Guest Blogger: Martha Staid
Whether you’re planning to study abroad or just want to travel somewhere cheap and off-the-beaten-path, Central America is a great destination. Here are five top places to visit, and things to do there. All of these towns are easily walkable and have Spanish language schools, if you want to brush up on your español or start from scratch. Read more →
Just like many other institutions, the world of higher education is not immune to the negative impact of the financial crisis. The Forum on Education Abroad recently released a report that shows fewer students may be studying abroad. 165 American schools, program providers, and international universities participated in the survey. Of them, 66% noticed a marked negative impact in their programs as a result of the economy. Read more →
Whether you are studying abroad for a week, month, semester or year, packing can be a daunting activity. To make the whole process a little easier, here are some tips on how to pack for study abroad like a pro.
1. If you are planning on studying abroad in Europe do not bother packing sweatpants. Maybe pack one pair to lounge around your apartment or dorm room in but I promise you NO ONE in Europe wears them and if you do you will be stared at. Do not waste the space. Read more →
Dear Mobile Mike,
Before I left for London, my Mom made be bring this horribly 80’s fluorescent pink fanny pack. She assured me that it would be a safe way to keep track of my valuables while being fashion-forward and trendy. Apparently, it turned out to be neither, as I was the laughing stock of Londontown and last night I learned that there really is such thing as getting “fanny pack pocketed.” I don’t know what to do! My FaPa had my cell phone, wallet, passport, keys, and my coveted Eurail pass. I am starting to think that my Mom may not be as fashionable or resourceful as she claims, and now I am stuck with nothing other than my clothes and my recovering pride. What do I do? Read more →
Dear Worldly Willie,
I’ve been abroad in Tokyo for a whole semester…and I still can’t communicate. Take last night, for instance: I ordered the cucumber maki at a local sushi joint, and I ended up slurping down some still-squirming squid because I couldn’t even tell the waitress that she’d screwed up! And then today was the ultimate embarrassment when I asked a stranger for the time and received a swift slap in the face. I mean, I knew I was linguistically challenged, but this is just humiliating. I need to learn Japanese! But where do I start? I’m totally tongue-tied!
-Tongue-Tied in Tokyo Read more →
While studying abroad is a wonderful way to experience another culture, it often provides students with a somewhat limited scope of the country they are in. Many study abroad programs place students in dorms and classes solely comprised of other American students. Others put students in home stays and in classes with native students but interaction can still be limited. For students who want more, volunteering while studying abroad is a great option. Classroom time requires that you learn about new places out of textbooks – volunteering provides a first hand way to gain a better understanding of your new city’s culture. Read more →
Eco-travel is the new travel, sustainable energy is the new fossil fuel, and not-murdering-baby-seals-with-massive-petroleum-spillage is the new…well…you get the idea. But in a constantly evolving travel marketplace where airlines and travel agents alike are quick to stamp their products with the newest, greenest buzzword, how can the consumer possibly tell green from gray? Simply labeling a vacation package as carbon neutral or eco-friendly doesn’t make it so; clever marketing is often at play. And the same goes for study abroad programs; how can the environmentally concerned student choose an appropriate study abroad program? Fortunately, there are options. Read more →
Inspired by Worldly Willie, A Study Abroad Advice Column for Troubled Travelers
Dear Mobile Mike,
Let’s say that hypothetically, I were to have this friend on my abroad program who spends ALL her time on facebook. Hypothetically, people make fun of her because whenever we are out in Sydney or traveling through the Australian outback, she is on her crackberry updating her status and engaging in virtual “poke wars” rather than actually experiencing the moment. Every time she takes a picture, she can’t help but think of her photographed friends as mere “tags” on a computer screen and how it will appear on her news feed. The idea of instantly updating my friends back home excites me. But it scares her that if something isn’t captured on facebook, it’s as if it never happened. It’s kind of like that saying “if a tree falls in a forest full of deaf deer, did it make a noise?” or whatever. Read more →
While studying abroad is an incredible way to see the world, it is just one way to do so. After studying in another country, many students find themselves itching to go abroad again. Some choose to study abroad for another semester, while others choose a new path. Volunteering abroad is a great way experience the world, gain insight and also make a significant change in a community. There are volunteering opportunities to fit any interest you may have. You can do anything — work with children, save wildlife or help improve health care environments in impoverished countries. Read more →
A Study Abroad Advice Column for Troubled Travelers
Dear Worldly Willie,
I’m a Junior, currently studying abroad in Dubai, and I need your help. See, I wanted to study abroad elsewhere, but my girlfriend of two months had decided on Dubai…so I followed suit in order to stay by my baby’s side. Thing is, it was only a few Arabian nights before she left me for some wealthy heir who was quick to spoil her with oil money. When I confronted her, she told me she wanted to Sheik things up a bit. So now I’m all alone in the Emirates because some pretty boy can afford to drop a few dirhams on dinner. What do you suggest I do now? And where did I go wrong?!
-Dumped in Dubai Read more →
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