“It’ll be the best year of your life”. How the year abroad has turned me into a ‘Yes Man’
April 12, 2014
With my permanent departure from France just a week away, I have been feeling increasingly pensive lately. Reflecting on the life I have built here and how it has changed me over the last seven months leads me to all sorts of conclusions on what I have learned from the experience; be it what I …
Challenges of making connections in Cuba
April 11, 2014
Posted by Lucy Kirkup. Cubans are known for their open and friendly nature along with their zest for life. Despite this stereotype I have found it considerably harder making connections with the locals here than I did in Germany. Obvious reasons for this are the difficult Cuban accent, which I still struggle with, and the …
Connections are what make your year abroad a success
Post written by Hannah Sheeham. Planning my year abroad in Brazil was a challenge due to a lack of connections in South America. After sending out numerous CV’s and applying for numerous internships I had no luck but nonetheless was very fortunate to fall upon the last study placement available in Santa Maria along with 3 …
A passport into French culture
Post written by Alice Noone, The links I have made during my time in France fall into three categories. The first being the people I have encountered. I have been fortunate enough to establish important friendships, particularly with two of my colocs: Céline and Nico. Initially it took time to warm to one another due …
The most important thing about spending time in any place is not the place itself; it’s the people
April 10, 2014
I am entering the final weeks of my teaching assistantship in North-eastern France, and while trying desperately to soak up every last opportunity to improve my French, travel around Europe and drink cheap wine, I am beginning to reflect on the things I will miss about living in this country. The most significant thing I …
I hope I will leave this island with many friends, and we will toast to my return
Early this February, I left snowy Vienna for the sunny, buzzing capital of Cuba: Havana. It was a total shock to my system – staring at the deep blue sea, sitting by the Malecon in the shadow of the famous Hotel Nacional, surrounded by the cries of the street vendors and the roar of engines …
Wiping the slate clean
Post written by Jack Revell. Wiping the slate clean (either a liberating or terrifying process, depending on how much comfort one finds in the guiding hand of daily routine back home) upon my arrival in Melilla was a daunting task, as it meant that I could no longer rely on the friends I had in …
…it makes a change from life in the UK and it’s welcomed!
April 9, 2014
Post written by Tara Odeinde. Well it’s nearing the end of my fourth week in Lisbon, Portugal and so far I am really enjoying it here, although the second part of my year abroad is already going too quickly considering I’m only here for 3 months! It has definitely been easier to adapt to life …
Make an effort and get involved!
One of the main pieces of advice you’re given when leaving for your year abroad is to make an effort and involve yourself, whether that be with the language, friends, teachers, students, housemates…or whatever else. 8 months down the line I have to say that I can’t agree more. Making an effort and forming connections …
Making connections in lots of different ways
Post written by Bethan Roberts. Hello from a very sunny Chambéry! Life as a Language Assistant is going so quickly, and I will be leaving in just three weeks. It has been a very interesting seven months, with lots of new experiences and situations to deal with, and it is fair to say that I …
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