Any advice would be great!!
 

Hey everyone!!

I'm new to the site and I'm happy to be here!

I'm graduating from a military college in May, where I'm an international studies major who studied abroad for a semester and a summer in the U.K. and half a summer in France. Needless to say after doing military stuff for 4 yrs I'm looking forward to getting my freedom back. Anyway......

I've decided that I'm going to backpack and work my way across Europe for a year and a half to 2 years. I'm looking at a September '09 lift off possibly to Wales, Scotland or London because I have a lot of friends over there and would have an easier time finding a job. But I would really like to begin in France, where I was for a month this summer. I speak elementary French at best (but I'm getting better). I was just worried about my French not being good enough before I got there to work. I plan on working mostly temp jobs, anything I can find, working a few months here and there and then moving off to another city, town or country. I've been looking at Paris and places in southern France where I spent most of my time this summer to start. But I'm having an insane time finding a job. I almost think I'll have a better chance at finding a job in person when I arrive. Ideally I want to start off in France somewhere and work my way to Moscow. My tentative route is....
France: Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Marseille, Grenoble
Switzerland: Geneva, Zurich
Austria: Vienna
Germany: Munich, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Berlin
Russia: Moscow

If anyone has ANY advice at all (jobs, transportation, visas, hostels (staying with friends or finding a cheap place to stay) budgeting, ANYTHING, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!

Welcome! I'm an international studies major too!! Sounds like a great plan you have, I'm sure you'll learn a language in that time, if not two or three ;). I can't offer much advice because I've never been to Europe yet, only the Americas.

Welcome to the boards my fellow Charlottean... We've done our share of backpacking, so maybe a beer and discussion is in order!!!

I'd love to. I get home just before Christmas so maybe sometime after Christmas we could get together for a beer.

Welcome.

From what I know of the French economy finding a job will be tough. Full time employees work 35 hours a weeks because there isn't enough work to go around for everyone to have 40 hours a week. Maybe a hostel will employ you for free room and board, but it is doubtful you will find a paying job without inside help. Good luck :thumbup: