Buying Travel Actually Makes You Richer

Captain James Cook was about 19 years older than me when he first discovered Australia. I was 23 years old, and pretty much didn’t know what to do with my life so I booked a flight to Australia ‘the land down under’ and applied for a Working Holiday Visa. People told me that Australia would be an easy country to travel, work, and meet new people – even if you’re travelling alone. And they were right!

I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t think about it at all to be honest. I just jumped on that plane, and moved from Sweden to the other side of the world; I didn’t know what to expect. I took a risk and, to be honest, Australia wasn’t one of the countries to tick off my bucket list, but I couldn’t have been happier! It was the best decision I have ever made in my life and I wouldn’t change a thing.

This is now my fourth trip to Australia; every time I left, I promised myself I would come back, and so far I have… I lived in a beach house (with 4 Aussies and an American) on the Northern Beaches where I made friendships that I never thought could exist. I’ve worked in a beach side restaurant, and I’ve worked in a local pub in what felt like the middle of the outback in Queensland where I experienced the ‘real local’ life living in a big house in a small country town (‘becoming a local’ in QLD is an unforgettable experience everyone should have!)

Four years later, I am back in Sydney again, doing my internship with the Work and Travel Company and loving every minute of it! It’s been great to use my own experience as a traveller to help WTC members with all their questions, because I really know what they are going through firsthand. I get the opportunity to develop myself and my career, working alongside experts in the industry I love the most: Travel! This beautiful country has so much to offer and there is so much to see and experience. Even having done so much already, I still have plenty more places in Australia I would love to experience one day! Working at WTC, I will get to see so much more of Sydney this time, and create more life long memories for which I will be forever grateful.

I believe everything happens for a reason, and good things do come to those who wait… but they also come to those who go out and get what they want and chase their goals. I believe I achieved mine by getting on that plane all by myself and taking a massive risk: travelling alone, not knowing what to expect. I just believed in myself, and knew that I could do this on my own; if I can do it, anyone can! You just have to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Travel is one of the few things you can buy that actually makes you richer.

My name is Emelie and this is the story of my Australian experience. And it’s just the beginning.