NeoPatrick

If anyone has asked this, I missed it. What kinds of jobs have you held at home during high school?

Jolie

In theory, "working your way across Europe" sounds romantic. In reality, scrubbing toilets for 14 hours a day just to pay for food and a place to sleep doesn't sound like an enjoyable way to experience Europe.

Mucky

Best of Luck Ash !!
Keep in touch and let us know how you get on.
There are sure to be like minded people here and soon you will be able to answer all those questions so much better than anyone else here could

Good luck mate

Muck

suze

Ash,

By any chance do you speak any other language than English? That would be the first most important thing to help you in seeking work.

Second, by any chance to you have have experience working in restaurants and bars? That's probably one of the easier industries to work under-the-table.

alanRow

<<< Second, by any chance to you have have experience working in restaurants and bars? >>>

At least 100 million people in the EU have skills like that - and many of them will work 18 hours a day for below minimum, and that's before you get the African illegals

If OP has a real skill - something like windsurfing instructor / Scuba diving / etc then there's a chance of being able to work under-the-table and still be able to afford little luxuries like food

bennyb

You don't say what countries you plan to visit, so it's hard to respond.

For example, if you plane to visit France, you must obtain a work visa. You get the work visa by finding work with a French employer. The French employer probably will not hire you unless you have a work visa, so it is a catch-22. Additionally, they must by law hire an equally qualified French person first, then an equally qualified EU citizen, then they may hire other foreigners. So to be hired at all, you must prove that you are MORE qualified than any available French or EU person. This generally will only happen if you are in a highly specialized field, such as, say, nuclear medicine.

Otherwise, it is illegal. I cannot believe your parents would support your decision if they knew you would be starting your adult life as a criminal.

People here are NOT trying to rain or your dreams - they are trying to keep you from becoming a criminal, or perhaps even worse - being at the mercy of others who realize you are committing a crime and will take advantage of that knowledge.

Find a legal job, save money, and enjoy Europe legally.

P_M

Ash, I think it's great that you want this big adventure after high school. Save some $$ and travel as much as you can on your budget. If you don't see everything on your first trip, that's OK because you have a lifetime to explore the world.

Regarding work--that is going to be a challenge. A friend of mine tried this, thinking as you do, that work is easy to come by. He started in London but found no work in Western Europe. Eventually made his way to Crete, where he got his only job on this adventure. He worked picking tomatoes for about $8/day. This was a temp job so when it ended he made his way to Belgrade, as he heard work abounds there. This was bad info and when he got there, he found no work for an illegal alien who doesn't speak the local language. He ended up sleeping outdoors and nearly starved before he finally broke down and called his grandmother for help. She wired him money, most of which he used to come home.

Ash, I truly hope you will travel your butt off in this lifetime. Travel is a great passion for many of us and a tremendous learning experience. But please, do a bit of financial planning, and don't go to Europe with the idea that you can easily find work there. The possiblity might exist, but you should at least have the means to get by and come home if necessary.

All the best to you.

rosetravels

Ash - I don't think anyone mentioned this kind of trip - biking. When my husband and I were 21 we worked waiting tables and such at home for a few months. Saved all our money and flew to London with our bikes. We biked across Europe, camping out (without asking in fields and forests) and bought food at the stores or inexpensive restaurants.

It was super cheap and a great experience. It was easy to meet people biking, as they were curious about what we were doing. We were there 3 months but could easily have stayed longer.

We went from London to Paris then biked across France, Germany, Switzerland to Italy. From Italy we caught a boat to Greece and biked all around. We saw these countries in minute detail and the smell of thyme still reminds me of Greece (26 years ago.)

You won't regret the adventures you'll have. I'm sure you're resourceful and if not, well, hopefully your parents will buy you a plane ticket home!

audere_est_facere

Firstly the big question: Are you a yank? If not what are you? As the rules vary hugely depending on nationality (and if you are a yank then having an Irish granny could make a lot of difference).

There are LOTS of illegal jobs around in Europe for an English speaking young person - such as time share touting and bar and night club boosting in the touristy bits of Spain and bits popular with Brits, especially younger ones (Ibiza, Falaraki, Shagaluf etc). However you would have no legal protection if you get ripped off.

But If I were you I'd do the work at home and bring your wages to Europe.

Anya

By far the best idea would be a study abroad program. It shouldn't cost much more than studying at a university at home and you can learn another language in the process. You can work summers in the US and save up money and travel around Europe after your program is over.

It doesn't sound fun working in some grungy job in Europe, if you can even get it with the competion from people from Eastern Europe and illegal immigrants. I wonder are there au pair programs like they have for European visitors?

amy_zena

"I wonder are there au pair programs like they have for European visitors?"

I don't know about programs, but I do know that the wealthy Italians like having native English speakers as au pairs. I don't know if 18 might be a bit young for this though. The American and English au pairs I know of here in Italy are about 22-ish. And they don't enjoy their job very much...they say they have no money and no free time and that their family expects them also to be the maid. And these families probably wouldn't be interested in hiring an illegal. They would want the proper documents filed with the Italian government.

LJ

Has anyone mentioned the necessity of medical insurance? Eighteen year olds don't get heart attacks, but if you end up in an Italian hospital with a broken leg and no insurance, you are in serious trouble!

amy_zena

LJ, really? My husband said that Italian hospitals treat foreigners without insurance or a national health card free or next to free. He said that's how socialist healthcare works. Have you heard different?

LJ

My response was with regard to a young person who wants to work in italy (and other countries). It has been my experience to either work (legally) or study long-term in Italy, you will be required to register, to get a "permesso" and in both situations you will need proof of medical coverage. I know whenever any of the kids in our care at school in Italy (I was a "don", my husband, a teacher), we had to supply the paperwork. Perhaps you are referring to a tourist situation? I wouldn't want MY kid to take a chance.

WillTravel

I read somewhere or other (either here or SlowTalk) that the Italian government is working on cracking down on tourists who get free medical care. Maybe someone would be lucky, but who knows. And 18-year-olds who seem healthy can indeed develop heart problems, either because they get a bad case of the flu or another infection, or because of an undiagnosed heart defect.

Momliz

ash, how is the planning going? If you're still reading...
Another possibility could be couchsurfing, www.couchsurfing.com, for cheap cool places to stay.
There was an article in the washington post a few weeks back: http://tinyurl.com/2qyxfo, and a series in the NY Times last year or so.
I do hope you can swing it!

merrittm

Ash, I hope you don't abandon this board even tho' the Thorntree is more your agegroup. I would love to hear how your plans go, what you find out, what you decide to do, how your adventures end up... I wish I had traveled more when I was young and unencumbered and I'd certainly love to live vicariously through you. Keep us posted.

cutecanuckabroad

My younger sister did this same thing. She saved up, bought a ticket to the UK and her and a friend went over and lived and worked in Scotland for about a year. You do however have to get all of the necessary paperwork etc. first before you begin. You are only allowed a work visa in the UK once (I could be wrong but this is my understanding) You must have a work visa in every country that you want to work in. As others have said it's illegal to employ a foreigner without proper paperwork.

I kow that my sister had a great time. She lived and worked at a hostel in Scotland, saved up some money while there and went and travelled to some other Countries with her friends. She had a great time but the key here is you do have to be prepared. And going over to live and work in anotehr Country is vastly different than going for a vacation.

Take some time out to look at all of your options and do some budgeting calculations and then see if this is something you want to do.

Best of Luck in your decision.

-Jaz

crefloors

Illegal to employ a foreigner without proper paper work? Hmmm...now THERE's a thought. How DARE they ask for such a thing!!!!!!!