8 Reasons to go on working holiday
1. NO REGRETS
Yes, going on a Working Holiday is scary. There is something about picking up your entire life and moving overseas that keeps people home bound. I am lucky to have found mentors in my life to encourage me to think internationally. Your mentor might be a teacher, parent, sibling or best friend. Even though I consider myself a pretty brave person, I still tossed and turned over the idea before I made the final decision to start this adventure into the unknown. I was comfortable in Melbourne, Australia and the idea of moving to Canada for a Working Holiday shook my world upside down. Initially, I was putting up barriers; 'how do I sell my furniture, fill my apartment lease, sell my car'. In the end, the time between deciding and stepping on a plane, was just seven short weeks. Professionally, I worked as Interior Design Project Co-ordinator, so you can imagine how the pieces I've collected and received are extremely sentimental. I've realised that these are trivial matters in the grand scheme of life, it's all material- and although those items made me feel at home within the walls I placed them, it will never make me feel at home within the walls of my being. Travel, I believe is the only thing that can teach you that.
What is scary for one person, might not be scary for the next. If you haven't travelled much or lived out of home yet, seeking an overseas job that includes accommodation may be a decision that you're more comfortable with. I personally had travelled overseas three times, twice of which were alone for two and four weeks, plus I had moved out of home for two years. As I had been exposed to a fair amount of responsibility, the idea of seeking and signing a house rental lease with new housemates and bill paying didn't really scare me. I knew that moving everything to a city I knew nothing about, was a big opportunity to get a birds eye view on the life I had created for myself so far.
You will be creating a youth that you won't regret. If you decide one day you'd like to settle down, you won't ever blame anyone for getting in the way or holding you back - because you spent your youth right. This is a time in life where your cares are few and adventures are plenty.
It's difficult to put the opportunities and experiences of travelling into words, but I will try. I've learnt a lot about different cultures, mindsets and ways of living have influenced mine in turn. The people you will meet and the doors you will open, if you're mindfully in the right place, at the right time are tremendous.
2. TRAVEL JOBS
I have worked a number of seasonal jobs in Canada across Vancouver & Montreal such as an Aerial tramway operator, Zipline Tour Guide, Banquet Server, Waitress & Nanny. All of these works experiences have allowed me to meet incredibly interesting people. I've learnt lessons about life from those more well travelled than me. In the tourism world you attract happy people who value adventure and travel, so I always ask questions about how to create a happy life, and the answers stick more than anything you'll watch in a TedX talk.
3. CONNECTIONS
Solo travel will allow you to connect to other globe trotters, who you can hopefully connect with later in life. When I went on a trip to America, Cuba & Mexico I met some people who lived in Vancouver & Los Angeles. When I moved over to Vancouver I knew few people, however these two people I had met, and there is something wonderful about a bond you get from exploring the world with new friends that fast tracks a friendship. I ended up spending my first Canadian New Years Eve in Clearwater with a friend who knew people who loved to hike and drive snow mobiles, you just never know who you'll meet. That amazing New Years Ever trip wouldn't have been possible without my previous travels and making an effort to stay in touch. It's all about creating global connections so you can later show them your home town or see theirs as a local, and not a tourist.
4. SELF-DEVELOPMENT
You learn a lot about yourself when you move overseas and settle somewhere new. You no longer have the same friends to call for drinks or the sport team you were signed up to. So find a new sport, think about what you want to do without the influence of homebound demands like constant gatherings, parties, birthdays etc which drain your travel fund account. Being comfortable in your own skin is the most priceless asset you can acquire.
5. EXPOSURE
Exposure to a different way of life is a huge gift of this trip. After being raised in Melbourne Australia, it's interesting to live in North Vancouver where it snows in winter at the local mountain at just 1,100 metres of elevation. As I was working on a mountain, I was more inclined to hike and explore nature. My Melbourne life was more inner city living surrounded by galleries and cafes. I love this about Montreal, where I am living now. There is a lot of street art installations just like some alley ways of Melbourne.
6. COMFORT ZONE
This is your opportunity to create an interesting story and stretch your ever expanding comfort zone. I never expected after Vancouver that I would end up in Montreal, and following Montreal I didn't predict seeing myself in Switzerland. After the door of Switzerland opened, now Morocco is on the cards. I have met such influential people in my life, that helped ease the growing pains of stretching my comfort zone.
Yes, getting on a plane, to a city I barely knew anything about (including the fact that Vancouver is a rainy city - Great research Jilly!). Something inside me, perhaps my gut feeling - told me that moving again would for sure be the harder option, but after all the amazing people I'd met in British Columbia, I just didn't want to deprive myself of the opportunity to meet the characters of Montreal characters in my life. Trusting your gut feeling is something I will forever encourage you to do. I came to Montreal a month earlier than planned which allowed me to stumble across the Switzerland opportunity.
7. FIERCE INDEPENDENCE
If you are someone who believes they stand on their own two feet, moving abroad may challenge that thought. Moving overseas shows you who your true friends are. The decent ones will stay in touch and if you are lucky you might receive an unexpected care package with home goodies like Vegemite, TimTams and Lucas Papaw cream.
8. TOTAL CONTROL
Be selfish and get on top of your personal finance and overall well being. When you remove yourself from the environment you were born into, you are given the opportunity to do things the way you want. You are given a chance to make decisions about your surroundings entirely.
