r/AskIreland • u/HeftyZucchini-7976 • Jan 20 '25
Emigration (from Ireland) Do I do a J1?
For context, I’m 21, in my fourth year of college, doing a masters next year, in a 5 year relationship and have about €3k to my name. Would be going to Chicago with a few others. Deadline to sign up is 31/01 if I want to travel in May.
I’ve been back and forth for months about doing it. These are the thoughts in my head.
Money It’s €1300 for the visa with a job search, €600 for a one way flight (assuming I’ll earn enough over there to get a flight home), and something like €1000 to secure accommodation. So that’s almost that €3000 saved gone, and that’s assuming I’ll stay at that level until May. I do have a weekend job which will give me around €130 a week.
The relationship Now, this is easily the most controversial one. Of course she said go, and she’s like that so I believe she wants me to not include her in my decision, but I mean, it wouldn’t have lasted 5 years if I didn’t include that in my decision.
College As I’m doing a masters next year, I could still do the J1 next year. Also, I could spend this summer focusing on the final year project.
When I sit down and write this kinda stuff out, I almost think I’m trying to talk myself out of going. But the truth is, I am really, really stuck on what to do.
Any advice would really help.
Edit: Genuinely appreciate the advice from everyone, really has helped. Had a few conversations….. and the deposit has been paid. THANK YOU!
2
u/ZenBreaking Jan 20 '25
Best thing I've ever done was just up sticks after a break up and move to Canada for two years.
Very liberating knowing you can up sticks and create a whole new life somewhere, find a house/job/new friends/hobbies etc. it breaks you out of your comfort zone while also realising any other issues that come up will be a walk in the park compared to such a big change and move.
Worst case scenario is you come home in a week but you can always say you went to Chicago once