I’ve decided to take a career break to live, work and travel in Australia for up to a year. There. I said it. Unlike a friend of mine who wrote a terrific post about why she did not quit her job to travel, I am adding my name to the ever-growing list of female travelers taking on the world rather than the cubicle, wedding ring, or baby carriage. Don’t get me wrong – I want all of those things – I’m just going to get to them a little later in life.
2015 marks my 30th year in the world and, as I rang in the New Year, I spent some time reflecting on who I am, where I’ve been, and where I’m going. It was easy to feel a bit inadequate. Here I am, about to turn 30, single, and by societal standards, off-track. I’ll admit that when I was younger, I expected I would be married with kids at this point in my life but this is not the hand I’ve been dealt. I decided I had two choices: 1. Feel sorry for myself and wait for my “prince” to find me or 2. Do something different. As you can reasonably infer based on the first line of this post, I chose option 2.
While I’ve been contemplating all the possibilities of this adventure for over 3 months now, I have only recently begun sharing this idea with friends, my bosses and coworkers, and even family members. It was difficult for me to say it out loud; I’ve been overcome with worry, sadness, guilt, and fear at times. However, I am realizing the more I talk about it, the more real and exciting it becomes. Sure, there are still piles and piles of details and logistics to figure out — When will I leave? How much money will I need? Where will I store my belongings? What will I do with my car? How will I find jobs? Where will I stay? Will I be alone the whole time? When will I come back? — but I feel confident in my decision and trust that it will all work out. I imagine there will be plenty of future posts which answer these questions as well as share my struggles and successes along the way. Nevertheless, I will do it all for the joy, experiences, and personal growth that comes with traveling.
It is likely that I will head to Oz in the late summer (winter in Australia!) and I plan to maintain this blog throughout my journey abroad. I’d love to share my travel adventures with you so please save this page and follow along! In the meantime, I will continue to share my planning process as I navigate the “how-to” of the Australian Work and Holiday Visa.
Work & Holiday Visa Resources:
Work and Holiday Visa – Australia
http://www.ytravelblog.com/working-holiday-australia-visa-2/
Follow Ali in Oz with Bloglovin
ALI IN OZ 
Fo-Fi, It takes incredible courage to do what you are attempting. I admire your sense of adventure. The candid way in which you’ve shared all the emotions you are feeling with this decision, is something I envy. I’m glad you are not sitting around, waiting for something to happen to you. Instead, you are going out into the world to find out what kind of trouble you can get into. I wish you all the luck in the world! I hope you will meet up with us in London in 2017 for the New Year’s parade. Remember there is always a home for you here in New Orleans.
~M&M
LikeLike