I know this might sound like a troll post, but it's really not.

I graduate from college in about 5 months (December). I've been sort of going through college thinking that I'd evntually figure out what I want to do with my life, or at least with my life-after-graduation, but so far I hadn't really found anything that I got excited about. I'm an English major with a minor in Psychology and "clusters," which are mini-minors, in Mass Comm and Art, mainly photography. I spent a semester abroad in Coleraine, Northern Ireland (thus my Fodors' sn), and I absolutely fell in love with it. I desperately want to return to it (I miss shopping for groceries at Tesco and driving on the "wrong" side of the road and all that... d'oh!)Anyway, I didn't really think any of this lead to any sort of career path- not enough experience in some fields, not enough interest in most.

The one thing that has not changed in my life since I was about 5 is my love to travel. I love all of it, even when things go awry like lost luggage or getting mugged on the last few days of studying abroad and thus not having money to get down to Belfast Airport (yeah, that was not so great, but at least it's an interesting memory).

So, I realize this post is getting long, so I'll get to my point: my mom suggested I look into being a tour guide, especially to Ireland/UK since I am most familiar with those areas, and something inside of me clicked. I'd never thought about it before, and now I can't stop thinking about it.

So, if anyone out there is a tour guide and can give me advice, or is close to a tour guide and can give me advice, please, please, post here, or e-mail me at [email protected] (I created it specifically to communicate on this issue so that it won't matter it spam starts to get sent to it!)

Oops, forgot after previewing my message to edit this in:

Thank you for reading this and helping!

Scared College Kid

You can contact the Irish Tourist Board as a start. But many places prefer natives/locals.

Do you have any special talents? If you are very fit, you can inquire at Backroads, an American active vacation company. They specialize in bicycling and do have some hiking trips all over the world, including the UK/Ireland.
You will have to demonstrate excellent physical abilities and people skills as you will be going every step of the way (and then some) with the guests.

Also you will need a work permit and a visa to work in Ireland/UK. If you are an American, it is not that easy to get.

Hit the return button too soon.

Good luck with your quest. I wish I had the chance to do this after I finished college and before I started on the career path.

Have a friend that knows 5 other languages. She also is an expert Black Jack dealer. Therefore, she travels, stays for a while and has two jobs instantly! She does tours in the day and deals at night! She has traveled/lived all over Europe.

See my response on the Europe board that you consider travel writing...

FYI:
You should consider the tour guide job as a sideline and think of what you can do to pay the rent (waitress, etc). It is actually difficult to make a living wage being only a tour guide. The prime season is very limited (mostly late spring to early fall). You may not be paid well and be somewhat dependent on tips. Tipping is not a common custom in Ireland.