Welcome to my blog

I'm María Olivia and I would love to help you get out of your comfort zone to take that trip you dream of so much.

  • Have you realized that you want to travel but have not yet decided on the destination and date?

  • Don't know where to start and get frustrated looking for information?

  • Are you afraid of taking risks and having things not turn out as you expect?

I want to share my story with you

I have been in your shoes and I know that, many times, making the decision is the most difficult step of all. He had a stable job in Chile; He had been working for the same company for almost 8 years. However, I was not happy. When I was 25, I applied for the Working Holiday for New Zealand, but it didn't work out, which frustrated me a lot. I felt like I couldn't get out of that emptiness. However, something clicked in my head when I turned 30. The decision of “ if I don't do it now, I'll never do it because I'm too old for Working Holidays ” slapped me in the face. Looking at everything that has happened in these almost 6 years in Australia, believe me, I do not regret having jumped into this adventure.

The heart of ChilenaMate is to help those who are looking for the information they need to make the decision to go on a trip. I want to provide clear and updated information with data that can be useful to you in Australia, my place of residence, or another country you are thinking of traveling to. This way, you will avoid making mistakes due to not knowing how the country's culture works and feeling like you made a bad decision.

The name “ChilenaMate” arises from the union of my nationality of origin, “ Chilean ”, and the word “ mate ”, which in Australia is used to refer to a friend. So you will have a Chilean friend for your trip.

¿Why ChilenaMate?

What do you find on the blog?

Travel inspiration

You will find ideas for your next destination, data from Chile, Peru, Thailand, Singapure

Australia Data

Planning your trip to Australia with Working Holiday or International Student, this data will help you in your first days

What to expect from Australia?

I have seen that many travelers and also I have tended to romantize Australia is an excellent country my life change completely however it is not exempt that you must put your maximum effort to learn the language, to work in jobs that in your country does not You would do it how to clean, many times you have to be in places that heat is intense or that flies do not leave you if you want to live in quidades you will also realize that it is much more competition in finding a job. However, if you are organized you can achieve what you put in mind

Let's get to know each other more.

My name is María Olivia. I was born and raised in the countryside of the seventh region of Chile, near the Maule River and a small town called Colbún. I am a Tourism Technician with a mention in traffic and air cargo, and a Foreign Trade Administration Technician. In Australia, I have completed certificates III and IV in Hospitality, and lastly, I have a Diploma and an Advanced Diploma information technology. As you will see, I love to learn and always be up to date with new information, my careers have been diversified so as you can see you can change if you want to learn something different.

I arrive in Australia with Working Holiday Visa at my 31 years, I postulate when I was 30 years old, I was traveling and working at Hospitality Resort, Caravan Park, Restaurant, Bar and Theater My works were Housekeeper, Bartender, Food Runner, Kitchen Hand, Host, Dishwasher , Dog Walker, Private House Cleaner, pizzas maker as I had to reinvent myself, you would ask you had done those work in Chile the answer is never, however I did not put me limits but I did not close to be in one place, these jobs They took me to know wonderful places, which not everyone knows, including the Australians themselves.

After the Working Holiday, I study the careers that I mentioned before, and being an international student in Australia is something different because they restrict the hours of work and the cost of living is expensive, and if you do not speak English you are really going to frustrate and stress In starting working, for what I recommend if or if you give priority to your English because this is the one that will open the doors to what you want to do.

I am currently provisional resident and work as a professional in the technology industry, so I look back and thank everything I have learned. While I have a good job in technology I still have great dreams, such as this blog continues to grow and help more people and continue traveling to show them more wonderful places.

I hope this blog inspires you and gives you the tools you need to go on your own adventure!

With love María Olivia