Interview with myself! Part 1
To get to know me better and perhaps get a few tips, as well as share some background stories about my Instagram channel, I will interview myself. This will get you, dear readers, in the mood for the trip and everything that is yet to come. The name of my Instagram channel is Le Loup au Canada. It will take on the role of interviewer, while I, Wolfgang, will provide the answers.
Le Loup au Canada: Who are you and what motivated you to go to Canada to work and travel there? Are there any background stories, experiences or dreams that inspired you?
Wolfgang:
I am Wolfgang, 25 years old. I am originally from the Waldviertel region and have been living in Innsbruck for 3.5 years, mainly because of my love of ski jumping. I work in retail, but would like to switch to the events industry. My main motivation is to volunteer at the Road World Championships and the Football World Cup and to see the places where the Louise Penny Gamache books are set. In 2019/20, Work and Travel didn't work out due to my own impatience and also because of Corona. Now that I've calmed down, I want to do it right and enjoy it. I want to learn a lot for life. In recent years, I've already travelled to Namibia, France and Norway, and I'm confident that these experiences will now help me.
Le Loup au Canada: What are your goals for your Canadian adventure? How will it help you personally and professionally?
Wolfgang:
Personally: I'm looking forward to stepping out of my comfort zone again for a year, motivating myself to try new activities, gaining new experiences and making international contacts.
Professionally: I want to learn to be more confident so that I don't lose my composure so quickly in stressful situations. I also want to gain more international experience in volunteer work and perhaps occasionally work in leadership positions at events. I want to learn how to run and maintain a social media account, design a website about myself and update it regularly. I also want to learn how to write appealing and grammatically correct texts. In the beginning, ChatGPT will occasionally help me structure my texts.
Le Loup au Canada: What challenges do you face in terms of mobility? How does this differ from other work and travel programmes?
Wolfgang:
I haven't had a driving licence for three years due to my eye condition. My mobility won't be that different from my life in Innsbruck, as I already rely heavily on buses, trains and carpooling. That won't change. The biggest difference will be that I don't take domestic flights in Austria. It's different in Canada: I will be taking a few there, and I will take you along on the journey with my blog and Le Loup au Canada channel. I want to show that WHV is possible even without a car and make this option more visible. That's what makes my journey special.
Le Loup au Canada: How are you preparing for the trip? Are there any challenges in terms of organisation, emotions and health?
Wolfgang:
Organisation: From the outset, it wasn't easy to organise the visa and everything else required for it. Starting with renewing my passport and travelling to Vienna for my fingerprints. Since I was also working in Trondheim for two weeks during this period, it almost didn't work out. At the moment, I'm in the process of deciding where to start. What I do know, however, is that I'm keeping my flat in Innsbruck. My plan is to have my centre of life in Innsbruck before and after the trip, so that I can be close to most of my friends. Cancelling all my contracts without losing track of everything is also a lengthy item on my list. Before I start my trip, I will be attending the Olympic Games in Predazzo, which is a real childhood dream come true.
Health: Due to my eye condition, I won't be able to work outside in the dark very much. Finding my way back to my accommodation will also be challenging at times when I can't use Google Maps. I will try to memorise my routes, which usually works quite well.
Emotional: It will be difficult not to attend any ski jumping competitions for a year, either in Austria or internationally. I have no idea. Not seeing my family and friends for a long time will also be difficult for me. I'm sure I'll shed a tear or two during this adventure. Because I'll miss them.
Le Loup au Canada: How will it feel to go on a working holiday without a car? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Wolfgang:
Advantage: I don't have to worry about buying a car, as I don't know anything about it anyway. I don't have to think about what it will be like to drive on the left, as it's different from mainland Europe. Parking, petrol stations and garages are also not a major factor in my travel plans. It's definitely a cost factor that I'm saving myself due to my eye condition.
Disadvantages: Thanks to my experience in Tyrol, I am used to always relying on public transport, whether it be trains, buses or carpooling. I won't be able to determine the start and end times of some excursions myself. However, with good planning, I will be able to manage this well. Therefore, I will work hard to find accommodation and rent apartments for short periods.
Part 2 willl come on 08.08.
Part 3 will come on 15.08.
Part 4 will come on 22.08.
