Get help and advice from people in the know, read through our articles and make sure you're kept up to speed on what to look out for once you're in the thick of it!
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It would be a crime not to make the most of Italian cooking, eating, dancing, trampolining, speaking, drinking etc on your year abroad here. After all, the food is second to none, the wine doesn’t get tiresome and you’re noticing it doesn’t get much better than this: la vita è davvero bella. Oh yes, yes it is. You’re through a few months of it now and family and friends are expecting lots from you: an academic’s knowledge of Michelangelo, the ability to make perfect hand-made ravioli, distinguish your espresso from your americano, get the froth right on the cappuccino AND speak the local dialect. Lots to learn, then, but where to start? In your free time (and yes, the free time you spend eating gelato gazing at passers-by does count), you could take on a multitude of courses and classes to get your inner Italian just that little bit more native, or learn some great skills for your life or work experience...Published in Making the Most of Your Year Abroad -
How to make friends and not alienate people (on your year abroad)
Written by Nell Fane Wednesday, 18 January 2012Seasoned adventuress, Nell Fane, passes on her top tried-and-tested tips about fitting in quickly when you arrive in a new place...
Published in When You ArriveTags -
I arrived in Barcelona in September and having only read the Lonely Planet guidebook and taken a few notes of the odd club or restaurant to try out, I was more or less thrown in the deep end and made to learn for myself how to settle into this crazy city! To be honest, if you have been travelling before, you should cope with the pressure no problem but there are several things you ought to be made aware of if you intend on residing in Barcelona for more than a month or so.
Published in When You ArriveTags -
Extra-curricular classes on your year abroad in France
Written by Natacha Cullinan Friday, 25 November 2011Taking out an extra course during your time in France will mean you can practice something you’re interested in, with the locals - what better way to have fun whilst you’re learning, we say. With so many free hours, it’s easy to stuff yourself silly with choucroute and slurp on fine wine: and although that’s an equally beneficial way to improve your language (as long as you’re oohing and aahing with the Frenchies), you can also get another insight into the culture, the people and their habits.
From cooking courses to clown workshops, find your ideal way to pass the time here:
Published in Making the Most of Your Year Abroad -
A foodie's paradise: Top 10 countries for food
Written by Natacha Cullinan Friday, 23 September 2011Although France has always been known to offer great treats, sweet and savoury, for many years, it would be unfair to claim the Gallic country to be the only source of good food. Italy, we hear you cry, is just as good. What about the food found outside of history books, and Europe, for that matter? Here is our list, compiled by hungry students looking for that little bit extra when it comes to eating out, for those looking to put a bit of spice and other nice things in their belly...
Published in Making the Most of Your Year AbroadTags
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Extra-curricular classes on your year abroad in Germany
Written by Natacha Cullinan Friday, 17 February 2012If you’re heading out to Germany for your year away, whether you’re Erasmus studying, working a cool internship or going down a volunteering route, you should look into practicing skills, passions and random activities in your spare time. Why? Because you’ll have way more spare time now then you will come 4th year, or, shudder, upon graduating when CVs, interviews and grown-up jobs will take over your life. Here’s our definitive list of the cool and quirky, from hip Berlin to dreamy Dortmund, happening Frankfurt and more...Published in Making the Most of Your Year Abroad -
How to teach your friends and family to speak the lingo before they visit
Written by Natacha Cullinan Wednesday, 11 January 2012It’s coming to that time of year again...No, not Christmas, nor the end of exams, but rather a fun weekend involving your year abroad, your best mate/partner in crime/parents coming to visit and you’re not only looking forward to pretending to be a tourist in your new city (ahem, you’re now officially a local of course) but you’re also planning on doing loads of typical things with them. Going to cute little cafés, munching on local cuisine, visiting the [insert name of famous museum] together. Just one little hitch in the plan - they virtually do not speak any foreign tongue; yes and no are trying at the best of times, their pronunciation is totally off-key and regardless of how many times you have tried to teach them basic words, they can’t seem to muster them up on command. What to do? The weekend can’t just be you translating all the time, can it? That’s where these simple steps and hints come in...
Published in When You Arrive -
Extra-curricular classes on your year abroad in Spain
Written by Natacha Cullinan Friday, 25 November 2011Spain is known for its dancing, its passion, its cooking and its sense of theatricality. If you are one of the lucky few who’s made it to the Iberian peninsula, you should think about taking out some extra classes to help you get to grips with this captivating culture. Whether you’re working or studying, there is bound to be something to suit your tastes and timetable. ¡Arriba!
Published in Making the Most of Your Year Abroad -
For all you year abroad students preparing to enter into or continue a long-distance relationship, things are not as bad as they seem. With cheap (surprise) flights, quick international postage, mail order flowers, spontaneous romantic gestures and a healthy dose of trust and infatuation, you'll sail through. But, believe me, nothing makes a long-distance more manageable than Skype.
Here's an infographic to illustrate how developments in technology have made life a whole lot easier for long-distance couples...
Published in Long-distance loveTags -
Travelling and holidays on your year abroad
Written by Paul Loveridge, Co-Founder of The Travelsaurus Friday, 16 September 2011While you're on your year abroad, why not make the most of your proximity to new and exciting countries and cities? With student travel deals and cheap flights galore, now is your chance to hit the backpacker trail, give interrailing a go, try out couchsurfing, go on a road trip or visit other year abroad friends! If you’ve got a few free days coming up, here are some top tips about where to begin...Published in Making the Most of Your Year Abroad
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Browse our when you arrive articles:
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How to make friends and not alienate people (on your year abroad)
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Seasoned adventuress, Nell Fane, passes on her top tried-and-tested tips about fitting in quickly when you arrive in a new… -
How to teach your friends and family to speak the lingo before they visit
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It’s coming to that time of year again...No, not Christmas, nor the end of exams, but rather a fun weekend… -
How to settle into Barcelona nice and quickly!
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I arrived in Barcelona in September and having only read the Lonely Planet guidebook and taken a few notes of… -
Spanish red tape: the NIE explained
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If you’re kicking off your year abroad in Barcelona (or anywhere in Spain, for that matter!), one of the first,… -
What to do when you arrive in Austria
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On arrival in Austria the first thing you will probably want to do is run down a mountain singing "the… -
Left high and dry - what to do when plans fall through
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Georgia Mallin, a Year Abroad Graduate, gives out some great advice about what to do if your year abroad isn't… -
What to do when you arrive in Germany
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Whether you're wisely planning ahead or have just arrived and are in a panic, here is a step-by-step guide about… -
Welcome to your year abroad, first stop: panic!
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With September creeping up on us, many of you guys are going to be on the brink of setting off…
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