A 360-Degree View on Studying Abroad

Wow! This article offers some really great advice! **DB

“A 360-Degree View on Studying Abroad”

by Besart Bajrami via “Huffington Post”

Moving beyond borders for a novel experience can be the solution to your post-teenage existentialist crisis; discovering yourselves in different environments is both challenging and bold. What better way to do that than, pick a spot on the map and starting looking for an exchange program at the Universities offering such an alternative. So long, crazy boring routines and nosy parents that only want the best for you; one hell of an adventure will be waiting for you on the other side where supposedly grass is always greener.

Why study abroad? 

A lot of people might wonder, why go through all those tiring procedures so you can end up in a strange environment full of unknown people you know nothing about? Is the degree more valuable or in fact the experience is one of a kind?Precisely.

13 Mistakes Study Abroad Students Make

via “Huffington Post“

Studying abroad is the first opportunity most young adults have to travel the world on their own. With all the excitement, it’s easy to make some mistakes.

These 13 errors are totally common and very avoidable. Take our advice, and you’ll have the best semester (or year) abroad. We promise.

1. Booking all your weekend trips in advance. 
One of the best parts of studying abroad is getting to explore nearby cities and countries. It’s tempting to book your adventures in advance, but it’s better to wait until you get there. Budget airlines and hostels are easy to book last minute and it’s fun to fly by the seat of your pants.

2. Not making a budget.
You need a weekly budget for meals, bars, transportation and random pastry shop excursions. You need a travel budget for all those weekend trips. You also need a souvenirs and gifts-for-everyone-else budget. Get budgeting.

3. Not learning the language. 
Don’t assume anyone speaks English. Learn some basics before you go and take a language course while you’re there. You’ll come back with a cool skill and you’ll get a lot more respect from locals if you put some effort into communicating with them. . . . .

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“Tech Tips For Travel To Latin America”

by Ariel Coro via “Huffington Post“

“After a long journey visiting relatives back home in South America or the Caribbean this holiday season, it would be well advised to arrive to your hotel well prepared. I recommend traveling armed with the right gadgets and tech that save space, are light and have multiple functions. Below are a few suggestions for your next trip abroad.

For travelers who enjoy photography, instead of lugging around a big camera, you can now carry, just the lens. What do I mean? Sony just released the Cybershot QX10, a wireless zoom lens for your smartphone. It connects to the lens through 
Wi-Fi and you can operate it using the Sony Play Memories app to take photos, videos and control the zoom lens. . . . .”

 

 

“19 Things You’ll Appreciate Only If You Studied Abroad”

by Suzy Strutner via “Huffington Post“

“Because as someone famous once said, “the best things you learn aren’t learned in a classroom.”

1. Contrary to every mother’s belief, you won’t even feel sick if you eat gelato for every meal.
Or pizza. Or crepes. Or empanadas. Or anything in the top, bad-for-you section of the food pyramid. We’re on a budget here, people. . . . .”

 

Bringing Global Home

by Wendy B. Libby via “Huffington Post“

“Study abroad. Perhaps no other experience has the ability to so swiftly and absolutely change students’ lives and prepare them for any opportunity the world might offer.

It’s widely acknowledged that immersing yourself in another culture and language stretches your view of the world. It provides experience in managing and navigating unique situations. It develops your confidence and helps you achieve personal growth while imparting concrete skills that last a lifetime. Not only are these core characteristics that we seek to instill in our students at Stetson University, but they are also critical – with a nod toThomas Friedman – to navigating our shrunken, flattened world. . . .”

“VisaMapper Is A Magical Map Where You Can See Which Countries Require Visas To Visit”

You can find a direct link to the VisaMapper app (and other tools) under “Student Resources” on the left side of this blog.

“VisaMapper Is A Magical Map Where You Can See Which Countries Require Visas To Visit”

by Suzy Strutner via “Huffington Post“

“This might be the most brilliant thing a Reddit user has done in a while.

To curb the pain of the “do I need a visa?!” research headache, udit99 made a no-frills website called VisaMapper. Visitors select their nationality from a drop-down menu and instantly see, on a color-coded world map, which countries require a visa for them to visit and which don’t.

Tell VisaMapper you’re of Swedish citizenship, for example, and watch loads of nations on the map turn to happy shades of green. This color means you won’t need a visa to visit them. . . . .”

I will say that I can’t tell when the map applies. . . . Sometimes the rules are different for travelers staying longer than 90 days (or a similar length of time) which would often include students.  England I know has different requirements than I think this app shows.

Traveling Abroad: 13 Tips To Roaming Freely And Safely

by T-Mobile via “The Huffington Post“

“These days, it’s almost impossible to imagine leaving the house, not to mention traveling to a foreign country, without a smartphone. How would you avoid getting lost without your built-in GPS? Or know which neighborhoods to visit (and which to avoid) without a handy phone travel guide? And don’t forget everyone needs social media apps to share experiences with friends.

While your smartphone can help you keep in touch and stay street smart while traveling abroad, the costs of international roaming, . . . .”

 

Busting the Top 10 Study Abroad Myths

By Stacie Nevadomski Berden via “The Huffington Post”

“There is a great deal of controversy surrounding study abroad.

In a recent New York Times “Room for Debate” forum, contributors — of whom I was one — were asked whether study abroad should be an essential component to a college degree. This type of online debate is designed to spark discussion, and everyone who contributes and comments expresses his or her own opinion. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the comments can be based upon misinformation. As a business professional who recently conducted in-depth research on study abroad for the book I coauthored with Dr. Allan Goodman and Sir Cyril Taylor, A Student Guide to Study Abroad, I felt compelled to address the top 10 myths that emerged from this. . . .”