Working Abroad
Working abroad
is a great way to see the world, make new friends and enhance
your resume/CV. There are a few things to consider before
you head off on your trip of a life-time.
Do
you have all the necessary paperwork to allow you to work
in your chosen country? Organisations like BUNAC (British
Universities North America Club), make sure that all participants
are fully prepared before departure, whether it be advice
on living and working abroad, insurance or completing visa
application forms etc. The better prepared you are, the
easier your first few weeks overseas will be. There are
plenty of good guidebooks available, even for places off
the beaten track and the web is also an invaluable resource.
For example, BUNAC provides pre-departure handbooks, which
have been developed over the years using suggestions and
comments from previous participants.
A commonly asked
question is ‘What should I take?’ The temptation
is to take everything you own, but you will find that it
is quite easy to survive without 10 pairs of shoes! Again
research will be a great help – what will the weather
be like? What will you be expected to wear to work? Even
in a hot climate it may not be appropriate to wear shorts
and T-shirts. Many BUNAC participants say they wished they’d
packed less – a good rule is to pack and then take
half your clothes out and just take the rest. Only take
what you can carry – a rucksack is easiest as it leaves
your hands free to buy bus/train tickets etc.
The first 3 -
4 weeks will probably be the hardest. Once you have got
over the initial high of being in a foreign country, the
reality sets in that now you have to find or start a job,
maybe look for housing and tackle shopping, laundry, travel
to work etc. Things that all seem mundane at home can become
a big adventure abroad! At this time it’s nice to have
someone to talk to whether it be fellow travellers and/or
someone who understands what you’re going through.
Most organisations should provide some local support and
this will become even more important should you have a problem,
whether it be with your employer, housing or simply where
to go food shopping! For example BUNAC has 2 hosting centres
in the UK, one in London (which has been running since 1966)
and a smaller one in Edinburgh, so where ever you are working
in the UK, you are never too far away from help. Of course,
hopefully you won’t encounter many problems, but it’s
nice to know there is someone there just in case. It is
also reassuring for friends and family back home that there
is a contact point, especially if you are moving around
a lot.
When you’re
travelling for an extended period of time it’s often
very easy to forget about people back home. You’re
doing so many new and exciting things that 3 weeks can pass
incredibly quickly, however for those at home it feels as
though you’ve been gone forever. Remember to call,
send a postcard or just a brief e-mail to say how you’re
doing. Before you leave home, leave a contact address and
phone number. Every year BUNAC receives calls from worried
relatives, who are reassured that the participant has been
in touch with BUNAC if not with home.
Working abroad
is not all about hard work, most people choose a particular
country as it is a place or culture that interests them.
There is a huge difference between spending 2 weeks on holiday
and working for several months in a country. You really
begin to understand their society and experience it from
‘the inside’. You will meet the locals, maybe
be invited to their homes and they will be able to give
advice on places to go – perhaps visit places not on
the usual tourist trail. You may also find that people are
more friendly as they no longer regard you as a tourist,
but part of the community. Many people who do work abroad
programmes are on their own, however it is easy to meet
up with other people to go travelling with. Hostels and
the work place are good places to meet fellow travellers.
BUNAC participants often meet up with future travelling
companions at the resource centres, or through the various
social events and trips that BUNAC organises.
Working abroad
is a great experience and one you’ll never forget.
Everyone has a unique experience, but some of the common
words used to describe it are ‘confidence building’,
‘independence’, ‘fun’, ‘tolerance’
‘understanding’ ‘adventure’ ‘long
lasting friendships’ and ‘broadening horizons’.
For more information
visit the BUNAC
web site at www.bunac.org
Contributed by:
BUNAC
