Adventure Is Out There!

Are you between the ages of 18 and 30/35?  Are you bored with your life?  Dreamed of travelling to a foreign land and falling in love? Want to go on the adventure of a lifetime? Try an exotic dish in it's home country?  Then pay attention fellow roamers!  Travelling to that dream destination to live and work has never been this easy!

Today I want to tell everyone about this program we have in Canada.  It's called SWAP (Student Work Abroad Program) and it is a program operated through TravelCuts student travel agency.  Don't let the name of the program fool you!  Not a student?  That's not even a problem!  Even though it's called the STUDENT Work Abroad Program, as long as you are between the ages of 18-30/35, you can get a visa!

According the SWAP website (swap.ca) there are only 6 easy steps in travelling with SWAP!

1) Pick a destination

2) Register

3) Apply for a visa

4) Get ready to go

5) Receive overseas support

6) Live, Work, Play

What is Swap?
SWAP is a program that will help you through every step of your visa application process.  I've used it once before (I travelled to Japan in 2009-2010) and I would never do it by myself!  Especially applying to Japan, since they are VERY picky about their visas, and one silly mistake on your application could have resulted in a denied visa.  I'm glad I went through them, because knowing me, I would have missed something and been denied!

Destinations
SWAP has a TON of places you can go!  Dreamed of sitting in a traditional Irish pub, sipping Guinness?  Want to drink tea in the afternoon in England?  Shop in the famed Takeshita street in Harajuku?  Why not all of these and more?  Through SWAP, you can go to 11 different destinations!

• UK
• Ireland
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Austria (must be proficient in German)
• Germany (must be proficient in German)
• Japan
• South Africa*
• USA*
• Thailand*

USA has 2 strands: PCT & Intern and Summer (summer available to students/2014 graduates only) 

SOUTH AFRICA has a volunteer OR work visa (work visa for students or recent graduates)

THAILAND is a teaching visa open to Canadians aged 20-65!  BUT applicants must posses a Bachelor's degree in order to qualify.

Support Funds

What are support funds?  This is a specific amount of money (different depending on the country) you must have saved before they will grant visas.  This is not a fee, simply a bank statement saying that you have the specified amount in your bank account.  Essentially, they want to make sure you are not homeless or that if you have difficulties with anything, you have enough money to come home.

Fees

There is a registration fee (which includes the actual visa fee).  This can change depending on if the country you're applying for has an accommodation/ no accommodation application.  Japan has this, while Ireland does not.  CAUTION: some countries (such as Ireland) require extra fees once in the country.  Be sure to check this under the country's specific visa requirements page!

It's really this easy guys!  Whenever I tell people that I am moving to a foreign country, I always hear, "That's amazing" and "I've always wanted to travel!"  Now, there's no more excuses!  You want to do it?  Then do it!  It does take work, but it pays off tenfold in the end!  

I've just applied for an Ireland visa, and I hope to leave mid April for the land of green and shamrocks! I'm currently in the visa application process, and hope to send away for my visa in the next 2 weeks.  As much as I love Canada, I can't wait to begin a new adventure!

Happy Roaming!

Things I learned this past year...

It's now a couple of days past new year, and in that time I did a lot of reflecting on this past year.  Many things happened to me, both positive and negative, and I want to share with you what I learned from these experiences.

1) I learned that Love is difficult.  I didn't know how quickly you could fall in love, and just how quickly you could fall out of love.  Over this past year, a love I thought was forever disintegrated before my very eyes. It happened so quickly, I didn't even realize I was trying to hold onto smoke.

2) I learned that while Canada will always have a place in my heart, this town where I live, is not where I want to be.  I want to continue travelling the world while I'm still young, and while I love my family, travelling is my passion.  I want to explore and feel freedom in the utmost sense.

3) I learned that I still have no idea what I want to do with my future.  I know I want it to include travelling if possible, but other than that, I haven't the faintest idea.  I feel like that kid in school, when asked what they want to be, they say happy instead of a career.  Because that's all I can imagine for my future at this point.

4) I learned that from weakness comes strength.  I know what that means now.  I realized that while in my last relationship, I became weak.  I lost who I was, and became someone who wasn't me at all, all to please someone else.  I know that can't happen again.  It's true what that quote says.  If you can't handle me at my worst, then you don't deserve me at my best.

What did you learn over this past year?  Did you have any epiphany's?  Let me know in the comments below!

Big Places And Even Bigger Decisions...

As some of you may know, my wanderlust is kicking in again.  That insatiable need to travel seems to be pulling at my heartstrings and my restlessness is going into overdrive.  I need to get away from here, and go explore somewhere new.

I originally wanted to go back to Japan on a student visa with my friend, Cesca, but she was unable to get her funding, and mine isn't looking to good either. This is a really big disappointment to both of us, as we both really want to go back to Japan for any amount of time to live, while being able to work still.  So far, no offers on visa sponsorship, so we have had to made some adjustments.  Mostly, the whole going back to Japan in the first place.

 I have decided that I would like to try going to an English speaking country as the Japanese speaking one isn't looking to good.  So in April I will hopefully be accepted for another Working Holiday Visa and be moving to Cork, Ireland to be with one of my best friends in the world, Cesca.

She has graciously allowed me to stay with her in her apartment until her lease is up where we can find ourselves a new place, or each individual apartments.  But I figure if we stick together, that's less rent both of us have to pay and we might even be able to save some money!  Holy crap!  Money saving!  Wahoo!!

I am so excited to be able to explore a new city and a new culture.  And possibly some new drinks!  Pubs, castles, new shops, potatoes! I've never lived in a city before, so the whole getting around without a car is actually terrifying, as the only other type of bus I've taken is one that picked me up and dropped me off where ever I needed go be.  None of this transferring business!

So wish me luck with my new travels and some new adventures!  While gone, I'd like to start vlogging on YouTube, so wait in anticipation for those as well!