When the suspended platform began shaking in the wind – quivering, just like my hands, from the chilled tension – I glanced at Kelli’s fingers. Hers twitched as well. We were both just minutes from leaping off a 134 meter stage with an elastic rope tied around our ankles; and at that moment, I knew there was no one else I wanted next to me.
Going on a working holiday visa with friends has its benefits: like sharing the gut-wrenching plummet of a bungy jump, screaming out in a language only your companion will recognize.
Yet it isn’t easy taking a friendship from home and moving it abroad for a year of employment. You can’t always rush into it, and you can’t always make it work. There will be unforgettable shared moments, and uncomfortable hours of animosity. If you’ve found someone you want to travel and work with, talk to them about your expectations, goals and plans. And consider the pros and cons before you book a one-way ticket.
“Travel with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone.” – from The Dhammapada
Pros:
- You’re never alone. Moving to a foreign country can be frustrating at the worst of times, and it’s often better to have someone to share your adventures and struggles with. When cutting through the red tape of applying for a tax file number, registering your mobile sim card, or even joining the local library, two minds can overcome language and bureaucratic barriers together.
- You can share. Many of the start-up costs – accommodation, a vehicle, meals and internet – are easy to share, and make your first few weeks of job hunting a lot cheaper. Shared rooms knock down your weekly rent prices, and halving petrol for a car will allow you to take more trips on the weekends.
- You’ve already made one friend. Forget those awkward eat-alone meals in the hostel kitchen. If you go on a working holiday with a companion, you’ve already got someone to hang out with. While you’ll certainly meet more characters along the way, having a sidekick makes the quiet moments easier.
Cons:
- You might have different working standards. Your friend is willing to try any sort of job, but you’ve got a specific degree you want to use; or, maybe you don’t mind hands-on labor while your friend refuses to leave an office setting? Sometimes it’s impossible to actually work in the same environment, and this can cause trouble between two people with different ideals.
- You’re never alone. While it’s wonderful to have a built-in friend wherever you go, it can also be a wall between you and strangers. Especially if that friend is unwillingly to meet other people or explore independently.
- You might have different traveling standards. You’re on a tight budget, but your friend has no spending limits; or, maybe you love wandering the town at night, while he/she wants to sit inside and read? These little habits can quickly trip up the best of traveling companions and lead to fighting later on.
- You may meet someone else. Along comes a dashing local, and you’ve soon changed your plans to incorporate a new partner. Creating a third-wheel situation stresses even the tightest of friendships and takes away from the fun of international romance.
So, before you go:
- Outline your budgetary options: How much money are you willing to spend, how much are you hoping to earn in wages, and what sort of spending habits could cause a rift between you and your companion?
- Consider your traveling styles: Chances are, both of you already know which characteristics irk the other person at home; now, think about how these may be exacerbated in a foreign location. Suggest the best way for both of you to communicate concerns and address little pet peeves before they threaten to grow bigger.
- Put a few travel plans down in writing: By physically putting a destination or job opportunity on paper, it becomes a sort of contract that both of you can respect and adhere to.
- Agree to disagree: It’s not always possible to find employment together, or share a flat, and you’ll need to be open to Plan B when this happens. If you realistically consider this from the start, you’ll both adapt much quicker and stay friends throughout.
- Discuss what happens if Mr/Miss Right comes along: Who can begrudge a friend the chance to find the right partner? Beware of jealousy and resentment from the start, and be ready to accept a significant other if one comes along.
- Be supportive: No matter what, appreciate the brave and free-spirited friend who’s agreed to tackle this working holiday visa with you! Acknowledge his/her differences, celebrate his/her strengths, and support the decisions you both make as you work and travel together.
What advice do you have for someone going on a working holiday visa with friends?
~Until the next adventure! ~ Kelli