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Nowadays, taking a gap year after high school is very trendy. Over a year or two, some gain work experience and save money, and others will study for an entrance exam to ensure they get into the school of their dreams. But travelling abroad is an even more exciting and memorable way to spend your year off. There is a system called a working holiday, where you can combine travel and work. A working holiday is an opportunity for you if you are 18–35 years old and you want to both travel and work at the same time. With a working holiday visa, you can explore Australia, New Zealand or the USA for a maximum of 12 months. It is a great chance to visit a new country for a longer period of time and get to know the country’s authentic side by working there. With a regular tourist visa, you can usually stay in a country for up to three months only. A visa is a legal document which is generally attached to a passport. You get different types of visas: a travelling visa, a study visa or a working visa, for example. In certain countries, you need to apply for a visa to have a vacation there or to be able to work there. Studying abroad usually requires a specific study visa.

There are some specific restrictions in each country. For instance, you can’t be over 30 years old if you want to have a working holiday in Australia. In New Zealand, you can extend your stay by three extra months if you have worked three months on a farm during the first year. Typical working holiday jobs are, for example, hostel cleaner, waiter, tour guide, ski instructor or farm worker. One typical job in the USA is a camp counsellor. As a camp counsellor, you get to spend a summer in a children’s summer camp, where you can help campers with their daily activities such as football, swimming or even horseback riding.

With a working holiday visa, you can finance your travels during your stay, so you don’t necessarily need considerable savings to travel abroad. During your working holiday, it is recommended to mainly focus on your adventures and explorations. The idea is not to make a lot of money or to gain specific work experience. It is okay to do some hostel cleaning when you can spend your free time on a surfboard, doing bungee jumping or skiing down the slopes. A year overseas will be an excellent addition to your CV and broaden your options later in life.

A working holiday can potentially be one of the best decisions of your life. It can define your future and open doors that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. With this opportunity, you can travel around a foreign country, create lifetime memories, gain cultural knowledge and language skills, and of course, make many new friends from all around the world. But the most crucial fact of all is that you will get to know yourself and this world much better.

1 What is popular after high school?
a) Studying at a university
b) Spending a year away from studies
c) Having a huge party

2 How do people usually spend their gap year?
a) Working and studying for entrance exams
b) Dreaming about life
c) Thinking about their strengths and weaknesses

3 What is a working holiday?
a) A system for young adults to work and travel simultaneously
b) A vacation where you pay to work
c) A holiday which you spend working

4 What is a visa?
a) A leisure passport
b) A payment card
c) A formal document for entering the country

5 When do you need a visa?
a) Studying or working in a foreign country
b) Entering a foreign country for leisure reasons
c) All of the above

6 How can you stay in New Zealand for 15 months?
a) Apply for an extended visa within three months
b) Work, for example, with cattle for three months
c) Pay three months’ salary

7 What is a typical place for a working holiday occupation?
a) The tourist industry such as restaurants and hotels
b) The education field such as schools and nurseries
c) Social services and health care such as hospitals

8 What does a camp counsellor do?
a) Mow the lawn for the camper vans
b) Clean the camping ground
c) Help and guide campers

9 What is said about the cost of a year-long working holiday?
a) You need to have savings of up to 10 000 €.
b) You don’t need to be wealthy.
c) You should focus on earning money.

10 What is one benefit of a working holiday?
a) You will miss opportunities.
b) You can wait a year before studying again.
c) It will increase your cultural awareness.