Working outside the UK

[Gilraen]

Hi there (and apologies for those outside the UK already).

Have you ever worked in archaeology (or archaeology-related disciplines) outside the UK?

Feel free to elaborate...especially if there is more than one choice there that fits you. Pick the one that is the most relevant (ie, you may have done archaeology in Ireland, say, but the fact that it was paid and not voluntary may have been more important at the time).

There may also be more options there that can be explored. I know that one option here wouldn't covered everyone's views and experiences.

Also - if you are outside the UK and have worked here or elsewhere outside your own country, you can also enter the poll and elaborate below as I am sure the same factors are relevant.

Mr Hosty/Mods - there's another option there if you can think of another good choice).

[Gilraen]

Mr Hosty/Mods,

It won't let me edit this topic for some reason, but an 8th choice could be:

'Yes - and wouldn't care if it were paid or not!'

...if you did want to add this one in.

[Austin Ainsworth]

*Poll options updated*

my choice was 'Yes - everywhere!'

[BAJR Host]

thats me... anywhere which will take me I have a fun habit of being a loose cannon!

I love working anywhere where there is a puzzle to be solved.. a mystery.. or just a simple case of it can't be done....

I seriously advise anyone to use archaeology as a passport to the world...

"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."
Niccolo Machiavelli

[kevin wooldridge]

I agree with David. Use archaeology as a passport to travel. At the moment I am in Norway, (a country I love), but I would consider an interesting offer from another country when my current contract is up....Already eyeing up some possibilities...

I like working in the UK, but working abroad gives you a perspective that sometimes puts the trials, tribulations and trivialities of UK archaeology into perspective.

And you meet the nicest people, experience weathers that leave you in awe, see places that cause goose-bumps, discover vegetables you never realised existed...., decline meat dishes you hoped [u]didn't </u> exist....etc etc and find out that archaeologists pretty much across the world are like having a ready-made family wherever and whenever you drop in....



With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...

[BAJR Host]

how true... how true..

and as to the neat dishes.. I don't think there is a part left now that I have not choked down


"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."
Niccolo Machiavelli

[Windbag]

I'd love to work abroad again. I did voluntary work as an undergraduate and just after graduating but have found paid opportunities abroad to be like hen's teeth!

[BoneGirl]

Would love to, but not the most practical with a young family. I suspect these opportunities have now past me by.

[EarlySlav]

The chance to work abroad was one of the reasons which brought me back into archaeology. Took me to Syria, Turkey, Eastern Europe and Ireland. Some paid some vol. Met the wife and had great time but young family put a halt for the time being. Always helps to have skills such as survey et al. If not paid you should never be out of pocket.

[Austin Ainsworth]

I'd also agree with using archaeology as a passport to travel, I used a four year stint in Germany as a base from which to travel round eastern Europe. I met some of the nicest people I think I'll ever meet, drank myself senseless in the capitol cities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire while gazing in wonder at fantastic Jugendstil and Bauhaus architecture and spent Millennium Eve waltzing in the snow outside Vienna's Rathaus. If anybody does get the chance to work abroad - then go for it.