Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomadism
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Italy
      • France
      • UK
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Panama
      • Costa Rica
      • Nicaragua
      • Honduras
      • Belize
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
    • Others
      • North America
      • South America
      • Australia
      • Africa
      • Asia
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomadism
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Italy
      • France
      • UK
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Panama
      • Costa Rica
      • Nicaragua
      • Honduras
      • Belize
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
    • Others
      • North America
      • South America
      • Australia
      • Africa
      • Asia
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
👤

LIFE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR EXPATS, DIGITAL NOMADS, AND DREAMERS.

  • Your Escape Plan

The Risks and Rewards of Living Abroad on a Working Holiday Visa

  • October 24, 2014
  • BY EA Editors
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

I’ve done the teaching abroad thing, spending a year and a half in Seoul, and—make no mistake—I enjoyed every minute. However, when I began thinking about my next adventure, the idea of signing a year-long contract, and spending countless hours in a classroom singing the ABCs or teaching uninterested students about past and future tense, just didn’t appeal to me.

I wanted something new, an experience that would be entirely different from my previous stint living abroad. I also wanted flexibility: Flexibility in the job I chose, and flexibility in where I chose to live. My fondest travel memories are of the times I spent navigating my way through Southeast Asia without much of a plan. I had freedom. I didn’t have obligations or anything tying me down to one place. That’s why I applied for a working holiday visa to Japan. Working holiday visas are extremely easy to get if you’re from one of the qualifying countries. Have a valid passport, be between 18-30, have airfare to and from the country you choose and some money in the bank, and you’re essentially set. For Canadians the processing time takes just about a week, and that’s that: You’re free to head off to your new country. As I said, that’s the easy part.

If a working holiday visa is the route you choose to take, keep in mind that you will have to do everything—apartment hunting, job hunting, and getting set up in general—on your own. I can’t speak from experience, but I’m sure that major cities like Tokyo or Osaka have tons of opportunities for work. However, I’m in the country side, or at least compared to a mega city like Seoul, it’s the countryside.

It was my choice to come to Mihara, the town I currently live in, nestled between mountains and sea, in Hiroshima prefecture. I had a friend here already, a Korean guy that I’d met in Seoul. I was probably a little naive, thinking that the transition would be smooth, and that work and accommodation would come quickly. However, I spent the first three weeks crashing on the couches of stranger who have now become close friends.

When funds allowed it, I stayed in capsule hotels. It should be noted that Mihara doesn’t have a traditional capsule hotel. Instead, it offers a bed with a paper thin curtain. If you can get over the constant snoring, and the sounds of farts and burps in the night, then it’s really no problem.

It took a little longer than I wanted, but my friend and I found an apartment and I found a job teaching English. The apartment was nice and small with limited privacy, but it suited me fine. However, I cannot say many good things about the job. Between the two plus hour train rides to and from work every day, and spending nine hours teaching English in shopping centres to children as young as a couple of months old, I decided that it wasn’t for me. Quitting was probably not the smartest idea, but perpetual travel has taught me how to be frugal. Luckily I can survive on ramen, cigarettes and the ever important morning coffee.

As I’m writing this, I’m on the train ride home back from an interview at a coffee shop. I’m pleased to say that I got the job and I start work this week. I have no false assumptions that this will be easy work. The language barrier will be hard at first and will presumably add a totally new element of difficulty that comes along with learning any new job. However, with diligence and a lot of patience I think I can make it work.

There are undoubtably stresses that come along with moving to another country. Those stresses are magnified when moving on a working holiday visa, but the reward is worth it. You get to have a cultural experience like no other and you have complete flexibility when it comes to what you do for work and where you choose to live. It’s very comforting to know that there isn’t a school principal at a school holding a visa and an apartment over my head. It’s also nice to get outside of the ESL bubble that many people get trapped in. My most enjoyable times in Korea were when I was hanging out with my Korean friends, or hanging out with other foreigners that didn’t just sit around complaining about their “crazy co-teacher” or “student from hell.”

All in all, I recommend working holiday visas. If you have an open mind, and are willing to deal with the roller coaster of ups and downs, you’ll be just fine.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • Asia
  • East Asia
  • entering the country to work
  • finding a home
  • getting settled
  • Japan
  • teaching English
Previous Article
  • Food + Culture

Typical Food In Paraguay

  • September 11, 2014
  • BY EA Editors
View Post
Next Article
  • Australia

Renting or Buying in Australia

  • April 24, 2015
  • BY EA Editors
View Post
You May Also Like
Tourist visas remain the simplest path to setting foot abroad.
View Post
  • Plan B
Living on a Tourist Visa – How Long Can You Stay?
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • June 4, 2025
Moving abroad can be a fresh start—but only if you do it with your eyes wide open.
View Post
  • Plan B
Moving Abroad to Reinvent Yourself
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • May 28, 2025
Residency programs worldwide are undergoing rapid transformation.
View Post
  • Second Citizenship
Beyond the Golden Visa – The Future of Residency
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • May 7, 2025
Not all retirements are created equal—especially when taxes are involved.
View Post
  • Plan B
How to Retire Tax-Free Abroad
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • April 23, 2025
Choosing the right country can shape your investment strategy.
View Post
  • Plan B
How to Secure a Second Home Overseas
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • April 18, 2025
The good life in Belize.
View Post
  • Belize
The Plan B Strategy—Securing Lifestyle and Liberty in Belize
  • BY Michael K. Cobb
  • April 5, 2025
Investors diversify globally to protect their future.
View Post
  • Plan B
Why Every Investor Needs a Plan B Abroad
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • April 3, 2025
Tallinn, Estonia is Europe’s digital gateway for borderless business.
View Post
  • Plan B
The Best Countries for Financial Freedom
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • April 1, 2025
Trending Posts
  • Auckland’s peace begins with the landscape. 1
    • Field Notes
    Falling for Love and Life in Auckland
    • June 2, 2025
  • Moving abroad can be a fresh start—but only if you do it with your eyes wide open. 2
    • Plan B
    Moving Abroad to Reinvent Yourself
    • May 28, 2025
  • A new generation claims space through movement. 3
    • Africa
    How Ethiopia’s Girls Are Rewriting the Rules on Wheels
    • May 30, 2025
  • A large mural adorns the exterior of the London Graphic Centre. 4
    • Art & Culture
    The Coolest Art Scenes Around the World
    • May 26, 2025
  • Tourist visas remain the simplest path to setting foot abroad. 5
    • Plan B
    Living on a Tourist Visa – How Long Can You Stay?
    • June 4, 2025
Know Before You Go
  • A new generation claims space through movement. 1
    • Africa
    How Ethiopia’s Girls Are Rewriting the Rules on Wheels
    • May 30, 2025
  • Residency programs worldwide are undergoing rapid transformation. 2
    • Second Citizenship
    Beyond the Golden Visa – The Future of Residency
    • May 7, 2025
  • A typical crosswalk in Tokyo. 3
    • Blue Zone
    Top 10 Things to Know if You’re Moving to Japan
    • April 18, 2025
  • Photo courtesy of iStock/Kosamtu. 4
    • Digital Nomadism
    The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Successful Digital Nomad
    • April 16, 2025
  • Every day life unfolds on Australia’s golden sands. 5
    • Australia
    Top 10 Things to Know if You’re Moving to Australia
    • April 7, 2025
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
Why Subscribe

The newly imagined Escape Artist brings you fresh content with a global focus, and sharp, up-to-the-minute coverage of the joys, challenges, and opportunities of life abroad.

For a limited time, we’re offering a special discount on all subscription deals, so be sure to lock-in these incredible savings and start receiving top-notch travel and expat content today!

Sign up for the EA Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Escape Artist
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Newsletter Subscription
Our Spring Sale Has Started

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/