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Before You Go
If you're preparing for your year abroad, you can already envisage the immense amount of planning that you have to do. Having been through the process ourselves (and with the help of a multitude of contributors!) we've put together a Before You Go hit list:
- Find out what's out there!
- Read Case studies written by students who are doing what you're doing.
- Buy insurance
- Pick up some language learning resources
- Get your wallet in order
- Check out the top free online resources for year abroad students
- Stick to The Definitive Year Abroad checklist.
- Follow the essential steps for the year abroad.
- How to make the most of your holidays and get your languages up to scratch.
- Get the checklist of what you should pack in your suitcase.
- And of course, our great debate - should you work or study abroad?
- Oh - before you go, do a Time Zone Check!
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Everything you need to know for your year abroad in Spain
Written by Natacha Cullinan Friday, 20 January 2012If you’re planning on moving to Spain for your year or semester abroad, you will be thinking of accommodation, bureaucracy, bank accounts and much more. It might be wise to read our Culture Shock section for more tips about Spanish working hours, politeness and more before you set sail to the Iberian Peninsula. Read on to find out what you should do when you arrive, how to sort out lodgings and what to look out for regarding money issues and more...
Published in Before You Go -
Packing for my stay in Mexico, I realised something: aside from the fact I’d have to pick which shoes/dresses/hair products to bring, I’d also have to make a tough decision regarding which literature I could fit (carry) in my two suitcases. Yes, hand luggage was still an option, but my bag was already bulging with my laptop, charger, camera, passport and important documents, a couple of packets of sweets (no Percy Pigs in the airport), my over-filled diary and more clutter I care to recall. What to bring? How do you pick between Molière’s dramatic comedy, Ruiz Zafón’s page-turning novels and Pratchett’s sarcastic fantasy? What about all the other loves in my life, the Arabic classic literature, the socio-economic tirades of South America, the sharp wit of America’s finest authors, or the Renaissance literature of Britain?
Published in What to pack? -
We’ve ploughed through our resources, asked hundreds of travellers and managed to come up with this: the definitive guide to suit every traveller’s needs. It's so important to go on adventures while you're abroad - spend weekends exploring, use your holidays to travel, go on a tour of music (and beer!) festivals... Have a read, pick out a few items you fancy, get your parents to chip in and enjoy these nomadic treats!
Published in What to pack? -
ThirdYearAbroad.com is a mine of invaluable information and top tips. To help you stay on track, we've decided to extract the best of the best to create a master list of things you need to do/buy/prepare for/be aware of before your year abroad.Published in Planning and preparation -
Anna's Year Abroad Prep: Packing and living arrangements
Written by Anna Petri Wednesday, 01 June 2011Anna Petri came to England when she was 16 thanks to her German exchange. She decided to stay and is currently studying Translation with French and Spanish. She is currently planning her second year abroad, spending 5 months working in Mons, Belgium and another 5 months studying in Granada in Spain. Here, she lets us know how she's doing...Published in Planning and preparation
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Everything you need to know for your year abroad in France
Written by Natacha Cullinan Wednesday, 18 January 2012Although preparing your year abroad back home may seem like a lot of faff, paperwork and what not, but the prospect of going to France and dealing with all of that, all over again and in - aaargh - French can leave you with a bit of a headache. Filling out forms, no speaking the bureaucratic lingo and no knowledge of protocol. This is where this article comes in: what to watch out for, how to get the most out of your money and what you can sign up to. Read on to find out more:
Published in Before You Go -
BBCs - Basic British Comforts for your year abroad
Written by Natacha Cullinan Tuesday, 30 August 2011Heading out abroad, to a gorgeous sunset as you take off from the tarmac, unto the world of the kooky, the eccentric, the known unknowns and the unknowns knowns...This is the start of a new adventure, your heart cries. As you hit the ground running, find your new flat without (too much) trouble and set up camp a la [insert nationality], you’ll feel as though life has just begun. There will be a time - morning, lunch, early evening - when you’ll want to reach out for...Oh no, crap, you didn’t bring it with you. After reading lists and lists about what to cut out of your packing (15 jumpers too much?!), you might have forgotten the BBC (ahem, British Basic Comforts). Make sure you wrap these up in cotton wool, you’ll need them once you’re out in the wild:
Published in What to pack? -
As you’re trying to pick your favourite clothes, decide on how many pairs of shoes to bring, which posters to flog into your suitcase and just how much tea you’re going to go through in a year, packing for your year abroad can be a real pain in the rear end, at the best of times. You will inevitably end up going abroad with far too many scarves when it’s boiling in the sunshine, or packing your favourite heels only to notice that no one else gets that dressed up. But what about your personality traits? What are the essentials when it comes to moving to another country?Published in Planning and preparation -
Dying to hear from other students who are planning their year abroad? Want to see if you’ve missed anything out? Then keep your eyes peeled for:
- Anna’s preparing for her year abroad in Mons, Belgium and Granada, Spain.
- Charlotte's preparing for her year abroad in Lyon, France and Córdoba, Spain.
- Phil’s preparing for his year abroad in Germany.
Published in Before You Go -
Phil Richards, in the middle of his year abroad prep, tells all about the stress of packing, money issues and more as he prepares for his year abroad...Published in Planning and preparation
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Browse our before you go articles:
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Everything you need to know for your year abroad in Spain
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If you’re planning on moving to Spain for your year or semester abroad, you will be thinking of accommodation, bureaucracy,… -
Everything you need to know for your year abroad in France
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Although preparing your year abroad back home may seem like a lot of faff, paperwork and what not, but the… -
Virtual reading: Kindle review
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Packing for my stay in Mexico, I realised something: aside from the fact I’d have to pick which shoes/dresses/hair products… -
BBCs - Basic British Comforts for your year abroad
Read more...
Heading out abroad, to a gorgeous sunset as you take off from the tarmac, unto the world of the kooky,… -
The 15 best travel gadgets
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We’ve ploughed through our resources, asked hundreds of travellers and managed to come up with this: the definitive guide to… -
Six things you can't leave home without!
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As you’re trying to pick your favourite clothes, decide on how many pairs of shoes to bring, which posters to…