Jonathon Fairclough
Production Editor
People ask me from time to time how I’m able to travel every summer. Most assume that I have charitable kin or that I’m in good stead with credit companies, but the answer is far simpler than that.
Every summer, thousands of jobs open up overseas and every summer, thousands of people make excuses for why they can’t go. Perhaps it’s the North American mentality, a ‘denial of deservedness,’ which convinces us that staying at home and making “real money” at a warehouse or a restaurant is far more feasible than embarking on an odyssey into the unknown.
I concede that travel isn’t for everyone, that some people are indeed satisfied with the home life; I don’t blame them. Unfortunately, for me, there is far too much to see, far too much to digest, and far too much to discover in this small pocket of time that we possess, that remaining still in my free months might as well be a death-sentence.
That might be little dramatic, maybe, but for those of you who relate to that last sentiment, hear me out: getting over there isn’t as hard as you may think.
It comes down to sustainability if you think of it. Many friends of mine have made the mistake of cashing out their OSAP loans, stacking their credit card bills, and plunging into their savings accounts without thinking of how easy it is to travel in a more rewarding way: by working.
Four years ago I needed a change of scenery, and for plenty of reasons. Brandon Hall caught fire and McMaster had paid me a hefty “transportation fee” for the hassle and inconvenience of having to commute from a hotel downtown – so I had money for a plane ticket. I had lost an old friend to cancer and was getting over a long-term relationship that went sour – so I had my motive. I was in a mental grey-area, devoid of any real purpose or direction – so I had my necessity. But one thing I didn’t have was the funds to sustain myself over there, so I did what I had to: I googled “European summer jobs”… it was that simple.
Now it may sound like a longshot but I promise you, it’ll pay off. I spent upwards of six hours my first day getting in contact with every restaurant, hostel, and travel company to inquire about job openings. Every single business that caters to the tourist industry is looking for extra help in the summer: this is a fact. You don’t need to know multiple languages (I’m a shameful Anglophone myself) since English is a general travel language and most places won’t mind one bit.
Don’t be intimidated by contacting companies through any means necessary, or apathetic with following up with them. I
f they don’t have an email to be reached at, call them, what do you have to lose? Haven’t heard back from them in a few days? Call back, keep asking. You have absolutely nothing to lose, thousands of miles away, from being persistent and asking for a job – the worst thing that’ll happen is that they turn you down or ignore you… and who cares about that?
I asked questions, fired off resumés, and gnawed away at the internet. I refused to accept that I couldn’t find a job, I refused to accept the comfort of staying in Canada for another summer; I simply refused. In one week from that first day of job-hunting I had an interview for what was to be my eventual job. Now every summer I travel around the continent and guide trips for a reputable travel company – all food, travel, and accommodation paid for.
Not into guiding trips?
Why not work as a server in a café or a grape-picker in a vineyard? These jobs are a dime a dozen and I have encountered plenty of people who have done it.
They book time off of work and travel on the money they’ve earned, and they’ve had a kick-ass time doing it.
When you work overseas you are enabling sustainability, and you will pay for all of your expenses (including airfare) and you’ll come home with a little money in your pocket and a book full of memories and misadventures.
So, dearest travel companion, if you’re reading this, be sustainable in your adventures. Emptying your savings account and travelling until it runs out is no way to enjoy a life abroad; the thought of being low on funds will interfere with your experiences overseas, trust me, I see it all the time in hostels and campsites. People who don’t have enough money for a meal or a subway ticket because they foolishly wrote a cheque they couldn’t cash.
Instead, dear reader, plan ahead. Find a source of income over there, forget about running out of money, and enjoy the time you have there.
This summer will be my fourth year overseas, and there’s no way I’m slowing down. It happened to me, it could happen to you, start searching and make the dream happen.
Until next time: adios!
Jonathon Fairclough
Production Editor
It’s never how you picture it, is it? The passage of time, that is. The inevitable change of faces, places and circumstance; it goes by far too fast for us to fathom. One minute it’s summer and then it’s winter. I can’t help but see it any other way.
I wrote the first installment of these travel articles back in September with Europe fresh off the platter, the sweet smell and humidity still lingering. I was as lean as a pup, happy as a kid, expectant and optimistic with whatever the world had for me. And then winter came and these stories, once just enjoyable, passing accounts, have become intrinsic to my survival. The characters, the plot, I shamelessly revisit over and over again, and they keep those fleeting moments alive for me. It’s as simple as that.
And with Christmas approaching, you’re hopefully going back to a home with the people who remind you of your own former moments of glory, and there isn’t a better time of year for that. So the people who bring you back home in mind, I thought I’d write about the people I’ve met on the road, the ones who have shaped me into the snot-nosed dreamer I am today.
Andrew
My only sibling, two years my senior. Not only was he there for my first time abroad, he’s been travelling with me every year since. A character in a number of my stories, my brother has said “yes” to every wild plan and detour that I’ve offered. Offering a mature, inspired approach to our travels, the guy has put up with my shenanigans for years on end without the faintest whisper of protest.
Adam and Brienna
I met these two on the first day, the first hostel, and the first city I ever visited, Rome. We were all timid, nervous backpackers without the faintest idea of what were doing. We had similar itineraries, travelling through Italy and, as it happened, we somehow bumped into each other in every single city – even though we had no intentional plans of meeting up again. It’s the biggest practical example of “fate” that I’ve ever been a part of.
Heidi
The reason why I ever went traveling in the first place, Heidi hired me for my guide job and facilitated the biggest turnaround in my spiritual growth. Beyond that, Heidi has let me sleep on her couch for weeks at a time when I was jobless, bought me dinner when I had no money, and has taken me to enumerable spots she loves around Belgium. Heidi is almost 40, works six months a year and travels the rest. I want to do what she does when I’m older.
Neall
We both worked at the same guide job but never did a trip together. In total, I’ve spent no more than two weeks with Neall over the last three years, but they’ve been a crazy two weeks. There’s always that person that bumps the night to an unspeakable level, and that person, for me, is Neall – insane, full of life, not a bad bone in his body. Thank you, Neall, wherever you are.
Trifonas
A Greek outfitter that runs a whitewater rafting and outdoor sport company in the Peloponnese mountains, Trifonas was a guy I looked up to because he does what he loves and every facet of his life exudes this passion. Beautiful girlfriend, great friends and family, unbelievable job, Trifonas has it all. He’d tell me stories of his travels, and the inspiration from this alone could fill a few books.
Woman on the boat, Amsterdam
My first summer was almost over. I’d been travelling for three months, and I decided to spend the last few days in Amsterdam to relax before I flew back to Canada. I was beat tired, lost and a little intimidated by the city, so I grabbed some cheap Indian food and sat on a small canal to eat. Nothing is worse than being lonely in a big city. Floating by in a small boat was a woman, middle-aged and wearing a modest summer dress. She saw me, felt how I was feeling, and gave me the warmest smile and wave I’ve ever received. I wasn’t lonely after that.
Dutch family, Netherlands
I was guiding a bike trip through the Netherlands and had to set up tents at the next campsite before the group arrived. I was new to this job and didn’t know what I was doing, and this Dutch family noticed and helped me. Afterwards, they invited me over for dinner and they gave me everything I wanted: food, drink, company. They said it was their family reunion and they were travelling through the Netherlands, and that, for the night, I was a part of their family. We traded travel stories and the like before my group arrived and I had to go, but not before I gave them some Canadian keepsakes for my gratitude.
Didier
You may have met this guy already in my travel article from last month. I met Didier while couchsurfing and we kicked it off right away. Didier was born blind from birth, but this didn’t stop him. He’s a successful, funny, fantastically intelligent individual who was, and continues to be, a big inspiration to me. We keep in touch, even now, and I’m planning on seeing him when I go back to the UK over the holidays.
Bee Professor, Athens
Yes, that’s right, a professor of bees. I met this man on the Athens metro, and he was curious as to where I was going and what I do. He told me that he has wanted to study and teach about bees ever since he was a child – he was nearly 60. He told me the importance of doing what you love, the importance of good teachers, and why you shouldn’t listen to critics. It was a 20-minute conversation, that’s all, but it’ll stick with me for many years to come.
Ben
I met Ben in Portugal at a surf hostel right at the end of my summer this year. We kicked it off right away and turned every day and every night into one gigantic amusing adventure. Along with my brother Andrew, we surfed all day and drank all night, shared stories about home and covered every topic under the sun. My travel-pack was completely ripped from baggage handlers, all my clothes were falling out, and I was due to fly back to Canada in a few days. Ben brought my pack to the beach and spent three hours sewing the thing until it was in top shape. I swear I could go to war with it and it would never rip again. Thanks Ben, you strange, crazy German.
Mom and Dad
I saved this for last because, to me, they’re the most important. To say these people are understanding is an understatement. They’re the best and biggest influence on my travel life and my home life. Mom and Dad immigrated to Canada when they were 21, so they get what it’s like to be alone in a new country, and were always there if I ever needed them. Unconditional love is a foreign thing in this self-serving generation, and these people give and give and never ask back.
So time flies by, and with winter coming, maybe you should think about the people that have turned life around for you. Better yet, write about them, even if it’s just for yourself, and reminisce about what they’ve done for you and your journey.
That’s all, folks. Go be with your families, go get inspired, and maybe, just maybe, plan your next trip. Happy holidays to all my readers, and thank you.
