Work and Holiday Visa

It's been a busy month at work, but I wanted to write about my visa for Australia.  I finally applied for my visa, and it was granted!!! So it's now official, that I will be going to Australia for a year! 

I applied for the Work and Holiday Visa, which for those that don't know, it's a visa for 18-31y/o who want to travel Australia, for up to a year. The visa grants you access to work, but your primary reason for entering the country is for holiday. You can leave and enter the country as many times as you want, but once you enter the first time, your 12 month period starts and any time after that spent outside Australia will still count towards your 12 months. The visa requires that you have $5000AUD in your bank account, health insurance, and limits you to only being able to work for one company for a max of 6 months. The visa process was fairly easy, you can access and apply for it online, and within a matter of an hour I was granted my visa. The visa is electronic, so it will show up when my passport is scanned at customs.

I am so excited that I have the visa, and am now one step closer to my trip! Over the past few weeks, I started buying items that I will need for my trip, I will update in the next month or so with more details of things that I have bought for my year long backpacking trip.

Bye for now <3

Research, Research, and more Research

I have started doing my research about what hostels to stay in, where I am going to look for work, what area I would like to live/work, where I want to travel, the list goes on and on. I spend my weekend researching so many aspects of my trip so I have plans when I get there. On top of planning for there, I'm planning for the trip, I will have to buy new luggage, new travel gear, etc....all the stuff to "backpack" for a year. I've found a travel backpack I plan to buy, and the packing boxes (cubes), I would like to use to stay organized. On top of saving for travel expenses, food, hostel locations, and travel gear; I'm also saving to pay all the wonderful bills I will have here, such as student loans, credit card payments. I feel like I've come along way on saving, but it's not cheap to get away for a year, and as the date keeps creeping closer and closer (still 5 months away), I'm starting to buy things now and then when I occasionally have added money.  Any thoughts or comment people have on the travel gear, organizers, backpacks, etc. I would appreciate any advice! If you have used these brands or suggest different kinds for organizers/backpacking for my trip, I would like some feedback!

http://shop.eaglecreek.com/store/MyWishList.aspx?CID=em_wishlist&utm_source=tran&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wishlist&WLID=bJNEetCUqFg%3d

http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/product/backpacking/farpoint_70?tab=description

http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/73882?feat=osbsr&page=personal-organizer-toiletry-bag-medium

Bye for now <3

Next Chapter

Some may know, others may not. But I thought it was time to share with you all what the next chapter in my life is going to be. I am 5 short months away from accomplishing my career goal of becoming a LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) aka a licensed therapist. Although I'm currently doing that, I'm provisionally licensed which limits the populations, and insurance companies I can work with. I will become licensed in July 2013, and I'm so excited to have that chapter of my life over and accomplished. I've decided that I will be moving to Australia in August/September 2013, for a year!  I know some of you will disapprove, some will think it's irresponsible, immature, not a good decision just starting my career, however I think it's the perfect time! I have yet to build up a life here; I have some friends, but no significant other tying me down, not roots, and I want to go explore the world and see what is out there to offer before life happens. And "before life happens" mean, before I have a significant other, before I have roots, children, etc; I want to be free to do what I want when I want. 

Since I went to Europe in 2009, I've been researching, and researching, talking to people that have lived abroad, talking to people in my field, oh and did I mention researching. I loved traveling,and regretted, after being exposed to Europe, that I didn't try and study abroad while I was in college. Unfortunately, the opportunity just wasn't there in graduate school, so I did my research about visa, travel, life abroad,etc. Then earlier this year I went to Australia, and if you read those blog posts I feel in love with it, and loved how nice everyone was, their way of life, their food, and so many things about Australia. I was so upset that 2 weeks in, it was time to leave already, and there was so much left that I had yet to see or do! While over there I heard all the other backpackers talking about a work holiday visa, and how surprised they were that we (Canadians and I) did not do that type of visa. Well, it is the easiest visa I have found to gain access to live in a country, not just travel that country. All I need to do if fill out some information online, and BAM I have a year long visa. There are stipulations about working, but nothing drastic, you can only work for one employer for 6 months.

I looked into transferring my license and working in my field while there, however it is $$$$ to transfer, not worth it for only a year. I'm planning to get a in-home nanny position in the Sydney area, so that food, room/board is covered, plus a weekly payment, and I can pocket all that money for fun things and travel.  I also met two awesome girls while in Australia in January, that live in the Sydney area, so going in already knowing people is a plus too! I'm planning to do the whole east coast of Australia, both islands of New Zealand, and maybe Fiji with my Australian friends in the second half of the year abroad. And yes, I have done my research and I'm saving my money, and understand the hugeness of this adventure. I have been saving and planning for close to a year, and have 6 more months to continue saving for this adventure. And if I run out of money along the way while there, I will stop where ever I am and work in a cafe, a hostel, or something to gain some money, and continue on. I have always been so driven, working towards getting my degree, getting licensed, I want and NEED some time to enjoy being young, before it's gone.

That's all for now...I will update this blog periodically with details on my planning and things I have done/do to get prepared for such a big trip.

Bye for now <3