Going abroad is an experience everyone should try at least once when they are young, and making the trip during your college years is the easiest and most efficient way to do it. Colleges have plenty of great opportunities to study abroad with a range of different departments, but if you would simply like to have a break from hard classes in a more cost-friendly way, here are some great options for you!
Become An Au Pair
Becoming an au pair is a wonderful opportunity, especially if you are doing a humanities major like Education or English. An au pair is essentially a foreign nanny, someone who takes care of a family’s children in exchange for housing, food, and a small sum you can use for exploring the local life. It is a great way to immerse yourself in the language of the country you are living in, and allows you to quickly adapt to the habits and traditions of the culture. The only downside of this form of travel is that you may not have as much time as you wish to explore the area outside of where you live. It is more of a commitment to one place rather than an opportunity to traverse other neighboring countries. However, becoming an au pair allows you to learn to carry a sense of responsibility while you are still young, while also catering to your independence and curiosity.Â
Volunteering
Volunteering is the best way to explore the world and simultaneously give back to it. Programs can range from 1 week to several months. You pay a stipend to the company you are working with, the cost depending on how long you want to stay, and do a small number of hours each day. After you finish volunteering with the project option you picked (usually there are several projects you can choose from, such as animal care, tutoring, and community outreach), you have the rest of the day free to explore the country. There are so many organizations that can be a good fit for you, depending on your needs. The baseline of these programs includes housing accommodations, airport pick-up, and at least one daily meal. Your program takes care of you as you work together, and allows you the freedom to roam the country and its culture when you aren’t giving back to the community.
Study Abroad
Studying abroad is the most popular way to visit another country, though most typically go through their university, which can get quite expensive. In reality, there are a huge number of programs that are designed to fit your needs. Trip lengths can vary depending on cost and the time of year you go, ranging from two weeks to a whole semester. The organizations will typically pair with a university where you are able to take classes for transfer credits to your university degree. There are a myriad of programs that can go from putting you in a large group of other students to explore the country to leaving you to roam the country alone, outside of classes. Finding the organization that best fits you can be hard, but ultimately rewarding once you find the right one!
If you want more information…
How to become an au pair: https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/complete-guide-to-au-pair-jobs-in-europeÂ
A list of volunteering programs: https://www.gooverseas.com/volunteer-abroadÂ
Studying abroad programs: https://www.gooverseas.com/study-abroadÂ