Joining Sports Clubs or Teams Abroad

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When I was originally thinking about studying abroad, one of the most difficult parts of that decision was knowing that I would have to either end or put a hold on my gymnastics career (little did I know, a blown out knee would basically make that decision for me). It’s not always easy to take a few weeks, let alone, a few months off from the sport you’ve been practicing for most of your life, and be able to jump back into things without missing a few beats.  Many college athletes, especially those on scholarships, feel they can’t take the time away from their sport or their teams to study abroad. But we want to encourage student athletes to realize that they can, in fact, find ways to take advantage of these global opportunities and even benefit from them! Continue reading →

Parents: What to do before your son or daughter leaves to study abroad

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You probably thought the day you left your child at their dorm room freshman year was going to be the hardest goodbye, and that those tearful farewells would only get easier after that. And then they told you they were going to study abroad for a semester in a country 6000 miles away, where you may have heard stories of danger, violence, or even of study abroad students who’ve gone Missing, (A new ABC series staring Ashley Judd). Your anxiety likely grew and you wanted to do everything to keep your child “home” (which used to mean your actual home, and now just means somewhere in the state or country).   Continue reading →

Making a Meaningful New Year’s Resolution

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Only a couple days post-New Years, I wasn’t too surprised to walk by extra crowded fitness centers on my way to work. I’m one of the many who has made that same resolution year after year to either workout more, eat healthier, procrastinate less, study more, etc.  All these are great ideas to try and improve your own health and well-being; and I don’t discourage that at all.  But what if we all took our yearly resolutions one step further and considered what we could do to contribute to a greater society, and a greater global community. Continue reading →

Introducing: Abroad101 Global Ambassadors!

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Be the first of your friends to be an Abroad101 Global Ambassador for your semester abroad. We are now accepting applications for the Spring 2012 semester!

All your friends and family are stuck back here in the States, living vicariously through you, waiting for all your facebook updates, tweets and new pictures of your adventures… why not share your entire experience on the Abroad101 blog? This will not only make your friends and family very happy, but also give you an opportunity to get writing, photography and marketing experience!

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5 Things to do After Returning from Abroad

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For those of you whose semester abroad has gone by in the blink of an eye, we know that you’re probably dreading the idea of leaving that new, amazing place you’ve been calling home for 4-6 months. We want to prevent you from being diagnosed with SAOD upon your return home, so we have some more tips for you to help with your re-entry adjustment! After reading Matador’s article about the 5 things NOT to do after returning from abroad (and completely agreeing with everything they mentioned), I couldn’t help but think about the things students CAN and SHOULD do to make their transition home smoother.

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Guest Blog: Top 10 Factors to Consider If You Need to Find Housing Abroad

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By (Anonymous Guest Contributor)

If your study abroad program does not provide housing, has multiple housing options, or if you decide to extend your stay in a city and need to find accommodation independently, here are some important factors to consider:

1. Safety

A useful way to find out whether a place is safe is to get references from people who have stayed there. Abroad101 itself serves as a database to post reviews. Another useful resource is Transitions Abroad, which also posts past participant reports. Inquire with your individual hosts, too. Continue reading →

Celebrating Thanksgiving When You’re Studying Abroad

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One of my favorite memories of being in Korea last year was convincing 13 of my brave students to head to a western style restaurant with me to celebrate and enjoy the delicious comforts of a typical American Thanksgiving.  I’m still not sure if they were more nervous about being around so many foreigners, or trying turkey for the first time, which was the case for several of them. Continue reading →

SA in Cape Town, SA!!

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We love studying abroad (SA) and with all the recent attention we’ve been getting over in South Africa, we wanted to keep the love flowing and encourage you all to consider the 10th most popular place to study abroad, according to our recent compilation of reviews in Abroad101’s first annual study abroad rankings!  Continue reading →

Five Things to Avoid While Abroad

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Here at Abroad101 we always love to give students some good advice on what to do while they’re studying abroad. Well, here’s a few tips on what not to do. Enjoy!

1. Getting Stuck in a Routine

Let’s be honest, routines are boring and no one likes them. You didn’t chose to study abroad to be stuck in the same agenda that you follow at home. This is your opportunity to make the most of your study abroad experience and challenge each day to be a little different, and a little bit more memorable. Break out of the waking up, class, class, class, home, dinner, bed routine and spice up your life a little bit! Find a different route to school one day, or a different way home. Find a new café or store along the way. Just imagine all the neat things you will see and experience if you decide to change up your routine a little bit each day. And, needless to say, you will become a master of all the cool little things your host city has to offer! Continue reading →