Travelling alone

Russian Blue

Has anyone travelled alone before? I'm not talking about England or Europe, where I think it might be easier to get up and go. And its so easy to come back.

But has anyone done that whole oz experience for a year on their own?
I have been thinking about this for the past six weeks. Its something I would love to do.

I haven't got work since finishing college last year. I have the money to get over and some savings for a couple of weeks.

I'm not sure what I am looking for out of the experience, whether if I should go over to try for permanent work, which I think might be difficult. Or to go over for a year to get up and do something and try.

Its basically now or never as I am almost old for that working holiday visa. I have a few months before I turn 31.

I just don't know. Its something I want to do but to go over on your own? Its one big country and end up on your own. It sounds terrifying.

Or do I spend the next 38 years working without this experience?

gugleguy

I completed my last year in college when i was 28. My two cents: top priority for you now is.consider ur career i.e. job secondary: oz / timbuktu/ actually wherever u can get most suitable job

homemadecider

Of course, lots of people travel on their own.

I travelled South America on my own in my early 20's; in my late 20's I lived in India for a year on my own with work. I didn't speak the language or know the culture either time but I managed just fine and even had a great time.

Go for it - what's holding you back?

John Mason

i went to oz by myself for a year.

it was great and most people i meet were by themselves

looksee

I went to Zambia on my own when I was 21. Loads of people said 'aren't you brave to go on your own!' I didn't see it that way though, I reckoned if I went with someone else (which in all honesty wasn't going to happen anyway) I would have felt a bit responsible for them. You would only be able to do things that suited both of you. It would also, I think, limit your options for getting to know other people.

Medme

Yep, I went to Oz on my tod when I was 25. I didn't really want to do the backpacker/campervan thing that some of my mates were doing so I went solo, got a decent job, got sponsored afer a yr and my 6 months plan in Oz turned into 2.5yrs. My 2c is go for it, a good friend gave me advice while I was trying to decide whether to go or not - Irl will always be here, it's going nowhere and you can always come back and be exactly where you are now if it doesn't work out, no biggy. She was right, when I came home although some friends had moved on, everything else was almost the same! I don't regret going at all, I do however sometimes regret coming home!

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

I can see the time issue, but does it have to be a year?

Here's how I see it:

You go.
It works out, you stay a year. Maybe longer. Maybe you meet someone and stay the rest of your life.
It doesn;t work out, you come back after three months. You at least tried it. No more wondering "what if?".

The "on your own" thing is a bit bogus - just hit the web and try to make contacts before you go. meetup.com, couchsurfing.com (cna be use for socializing too) and others. Check the Aussie forum here for a start.

One other thing - I would suggest a clearer idea of hwat you want from the experience first. Then pick the location.

NakedNNettles

To answer your question, yes tons of people go there on their own from all over Europe, ....but you're never really on your own as you'll be staying in hostels interacting with others, joining tours/groups and heading out at night with other travellers. After a while you'll be just dying for some peace and quiet.

From your age, post and question, you sound like you need this. I was a similar age 7 years ago when I went. It gave me great drive to change my life, career, take more chances and made me less questioning about just doing stuff or going places. I wouldn't think twice now about packing a bag, jumping on a plane and go somewhere.

Don't be too rigid about your plan, just go there, have a few nights in a nice hostel booked in advance to recover from the jetlag and get your bearings. You'll understand my advise when you get there. It's not like here, Australia is designed around travellers, backpackers and foreign workers.

Have your cv, references, recruitment companies in order before you go, it will save you time fixing them up down there if you decide to stay.

Final advise, start your application process now, these days visas are getting snapped up fairly quickly and they are limited.

Nymeria

OP I went to New Zealand on my own when I was 19. I knew nobody going over, but had made so many friends by the time I came home .

Initially, I booked a three month flight, thinking that if I really hated it I could come home, but I ended up changing the flights a few times to stay as long as possible, so I would advise getting flexible flights if you can.

The thing with travelling on your own is you can be by yourself when you want to be, and then if you feel like you need company there are always other travellers around willing to chat. One thing I actually noticed was that people I saw who travelled in groups of two or three tended to stay within their group much more and not speak to new people as much. One girl I became really good friends with only after two of her friends moved on to a different place and she stayed behind on her own. Within a few days she knew everybody in the place, whereas before she had stayed within the safety of her group.

Anyway, I hope you take the chance and have a great time. I was really shy before I went but it brought me out of my shell, and was one of the best things I ever did.
Good luck.

Russian Blue

Thanks for the advice.

Im still a bit unsure. Im just so fed up. I have been on the dole since finishing college last year.

I still have savings. Enough to have to show the australian immigration. My plan was to fcek off for a year to australia. While I have the money and the time. I even have my working holiday visa booked.

Problem is, its a holiday. A working holiday.
Australia is so expensive, i've been told. There is very little chance il get sponsorship to stay longer.
If it doesnt work out, I could be back after a few weeks, broke.
Im not sure about the heat.
If I was to get work, Australia will be an experience, even for a year in what I do.

But the savings i've got could set me up over in the uk. I can stay. Im so bored that I could probably be over there in a few weeks. Whereas, if I go to Australia, il be going in August. Thats another 4 months of boredom.

I really dont know. Sometimes I think I should be sensible and get work on this side of the world. But im 30, I have loads of time to be sensible after a year out.

I've never had a holiday, I could finally have my first holiday to australia. Working in the uk, isnt exactly a holiday.

Is australia worth it?

Merkin

I went around Asia on my own. It's important to do things out of your comfort zone and all it requires is that intitial leap of faith. Sounds like you may be overthinking this a little - sometimes it's just a case of booking your ticket and being done with it!

Cooperspale

Russian Blue wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.

Im still a bit unsure. Im just so fed up. I have been on the dole since finishing college last year.

I still have savings. Enough to have to show the australian immigration. My plan was to fcek off for a year to australia. While I have the money and the time. I even have my working holiday visa booked.

Problem is, its a holiday. A working holiday.
Australia is so expensive, i've been told. There is very little chance il get sponsorship to stay longer.
If it doesnt work out, I could be back after a few weeks, broke.
Im not sure about the heat.
If I was to get work, Australia will be an experience, even for a year in what I do.

But the savings i've got could set me up over in the uk. I can stay. Im so bored that I could probably be over there in a few weeks. Whereas, if I go to Australia, il be going in August. Thats another 4 months of boredom.

I really dont know. Sometimes I think I should be sensible and get work on this side of the world. But im 30, I have loads of time to be sensible after a year out.

I've never had a holiday, I could finally have my first holiday to australia. Working in the uk, isnt exactly a holiday.

Is australia worth it?

I would take the chance and see Australia. you can get a year now to work and holiday or come back in x years time on a 2-3 week holiday.
You say that have your WHV booked anyway, so you must be in the mindset to go. Realistically what have you got to lose? Except for your cash and a bruised ego if you come home early.
Yes. Australia is expensive or will most certainly appear so when you get here with euro. The bigger cities with their backpacker ghettoes in Bondi, St Kilda, Northbridge and Fortitude valley etc can zap your cash at an astonishing rate if you get sucked into the party party vortex. Pubs charge around $9 a pint. I know many backpackers who couldn't understand how they never saved money, yet they'd p##s it away on drink.

If you come here and would like to get sponsored, you will have to work very hard at impressing your boss and forget about that holiday for a while. There are a bunch of changes happening with the 457 visa and no one knows exactly what until July, unemployment has slightly increased and it's an election year so Gillard/Labor is out to win votes and that may be at the expense of 'giving jobs to foreigners'.

In spite of all of this, Australia is a good country to visit and holiday. It is a vast place and there are many things to see and and do and do outdoors. It's less of a tv and newspaper culture. TV for the most part is pretty terrible in Oz. Sport plays a huge part in a lot of peoples lives here which you'll either like or hate. There are many different nationalities in Australia backpacking and resident, so, in the big cities in particular it is very multicultural and there are many Asians, which can make eating out quite cheap with noodle/dim sim houses etc.
Weatherwise, it's not going to be hot in August anywhere, pleasantly warm up north maybe but not hot. The heat doesn't arrive until late Nov through March
Travelling by yourself will make you self reliant and allow you the freedom to do what you want whenever. You'll hopefully learn more about your strengths and weaknesses also.

JimmyCrackCorn

I have been in OZ a year now on my own but I came down here to work.

It may be tougher when your hopping place to place but if your social there is no reason you cant make friends as you go.