a clear image of where I needed to go, I bought a Eurail move whereas I was in the U.S. The cross I chosen allowed me eight days of practice travel in five European countries in a 2-month period. Many Eurail move options, with various countries, journey days, and costs, exist. I don’t know that I saved much money on the move versus purchasing point-to-point tickets, however the price I paid for a 2-month pass was equal to a 1-way regular prepare fare from Brussels (where I arrived from the U.S.) to Barcelona. Not all trains are free with the Eurail move, and many require a reservation. Still, when reservations aren’t required the magnificence of having a Eurail move is jumping onto the prepare without waiting in lengthy traces on the station. As the start of November neared and the climate grew significantly colder, I boarded a aircraft to Australia from Barcelona.
After a grueling 24-hour flight, I arrived in Sydney. By signing up with BUNAC (see boxout), an trade program that provides assistance to Americans and Canadians hoping to work in Australia, I had secured a working vacation visa earlier than departing the U.S. For Americans the visa is only legitimate for 4 months, with an possibility to switch over to a vacationer visa, valid for an additional three months once the unique visa has expired. (The working vacation visa is valid for one yr for Canadian residents.) BUNAC had booked me two free nights at a hostel lodging upon arrival in Sydney.
I discovered work at a big restaurant in Darling Harbor (downtown Sydney) and a shared room in an house throughout my first week. I discovered my house on a discover board in an Internet cafe (café discover boards have tons of nice stuff—jobs wished, cars for sale, accommodations, etc.) and shared a room with an Australian woman, from Darwin, who turned one of my closest associates. With four individuals in a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment, we each paid $AU a hundred per week plus utilities.
A friend of ours owned a yacht, and we had been able to work on our suntans while crusing Sydney harbor. Sydney proved to be a tough place to seek out “beneath the desk” work, even in hospitality jobs, and I was very glad that I had secured a visa so easily via BUNAC.
Darling harbour in Sydney, Australia.
Because the Australian dollar is much weaker than the American greenback and Australia remains to be relatively expensive, I did not put a lot cash in the bank. However, I didn’t spend a lot on lodging both. With my wages for two months, I was able to buy cheap aircraft tickets to other Australian cities for weekend trips as properly as take a 4-week highway journey by way of tropical Queensland as “designated hitchhiker” in a automotive full of Brits. Australia does not have an excellent rail system, and buses are the preferred approach to journey if you do not have a car. Many backpackers buy a used automobile, travel, and then sell the car when completed.
Just when it looked like I wouldn’t have the flexibility to earn sufficient money to visit New Zealand, I happened to enter and win a contest. The prize was an international-destination airplane voucher, which I used to fly to New Zealand. New Zealand is one of the most breathtaking places I even have seen. The terrain’s lush greenery is a mixture of tropical and majestic, and it’s the only place on the planet with a 15 to one sheep-to-person ratio. I flew into Wellington and acquired a partially used Kiwi Experience Ticket off of a hostel discover board.
Kiwi Experience is an alternate travel community that gives “hop on, hop off” tour packages through the North and/or South islands with varied activities (i.e. sky diving, river rafting, bungee jumping) for an extra value. The packages may be personalized to fit any finances. By buying a partially used ticket, I saved over $NZ 600 and was in a place to journey both islands in an air-conditioned tour bus for 3 weeks, spending the equal of $250. There are numerous related bus corporations in New Zealand. The Kiwi Bus operates an Australian tour as well, often recognized as the Oz Experience.
From Auckland, I flew again to Sydney and on to Europe. After spending a number of days in London, I purchased a 1-way ticket to Italy. My airplane to Seattle leaves in two months, but I do not know if I’m ready to return. I actually have found a job here on a U.S. army base, and I am working till I can afford to journey again. Some Italian pals plan to move to Ireland with me subsequent month. The journey and work journey continues.
Ways to Work Abroad
There are many ways to work overseas, even if you do not have a working visa. If you’re beneath the age of 27, you might find a way to work overseas as an au pair (live-in nanny). If you are a native speaker of English, you presumably can teach English as a overseas language. Spain, Italy, and Greece are the European international locations which may be in most need of English academics. The demand for English lecturers is even greater is South and Central America, Eastern Europe, and Asia. With a TEFOL certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) you’re a prime candidate for many positions, however some employers may rent you with merely a 4-year college degree or earlier instructing or tutoring expertise. If you intend to apply for a working visa, accomplish that earlier than you allow. Italian immigration tells me that I should return to the us to use for a visa after which come back. If you aren’t eligible for even a vacationer visa and want to stay for an prolonged time, see if you can take college classes at your vacation spot and purchase a student standing. Check with the embassy of your vacation spot country previous to departure. Visa necessities differ.
Tips for Long-Term Travel
Purchase travel insurance coverage before you leave. When you may be in a hostel, irrespective of how secure you suppose it is, maintain all valuables within the safe, which is normally at reception or obtainable for a few dollars. Bring more cash than you suppose you’ll need; everybody I actually have met touring has run out of cash half means through his or her journey.
JEN SWANSON took her first journey overseas to Istanbul along with her mother when she was 17. Since then, she’s had the journey bug and continued her Odyssey working around many areas of the world.
