Readers of Wandering Educators know that we are passionate about exploring the world. And, I am a huge proponent of study abroad - there's nothing like it to truly expand your worldview, while having a great time learning overseas. I've worked in study abroad, and am always looking for more study abroad resources for Wandering Educators. One such resource is the Study Abroad Blog - a fantastic site that explores Study Abroad all over the world. Created and published by Nate Nault, himself a study abroader, it's full of information on studying abroad, from electronics to travel tips, from personal stories of studying abroad to location-specific articles. Most of all, it's inspiring! And, Nate is our new Study Abroad Editor - look for great articles from him on all facets of studying abroad.
We were lucky enough to catch up with Nate, and talk about the Study Abroad Blog, his extensive Study Abroad Guide, preparing for study abroad, tips, and more. Here's what he had to say...
WE: Please tell us about The Study Abroad Blog...
NN: The Study Abroad Blog is the resource for students going abroad written by someone who has been there and done that. I don't provide specific information on different study abroad programs or locations, rather, I hope students find help by reading my posts, learning from my successes and mistakes, and using them to enrich their own study abroad experience. I don't go to study abroad conferences or fairs (yet), my expertise comes from the fact that I am not only someone who loved studying abroad, but really thrived during my experience. The Study Abroad Blog is a way for me to be in solidarity with other study abroad students, making it easier for them to understand and use the info I relate in my posts and pages. Like I say in my "my story" page, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and my goal is to help other students make the most of it.
WE: What was the genesis of The Study Abroad Blog?
NN: I began writing The Study Abroad Blog a few weeks before I left for St. Andrews in the summer of 2009, mostly as a way to keep up with friends and family back home, have a place to host photo albums from my travels, and as a sort of electronic journal that I could use to reflect back on my experiences when my time abroad was over. It didn’t take long before I realized that it would be a great way to help other students who were also studying abroad or who would be in the future. There are a lot of aspects of studying abroad that I found hard, and that I figured other students would also have trouble with, so if I could give some helpful advice to a student who is going abroad, or a student could gain some comfort in knowing that someone else shared their same feelings, I figured it was beneficial for everyone involved. I ended up enjoying it so much, and received so much feedback from other students, that I kept writing even after I came back from Scotland. I’m fortunate to be studying abroad in Beijing, China this fall, so the blog will have a ton of new content and will hopefully be able to reach an even greater audience.
WE: Please tell us about The Study Abroad Guide...
NN: I love writing my blog, and I try to cover as many topics in as much depth as I possibly can. Blogging has its limits though, as I try to only write between 500-900 words for the readers’ sake. The Ultimate Study Abroad Guide came about after I realized that I had so much more to share and it just couldn’t all fit in the space of a blog post. It’s 75 pages of everything I’ve ever researched, learned, or experienced firsthand about studying abroad. It’s a combination of blog posts that I elaborated on, an 8 part series on traveling cheap that I had previously released on its own, and a number of lists, tips, and hints about dealing with the overall everyday experiences of being abroad. The idea behind the book is the same as that of my blog: I had the experience of my life while studying abroad, and I want other students to have an experience that’s equally as meaningful or better.
WE: How can students best prepare for their study abroad experiences?
NN: Having an open mind is a great start. You’re going to be meeting a lot of different types of people, seeing some of the most amazing places on Earth, and immersing yourself in a culture completely different from your own. If you automatically close yourself off, you’re missing out on one of the greatest learning experiences you’ll ever have.
Another way to prepare is to read about others experiences [for example, those on The Study Abroad Blog ;) ]. When I was abroad, I had a friend back home who had already been abroad email me now and then to check up on me. He would always let me know that whatever I was feeling, whether good or bad, was totally normal and at some point, he had felt the same way. When you know that you’re not alone in the way you feel, and even more so, that everyone generally feels the way you do at some point in time, you’re much more apt to think positively about the experience. While you may not be able to totally avoid things like homesickness or culture shock, if you prepare yourself ahead of time, dealing with them will be a lot easier.
WE: Travel is so important - why should students make an effort to study abroad?
NN: The world is such an amazing place, it seems sad that so many people never get to see it. As students, we’re young enough that we don’t have any obligations or commitments (a family, car payments, a mortgage) holding us back so this is the best time for us to travel – while we’re young. We also have more advantages than any previous generation – better technology, faster travel, fewer cultural and racial barriers, and of course, globalization. If we don’t use these advantages, we are essentially letting the generations that came before us down.
Small minds create a small world. Traveling, understanding different peoples, and learning about new cultures is the way to create a world in which people are open-minded and understanding. It’s the way to guarantee a better world for future generations. I know not everyone has the ability to study abroad, and that’s fine. You don’t have to go to school on the other side of the globe or vacation at a 5 star resort to travel. It’s simply about being in a new place and immersing yourself in a different culture. If we saw travel as less of a vacation and more of an experience, I think we would find that enriching the mind is just as rewarding as pampering the body.
I elaborate in more detail about why I think every student should study abroad in my post As Young Americans We Should Make Every Effort To Study Abroad.
WE: How can students best dig deeply into a culture/new place?
NN: It’s really just a matter of getting out of your dorm room and into the world. Integrating yourself into a culture doesn’t take any work, but you have to actively participate. More than likely, you chose a particular location abroad because it interested you more than any other. Get excited about exploring all of these things that you think are going to interest you. You can always dive right in (like tasting haggis the second day in Scotland) or start slow by doing things you’re comfortable with because you do it at home (like I did when I hit up the golf course in St. Andrews). If you’re an active participant in the everyday life of the community and your school (joining clubs, attending community events, playing local sports, going to the bars, clubs, and pubs, and of course traveling), as opposed to being a passive observer who sits in their room, it’s almost impossible not to get deep into a culture.
WE: What are your top study abroad travel tips?
NN: Go in a group: It’s safer, planning is always easier with more people, and when it comes down to it, you’ll want to share your travel experiences with good friends.
Stay in hostels: I never felt unsafe, I never found a hostel that wasn’t clean enough to sleep in, and they’re dirt cheap.
Fly on low cost carriers: No matter how uncomfortable they are, and how little baggage they let you bring, the savings will always be worth it.
Use the metro/underground: It’s the most inexpensive form of transportation, and the quickest way to see the most sites.
Read about a place before you go there: You’ll spend less time trying to figure out where to go and what to see, and just generally appreciate your travels more.
Try and stick to a budget: While traveling cheap is relatively easy, if you don’t keep your budget in mind, you could definitely blow your wallet.
I actually wrote a more in depth post on 10 Tips For Planning Your Weekend Travels.
WE: What happens when students get home? How can they best integrate their study abroad experience into their lives and careers?
NN: Coming home can be a challenge, especially if you went abroad for an entire year. Seeing friends and family again will make the first few days back a happy time, but reverse culture shock will undoubtedly kick in at some point. I’ve found that the more you keep your family and friends in the loop about your life while you’re abroad, the easier it is for them to understand and appreciate your experience once you’re home. There are also a lot of ways to share your experiences in a way that can help other students who might be thinking of heading abroad (blogs, forums, photo sites, etc.). Eventually you do re-adjust to life at home and you will fall back into some sort of a routine. Things will never be exactly the same, but that’s one of the hidden benefits of studying abroad. Integrating your old life with what you learned abroad will help you live a more satisfying life in the future.
I recently wrote a post on reverse culture shock and re-entry Why No One Likes The Friend That Studied Abroad that goes into a lot more depth.
As far as a career, studying abroad is one of the greatest things you can have on a resume. It answers questions about the type of person you are and what you’ve already accomplished in life before the question is even asked. When trying to integrate/explain your experience abroad in an interview, it’s best to focus on the intangible skills you acquired while abroad: independence, reliability, adaptability, time management and organization, open-mindedness, cultural awareness, acceptance of other opinions (able to work well with others), and just a greater understanding of the world in general. Of course, if you did something like an intensive language program, you could very easily integrate the tangible skills you learned abroad as well.
WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
NN: Whenever I talked to people about studying abroad, I always said I got to live the dream. I saw more places, met more people, and had more fun than I could have ever imagined. I learned more about the world and more about myself than at any point in my life. Studying abroad will more than likely be the greatest learning experience you’ve ever had, but in the end, it’s about having fun, enjoying yourself, and making the most of something not many people our age get to do.
WE: Thanks so very much, Nate, for sharing about the Study Abroad Blog! We highly recommend it to our readers!
All photos courtesy and copyright Nate Nault