The Cold Plunge: Irish Life Begins

In first week of my year-long working holiday in Ireland, I navigate emotional highs and lows as I build my new life from the ground up.

Jetlagged and fuelled by a paralysing fear of failure, I spent my first two days in Ireland applying for jobs. After two days and multiple applications, I was mentally exhausted. I had read in my working holiday authorisation application that members of the European Union were prioritised for employment above non-EU members. I was also scared that I was too old for the positions I was going for, and that I had gotten to Ireland too late and all the summer jobs were gone.

Reality was sinking in and the pressure was on. I had to find a job and a place to live. I was building my life from the ground up, and I knew it should have been exciting, but I was feeling increasingly overwhelmed by the task at hand. I felt like a needle in a haystack, just one of the many expats looking for a job and housing.

I had to apply for a tax file number, which proved to be a surprisingly antiquated process. Applying for a bank account without a utility bill from a permanent address was nearly impossible. I felt completely lost.

I gathered my thoughts and my courage enough to call Melly, a contact passed onto me by my dad in Australia from a friend of his. She was full of energy and encouragement. Our conversation was such a breath of fresh air, and it was reassuring to get some direction on my next steps. It was so comforting to talk to someone so welcoming and helpful, and by the end of the call, I felt a little less lost.

After the call with Melly, and multiple tearful calls home to my mum, I took my foot off the pedal of my job search efforts. I felt I was being presented with the opportunity to choose possibility. To trust the process. I had felt that I shouldn’t turn down interviews, and to take the first offer I got. But I realised it was okay to be reasonably selective and that there would be other opportunities if I turned down an interview. Doing so would allow for a well-suited position, by location and occupation.

I couldn’t believe I had gone from desperately applying for any and every kind of job, to turning down interviews, in a matter of two days. I did feel that I was making the right decision, but I still felt uneasy about turning anything down. I still felt that I should be taking the first job that presented itself. It was a no brainer, but it was so hard to override the urge to jump into a job and feel financially secure again, in favour of setting off on another adventure to a part of the country I preferred to be in.

Between talking to Mum and Melly, I knew everything would be okay.

I did receive two requests for interviews in Dublin for permanent full-time work. I turned these two down when I realised my working holiday authorisation only permitted me to do casual and temporary work. But I liked the idea of doing this kind of work, as it would allow me to move around if I wanted to.

I landed a job interview over zoom for a temporary month-long customer service job at summer events in Galway. I was invited for an interview for a three-month seasonal job with a retail cosmetics company, and would stick around in Dublin for the duration of the contract if I was successful. I had decided I did not want to live in Dublin long-term, feeling the pull toward Cork or Limerick instead. Something was telling me not to settle down right away. I had savings to allow me to travel around for awhile. And why settle in Dublin when I could possibly find a job on the west coast of Ireland, where I actually wanted to be.

I experienced a massive shift over the first few days in Dublin. After feeling so worried about being able to find a job and all the limitations I believed I faced. After talking to Mum and Melly, I didn’t feel worried anymore. All those limitations felt non-existent when I didn’t enforce them on myself.

I was being presented with the opportunity to let go of black and white thinking. I was being challenged to get out of the small mind, and accept that I didn’t know everything. I knew it was just a safety mechanism against rejection. i couldn’t [possibly know all the opportunities available and not available to me. To present what I wanted and needed to the Universe, let go of the hows and whens, and take inspired action when necessary. To find the opportunity in the in between of employment, to feel safe in it. Because the truth was, I was safe in it, no matter what. Deep down, I knew I would be fine. I was fine right then, in every passing moment. When the time came for a new job, it would be presented to me. I also had support. I could survive without being on welfare. In the meantime, I had time to write and explore.

I hope you’re enjoying coming along with me on The Cold Plunge. If you would like to help me along on this adventure, consider donating below. There are preset amounts, or you can customise an amount too. Whatever you choose, your contribution is deeply appreciated.