“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.”
Lynda is a twenty something year old Business graduate; Australian by birth, Maltese by blood, American twang from ? Don’t worry, we were confused too.
Lynda loves to travel. She wants to see it all, live it all and be it all. If she could spend every day of her life travelling, she probably would. Sadly though, there comes a time in every twenty-something year old’s life where travel sucks them dry and they shamelessly return home to mother and fathers house and start saving all over again.
While openly admitting she enjoys laughing really loud at stupid things, do not let this fool you; Lynda holds a Bachelors Degree in Business from La Trobe University with majors in Marketing & Management.
Most English nerds live a life of fear; at any given second, a big bully may come around and pull their hair and break their glasses for expressing their thoughts and love of writing; but not this one. Lynda loves to write; as testament to this very blog. She has no problem screaming this from a mountain top, but instead, she will just let the world read for itself.
In July of 2010, Lynda completed a 12 month Internship with Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, USA. During this time she was lucky enough to work at Cirque du Soleil’s resident show, La Nouba, at Downtown Disney. This was amongst one of the happiest times of her life. Unfortunately for her, Disney does not do long term visa sponsorship otherwise she would still be happily working there.
Living abroad was a big eye-opener for Lynda. It made her realise that there were things in life that she wanted that she previously hadn’t. It opened her up to feelings she hadn’t felt before and made her appreciate and see things in a whole new light. This only fuelled Lynda’s burning desire to move abroad all the more and to no other place than the US of A.
Lynda spent years telling family and friends that one day she would find a way to move back to Florida. People often laughed at her and told her to keep dreaming; that her dream was almost impossible given the current state of the US job market and the difficulty in obtaining visa sponsorship but Lynda did not care. The constant words of doubt made her want it all the more.
In April of 2012, after five years of trying, Lynda finally made it happen; she secured herself a full time job offer and visa sponsorship back in Orlando, Florida. On May 25, 2012, with her life packed into only two suitcases, she hopped on a plane and never turned back.
It was the best decision of her life.
thought I’d show my appreciation for your website as a fellow Maltese travel blogger,
Denise
That’s sooooo cool! Were you born there or? Will have to check out your blog 🙂 How’d you find me?
Hi Lynda, sorry for the late answer. Yes I was born there, but now I’ve been living in Switzerland for the past year and a half.
Denise Pulis recently posted…7 Things to do in Istanbul – People watching
P.S. I found you through your facebook pictures and comments on Todd’s wanderings – I noticed the Maltese surname 🙂
Denise Pulis recently posted…7 Things to do in Istanbul – People watching
Hehehe that is so cool! My nana and nanu on both my parents sides were born in Malta and moved here to have my parents. Where I live in Melbourne, there are SO MANY Maltese people and my surname is very popular here!
Yeah, I know that a lot of Maltese emigrated/emigrate to Australia though I had no idea that there are so many in Melbourne. My Swiss partner and I are trying to get a government sponsored visa to live and work in Victoria, but it’s a long process of course.
I’m curious is you’ve ever been to Malta 🙂
Denise
Denise Pulis recently posted…7 Things to do in Istanbul – People watching
Oh, that would be cool. Because my grandparents were born there, in Aus we are able to receive a Maltese passport through them which is cool if I ever want to move to Europe. I’ve never been, I didn’t get the chance when I was traveling through Europe in 2008, but it is definitely on my list for the near future!
Best. Website. Ever.
I’m about to fall to my knees begging to do a guest post – but I’m still working out which city I want to do a guest post about…. ?!
Would love to have you do one!!!!!
Disney! That’s awesome… what an opportunity! 🙂
Awesome site :), Working at Disney sounds like an amazing experience. I can totally relate on how living overseas can be a big eye opener, I have worked in Montreal in Canada for past 2 years after never having left Australia before and it has been an amazing experience.
Hi Lynda,
Your blog nearly brought me to tears. I have been trying to find sponsorship for a move to Florida and especially with The Walt Disney family.
My friends, colleagues and family laugh at me all the time but all i want is to settle and move to Florida and start my life. You’re blog has re lit my dream and i wanted to ask very kindly for any advice or tips you could give me? How did you do it??
I am born in the UK and currently in Oz giving it a go….
Look forward to your response.
Sabina
Hi Sabrina,
If you are in TAFE or University, check out the Disney International College Program – google it. They will help you land an internship at Disney for 6 months or 12 months.
As for moving here, I am on an E3 visa and am sponsored by a US employer as I am qualified in my degree field. It took about five years to find a visa sponsor out here and sort through the paperwork. You can read all about it here: http://www.live-travel-blog.com/category/e-3-visa/
Good luck!
Lynda
Hi Lynda,
Thanks so much for your message.
Sorry just realised my message wasn’t that clear hehe! I have actually done the colleage program in 2008.
Since 2008 i have graduated and gained 4 years experience in my degree working professionally in London and have spent the last 3 years pursusing US jobs/visa research. Your article has reassured me that there may be a 1% chance of still doing this….so i have decided to go along a similar route and stop applying to 100 companies a month and target 1 within the Florida region.
Just wanted to gauge how you started to make contact? Did you mention you needed a visa or just pushed for a meeting initially? Don’t want to scare away the poor CEO i have picked. After 3 years of trying i feel this might be my last shot and your blog has given my determination a light of new life.
It’s an amazing read and got me super excited and hopeful inside! Going to give my 1% shot a go….
Planning a trip to Orlando next August so lets see what happens….
Thanks again for getting back to me….hope it’s all going okay out there? Bet you’re loving it?
I love the style of your website very much.And appreciate your courage in life!
Just read through your whole 3 pages of your journey to reach your dream job in Florida. Really happy for you. Pat on the back x 1000000!!!
Well done, persistence really does pay off.
Hello to every body, it’s my first pay a visit of this website; this
webpage includes remarkable and in fact excellent data
for visitors.
Thanks for commenting on my blog! Lovely to connect with you – you’re from Melbourne too I see?
Hi Karyn – yep, Melburnian born and raised, but I’ve been living in Florida for the last two years 🙂
Hi Lynda, great to meet you and explore your blog. It sounds very exciting to be working in Disney. I dare say it is a lot of fun.
Whilst I’ve never been to Malta, I have been to Disney in Florida and frequently go to Australia – I love your country!!!!!
Hi Lynda,
I read your post, its so informative. I came from Sydney to USA in 2012. There is some coincidence you have attended visa on April 17th 2012 in Melbourne, I have attended on the same day in sydney at 9:00 Am. and renewed my E3 visa in Jamaica on Feb 25th 2014.
Felt like sharing !!!
Cheers
Sheshi
I like hand working. Building Nation for good jeneration