Category Archives: Abroad Advice

Mia’s Packing Tips for Down Under

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It felt like I was at home awaiting my trip abroad forever, but now, i’m finally here.  Although most of the Global Ambassadors are well into their international adventures, my choice of country, Australia, means I’ve just begun.  In Australia the seasons are opposite, since it is in the southern hemisphere (ie UNSW has been on summer vacation and their fall semester starts Feb 27). This switch of seasons poses great prospects for weather but also quite a conundrum for packing. As mentioned in my intro post I have been lucky enough to travel a lot, however that doesn’t by any stretch mean that I am a skilled packer.

Whenever my family travels together things begin to fall apart as we approach the luggage counter, otherwise known as the scale of fear. If you aren’t careful your bags may tip the scale over the airline imposed 50lb limit. This error causes overage charges and a headache induced by frantically switching clothes from one bag to the next in an attempt to even weights out. If you keep one thing in mind while packing for your semester abroad it should be “Less is more.” In all likelihood the country you are going to has extra pants, socks and shampoo, let’s hope… Continue reading →

Long Distance Relationship Guide

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You may remember our post: To Be or Not To Be (Together): Long Distance Relationships well, in honor of Valentines Day, one of our Global Ambassadors decided to write a guide on long distance relationships:

One of the hardest things about living so far away from home is living 15,000km from the man I love. It’s common to have a tough time with long distance relationships, especially when you’re used to seeing each other everyday. Long distance relationships are not for the faint of heart, and require a great deal of work and very sound coping mechanisms. In fact, according to the Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships, 60% of relationships fail when one partner goes on exchange! You may think your love is strong, but can it stand the test of a long distance relationship? 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 →

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 →

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 →

How to Pick Your Travel Companions Abroad

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It’s no secret that an opportunity to study abroad will inevitably lead to catching the travel bug. Traveling can easily be considered one of the best parts of studying abroad, where you will collect many memorable experiences that you are sure to never forget. Different destinations each weekend, numerous new cultures to experience, historic landmarks to visit…honestly, who can disagree!? But deciding who to spend those mini-vacations with can be difficult, especially if you have different goals or opinions about how you want to spend your weekends away. Continue reading →

The Power of Networking

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You will hear time and again how important it is to Network, we’ve all heard, “it’s not what you know but who you know!” Although it’s important to have the what to get the job, it’s often the who that will get you the interview!

The important thing about networking is that it requires time. You’ll never know if someone you meet today will be helpful to you in your career search down the line, so always get contact information and stay in touch! Remember, it’s not only older people who will have the power of connection, your peers will be valuable assets as well! If you’re looking for an international career, it is especially important that you stay in touch with the contacts (friends, teachers, etc.) that you made while studying abroad. Having international contacts doesn’t only sound impressive, but could be very useful!
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How Studying Abroad Can Lead To Teaching Abroad!

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What is the most valuable tool I gained from my incredible semester abroad? CONFIDENCE in myself to venture out and experience more incredible things the world has to offer!

After a semester in Auckland, New Zealand and challenging myself to do wild things that I never imagined myself doing (i.e. flipping off a ledge 400 meters over the idyllic backdrop of Queenstown…attached to a bungee, of course), I gained a sense of independence and confidence that opened the door to an experience of a lifetime: teaching English in South Korea.

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How to Make the Most of Your Study Abroad

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So you’ve chosen to study abroad and you’ve been accepted. Now what? Don’t think that just because you’ve signed up that everything else will fall in place and you will have a great semester. You have to put an effort in to make the most of your study abroad experience!

I’ve put together some steps for the study abroad novice to follow to ensure you have the time of your life!

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