DIY Travel
Traveling and working abroad can be tough, but the benefits are unimaginable
By Sheila Burt
Published: August 7th, 2007 | 6:02pm
"What you're doing is cool, but I still think you're crazy."
A stranger said this to me on a train after I told him that I came to Ireland by myself to work and travel around the country. I had just spent a Saturday afternoon visiting Malahide, a small seaside town just north of Dublin.
I smiled, clutched my copy of Nuala O'Faolain's My Dream of You and didn't really know how to respond. I probably muttered something like, "Yeah, well it's something I always wanted to do" and told him about some pubs he and his friend should visit.
Once off the train and back in the city centre, I took a stroll past alleys and cobblestone streets that curved every few feet. I made my way to my room in a four-bedroom flat in Rathmines, a neighborhood just south of the city centre. I wondered what the hell I was doing. I was working temp jobs in cramped, boring offices (though, with all respect, I was treated well) and trying to be inspired to write something about the country I had always dreamed of visiting since I was a child. Now I was in Dublin, but nothing much seemed to be happening. I tried to remember why I came here in the first place.
I regretfully didn't study abroad while in college, and visiting Ireland for a week just didn't seem right, so ten days after my college graduation, I packed my bags to work any job I could find in Ireland. I won't lie--some of my time was difficult. My trip wasn't at all like an Irish version of Under the Tuscan Sun. I was lonely, sadly bored, and disappointed half of the time. But the other half--when I realized I did this all by myself, managed to have countless good nights talking to complete strangers and even met a few people who actually cared about me--made my time abroad alone change me for the better. Traveling or moving to another country alone may not be for everyone, but once you find your groove, the independence and sense of accomplishment that comes with it is one of the most satisfying experiences I have ever felt.
Though there's certainly not a set formula to make a trip successful, there are a few things to do to get your solo trip started:
Find out how to obtain a work visa
Various countries have different regulations for how long you can stay without any visa. But working generally requires obtaining some sort of legal papers (i.e., getting the country's equivalent to a social security number). While it may be possible to find seasonal, temp work without any formal documentation, it's a lot easier if you do it right. I received a visa through USIT, a travel agency that also helped with the job search. Finding a job was one of the most difficult things when I first got to Ireland (especially when I gulped at the unfavorable exchange rate and saw my savings dwindle), so saving up a reasonable amount of money to live off of for at least four weeks is helpful. Also, check out any US companies that have locations abroad. Starbucks was just hitting Ireland when I got there, and while I didn't find a job with them, it gave me another possible resource in my job search.
Finding a home
Oh, the joys of sharing a bunk bed with a 200-pound Australian man on top one night and spending another night with a couple trying to shack up. Repeat after me: hostels are only fun for the first three days. I ended up spending two weeks in a hostel--sleeping in a room with nearly 20 others, and on the less smelly side, meeting a few interesting people. But by the end of the first few days, I had a cold that would have made a doctor cringe. If you can, find a place to stay before you arrive either by researching online or soliciting friends of friends. I finally found a nice room to rent by using Ireland's version of Craigslist--daft.ie. However, I wouldn't recommend signing a lease without looking at the place. I nearly lived next to a prison, but after checking out each place and asking around, I gratefully found my chosen neighborhood affordable and without crack addicts.
Money
Depending on how formal you get, you'll want to open a bank account or stash your money somewhere safe. For me, opening a bank account required a passport, proof of residence, a letter from my employer and a PPS number (Ireland's equivalent to a social security number).
Friends
All of these practicalities outlined above depend on the rules and regulations of a certain country, but all of your hard work won't matter if you don't meet people. Before you get settled and find friends, don't be afraid to go out alone (keeping in mind, of course, that you don't get caught up in the moment and lose common sense). I once took a day-trip to Limerick, Ireland (setting of Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes"). When I told a coworker about my plans, he cringed and told me the town's nickname is "Stab city" because of all the crime. Looking back, I wish I had gone to more plays and concerts even if I didn't have anyone to drag along. I didn't really have a solid group of friends until my last month there, but I made it a point to contact any sixth degree possible. I looked up some of my brother's Irish friends who had lived in Chicago at some point and ended up moving back to Ireland. They were some of the warmest and most hospitable people I met while there. Also, even if you don't mix in with the native folk, find fellow Americans or immigrants who are looking to meet new people. Ireland is quickly growing as one of Europe's most desirable places to work in the European Union due to the Celtic Tiger economy. As a result, the country's seen a mass amount of Polish immigration. The several Polish, German, and Bulgarians I met there were some of the friendliest and most welcoming because they knew what it was like to come somewhere alone.
It's been a year since my journey began and while it's nice to be back in my homeland Chicago (I stayed in Ireland for five months until my visa expired), I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss Dublin and my adventures. Every so often, before I am fully awake, I lie in a daze and think I'm back in my Dublin room listening to the inevitable rain patter against the window. When the alarm clock rings, I sigh, realizing I'm back in the city I came from. It just might be time to take another risk.
Issue #35
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