Post by silverhammer on Jul 18, 2012 12:39:57 GMT -5
So my work has a policy where you can take leave with income averaging. They'd take about $150-200 off my paycheck every time and in exchange I can take off about 3-4 months. I've been with my company for two years but only transferred to this location about 6 months ago. I really enjoy my work, but it's been my dream forever to live and work in London. I was thinking about taking next spring or summer off and going to work in a pub and live with roommates, which is something I never got to experience. It's not a big deal to take this time off, there's two people on my team of 8 who are both on leave for 8 weeks this summer, so it's not bad for career advancement or unheard of taking this leave. I'm mainly concerned because I have a mortgage and am always scared to pull the trigger on these kind of decisions! I can get a working holiday permit for England until I'm 30 and I'm 25 now. Would anyone else consider doing this? Or is this the kind of crazy thing adolescents who want to avoid growing up do? haha
Post by EmilieMadison on Jul 18, 2012 12:52:22 GMT -5
I'd do it in a heartbeat, but getting a work visa may be harder to get if your plan is to work in a pub... Have you considered getting a student visa and taking classes in the UK? That might be the way to go.
ETA: sorry, I didnt realize you're Canadian- the holiday work visa permit isnt available for US citizens as far as I know, so that's why I was being a debbie downer
Post by amberlyrose on Jul 18, 2012 12:53:38 GMT -5
I'd do it. DH and I talked about saving money up and moving to Europe or Australia for 8-12 weeks but now he's all high up in the corporate chain so I don't think it's an option right now.
Can you vacation rental your home at the time to cover extra expenses? I guess that depends on where you live, but it may be something to look into.
If you'll still be earning a paycheck and it will cover your mortgage then I would definitely do it. Do you know anyone in England? If you'd be able to line up a job beforehand then there wouldn't be a doubt in my mind about doing it. That sounds awesome!
Post by silverhammer on Jul 18, 2012 13:10:55 GMT -5
The only reason I would consider roommates is because the rent in London terrifies me! And I desperately want to make British friends so I can have people to stay with when I go there. haha I was also thinking of maybe working in a hostel for two months and then travelling for the other two months. I'm still in touch with one girl that works at the hostel I stayed at a few months ago, so that's a possible connection. I want so desperately to do this! I guess the only thing holding me back is my own fears! My mom even said she'd take my cat for the few months I'm gone. haha
Amberly, I didn't even think about vacation rental! I live in a nicer area Vancouver suburb so this could be something worth looking into!
Honestly? No, I wouldn't do this. I'd worry that taking such a long leave would negatively impact my upward mobility. And while it sounds like a lot of fun, and an amazing experience, it also sounds like something that should have been done in one's late teens.
Honestly? No, I wouldn't do this. I'd worry that taking such a long leave would negatively impact my upward mobility. And while it sounds like a lot of fun, and an amazing experience, it also sounds like something that should have been done in one's late teens.
Call me old-fashioned!
OLD FASHIONED!! (or just a wet blanket!!) And why would this have to be done in one's late teens? And if they didnt, then it's "too bad, so sad"? Bah! Mid-20s is the PERFECT time to do something like this.
Honestly? No, I wouldn't do this. I'd worry that taking such a long leave would negatively impact my upward mobility. And while it sounds like a lot of fun, and an amazing experience, it also sounds like something that should have been done in one's late teens.
Call me old-fashioned!
OLD FASHIONED!! (or just a wet blanket!!) And why would this have to be done in one's late teens? And if they didnt, then it's "too bad, so sad"? Bah! Mid-20s is the PERFECT time to do something like this.
Maybe. I dunno. If I had a mortgage, I wouldn't feel ok with going to another country for several months to tend bar and live with British people!
I'll make my stance even more flame-worthy and say that I'd feel differently about it if the OP was continuing education, getting work experience that related to her career, doing some sort of service project etc.
(And before anyone goes there, I'm not knocking bartenders. I love bartenders. My boyfriend's a bartender.)
Post by silverhammer on Jul 18, 2012 14:23:16 GMT -5
Does it help if my mortgage is only 1/4 of my take home pay? I dunno.. I was married in my late teens. My life is just opposite from everyone else's. I am career minded, so that's my main hesitation. Would 3-4 months impact that too much, though? Especially when nearly everyone I work with has taken this kind of leave before? My mentor took a whole year off (and he's in his 30's!) haha
Thanks for the other side of the coin, though GOZF.
Ok, if your mentor did this, and he continues to do well at the company, that makes a difference to me. I'd sit down and have a really candid talk with him about how he feels that choice effected his career. If it's no big thing, then it's no big thing.
Also, please keep in mind that I'm the girl who didn't study abroad b/c I worried that being off campus for a semester would cost me the position of editor in chief of our college newspaper. So, this is an area in which I'm incredibly boring and cautious.
I have all the books I could need, and what more could I need than books? I shall only engage in commerce if books are the coin. -- Catherynne M. Valente