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Working Holidays

© Jonathan Griffiths

The concept of a working holiday may seem somewhat of an oxymoron; perhaps just a way in which poor travellers are exploited. However, there are many ways in which a working holiday can be beneficial. Working holidays offer a means by which you can sample a new country and culture before making a major commitment. Working holidays are also a great way to subsidise further travel. A few weeks of hard work can sometimes fund a few months of further travel. Working holidays are also a chance to test out new careers and gain resume experience in new areas. Finally, of course, working holidays can be a lot of fun. Working in a new country with new people, one can almost forget that what you are doing is actually "work".

There are a lot of options for those interested in working holidays. Some are great and some are not so good. Included in this article are some ideas to get you started. Be careful to research the organization with whom you wish to work carefully. If any fees are payable, be clear about exactly what these fees include.

A good starting place for those interested in working holidays is The Working Traveller . This e-zine offers regular advice on how you can live and work abroad. Various destinations are featured. General travel advice is also available. The parent site to this ezine, Payaway, is, perhaps, the best site for would-be working travellers. At this incredible site, you can get discounts on travel guides, book hotels and flights, check out country-specific information, and even browse through job ads.

There are also a number of destination specific sites that you may be interested in checking out. If Japan is your country of interest, take a look at The Working Holiday Programmes in Japan site. This program is limited to citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Korea, France and Germany. The Programs are intended to provide opportunities for the young people to deepen their understanding about partner countries. The working holiday makers can take part in part-time or full-time work to supplement their funds to travel and stay in partner countries.

For those interested in Australian adventures, there are many good sites. One such site is An Australian Adventure, the journal of a Dutch girl, Viviene's, adventures down under. If this whets your appetite, you can find out more about working in Australia at Working Holidays Australia. This organization provides a host of services including accommodation, job search help, and visa assistance.