Study Abroad Bloggers

Traveling Tips

Part 3 - By Anne-Marie Dingemans Pocket Dictionary or Phrase book If you don't master the language of your travel destination, you want to keep one of these close by. It helps you asks the way (phrase books often even have sample sentences written out that you can show a passer-by when asking for help), know what you're ordering in a restaurant and you can use it to expand on your vocabulary on long train or bus rides. Phone numbers and addresses I do admit to being an over-organizer, but before I leave home I make a list of all of the addresses and phone numbers I may need. Well, not all of course, but definitely the accommodation(s) I'm staying at, embassy, police, bank- credit card- and phone-company numbers (for blocking of cards and phone), my travel insurance policy and emergency contact information. I keep a copy in my money belt, and a 'coded' copy in my wallet. I say 'coded' as I don't want to keep my homestay- or hotel key next to the address, that's asking for trouble when pick pocketed. If you really want to stay on top of the game, you can also print out little maps of the area your lodging is in, or the route from the airport to the lodging, so you have at least some idea of where you’re going. ... more to follow

Travel Gear

Part 2 - by Anne-Marie Dingemans Clothing We have blogged about this before, so I'll just repeat the highlights. You certainly want to check up on the weather in the destination you're traveling to (you'd be surprised how many people don't know that in Argentina it's winter during our summer, and that Cusco is actually very cold!), and to pack as lightly as possible, I also recommend that you pick clothing that you can mix&match. That way, you can create different outfits with some basic pieces, but also layer up if the weather is colder then anticipated. I would also try to gather some information on the dress code in the country you'll be staying. In Egypt, for example, most people are Muslim and therefore cover their hair, and wear long, loose-fitting clothing. You are not expected to dress the same but it is positively viewed if you dress on the conservative side and at least cover your upper arms and knees. If you enter a mosque you must cover your hair too. This is an easy example of course, but really applies to all countries if you seek to blend in. You won't see a Parisien woman in shorts in the middle of the city (Hold on! Actually, you would! As of Summer 2005 the shorts were introduced in fashion again; straight narrow legs in cotton or linen. Tres chique.) or jeans at a Theater performance in Vienna. Money Belt Very much recommended as it lets you keep your valuables on your body and out of sight of thieves. I keep my flight tickets, passport, a credit card and some emergency cash there which makes me feel much more at ease when traveling. ... More info to follow

Recommended Travel Gear

Part 1 - by Anne-Marie Dingemans Suitcases & what you pack in them This paragraph is most relevant for travelers from the USA as their domestic and international baggage allowances are the most lenient. If you are traveling from the USA to Quito, for example, you can take up to 100lbs (depending on the airline) for free, plus 40lbs carry-on luggage. However, if you later want to fly from Quito to Cuenca, or to Buenos Aires for example, you have a baggage allowance of only 50lbs! If you don't anticipate these restrictions, you're faced with hefty excess luggage charges. The same goes for the size of the carry-on luggage which can also bring unpleasant surprises. Within the USA, and on US carriers, normally the maximum height of a carry-on suitcase is 22", however, in Europe this maximum is only 20", sometimes 21". If you're lucky the staff at the check-in counter won't notice, but more and more do they make you (try to) fit your bag in those racks. So if you're planning on traveling with a lot of luggage, or only carry-on luggage, please check the luggage restrictions of all the airlines you'll be flying with and choose your luggage and pack your bags accordingly. ... More tips to come

Is Study Abroad for You?

Part 2 - Continuing from "Why Study Abroad" - by Elizabeth G Here are some of the questions you may be asking as you make your decision about whether or not a semester abroad is right for you: How long does it take to become fluent? My standard answer to this is that everyone has their own definition of fluent, so I always try to get more specifics on what exactly they want to accomplish. A general basic example is that if you are an absolute beginner and go for one month with little/no English spoken you will be very conversational in the present tense (at the very least), will be able to understand most things, but will still not be able to say as much as you would like to. From my own personal experience, I learned and improved my Spanish more in 4 months in Spain than I did from 6 years of classroom instruction here in the U.S. What if I get homesick or hate where I am? If this happens, chances are you're experiencing culture shock. For an in-depth look at this issue, read my article on culture shock found here: Is this appropriate for my major or will I just be behind when I get back to campus? This is something you should talk to your advisor about. You definitely don't want to risk getting behind. The biggest problem you may have is those pesky courses that are only offered once a year. Ultimately, this could determine which semester will be best for you to go. In addition, many study abroad programs offer elective courses applicable to a variety of majors.

To Train or not to Train...

that's the question...Part 4 - Continuing from "Traveling within Europe" - By Anne-Marie D Of course, just when you're hooked on Europe's comfy (inter)national trains, you end up in a country where the bus is usually the best option! For travel in Spain, I recommend buses over trains. The network is pretty old, with plenty of single-track sections which, with the frequent cargo train schedule, just screams 'delays' which is of course exactly what happens. Luckily for us travelers', Spanish transportation companies have seized up this opportunity and offer frequent, cheap, reliable bus services between all major and not so major cities in Spain. The only inconvenience is that the different companies have as of yet not decided to support one all-encompassing website, so you need to refer to your good-old guidebook to see which companies run services to the town you want to travel to. On the topic of buses, there are several international bus lines much used by backpackers, such as Eurolines, which offers cheap travel between most capital cities in Western and Eastern Europe. The trouble with that company is that they are very subject to passport- and drug-controls at the borders which can lead to significant delays and uncomfortable situations (such as unpacking your backpack in the middle of the night at the Czech border). Concluding, when I travel distances that can be done by train in less than 5-6 hours, I usually end up doing that. However, when you can plan well in advance and you travel outside of busy seasons such as summer and Christmas time, you can snatch up some really good deals through one of the many budget airlines that operate in Europe. Especially from the UK and Germany there are many routes offered. Giving an up-to-date overview is nearly impossible but this site has been a useful starting point for me. Here Gute Reise/ Bon Voyage/ Happy Travels/ Goede Reis/ Buen Viaje/ Buon Viaggio!