Australia

[metallicat]

Has anyone here ever picked up and left for Australia (or somewhere else) for six months, or even a year? I am seriously considering doing something in which I would work and live in Australia for a year. I need to get away. My job is so unfullfilling, and I think doing something like this would be great for life experience.

Anyone do something like this?

[ken0042]

Alright, somebody's going to say it so I may as we be the one.

If you want fullfilment and a great life experience, maybe you shouldn't be living in Edmonton.

[Sylvanfan]

Well when I was 23 I thought of doing the exact same thing. I litterally flipped a coin at the airport the day I was supposed to come home after trekking around oz for a month. I didn't, but to this day the regret still lingers in my mind.. So I certainly wouldn't reccommend against it. You're still young so why not experience something different like that if you can?

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Alright, somebody's going to say it so I may as we be the one.

If you want fullfilment and a great life experience, maybe you shouldn't be living in Edmonton.

Tell me something I don't know. I came to the realization last night that this city is a hole.

That opinion may have something to do with the fact that I am employed by the city of Edmonton, and have reached the breaking point. I need out. In all seriousness though, I still like this city. Yeah, it's not as nice as Calgary, but it's home. I just want a new, temporary home.

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Well when I was 23 I thought of doing the exact same thing. I litterally flipped a coin at the airport the day I was supposed to come home after trekking around oz for a month. I didn't, but to this day the regret still lingers in my mind.. So I certainly wouldn't reccommend against it. You're still young so why not experience something different like that if you can?

That's what I was thinking. I'm working in a job where I see all the veterans, and they are miserable. I can't be like that for the rest of my life. Granted I already know what career I do want (whether it works out is another story), but this is the only time of my life I can do something like this.

[ken0042]

There is nothing worse in life than having regrets, and it's all about what is good for you. Some people are of the mindset that you should be working on your retirement portfolio at age 21, whereas others want to enjoy life; and for them life happens to be in that particular moment.

I happen to fall into the latter category. It all depends on if you are going to be kicking yourself 10 years from now because you didn't get to live your dream, or kicking yourself for not getting into the housing and/or investment market an an early age.

[V]

My sister just got back from Aussie-land a couple months ago. She was there for 8 months, and now she wants to move there permamently. She had an absolute blast (except for the part when she was chained to a dungeon wall for 8 hours in Singapore).

I've also heard from a number of people that have made the trip that they preferred New Zealand. Maybe schedule it so you can spend a bit of time in both.

I've never heard anyone come back and say they didn't like it, though.

[FurnaceFace]

You can't drop something on the board like "chained to a wall for 8 hours in Singapore" and leave it at that! I'm very curious to know the whole story, or as much as she wants to tell.

[Log]

I kinda regret not doing something like that right after school. I can't turn back now... Have a good job, have a house, getting married in Oct and have 2 dogs.... Yep, I tied down pretty good!

I say go for it!

[Uncarved]

About 3 years back, i picked up and left for Australia. It was fun, but the only thing is everything is pretty much the same as here. it can also get to be very expensive (if you like to drink). I also spent some time over in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. i recommend going over there, it is very cheep (Except Singapore), there are awsome sights to see, and the weather is just as warm if not warmer than australia (warmer than the southern part in their winter). I think the most i spent in thailand was $40-50 / day and that included room, food, and drinking.

It is definatly worthwhile to get out and see the world and memories that last a life time.

[V]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

You can't drop something on the board like "chained to a wall for 8 hours in Singapore" and leave it at that! I'm very curious to know the whole story, or as much as she wants to tell.

Towards the end of her trip she was hunting in Aussie-land (quail, I think, not sure) and had some extra bullets after she was done. Without thinking too much she threw them into her backpack. The next day they flew to Singapore to stay there for a couple of days before flying back to Edmonton. Apparently she forgot about the bullets and they were found in her backpack at the Singapore airport. She didn't realize what she had done wrong until after she was released, but yeah, she said about 8 hours in a dungeon chained to a wall.

I'm still amazed she was let go. You hear enough stories about people that dissapear over there.

So the moral of the story is: Never fly to Singapore if you're in possession of some bullets. Duh.

[Ozy_Flame]

Muta (another poster) and I are going down to live in Auckland for 6-8 months, leaving in October, and planning to work down there. I've heard nothing but good things about it (better than Australia apparently), and a few people we know just don't come back. I'm nervous as hell 'cause I've never done something like this before, but I know it's what I should be doing because I'll regret it if I don't. Plus, I hear the girls down there are pretty damn forward, and they LOVE Canadians. And, since I'm a twin, I've been told we'd be pretty popular down there, so I'm hoping to get into the social scene there fairly quickly too!

Anyone ever lived in Auckland before?

[ricosuave]

do it now while you can

always take advantaqge of a situation

its only six months, but it will be the best of your life, likely

you will always reget the things you didnt do, not the ones you did

[SoulOfTheFlame]

I went last year, for a job contract.

Brisbane was the most beautiful place I've ever been to. Every day was fantastic. Aussies are also the best, most friendly people I've ever met.

There's also lots of people from NA, Europe, and Asia in Brizzy, it's a really good place.

Go there, ASAP.

PS. STAY OFF THE ABSYNTH

[metallicat]

For those that worked down there, what sort of work did you do? I was thinking something along the lines of a golf course.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

For those that worked down there, what sort of work did you do? I was thinking something along the lines of a golf course.

Despite having two degrees and considerable office / white-collar experience for my age (22), I suspect I'll be working in the tourism / entertainment industry down there, as those seem to be commonplace jobs for Working Scheme programs. Of course, it all depends on who you know and how you apply yourself, but generally there are "touristy' jobs out there meant for people like you and me.

BTW, I'd love to work on a golf course too if I could down there.

[shoestring]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

do it now while you can

always take advantaqge of a situation

its only six months, but it will be the best of your life, likely

you will always reget the things you didnt do, not the ones you did

No kidding and do it before you do something stupid like ,...go to jail !! (minor lawbreaking- big impact on my life). Along with marriage! Soon to divorce.

I have only travelled to the states, so I only know friend's that have went out and conquered the world.
They are all better for it !

Take a business with you so you don't have to have a job,but several jobs/talents to meet lots of people.
Can I come? lol

I'd like to drive around the world. Recife,Brazil here we come. I bet I could sell 10 Regehr sweaters there.maybe,
I might need to do a little research.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

Has anyone here ever picked up and left for Australia (or somewhere else) for six months, or even a year? I am seriously considering doing something in which I would work and live in Australia for a year. I need to get away. My job is so unfullfilling, and I think doing something like this would be great for life experience.

Anyone do something like this?

I've only been to Melbourne Aus and surrounding area, but you'll love it. Aussies are very warm like us Canadians. I felt more at home there than I ever did in the States. Realxed and friendly.

Last time I was in Mel I was there for four months. If you wanna know anything about that city or area, PM me. I never really did the backpacking thing though, and didn't get very far outside of Mel.