I’m a recent UCLA grad looking to live and work abroad in Europe. However, these days the EU makes it harder than ever for an American to get work. I’m looking for a way to live in various European locations. I’m willing to shove off from one country to another every three months or so (whatever is required by law) but I’d like to be able to travel, and foreign language study is a MUST. A large motivation for me is learning a language while there, preferably French or Italian because I have studied them.
Most of what I read online is discouraging towards Americans trying to live and work in Europe. The TEFL scene was my original plan, but from hearing people’s opinions and stories it sounds like a drag. I enjoy teaching and have experience as an SAT and Algebra instructor so maybe there is a teaching job out there for me someplace. So do you think I could pull off selling stuff on eBay that I find around Europe? WWII items, antiques, chocolate… whatever works wherever I am. I’m pretty eBay savvy and have been selling as a hobbiest for years. I don’t need to make a lot of money, just enough to live, study the language, and experience what’s out there. I know it sounds naive but maybe it could work? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
What about other ideas? Do you know anybody that got work in continental europe with an american company without being bilingual? Should I do an intensive language program in europe and then come back to the US and try to land a job with my nenw language skills? Do you know where the new Prague is? I fancy myself a passable writer, can I find work as a travel writer or write for an american publication in a european contry? Should I show up at Shakespeare and Co. and try to get one of those free rooms for artists? I’d be willing to work in the US for a while if it will help launch a bad ass adventure in Europe (right now I could only muster a few thousand dollars including airfare expenses). I’m even willing to go back to school for a degree that would give me solid options, although at that point I’d like to be able to make some semi-decent money to pay off loans. All this information would be much appreciated and could change my life.
I currently make a decent living selling flea market finds and vintage motorcycle parts on Ebay. I’ve entertained the idea of living in Europe supported by Ebay sales that I would manage from whichever country abroad but actually shipped from my home by a helper of some kind. After a lot of thought, I gave up the idea. It’s hard enough to keep everything straight and everyone happy without having a third party involved.
It’s really difficult to say whether items in Europe would be worth that much more to an American or whoever unless you really know what you’re looking at and know for a fact that the price on offer is a genuine deal. While I take chances on flea market things all the time and rarely get burned, many times the final sale/auction will turn out to not have been worth the time. So largely I stick with old motorcycle stuff. It’s what I know.
If you have such a knowledge nitch and find a source in whatever country you land in, perhaps it will work for you. But keep in mind that Ebay selling IS work, and shipping from Europe is likely to be a difficult pain.
Well I don’t really wanna live in an English speaking area (too many cynical & sarcastic skeptics) so Guinness glasses and Irish turf are right out. My bold plan includes lumps of Italian turf and old Kronenburg glasses. I’ll leave the Irish paraphernalia market to you.
Could you go back to school in a study abroad program? That would give you a chance to do some serious networking, which is a good way to find opportunities. That would also give you a chance to test your ebay idea.
I could, but it seems wasteful to go abroad as a student when I’m not working towards a degree. I don’t have a lot of disposable income at this time in my life. I would be more willing to go just as an intensive language student, which is an option I am considering very seriously. If there was a master’s program in europe which interested me I would think hard about that too.
Don’t want to be a downer, but don’t forget eBay is already full of Europeans shipping any old tat over to the US to buyers who are willing to pay silly prices for it …!
The Council on International Educational Exchange (www.ciee.org) has tons of work-abroad programs. They do charge money, but they have services to match you with overseas employers and facilitate work permits.
They’ve been around for a long time; I’ve studied in Russia twice with their programs, although I’ve never done the work-abroad thing. Good luck!
Another option that occurred to me is volunteer programs. You might find something in the book “Volunteer Vacations.” I seem to remember that some would provide room and board in exchange for your work.