Prepwork and Paperwork

International travel requires a tremendous amount of paperwork.  This is doubly true for those wishing to make an extended stay abroad.  In my case, this amounts to:

• Applying for an Australian 462 Work and Holiday Visa via the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship
• Securing passage to Australia via Maris Freighter Cruises
• Purchasing travel insurance for the boat via Travelex
• Applying for BUNAC
• Purchasing travel insurance for time in-country (also BUNAC)
• Getting a personal reference
• Bank statement of funds (basically to prove you aren't going to starve the minute you land)
• Round-trip travel itinerary

These all take time, and each one has its own deadline which must be met.  I'm trying to get an early start; in some cases I didn't start early enough, but in others I appear to be too early.  For example, the freighter had to be booked a year in advance, but I haven't found an airline or travel agency which will book a flight more than about 10 months ahead-of-time, so I can only show an itinerary for one part of my trip.

Prologue

Every life is a story waiting to be told.  I have heard many tales in my short life; some were taller than others.  My story is still unfolding, but I have found something worth writing about, something worth documenting.

In May of 2012, I will be leaving for Australia.  I will be leaving my family.  I will be leaving my dog.  I will be leaving my friends and loved ones.  I will be leaving my dream job.  I will spend a month at sea, hitting various ports along the way, before finally landing in Melbourne.

I will spend a year in Australia, living and working and collecting stories.  Some will, undoubtedly, be kept private.  Plenty more, I will share with you, my readers, as well as my friends and family (and pretty much anyone who will listen).

The blog will be split up into probably two or three sections: trip preparation, the freighter trip, and life in Australia.  Stick around, there's lots to talk about :-)