34year old moving abroad for the Summer solo? Where should I go?

emilymemily

Hi, im a single 34 year old woman & desperate to get out of Ireland. Im a 34 year old teacher now with multiple qualifications, years and years of experience in my profession but jumping from one insecure job to the next, crap pay and live with parents with no hope of moving out. Im done! Ive been back in college (again) upskilling and next year will be final year after which I plan to move away permanently. In the mean time, Im hoping to get the experience of living in a different country for about 8 weeks or so over the Summer when I finish up work. I just dont know where in Europe to move to (I want to be close enough to home) and I dont know how to start looking or applying to jobs? The only jobs I can find that are inline with my experience are teaching ESL. I want to stay away from teaching and education and try something else.

Ive allot of experience in Art, I have an undergrad in fine art and taught art so this is an area id love to get some more experience in, maybe working in an art gallery or museum? I just cant seem to find any jobs like this but then I don't really know where to look for these jobs?

Ive heard good things about Berlin so this is top of my list of potential places to move to, id also consider the Netherlands, Copenhagen, Edinburgh but really anywhere safe, affordable & allows me the opportunity to work & support myself while also able to save or have some what of a social life.

Any suggestions?

Fysh

One thing to be aware of with Edinburgh is rent is very expensive, and summer in particular can be tricky - the city is absolutely heaving during August when the festivals are on, and short term lets during that time are ludicrous.

There is a lot to enjoy in the city and no shortage of people to meet, though as with Ireland the weather is less reliable over summer than it might be in continental Europe.

Jim2007

Well realistically most of the jobs you are talking about would require you to be able to speak the local language at at least a B1 level. So if you don't have the language skills then the chances of you landing a job in customer facing role are very slim. And teaching English is what ever graduate thinks of so the competition for jobs is high and the pay is not great, so I would not even bother with it.

Ideally if you have the language skills then teaching in the state education system would be a strong possibility as the demand is high and the salaries are usually pretty good. I know here in Switzerland that they are now accepting anyone with a degree and salaries are so high that you could probably live very comfortable by working say 70% - 80%, so a four day week.

Another think to keep in mind is that you need to build a war chest to cover your financial needs for a move. For instance apartments are usually unfurnished, so you will need to buy furniture, pay deposits and cover living expenses until you start getting a pay cheque.

Don't get me wrong, living in mainland Europe is great in terms of work-life balance, weather, public transport etc... and I have been in Switzerland for over three decades. But you have to have realistic expectations to start out with are it can all go pear shaped.

emilymemily

Thanks everyone for your replies, I dont think id get a state education job as im only going to begin with for 8 weeks to see what I think of it & have no interest whatsoever of teaching ESL, whenever I say im a teacher thats the first thing people jump on but I dont want to do it. I have savings and will be getting paid from my teaching job over the Summer months as im on a contract so not overly worried about having no money going. I know of people whove moved to places like Berlin who had no German, from what ive heard, in allot of these cities it's quite easy to get around without having the language but I do plan on committing myself to learning the language as best as I can.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120164516#Comment_120164516

There is a very big difference between being able to get around in Berlin without German and being able to work. And in my experience most of the people who claim to get by without the local language only think they are getting by! In most case they are just surviving and relying on their work colleagues to make allowances for them.

Since you don't actually need an income during the 8 week summer trip, then I'd suggest you sign up for an intensive German course with the Goethe Institute in somewhere like Bonn or one of the other locations (https://www.goethe.de/ins/de/en/ort/bon.html). Participate in all the local living stuff - going shopping, taking the car to the garage, dealing with artisans and so on. You'll be in a nice city, learning something useful, experiencing life in German and there will be plenty of opportunities for socialising as well. You many find the German mentality suits you or perhaps not, it's very different to Ireland.

Mrs OBumble

You're going to be there for 8 WEEKS, and be in tourist mindset.

Have you any bar or waitressing experience? That's the type of work you are going to pick up for 8 weeks- and even then, it'd be best if you lie and say you're staying until October.

But if you have money - why work? Travel and enjoy the summer.

Bicyclette

To work in the UK you will need a National Insurance Card. And to get a National Insurance Card, you will need to have a permanent address in the UK. And this takes time. One of my daughters is going through this process at the moment - she recently started a permanent job in Scotland.

notAMember

Any german speaking or flemish country is great for summer work / travel. Amsterdam, Utrecht, Brussels, Antwerp (flemish parts of belgium) anywhere in Germany... the german-speaking swiss cantons. For 8 weeks, Bar work is probably your best bet. Duolingo will get you some of the way

I'd avoid french-speaking, because they are less tolerant in my experience with people learning the language. Hate to generalise, but you can get a "Speak my language in my country or get out" attitude.

I work with mostly German and Dutch-speaking Kollegen and while I can carry on a basic conversation about hobbies and family at lunch, for business purposes we mostly use English as there are other nationalities there too, and English is the overlap we all have.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120165236#Comment_120165236

The big one, that people for get is having to deal with healthcare professional, yes they will speak some English but not necessarily have the vocabulary to under stand your symptoms and vice versa.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120165441#Comment_120165441

Part of the issue is that what we call "High" German in Switzerland, what you learn in school and on courses, is not the mother tongue of most people in the Germanic part of Europe. So they are still having to speak a "foreign" language to you.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120165450#Comment_120165450

And how would 8 weeks in Thailand help the OP decide if they wanted to live in mainland Europe or not???

daheff

what languages do you speak? Maybe try go to one of those countries to improve the language?

Or depending on what you are upskilling to, maybe try live in the country you are thinking of moving to in the future? Get a better feel for how the country is. You may find you love it or hate it and change your mind on going there.

emilymemily

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120165183#Comment_120165183

Thanks for replying, this sounds wonderful but while ill have a bit of income to fall back on im by no means rich or well off so will definitely need to work while there to keep myself afloat but taking German classes will be top of my priorities.

Mimon

Over 20 years ago worked for an agency in the Netherlands who provided accommodation with the job. Was an Irish agency and can't find them now but this company seems to offer something similar. https://recruitment.fhs.jobs/en.Dutch not required for most jobs and they offer Dutch lessons.

Most jobs are basic - Flower cutting etc. but you will get experience of living and working on the Continent.

Can't vouch for this company but worth a look. I had a great experience and ended up staying in NL for two years.

emilymemily

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120165441#Comment_120165441

Thank you, yes I was thinking that initially I would work in a bar or cafe, id much prefer a cafe but will take what I can get. Duolingo is great, theres so many online resources. I don't speak any other languages so it will be a new learning experience for me but luckily I love to learn new things.

Ive been to France a few times and it's lovely but don't see myself living there.

emilymemily

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120165450#Comment_120165450

Thanks but this is too far for me and the flights alone are out of my budget, besides that Thailand/South Asia never really appealed to me, id like to see Cambodia but would never consider living there. I think ill stick with my initial plan of mainland Europe.

emilymemily

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120165913#Comment_120165913

Thanks, yes this is what im doing. Im thinking of going somewhere for 8 weeks and see how I feel about it, ill come back to Ireland to finish my masters and then all going to plan, the idea is that ill make a more permanent move. I think 8 weeks is a good amount of time to figure out if I like a place or not.

emilymemily

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120165339#Comment_120165339

Oh wow I didnt know this, im so clueless about the UK now since Brexit, I suppose that narrows it down then, Edinburgh is off my list 😂

emilymemily

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120165236#Comment_120165236

I understand that language will be barrier but im not the first person to move abroad and face this problem, it will be a struggle but im. determined, open minded and love to learn new things. I will likely connect with some sort of expat group so I can ask questions about navigating the local system & what better way to learn a language than to be immersed in it.

emilymemily

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120166517#Comment_120166517

Thank you 🤗

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120166512#Comment_120166512

For EU citizens the German government usually covers part of the costs that is why I suggested the Goethe Institute...

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120166628#Comment_120166628

You will have to get the appropriate social security number no matter which country you move to, as well as registering your presence in the locality in some countries, joining their healthcare system, paying taxes annually as opposed to PAYE and so on.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120166613#Comment_120166613

It will take you at least a year to get over the culture shock etc.... and figure out if you it's for you or not. Things you take for granted you'll have to relearn - the location of everything, which brands of tea, coffee, butter etc you prefer, which supermarkets you prefer and given the products available what meals you can cook at a reasonable price. Every country has it's "comfort foods" and the prices of these products tend to be cheaper than other options, so it's important to adjust to the local norms if you want to keep your living costs down. Yes of course these days you can get most of the foods you are used to at home in the expat community, but it is usually a lot more expensive that how the locals live.

For instance people in Switzerland don't eat much lamb, so there are limited options and it is expensive, where as pork is widely consumed and there are many good cheap options, so if you want to save you need to adjust your habits if you eat lamb or accept the extra costs. Bread is another one people often find difficult to come to terms with - yes there are lots of options in the bakers but none like what you are used to and it will take time to try out those options and decide which one you like and so on.

I have seen a lot of people come and go over the years and most the leave early just don't give themselves enough time to adjust before deciding if it is right for them

notAMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120165892#Comment_120165892

Yeah I know, and even the Schweizdeutsch is so localised it changes every 30km or so, and isn’t written. I’ve ended up with what sounds like an abomination I’d say. 😂😂 My high German teacher told me to stop talking like an infant once, I was using the Swiss version of a few words (+li) and had picked up the Swiss version of the “ch” sound and some of the vowels.

For added interest we have French and Italian vocabulary stirred into Swiss here and there too. Velo rather than Fahrrad, some people use ciao rather than Tschüss etc. Even what coffee to order, different town, different word.

Ah it’s a big ould world out there!

OP I hear international schools are hiring more Irish that UK teachers at the moment since brexit.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120168647#Comment_120168647

I am comfortable with three dialects - Zürich, Basel and Bern. But once you got a few of them understand say Dutch for example is not too bad.