I developed a love of travel at an early age. It started with a March break trip to Disney World when I was four. The excitement of flying on a plane for the first time, the joy of meeting Mickey and Minnie, and the lovely feeling of the hot Florida sun had me hooked!
Between family vacations and trips on my own as a young adult, I was fortunate enough to leave the country about once every two years. However, I still had an unfulfilled desire to actually live somewhere new and truly connect to the people and place.
When I turned 23 I started to feel the ‘real world’ closing in. I had about a year and a half of school left and, as soon as I graduated, I would have to do an internship and try to maximize those connections to secure myself a job. Full-time positions in the television industry are hard to come by and taking time away was not an option. So the four month summer vacation between the first and second year of my Radio and Television Arts program would be my last chance to take the leap and live and work overseas.
I’m not usually the spontaneous type. I’m a planner. I’m also really shy and the idea of going to a place where I wouldn’t know anyone terrified me. However, my love of travel triumphed over my anxiety and I was determined to experience life in a foreign country before settling down with a full-time job.
A friend of mine mentioned she was able to obtain a youth visa that would allow her to work in the United Kingdom for two years. She had her sights set on working in Scotland and that sounded good to me!
Within a few short weeks, I had gone through the visa process, booked a flight to Glasgow and prepared to spend the summer in Scotland. It wasn’t until the day before I left that I secured a job as a bartender at a pub.
My new job was at a hotel/restaurant/pub/marina/holiday home park located at the north end of Loch Lomond, about an hour and a half drive from Glasgow. The great thing about it was it included room and board, so I shared a caravan with a lovely local girl who cleaned rooms at the hotel and ate the delicious food prepared by the chefs.
It was my first time bar tending, but I caught on quickly, having already worked in a number of customer service roles. I loved the weekends, when all the locals would come to stay in their holiday home and the pub was lively and full.
My new co-workers were so welcoming and enjoyed teaching me about Scottish life. From new foods and music, to history and ghost stories, to linguistic differences, I learned so much during my time on Loch Lomond.
I went to Scotland on a working holiday visa – one that allows you to work for any employer, work in more than one location, and to apply without a pre-arranged contract of employment. In order to obtain a working holiday visa you may be required to provide a valid passport, a birth certificate, proof of medical insurance for the duration of your stay, a medical exam, proof of funds (depending on the country you may have to have a certain amount in the bank, others just require you to have a return flight booked), a criminal record check or police certificate.
There are also fees associated with applying for the visa. For example, there is a $150 charge to obtain a working holiday visa for Ireland, plus a return fee of $15 for registered post or $60 for a courier service.
As Canadians, we are fortunate that there are so few restrictions on our travel. If you’re between 18 and 35 and would like to live and work abroad click HERE for information on how you can make that happen. If you’re not a Canadian but are interested in coming here to work click HERE.
The Gleeful Globetrotter 