So after the Winter 2009 (or possibly 2010, I'm trying to plan quite far ahead here to ensure maximum win) term, I'd like to go abroad somewhere in Europe to work for 2-4 months. I am very aware that there are thousands of websites that could help me out here, but thats just the problem -- there are thousands of websites! It's hard to tell which are worth looking into and which aren't.

I'm not looking for some sort of fancy, well-paying job, I'd rather just do it for the experience. I have 4 years experience in the restaurant industry, and a year in hospitality, so even if I didn't speak the language of whatever country I end up in, I'll have certain skills that will make the language thing not a huge problem. I also have 6 years of French under my belt, and though I haven't retained a lot of it, I could probably pick it up fairly quickly. I'm also studying Spanish at an intermediate level. I've been to Europe a few times, I understand the various cultures and whatnot to some degree, and I realize living and working in Europe isn't the fairy tale many North Americans make it out to be.

Basically, what I'm trying to say is that I'm not one of the other few hundred posters who've made threads here asking for advice on how they can automatically get citizenship in some western European country and immediately become surrounded by drugs and women :D.

I don't know where to start here, it's rather overwhelming. I know I'd have to go through quite a process just to legally be able to work over there (hence why I'm planning 8 months in advance). Hopefully there is a Canadian here who can help me?

I'm thinking I could perhaps arrange some sort of housekeeping work at a hostel, in exchange for a bed and a little spending money.

Besides hostels, I'd be more than happy to work in a kitchen, hotel, or call centre, or perhaps do general labour (street sweeping or something to that tune).

To be specific about the were exactly I'd like to work, countries with high percentages of English speakers would be preferable (I am definitely much more comfortable with English rather than French or Spanish), so I'm thinking the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, or Germany.

So,

Specific Questions:

How the fuck would a Canadian go about entering some sort of guest worker program in any of the countries mentioned above? I'm surrounded by guest workers at my current job, so it can't be that hard. Anybody have experience here?
Does anybody recommend any specific hostels I could work in? Or any areas in general in which I would be able to easily find work, given my experience?
Any specific websites you know of that are credible which offer answers to my questions?


Sorry, I know these kind of threads tend to be frequent and ambiguous. I'm just looking for general tips, obviously I'll have to do a lot of research on my own, and my University does have a program not terribly asimilar to what I'm going for here (alas, it's fucking expensive) ... but wouldn't it just be great if I could get some help from someone here?

Thanks.

1.) http://www.swap.ca/

2.) The title that you're looking for is "working holiday". There is plenty of information on these sorts of trips and organizations that will handle all your paperwork for a fee. However, be aware that you can do your own paperwork and skip the fee.

3.) http://www.hihostels.com/ will allow you to find a hostel in most any location.

Good luck.

Wow, thank God for totse and Euda. swap.ca looks perfect, nice and straightforward. Thank you so much!

Thank you Euda. Static, I'd like to do this as well. Maybe we can meet up. *Heavy breathing*

<3 =]

and as for finding a hostel when I was in Europe I used hostelbookers.com

Usually got discounts and shit.

AND FUCK, EUDA. I'm American, not Canadian.

Thanks anyway though broski.

AND FUCK, EUDA. I'm American, not Canadian.

God damn right, Canada comes first, but here's one for you. http://www.transitionsabroad.com/

Yeah, I love America Junior too, just as much as the next man. <3 Ha.

Thanks for the linky!