Working Holidays..., Germany, Sweden, Austrailia, or New Zeland... Options

[Valo666]

I'm back in school right now for policing and the topic of applying to different police services has come up alot when in conversation with my family and friends. I'm really excited about applying, but I'm not sure that its the right time for me right now. I'm 24 right now and i'll be 25 when I finish up my program. Whats kinda spooking me is that if I go to apply to a police service, and I get hired on..im gonna be working for them for the next 20+ years, and I'm only gonna get a few weeks of vacation a year. And I dont know if im ready to do that yet. So I was thinking I might start saving up my $ and apply for a working holiday visa and a spend a year in another country. Just now my problem is trying to figure out where.

I'm thinking of Sweden, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. There are reasons why I choose each country, but im still weighin my options.

For Sweden, I went there last year for about a week and love it. The culture, the cleanliness, the people, the food and it reminded me alot of Canada. The downside about Sweden is that I dont speak swedish, and can only understand some of it.

Germany - I've always wanted to go to Germany. I have always been interested in their history, the amount of history that has happened there, plus its the mecca for people who love speed and cars. Once again though, downsides are I dont speak german, but can understand some.

Australia and New Zeland - Since they are both British Colonies like Canada is, our cultures are very similar. They are both subtropical (in places), people speak english, they use the metric system and spell things the same way I do..lol. I have had a bunch of friends who have either visited, done a working holiday, or have gone to school in either country and they have loved it. Just the only downside is, the AUS and NZ governments want ALOT of $ to be saved up in a bank account to show that you'll be able to survive in the country if you dont have a job right away, so that means more spending. PLus if i go to either country, I will be pretty much in that country and just that country, where as if i went to Sweden or Germany, I have all of europe to move around in.

So, im kinda torn. I wanted to see if any one here has had any experience in living in these countries either as a forigner or as a national. I'm tryin to figure this out now so I can start saving up $ so that when I graduate, I can pack up and head out right away. I also know that most likely I'll have to sell my car to afford it, but I think the reward of living some where else and experiencing another culture for a year would be worth it.

so yea, if you have any feedback, I'm all ears. Thanks.

[dustin15brown]

As far as a working holiday visa for Australia. The working holiday one is the 462 (I believe 417 us a different type) I'm actually moving to Sydney for work next month. The 462 visa cost me $235 AUD to apply for. And although they say in the literature that at least 5k should be in your acct, the visa doesn't actually ask how much you have. Mine was applied for and accepted within 48 hours. I'm not sure if I was different because of the student visa I had las year or not?
The 462 allows you to work for one employer for up to 6 months and study for up to 4 months. I'm going in initially on the 462 so I can make sure I fit in, then my employer will be filing for a longq stay (457)

Australia is expensive though. But personally I couldn't live in a country that I didn't speak the language. I would like to visit, but I think it would be too frustrating for a year. I'll be living in Sydney if you make it over.