Enjoying the scenery on our final outing
It was a very tearful goodbye yesterday morning to my fellow AIFS students in Istanbul, Turkey. We all have different plans- some are studying abroad again for fall semester so they are traveling around Turkey, some are going back to the states, and I’m traveling around Europe for a bit before heading home. I figure that I might as well take advantage of that while I’m here.
Written by Abroad101 All-Stars, Sarah and Tami
Having both taught English in Asia, we’ve spent many a lunch hour arguing over which country has the wildest, wackiest open-air markets. Tami may have bargained her way to a pair of Buddha-shaped sunglasses in Korea, but Sarah haggled over smiling pig heads in Thailand.
One thing from our time abroad that we absolutely agree on though, is the advantage of having a TEFL certification. Without one, it’s hard to be an effective ESL teacher in the classroom, and as one student put it, TEFL doesn’t mean Teaching English For Laughs. Ok, maybe sometimes it does. But with a TEFL certification, you’ll learn how to apply humor in a way that reaches your students, so you’re not left with a room of blank stares after making a witty pun. Continue reading
Tons of Muslims gathering for activities, Sultanahmet in the background.
Submitted by Rachel Whitcomb, Global Ambassador in Istanbul, Turkey
A long skirt and covered shoulders gets you through most neighborhood and sights safely.
One of the most interesting parts about Istanbul and Turkey in general is that although it’s a secular state, and has been for decades, the population is 98% Islamic and at this time of year, Ramadan, it certainly shows. This unique combination leads to a variety of clothing styles- modest coverings ranging from burqa (fully veiled except for the eyes), hijab (only the face is showing), and just covering all of the arms and legs, to the modern European/Western style dressing. There are certain parts of the city that you need to be aware of what you are wearing, but most of the time it’s not something we worry about.
I’ve been in solidarity with the half of the Muslim population here in Istanbul that has been fasting for Ramadan- that’s no food or water from morning prayer at 3:55 a.m. until the sun sets at 8:40 p.m. (yes, that many hours without food or water). It’s been a challenging and humbling experience, especially to be a part of it around so many other people! By day, the city and areas around my campus are pretty barren, but after the sun sets people come from all over and hang out and celebrate. It’s a beautiful sight to see!
Photo: jimcintosh
Submitted by Kristen Schlotman, Global Ambassador in Madrid, Spain.
Jumping in Segovia.
I can’t believe I only have one more week in Madrid! This experience has been such a whirlwind. Never in my life have I done so much in less than a month. One of the best parts of studying abroad is traveling on weekends. The first weekend all of us in USAC were in Spain for the Running of the Bulls. Without a second’s hesitation we bought tickets and headed to Pamplona. Most of the other students in the program also bought tickets. We knew right away this was going to be a great weekend to bond and to get to know each other.
Pamplona was probably one of the crazier weekends of my life. The bus departed from Madrid at 2 PM on Saturday and by 8 PM, we were ready to experience one of the biggest celebrations in Spain. Dressed in the traditional red and white, we walked around the city taking everything in. By 1 AM, we were bar hopping, drinking calimocho (red wine and Coca Cola), and meeting people from all over the world. Sleeping was not an option. The city was too vibrant and exhilarating to sit it out. At 6 AM we lined up to watch the running. This was somewhat anticlimactic, but the night itself was one of a kind.
Cliffs of Mohr
Submitted by Brendan Bond, Global Ambassador in Galway, Ireland
Within a few days of arriving in Ireland, I learned something very important about this country. I was told, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes.” Moral of the story is that the weather here is fickle, always changing and never making up its mind on whether it wants to be sunny, cloudy, windy, dreary, warm, cold, misty, rainy or downpouring.
Vagabonding vegetarians beware: maintaining your veg-centric lifestyle while Studying Abroad will be a challenge. But not to fear, you got this. No one ever said using your diet to save the planet was easy! To help you stay on course, we’ve compiled a list of study abroad destinations that we think are very vegetarian friendly.
India
With the world’s largest vegetarian population, this South Asian nation is a no brainer for students looking to chomp on veggies and paneer all semester. In fact, we’d go so far as to say that if you enjoy meat, India might not be the destination for you. I mean c’mon, their cows are holy!
Denmark
Danes are known for their progressive thinking, so it’s no surprise that vegetarian options abound in this place that once held the title for “Happiest Country in World.” We even hear their vegetable stands run on the honor system! So don’t worry, be “Hygge,” and refer to this excellent resource from DIS on Danish vegetarian vocab.
Israel
In keeping Kosher, it seems Israel would be a solid choice for students with diverse dietary needs. You don’t have to worry about pork or shellfish, and many establishments won’t combine milk and meat. Besides that, hummus and cucumbers are served with virtually every meal, and Falafels grow on trees. Now that’s Israeli nice!
Taiwan
Once you know what to look for, this subtropical land can be a Taiwan-derful place for vegetarians. The majority of the country is Taoist or Buddhist, which means meat-free meals are understood and available. Visit restaurants with the red and yellow Chinese characters 素食 (sùshí) which means vegetarian, and eat your herbivore heart out.
The United Kingdom
Hold the Bangers & Mash and bring on the Bhindi Masala! Perhaps not appreciated for it’s native food, the UK has some excellent ethnic entrees for vegetarians. What’s more, the food labels are in English and the pubs serve veggie burgers! What more can a tree-hugging globe trotter ask for?!
The act of studying abroad and being a vegetarian can sometimes feel like they are competing opposites- to be a great study abroad student takes flexibility and adaptability. To be a great vegetarian takes determination and diligence. But the two can coexist, you can still be respectful towards your host country’s culture, while also staying true to your own veggie values system. To make your life easier, consider studying in one of the above countries and check out Happy Cow for an online directory of vegetarian restaurants around the world. The International Vegetarian Union is another great resource that all traveling vegetarians can utilize.
Bon voyage veg-heads!
Photo: AntoniO BonvinO
Submitted by Rachel Whitcomb, Global Ambassador in Istanbul, Turkey.
Oh that’s right…I’m STUDYING abroad…
Sometimes you get so caught up in the traveling aspect of being abroad that you lose sight of what sent you here in the first place. But of course, I’m attending class and doing homework, I would never forget!
Photo: GreenTea95
With the 2012 Olympics in London upon us, global competition is on our minds. The guts! The glory! The…awesome course selection and weekend excursions??
YES! Abroad101 is joining the fun with our own Global Gold Challenge, a head-to-head competition of countries competing for study abroad fame. For an entire week during the Olympics (July 27 – August 3) we’ll be running a poll on our asking YOU to get on board with whichever nation you think will come out of the Olympics with the most medals overall.
Photo: Drozd
If there is one thing we know, its that there is certainly a lot to prepare before jetting off to your study abroad destination. Where will I go? What will I study? How will I pay? However, there is perhaps one thing that may be more towards the back of your mind: how will I get around once I’ve arrived? You can’t take that bucket of bolts from high school you’ve got sitting in the driveway and your train card doesn’t really work overseas. Looks like you’ve got some research to do. Let us fill you in…
When students consider Australia for study abroad, Sydney usually jumps out as an easy and great option. Yet it’s important to remember that Australia is a huge country and there are many other spots to explore. The beautiful gold coast is located on the south-east corner of Queensland. Pristine beaches and abudant sunshine are just a few things that will welcome you as you arrive and experience a semester in this paradise. Universities such as Griffith and Bond will make sure you recieve the highest quality education and cultural learning possible.
“It gave me a new set of eyes in the world and helped influence my post-graduate career choice. I moved back to Australia a few months after I graduated (June 2010) and have been living and working here ever since.” says one Bond study abroad alumni. Read the rest of their review here!
Interested in other locations in Australia? Check out their entire page of programs!