My German teacher a few years ago told us about Airhitch. The site does seem a little unprofessional, I’ll admit, and I don’t know first-hand how legit they are, but my teacher said he had several students who used them and had no complaints, and Airhitch themselves have some testimonials on their site. They can get you from the east coast to Europe for $165 plus taxes and a $29 processing fee. They do require you to be a bit flexible in terms of departure times and such, but such is the price you pay for not paying $2000 in airfare. It sounds to me like strictly adhering to an itinerary is not very important to you anyway.
Ignore this buffoon.
Get your education, save up for a while, and go where you like.
As other folks have noted, getting a work permit would be a challenge, but you might have an easier time bartering work for accommodation. I have a friend who lived in Paris rent-free in exchange for helping the landlord’s kids practice their English, and some hostels will let you stay for free in exchange for a few hours of chores. (Get yourself a copy of Let’s Go: France or Lonely Planet: Europe on a Shoestring if you haven’t done so already – they may have some good leads.)
And yeah, $2,000 is way, way too much to pay for a plane ticket. Find a better deal and save the money for food and housing when you arrive.
Ooh, just checked your profile and saw you were a student – try Council Exchanges for a legal way to get a (temporary) work permit.
Good luck! And don’t listen to what the naysayers say about France – it’s not like you’re going to flippin’ Iraq.
At least the poster is self aware.
Just go go go. Travel really changes the way you see the world. It is life altering in a way that few things are. Take risks, and in your dotage you’ll have some great memories.
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[sup]From one bias straight into another.[/sup][/ul]
That’s exactly what I told him/her to do!
Go.
I did the same thing, (but I picked Germany over France).
It will be the most amazing adventure.
My only rule of thumb that I give to people is to have at least enough money to last two months without working. It doesn’t have to be a lot of money, but you need to get your bearings, sit around in ONE PLACE to meet people and get the word out you are looking for work, etc. The two month financial cushion will allow you to enjoy life while you are planning your short term future.
Have fun, and log in sometime and let us know how you are doing! (Always fun to live it over again, even if it is vicariously.)