How do I... - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Elixir · 05-29-2007, 08:08 PM

Hello, folks! I decided I want to live somewhere different for a while, about a year or so in duration. The places I am most interested in going to are Germany, Australia, Croatia, Japan, and New Zealand. I really have no preference for any of them, just a desire to get out there and see what I can do.

There was a pretty cool website I looked at (the WWOOF), it lists farms across the world you can work on. Honestly, I'll get there and do whatever I can. Join Greenpeace, the Peace Corps, etc., though outside of some quick research I know little of what is required to join thos organizations.

I dunno, just interested in working and living somewhere foreign in any way! If you folks could let me know what it's generally like to live abroad (specifically from the US if any know!), the difficulty in getting a job or simply surviving in any of the countries I listed I would really appreciate it!

**TheJake** · 05-29-2007, 09:04 PM

www.picresorts.com

if you apply then put my name on there!

**expatben** · 05-30-2007, 02:57 AM

My best friend lived in Australia for a while-apparently theres a lot of work if you're not fussed about what you do and a working holiday visa, which lasts 1 year is fairly easy to get.
Just go to your local Australian Embassy.

**MeTurk** · 05-30-2007, 04:21 AM

The Aussies are desperate for workers. There are adds in the Irish newspapers offering free visas and 30,000 a year guaranteed. I think that would be mostly construction.

I'd choose either Japan or New Zealand personally, I'd love to go to Japan and NZ just looks like a fun country.

**blinkchick2134** · 05-30-2007, 08:08 AM

I'm a WWOOF member and I'll be heading out the Central America next month for about a year. All the hosts I've talked to seem really nice and the first people we're staying with are old Dead-heads. From canada!!

**lauren313** · 05-30-2007, 08:30 AM

GO TO NEW ZEALAND!!

Ahem, I want you to live my dream for me :D

Elixir · 05-30-2007, 11:25 AM

Hey Blink, is it worthwhile to join that organization? It seems too good to be true!!

I looked at stuff for working in Austrailia, from what I could enter i was 14 points short of being eligible immediately for work. However, I did find a sweet ass website for jobs in New Zealand, specifically geared to US Citizens ages 18-35. AND I found a job program in NZ where you can learn and teach sky-diving! Man!

Anyway, I'm getting really into this right now, I think I should take alittle time to think about it instead of signing up to something I might hate. Can any of you guys tell me about your experiences working abroad? What the people are like, employers especially, how employees/volunteers work together, that kind of thing.

And Lauren, you should sign up for NZ with me! If you don't I'll make sure to send you lots of pictures and stories about it, trying to entice you to change your mind!

**marc873** · 05-30-2007, 02:08 PM

Can you tell us the website you found for NZ. I am getting ready to turn 34, and that leads to a lot of problems for work visas most places, but if NZ is 35, I'm there. Thanks in advance

**buzzingtalk** · 05-30-2007, 06:20 PM

awwe i have loads of booklets for what you are looking for, for africa, aus, and asia!! but they are at home in the UK. ill try and remember some of the sites, its pretty easy to do you just gotta be organised and prepared for it.

look on student websites (even if your not) look for gap year travel info, or student volunteering, those sort of sites are teeming with info and organisations you can contact.

Elixir · 05-30-2007, 08:09 PM

http://www.jobsabroad.com/NewZealand.cfm That's the website that has a lot of listings for jobs and opportunities...

http://www.jobsabroad.com/listingsp3.cfm/listing/2847 And this is the exact link that I went to.

Hope it helps!!

Elixir · 05-31-2007, 11:22 AM

Hi Matthew,

Thanks for your interest in BUNAC!

The cost of the Work New Zealand program is $495 plus mandatory travel
insurance ($479 for a twelve month policy).

You are also responsible for your flight and you must prove that you have at
least $2000 in a bank account before you leave.

You can expect to pay around $150 for rent and food each week. Most
participants share a furnished house or flat.

To view further information on the program please visit:
www.bunac.org/usa/worknewzealand

THat was an email sent to me from the organization. Felt like it's good info for your guys to see, if you are interested.