Back to Australia
Finding my Dream Job after EAP in Melbourne

by Meghan Case, UC San Diego

My decision not to go to Spain on EAP, but to go to Australia instead, changed my life. I know I would have loved Spain; however, I don't know that it would have gotten me where I am today.

After lots of waiting to find out where I would be placed, I was thrilled to hear it would be Melbourne. Actually, at that point I would have been ecstatic in the middle of the sweltering Northern Territory bush. Luckily I was placed at La Trobe University in Melbourne instead.

I have to admit I was a little skeptical when I arrived at La Trobe, which was located far from the city, in a suburb that seemed to be the house of Melbourne's finest. However I was so excited by my new experience that I let my inhibitions go and took it all in. After ten months of pure fun and excitement I sadly had to leave my new homeland and return to sunny California, which actually was not so sunny at that time of year. In fact I was returning just in time for my second winter of the year. As a result, my California blood was screaming for sunshine.

Looking for a way to get back to this gem of a country (continent) I had discovered, I began searching for work abroad programs that would somehow either get me back to Australia or let me explore other parts of the big huge world that exists out there. Like most college graduates I moved back home to save money while I looked for the job of my dreams. I had hoped to work in education, however with looming cutbacks in education, I was hesitant to head down that path. Instead, I temped around Marin County and waited to find the job that best suited me.

Unlike most people in today's job market, I found my dream job. I am currently the Operations Manager for Cultural Homestay International’s Camp Adventure USA program. My experience in Australia has helped tremendously in our efforts to market to the Australian University student. CHI offers work and travel, internships, academic year programs, and group homestay programs. I feel so lucky to have a job that I love and where I can actually use my past EAP experiences.

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