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Travelling to Ireland

May 15th, 2012 | Posted by glenn in Traveling - (0 Comments)

Travelling to Ireland

Ireland is a beautiful island with a rich culture for tourists to enjoy so before you pack your bags, here are the top 5 things you should know to enjoy a trip to Ireland.

1)      English is not the (only) official language of Ireland. 

The official language in Ireland is Irish (Gaeilge).  Irish is part of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic family of languages.  Irish is a first language to only about 30000 people most of whom live in the country areas.  You can travel throughout Ireland without needing to use Irish but you may see road signs etc in Irish.  It is advisable to get a map which has place names in both languages if you are planning to travel outside the major cities.

2)      Ireland’s two national sports are Gaelic Football and Hurling.

Gaelic football is described as a cross between soccer and rugby while hurling is the fastest field sport in the world.  You should try to catch a game if you go to Ireland in the summer.

3)      Irish food is very “hearty”. 

Travelling to Ireland

Irish Stew

Almost all traditional Irish dishes are made with meat (especially lamb and pork), potatoes, and cabbage.  Here are a few; Boxty (potato pancakes), Champ (mashed potatoes with spring onions), Coddle (a stew of potatoes, pork sausages and bacon) or Colcannon (mashed potatoes and cabbage).

4)      It is relatively convenient.

The Irish government has been spending a lot of money on modernizing the rail system.  But if you are going to travel by train, try to book your travel in advance for huge savings (sometimes more than 50%).  But if you are booking at short notice be aware that not all special rates (e.g. family rates) are announced online and sometimes booking at the office at the station will be the cheaper option.

5)      You probably won’t need a visa.

If you are from the EU, you only need your passport or national identity card, you won’t need a visa.  Most other countries’ nationals can stay for up to 3 months without a visa.

Don’t forget the best travel advice anyone can give you is to check with your embassy or travel agent before you travel to any new country and notify your embassy if you plan to stay there more than a month.

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Getting a job in Canada

April 26th, 2012 | Posted by glenn in Traveling - (0 Comments)

Like most countries, Canada has a policy of welcoming immigrants who have skill-sets that are needed in Canada.  It may be a bit of a challenge to find the right job and whenever you are looking at working outside your own country, you have to make sure that your expectations are not too high.

Not as taxing

Keep in mind that Canada has a lower income tax than a lot of other western countries so it is important to look at what your income will be after tax.

Living cheaper in Canada

To get a good idea of how much things cost, take a look at one of the online supermarkets and you will see that compared to Europe (not US), food is generally cheaper, housing is considerably cheaper in a lot of cases, petrol and cars are cheaper and power is cheaper although look at how much you will be spending on heat.  All of this means that you will be able to make less and still maintain the same standard of living that you have in your own country.

Getting a job in Canada

If you are looking to migrate, start checking the job boards online to get a good idea of what kinds of jobs are going before you commit to the move.  You can start applying for jobs a couple of months out but if you do so any sooner than that, don’t be discouraged if you get no replies.

Make sure that when you start to apply for jobs, your resident visa is in process and that you have been deemed eligible to apply.  This will mean that potential employers know that they will not be disappointed by last minute upsets.  Getting a job in Canada can be a slow process so leave enough time to get things done.

Adapting to change

As with any change, it is important to keep your mind open to different ways of doing things and different ways of behaving.  Make sure that you do not go there expecting things to be as they are in your home country in order to make the transition more comfortable.

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Moving to London

March 20th, 2012 | Posted by glenn in Traveling - (0 Comments)

London is an incredible place to live and work. It is a fast-paced, modern and culturally diverse city with a very convenient public transport system. Most people moving to London are looking to study or work so here is some basic information about what to expect if you move to London.

Working in London

If you have a British or EU passport then moving to London and work there is much easier. If you don’t, you’ll have to apply for a working visa. Good qualifications help to get a good job in London in finance and high tech for example, but you can also find work easily for low-paid jobs, such as au pair work, working in a pub or a bakery, etc.

Finding a job in London

To find a job in London, you will need a brilliant CV for starters. But on top of that, you will also need to do some walking, a big resume mail out or to visit a lot of forums in order to get your information out there.  Remember, it is a game of numbers, so select the type of company you want to work for and hit as many of those companies as possible.

Studying in London

If you plan to study in London, you will probably have a support network with your institution so don’t be afraid to contact them for assistance. Keep in mind that you will face culture shock and homesickness in the first few months and that is normal so just be prepared for it and make sure that you have someone to turn to when it happens.

Moving to London

It is important to get a National Insurance Number as soon as possible when arriving in the UK.  With that number it is far easier to use the free hospital services. Working in the UK, you will be paying National Insurance (which pays for the National Health Service (NHS) and the state pension) in addition to the normal taxes.

While planning on moving to London, it is highly recommended to make sure your English is up to standard. Contact us and learn English with a British teacher.

Relocating to the USA

March 5th, 2012 | Posted by glenn in Traveling - (0 Comments)

Relocating to the USA is a big change.  It can be intimidating thinking about getting a new job in another country, finding somewhere to live, schools etc.  Here are some steps to making sure that the relocation process goes smoothly:

Be prepared when you relocate to the USA

  • - Start to plan 3-4 months before you intend to move as it takes time to process the visa and to collect all the documents that you need from different places.
  • - Make sure that your passport is not going to expire in the next 10 months.
  • - Get your tax number or social security number from your own country.  Also prepare your references and other proof of work history, your birth certificates and other identification.  If you intend to drive, get an international driver’s license.
  • - Familiarise yourself with the rules and regulations of the US in order to avoid embarrassing incidents.

Having a truly American experience

Once you are in the States, integration should be your primary focus.  Joining clubs, classes or doing volunteer work are all great ways to meet people and to get out of the house so that you quickly get used to your environment.

Your area may or may not have a community of expats (people from your country).  But in my opinion, it is important not to seek out expats in the first couple of months as this may lessen your determination to integrate and let’s face it, you are probably there to improve your English, right?

Integration means getting to know the way Americans think and do things; understanding the American culture.  At first this might get a little lonely for you as everyone goes through the “homesick” stage of being in a new country.  But, it is important not to rely too much on the community of people from your homeland or you will always be looking at the American culture through a “foreign” perspective.

To help you get ready for your relocation to the USA, take some English conversation lessons with an American teacher before your trip.

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Travelling to New Zealand?

August 12th, 2011 | Posted by glenn in Traveling - (0 Comments)

New Zealand is a beautiful country to take a summer vacation or a winter ski trip.  But before you pack your bags, there is one piece of advice that I give to all those who are thinking about going to New Zealand.  Get outdoors!

New Zealand is now famous for its beautiful, untouched landscapes thanks to movies like Lord of the Rings and TV programs like Hercules and Zena.  These programs are filmed in New Zealand because we have loads of undeveloped land which makes it look like the lands of past times.

But New Zealand isn’t just about rolling hills.  It is a land of adventure.  From bungy jumping to black-water rafting, New Zealand is the country for outdoor fun.  My favourites would have to be fishing (some of the best fishing in the world) and snowboarding in the south island.

Most people who go to New Zealand find the people to be very friendly and welcoming.  New Zealanders like to meet foreigners but don’t be offended if Kiwis are not polite when you meet them.  We have a very relaxed culture so encounters with New Zealanders are normally friendly rather than polite.

By the way, one thing you need to know before you go there is the word kiwi.  This word has three meanings.  It is a delicious but hairy fruit.  It is a bird that looks like the fruit when it is curled up and sleeping.  Finally, it is a nationality.  That’s right, we call New Zealanders “Kiwis” just like we call Australians “Ozzies”.

SO don’t forget, when you get to New Zealand, get outdoors!  Don’t spend your time in the city because cities around the world look more and more the same every day.  If you really want to travel a country, see the country!  That is where the beauty of New Zealand is.
Gates of Haast at KiwiWiseScenic Milford Sound at KiwiWise

Get ready for your trip to New Zealand with an online English teacher from New Zealand.