Tag: Wanderlust

Working Holiday in Ireland – Next Steps

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Ireland, Travel, VisasLeave a comment

I have finally received my Irish Working Holiday Authorization! After many emails and calls to the consulate and more than one mini panic attack, I have in my hand the laminated piece of paper that will give me the ability to work for an entire year. 

I sent the application in March 18th and received my acceptance on May 25th. At this point I was required to send the consulate copies of my plane tickets (to and from Ireland) as well as proof of insurance for the duration of my time period there.

After emailing them the same day with copies of the documents requested, I was pleased to discover my WHA in my hands by May 27th! 

All in all it took a little over eight weeks to get approved. So, if you’re planning your year abroad, make sure to apply at least 2 months ahead of your departure date. It seems it was actually a blessing in disguise that I didn’t do the Au Pair position I initially hoped for, because both my passport and working authorization wouldn’ve still been processing within the Irish Consulate!

So, now that the WHA is all sorted, I’ve also secured my spot for Stint Ireland. A group that helps coordinate internships and gap years for college students and recent grads!

I officially booked my place with them, including a room in one of their awesome Stint Houses in a trendy little part of Dublin called Portobello!


So things are on the up and up and I can’t wait for my new departure date June 27th!

**Side note — in an earlier post, when I was first applying for my visa, I was wondering whether I needed to provide proof of a flight all the way to your home country (which is the United States in my case) or just out of Ireland. I finally got my answer, which is it just has to be out of Ireland not necessarily back to your country of origin.

Missed Flight

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Ireland, Travel4 Comments

Today I was supposed to be on a plane to Dublin.

I was supposed to pack my life into a suitcase and a carry on, wonder what it would be like to be an au pair, read/watch/sleep my way through a non-stop flight and meet my would-be new host family when I stepped fresh off the plane.

But instead I slept in with my dog, went on a run, ate copious amounts of Mexican food and drank margaritas with a friend.

I feel like I should be sad or feel weird about the whole thing but I don’t, mostly because I have a plan.

I recently got in contact with a program out of Dublin called Stint Ireland. Stint coordinates both internships and gap years for college students and recent grads. They help you apply for your visa, and then organize whatever you need once you get to Ireland (cell phones, jobs/internships, housing — you name it).

They had an opening in one of their houses for June 28th and after looking through their website and obsessively stalking their social media, I decided to jump at the chance. The best part is that you live with other people your age in the house, which means you have an automatic group of people to travel and hang out with (not to mention the Stint staff does trips around Ireland, excursions to other countries and outings in the city itself).

Plans for Ireland are back on and I can’t wait to start my new adventure!

Up the Creek Without a Paddle

On By EmilyinEarnestIn au pair, Ireland, Travel3 Comments

So…

This past Saturday I graduated from college with a Bachelor of Science. After four years of desperate studying, hours in the library and countless stress-dreams about sleeping through exams, I finally received a diploma (well, I actually received an empty diploma holder, but they’re supposed to send me the real thing in the mail).

The night after my graduation, in the midst of my last night of celebrations with my friends all together in our dorm, I received an email.

My au pair family had cancelled on me less than two weeks before my flight to Dublin was meant to arrive.

I was devastated. God bless my friends for not panicking while I sobbed uncontrollably into their shoulders (good thing I had already drank half a bottle of wine when I received the news, or maybe not so good of a thing).

The family had a crisis, with one member being hospitalized, and they could no longer definitively offer me employment or a place to stay. Shocking and devastating as this was, my moderately buzzed self went straight from tears to action. I re-made my au pair account on aupairworld.com and instantly sent out messages to some families that interested me.

Today I skyped with a family in Cork, Ireland and hopefully that will turn out positively, but until I have more solid plans, I’ve cancelled my flight for the 19th of May.

This has been a setback but I will get to Ireland, even if it’s not in the way I initially thought.

A HP Fanatic’s Guide to England

On By EmilyinEarnestIn College, Harry Potter, London, Travel, University5 Comments

I love Harry Potter.

It’s a fact about myself that I don’t hide or try to shy away from. Yes, I’ve read all the books about a million times. Yes, I’m 22 years old and still mourning my lost Hogwarts letter (you notice I say “lost” because I’m still convinced it was a postal error). Yes, I own all of the book on tape versions of the stories (shout out to Jim Dale, bless your heart).

This love affair with the classic English series was one of the many reasons why in the Fall of 2013 I decided to study abroad in London, UK. And, as you might have guessed, I used this opportunity to visit all of the available sets and Harry Potter related locations I could.

Now, here is a compilation of some of the best places in England to get your Potter fix…

1. Oxford, UK

While most of the other locations are in London, and thus easily accessible to anyone living in the city, this one’s a bit out of the way.

That being said, this site is also amazing. Stepping into Oxford, and onto the grounds of the University of Oxford, is like stepping back in time. The school looks like a castle, with vast green lawns and cobblestone walkways.

Most importantly, however, many scenes from the Harry Potter movies were filmed here. The stairway inside the building was used in both the Sorcerer’s Stone and the Chamber of Secrets. The Great Hall was modeled after their own dining hall (which incidentally you can eat in if you’re so inclined). AND you can walk in the very courtyard that Moody turned Malfoy into a twitchy little ferret!

2. King’s Cross Station, London

You’re lying if you say you’ve never fantasized about slipping through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 in King’s Cross Station. I know I certainly have. In the spirit of kindness towards people who actually have to catch trains at these two stations, however, they have set up a place for Potter fans to congregate, without clogging up the platforms.

The station itself has set up a Harry Potter area, with a Platform 9 3/4 sign and cart complete with owl cage and trunk sticking halfway out of the wall. With these props in place, it has become the perfect place to snag your super fan “Off to Hogwarts” profile picture. The site even has a Harry Potter gift shop right next door, and a team of workers who will snap your photo (but you have to pay for their photo of you, your friend with an iPhone is free!).

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3. Leadenhall Market, London

Situated unassumingly off a London side street is Leadenhall Market, a covered shopping area that most people would assume is utterly unremarkable.

But they would be wrong! This market was the filming location for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The Leaky Cauldron was set up right where an optician’s office now lies. While it is a muggle shopping center, it is also extremely beautiful in and of itself and well worth the visit.

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4. Millennium Bridge, London

Situated on the Thames, very close the the Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, is the Millennium Bridge. Remarkable in and it’s own right, with modern architecture and a gorgeous view of St. Paul’s Cathedral, it is part of a key scene in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

In the scene we see the Death Eaters (who can now apparently fly in dark blurs ??) making a show of strength in London and destroying the bridge. Obviously they’ve rebuilt since the aftermath.

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5. Warner Brother’s Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter, Leavesden

About an hour outside of London lies the Warner Brother’s Studios, which holds the holy grail of Harry Potter paraphernalia. Here, for thirty-five pounds, you can experience pure wizarding bliss as you explore the many sets and props from all eight of the movies.

This includes the Great Hall, the Ministry of Magic, the Gryffindor Common Room, the Weasley’s Kitchen and many many more. Not only that, but outside you have the opportunity to walk up and knock on the front door of number 4 Privet Drive (but be warned, the Dursleys do not like unwelcome guests).

The studio tour is without a doubt the best of the various locations and experiences in London for a Harry Potter fan. If you ever have the opportunity to go TAKE IT. You won’t regret it.

Just remember though, whether you’re reading the books, watching the movies or visiting these HP locations, your love of all things Harry Potter will stay with you…. always.

London Clubs: Top Four

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Clubbing, College, London, Travel, University2 Comments

Hello all!

So, I’ve sent out my Working Holiday Visa application to the Irish Consulate in New York about two weeks ago and am still waiting to hear back. In the meantime I decided I’d write a bit about my other international experience: studying abroad in London.

My sophomore year (Fall 2013) I journeyed to the land of tea, double decker busses and endless pubs, the one and only London, England. One thing that struck me the most was the significant difference between the nightlife of Storrs, Connecticut, and that of London, England.

I had become accustomed to paying to go to a shitty bar with lackluster beer, or, even more often, would end up in the basement of some disgusting frat house, trying to avoid getting groped by the many-handed masses (side note, never touch the walls of a frat house, they sweat).

But in London, there were clubs. Places with dancing and good drinks and atmosphere.

So here it is, my top four list for clubs in London..

  1. KOKO

What is it? If you’re looking for good atmosphere with a mix of live music and DJs, this is the place to go. KOKO is a refurbished opera house which boasts a large dance floor and stage, where you can see both local and famous bands and musical acts playing almost every night of the week. The different floors all look down onto the dance floor and boast multiple bars and a considerable ratio of comfy couches for when you’ve been dancing too long in heels. Not to mention the rooftop bar which provides some amazing nighttime views.

Where is it? Camden, off of Camden High Street, if you take the tube to Mornington Crescent (Northern Line) it’ll be right outside.

How expensive is it? It’s pretty variable, I’ve seen it as low as 5 pounds and as high as 30, but it depends on what bands/acts are on that night. Definitely check out their website to look up ticket prices.

2.  Proud

What is it? This is an unconventional club, if I do say so myself. A 19th century hospital for horses (no I’m not joking), now each refurbished “stable” is available for private rent. There’s a dance floor, multiple live band shows, and themed nights where many of the different stables have a different activity inside them (when we were there there was karaoke in one stable). Top it all off with the rooftop bar, reasonably priced drinks (cider or beer bottles for four pounds), and a hot tub (at least there was when I was there) and this place makes for one fun night out.

Where is it? Once again, Camden, right across from the famed shopping area the Camden Market. The closest tube stop would be Camden Town, then it’s a eight minute walk straight down the street.

How expensive is it? The drinks are relatively inexpensive, which is rare in London. Depending on what bands are playing, cover is variable, if you time it right it can be as low as three pounds though!

3. ROXY

What is it? This was one of my favorite clubs while I was in London. Nestled underground down a side road off Tottenham Court, the ROXY boasts a more hip and chill vibe then most clubs. Smaller, with a dance floor and bar area, the ROXY has a distinctly young fan base (mostly college kids), with drink deals and relatively low entrance costs (especially if you join their email list). Here you’ll find a DJ six nights of the week, with each night having a different musical theme.

Where is it? Right off of Tottenham Court Road Station (Central and Northern lines), down Rathbone Place and on the right.

How expensive is it? Very reasonable, especially for students. Showing your student card or adding yourself to the email list can get you in for 3-7 pounds. Then there’s drink deals for happy hour which means half price cocktails, reduced price pitchers and two for one beers. Bottoms up!

4. Cargo

What is it? Hidden beneath a railway, surrounded by some impressive graffiti lies Cargo, a bar and club in the heart of Shoreditch. With its large dance floor and multi-room layout, Cargo is the perfect place to hit up on a pub crawl or with a big group of friends. If it gets to crowded on the dance floor, Cargo has the added bonus of an outside beer garden, filled with tons of seating areas and heat lamps (which are prime during the winter months).

Where is it? This club is right in the heart of Shoreditch, however, the easiest way to get there is by bus, as there isn’t a tube stop in the immediate vicinity. Lines 55, 35, 47 and 243 will all get you quite close.

How expensive is it? Fridays and Saturdays can have covers around 10-15 pounds, but student nights on Tuesdays offer free admission and some pretty sweet drink deals. So, if you’re willing to suffer a Wednesday hangover, this may be the place for you.

 

Those were my favorites, but the city is chock full of cool and quirky places to grab a drink and dance. If you’ve ever been to these or have a few favorites of your own, comment!

P.S. In the spirit of clubbing here is an embarrassing photo of me enjoying a pitcher of Pimms by myself (shameful I know)!

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Finding an Au Pair Position

On By EmilyinEarnestIn au pair, Ireland, Travel, VisasLeave a comment

Hello all! So I’ve been getting all of my materials together to send in my visa application (hopefully it’ll be ready to send out this week), but in the meantime I thought I’d talk a bit about how I got my Au Pair position.

I used a website called aupairworld.com, which I would recommend to anyone who serious about pursuing this option or who just wants to see what’s out there. I first came across the website after googling “au pair,” with no prior knowledge on the subject or how I would go about finding a position.

Firstly, I would say to make a profile, even if you don’t want to fill out the various “about me” sections or any of your information yet, a basic profile will allow you to narrow down your search and see real and available families. They have you enter your age, gender and a few countries you would want to work in, and with this information you can see the many different options.

When you become serious, make sure you take the time to personalize your profile! Don’t just write one word answers to the questions. Talk about your interests and your passions and make sure you actually have a reason for why you want to be an au pair. Also, be honest, don’t say you’re a champion horseback rider if you’re not! It’ll be much easier to find a family that matches up with your passions and plans if you are straightforward.

Another big thing is put up a picture! It’s hard to trust some anonymous person on the internet to be who they say they are. If you want to attract real families and be an appealing hire, make sure you use a picture of yourself. Bonus points if you’re doing something you mentioned you’re interested in in your bio. Plus, it’ll assure them that you are, in fact, a normal human being.

Once you’ve made your profile suitable, reach out to people! Don’t be afraid to contact the families, even if you just send the pre-written “I’m interested” message they provide for you. The more people you talk to, the more opportunities you’ll have at your doorstep. I sent out multiple messages, just to feel things out. If you receive messages yourself, make sure to answer. The website shows the percentage of applications you respond to and a low percentage may make you look unavailable.

Finally, be conscious of where you’re looking to go/which positions you’re accepting. Look up visas and things of that nature (here’s my guide to Visas for Americans, and specific info on Ireland Working Holiday Visas). Many times I found that au pair positions that were open in Italy or Spain are mostly for the summer (3 months or less), which you wouldn’t need a visa for. However, if you’re looking to go for longer, you’ll need a visa for that specific country.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment! Happy searching, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

 

International Flights

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Flights, Ireland, TravelLeave a comment

After scanning flights and prices for the past few weeks, I have finally booked my trip to Dublin! While I thought booking my flight would easy, I was sadly mistaken. I searched multiple comparison sites, weighed fees and ticket options and by the end of it seriously considered just swimming to Ireland. Here are a few tips and tricks on navigating the dangerous waters of international flights…

  1. If your destination is Europe, BOOK EARLY.

I cannot stress enough how important this one is. The longer you leave it, the higher the prices will go, and trust me, they’ll only get higher. If you’re planning a trip to Europe I would recommend booking a flight around 6-8 months in advance. I’m internally kicking myself for waiting until three months beforehand.

**Side note, if you’re looking on the same price comparison website for the same flight multiple times do so on a private browser. Many websites use cookies to track which flights you’re looking at. The more you look at a certain one, the more they think you’ll buy it and then they don’t show you if the price goes down.

2. Fly into (or out of) a cheap city.

If you’re going to Europe, consider flying into one of the more affordable airports instead of directly into your destination. Some of the cheapest include Paris, Copenhagen and Dublin.

For example, if you were to fly from JFK in New York to Heathrow in London, it would be $443 dollars one way. Flying from JFK to Copenhagen on that same day would be $263. From there the flight to London would be $55, for a total price of $318.

Thats over one hundred dollars you could save and spend in pubs!

3. Fly midweek or during the off season.

Traditionally, it will be cheaper if you fly out on a Tuesday or Wednesday as opposed to any weekend day. This may be inconvenient, but if possible could save you money and time waiting in lines.

Try to plan your trips during the off season as well. Flying to Europe at basically any time that isn’t the summer is always a solid plan. That is, except for Christmas time, in which case all bets are off. If you have the opportunity, travel towards the end of the summer or spring, when the weather will still be relatively nice, but the crowds will have died down.

 

That’s all for now, if you’re looking into flights I recommend skyscanner.com, it’s my favorite search engine!

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Working Holiday Visa – Ireland

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Ireland, Travel, Visas3 Comments

IMG_1078My last post was about ways to live internationally in general. This one however, will have a focus on the visa that I will (hopefully) be getting and using in order to be an au pair in Ireland.

The Working Holiday Visa is an option that seems tailor made for college students or recent graduates. Essentially, due to the US and Ireland having good international relations, it is possible to travel there and work for up to 12 months if you are currently enrolled in college or have graduated in the last 12 months. You don’t need to have a job beforehand or a sponsor.

First of all, you need to figure out which of Ireland’s consulates in the United States is yours. There are six of them throughout the US including in Washington DC, New York, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco. Each of these has certain surrounding states that they also service, so make sure you’re sending your application to the right one. I personally will be sending my info to New York.

There is an application form that everyone who intends to do the working holiday must fill out. It’s not extremely complicated, just basic info. Besides that the rest of the requirements are as follows…

  • Valid US passport (make sure it will be valid throughout the entirety of your planned stay.)
  • 2 identical passport photos with your name written on the back (these can be taken at any CVS)
  • A resumé with references (not sure how many references would be standard, but I’m going to include at least two)
  • A bank statement saying you have $2,000 and proof of a return ticket OR just $4000***
  • Originals of school qualifications or a letter from your university (I’m probably just going to put a copy of my official transcript)
  • $337 visa fee along with $13 fee if you would like the consulate to mail your documents back to you (which is far more convenient)

*** So, here’s my side note. It says that you must prove that you have either $2000 and a return airline ticket or $4000. However, it is much better to just produce your return ticket when you’re applying because later on it says they cannot officially issue your visa until you prove you have the airline ticket.

Additionally, I have contacted the consulate in order to ask whether the “return ticket” must be from Ireland back to the US, or if it would be possible to simply buy a plane ticket out of the country (to some other European nation). I was planning on doing some traveling once my 6 month position had ended and it would be far more complicated if I were required to book my flight back to the US directly from Ireland and this far in advance.

More to come on the application process and the answer to this question! In the meantime, here’s the link to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, where all the info I just stated is laid out.

 

 

Visas for Americans

On By EmilyinEarnestIn Travel, Visas3 Comments

As a sophomore in college, I studied abroad in London, UK and absolutely loved it. I was completely enamored by the bustle of the city, the history and the lifestyle that was lead by europeans in general. It was in that four month time period of museum visits and weekend trips to foreign lands that I decided once and for all that I would move to the UK as soon as I graduated.

Pop.

Did you hear that? That was my bubble of hope popping. As it turns out, being an American, while extremely entertaining when chanting U.S.A at frat parties, is troublesome when you want to go anywhere else. Since the United States is not a member of the European Union, we do not have the inherent right to work or study abroad without going through a heinous amount of paperwork.

Even then, in most cases you would need to be hired by a company which would sponsor your visa before you would be allowed in. So, what are we Americans to do? Find the best options.

1. Working Holiday Visas

A working holiday visa is essentially a pass for you to get a job in a country for (usually) up to a year. The countries that U.S. citizens can acquire Working Holiday Visas for are…

  • Australia
  • Ireland
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • North Korea

This is a very limited list, however some of these can be great options if you’re interested in the particular cultures of said countries. Each different nation has its own requirements (from monetary restrictions to age and education) along with a different length of stay. If you’re curious I recommend checking out GoOverseas which has an awesome article about each of the options.

2. Student Visas

While it is difficult to obtain a visa just to work, student visas are slightly easier to obtain. If you want to enhance your education while abroad, this is the option for you. In order to obtain a tier 4 student visa for the UK, you must be enrolled or have been offered a position at an institute of learning that is licensed. You also must have enough money to support yourself while you’re over there.

These visas can be for extended periods of time depending on how long you’re taking classes. The longer the classes or the more classes you take sequentially, the higher the probability it’ll be possible to extend your visa.

The kicker, many times you can legally work when you have this visa! The amount or hours of work you can do is dependent upon the type of classes you’re taking and the school you have sponsoring you. This is a great option for many people who want to live abroad in a country that doesn’t provide working holiday visas.

3. Shortened Stay

If, by chance, you want to live in a country for less than 3 months doing au pair work or another option that pays cash, you could opt not to get a visa at all. Many countries allow U.S. citizens to enter without a visa on the condition that they are tourists leaving within the allotted time limit.

Students with summers free would find this option especially appealing, as it eliminates the complicated visa process. Au Pair jobs are especially abundant in the summer in places like Spain and Italy. For more info on this I would suggest Au Pair World, which has a ton of resources for anyone considering this option.

 

Looking into international living can be stressful and disheartening, especially when you’re from our corner of the world. It’s all about sifting through the plethora of information and finding the plan that works best for you!