I'm Moving to Ireland on a Working Holiday Authorization!

Hi everyone! I will start by apologizing for ghosting all of you last summer at the end of my solo backpacking trip. I tried many times to write about my experience during my final chunk in Austria, Germany, and Ireland, yet I found myself continuously sitting in complete avoidance and denial that the trip was coming to an end. The few days before my flight home, I spent most of my time frozen in my hotel room, attempting to process the fact that the best thing that ever happened to me was about to no longer exist. And when I landed in Minnesota, I was WRECKED. I wanted nothing more than to return to where I was, specifically to Ireland.

My travels last summer inspired every single action I took this year to be aimed towards acquiring a Working Holiday Authorization (WHA) in Ireland, which allows those from outside the country to travel and work there for up to a year. I jumped through all of the hoops, did endless research, and worked long days in order to meet the requirements. This was the one thing I actually wanted to do amidst the lack of direction and confusion I felt towards a career path. It was challenging to feel the pressure to "figure out" what I wanted to do for a job, when all I truly felt was this pull to the Emerald Isle. And you know what, it's okay to admit when you're confused and unsure of what you want to do with your life. Normalize that, how about it?

Fast forward to this very day at this exact moment. I'm sitting in the MSP Airport, about to fly my booty to Ireland. I DID ITTTTTT!!!! And may I admit that it was NOT an easy feat, and I am that much more proud of myself for enduring loads of turbulence to get here.

From September until December, I'll be volunteering through a company called Worldpackers at different home stays in exchange for food and accommodation. During that time, I'll be applying to jobs in Ireland, and hopefully one will stick :) I have longterm plans of pursuing a degree in Ireland after my WHA is up, but more on that later.

Okay, tootaloo for now, thanks for reading, talk to you later!!!

Love,

Molly