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Tips for Travelers: How to Get the Most out of Your �� Experience

mmgrant — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 20:51:14 +0000

While writing this blog, I reached out to a fellow traveler, Jack Hubble, to ask what he remembered most about his experiences abroad, and some of his advice in this post as well.

Traveling to a different country can seem overwhelming, but it is one of the best experiences you can have! Whether you are a seasoned traveler or this is your first time travelling abroad, there are several things that you can do to get the most out of your study abroad experience.

When I was preparing for my first trip abroad, I didn’t know what to expect. I would be traveling to Ireland with a group of people I had never met, and it would be my first time outside the US. I had completed my pre-departure activities and had my bags packed, but still had no idea what would happen once I arrived.

Looking back on that trip now, I can’t believe that I was worried! I travelled all over the beautiful country of Ireland, met some amazing people, and created memories that will last a lifetime. Most of the things I was nervous about were never a problem, and I realized that I really enjoyed trying new things and getting outside of my comfort zone. After this first experience abroad, I caught the travel bug and have visited 7 countries in the three years since then. Each of my trips has exposed me to new ideas and taught me to take advantage of any opportunity I have to travel.

No matter where you go in the world, there are several things you can do to make the most out of your study abroad experience. Here is a list of ideas to keep in mind while you are preparing for your next adventure!

Keep a Journal/ Make a Blog

Lots of seasoned travelers recommend journaling or keeping a blog to help you remember and reflect on your travel experience. Creating a blog can help you share your experiences with family and friends, and it is something you can always look back on and enjoy. I have used both a journal and a blog when I travel, and although the blog took some time to create, I have enjoyed looking back at my pictures and experiences now that I am back home. There are several websites that allow you to create a blog for free, but if travel blogging is something that you want to pursue in the future it might be beneficial to pay for a professional blog. Check out these blogs created by CALS students about their travels abroad!
Experience the Culture

Take advantage of any opportunity you have to immerse yourself in the culture of the country you are traveling in. If you have the opportunity to take a culture class while spending a semester abroad or visit local festivals and activities during your visit, take advantage of it. When I studied abroad in Spain for a semester, I took a “Spain Today” class that taught me about the different provinces of Spain, their history, and their customs. One of my favorite weekends during the semester was when I visited Seville and had the opportunity to tour the city and watch a flamenco show. I really enjoyed learning about the history of the city and participating in one of its oldest traditions.

“One thing I didn’t get a chance to do was go to a soccer game. Being in Thessaloniki, Greece, they had a soccer team and games, but I was busy when all my classmates went. Soccer is such a big part of the culture in Europe and if I go back I’ll make sure to attend a game.” Jack, senior at ISU
Interact with Locals

Some of my favorite memories from travelling occurred when I interacted with the locals and tried new things within the culture. Ask the locals where the best places to eat are and walk around lesser-known areas to experience the country's true culture. When I traveled to Argentina as a freshman, we stayed for a few days in a hotel in Buenos Aires. My friends and I made friends with one of the waiters in the hotel, and he suggested some different restaurants and areas to check out around the city. We were able to talk with him every day about what we had seen and experienced, and I was able to learn a lot about the city and culture from a personal perspective.
Don’t Live in a Hotel

If you have the opportunity to stay with a host family or live in an apartment with fellow travelers, take advantage of it! For short term trips, it is probably more reasonable to stay in a hotel, but don’t live in it. Get out and explore! Living with people from other cultures can be challenging, but it gives you the opportunity to learn a lot about yourself and the culture of the people you are living with. Living with a host family in Cáceres, Spain, was a great experience during my semester abroad. At first, there were some awkward moments as I integrated into their lives and they became accustomed to me. It would have been a lot easier for me to do my own thing and only hang out with fellow American students that understood English, but I chose to spend time with my host family and get to know them. By the end of my trip we talked every day during meals and even watched telenovelas together! To this day I still catch up with my host mom occasionally, and I hope to go back and visit her in the future. Living with a host family allowed me to learn more about Spanish culture than I ever would have if I stayed with other Americans.
Keep an Open Mind

Traveling to a different country exposes you to new ideas and puts you in situations that you might otherwise not experience. Every time I travel to a new country I learn something new about myself as well as my own culture in the US. While traveling to Argentina, I learned that life in the US is very fast paced and that Argentine people really value family time. For example, it is very common for Americans to pull up to a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts drive-thru to pick up a coffee on their way to work. In Argentina, drive-thrus are nonexistent and people always sit down to drink their coffee and socialize within the cafe. This experience made me realize that every culture illustrates their values differently, and helped me to reflect on what my own values are.

"The most impactful thing that I learned was to be thankful for the opportunities available in the country I live in. A lot of students that I met talked about how they all dreamed about seeing the United States someday. Many of them talked about trying to come for school or to do an internship.” -Jack, senior at ISU

Overall, make your experience meaningful to you. Try things that you are interested in and don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. Take pictures and journal to help you remember your experiences, and try to learn something new everywhere you go!

-Marta

Marta and Jack are Student Travel Consultants in the CALS �� Office and are always available to meet and discuss their personal study abroad experiences! Email calsstudyabroad@iastate.edu to set-up a virtual meeting with a Student Travel Consultant.

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Marta Grant

Tips for Travelers: 5 Ways to Prepare for your �� Experience

mmgrant — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 20:20:24 +0000

So, you’ve decided you are going to study abroad and are counting down the days until your adventure. No matter what part of the world you are traveling to, you will experience new cultures and interact with new people, but what if you are unsure about your foreign language skills?

This was me about a year ago. I was preparing for a semester abroad in Spain, and hadn’t taken a Spanish class in about 6 months. I was nervous that my classmates would be better speakers than me and that I wouldn’t be able to communicate with my host family, but as soon as I arrived in Spain all those fears vanished. I realized that everyone there wanted me to learn Spanish and I had all the tools I needed to be successful.

Before I left the US, I tried to practice my Spanish in several different ways to make the transition to Spain easier. I made this list of ideas to help others be prepared to speak a foreign language abroad. Interacting with a host family, peers, and/or locals while abroad will greatly improve your language skills and make you a more confident, skilled speaker. So let’s get ready to talk!!

Take a Class or Two Before You Leave

If you have never studied a language before or it has been a few years since you last studied it, it might be a good idea to take a class or two to learn the basics and pick up some vocabulary. You will always want to know how to ask to find a bathroom, how to order food, and how to read numbers. Knowing some of these basic phrases will make you more confident in your navigation skills when you first arrive.

Before coming to college, I didn’t think I would end up majoring in Spanish. But after taking several classes at Iowa State University, I decided to study abroad for a semester and it just made sense to do a major. If you are unsure about completing a minor or a major, I recommend taking a few classes first to see if you are really interested, and then studying abroad to help you develop your language skills.
Download a Language Learning App

There are several free apps available to teach foreign languages, and each of them use different methods to teach vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Using a mobile app allows you to study anywhere and anytime, ultimately improving your language skills. I personally use Duolingo to practice my Spanish. I used this app a lot before traveling to Spain and I use it now to continue practicing at home.
Find a Language Partner

Find a native speaker or someone at a higher proficiency level than you and meet up for a conversation once a week. Although it can be intimidating to talk with a native speaker, it is a great way to practice. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, because it is easy for someone to correct you in a conversation and you are more likely to learn from the mistake.

I joined a program through my university’s language department that pairs native speakers with language learners for bi-weekly conversations to practice language skills. My partner and I would meet for coffee or lunch and try to complete our whole conversation in Spanish. I learned a lot and at the same time made a new friend.
Research the Culture

Researching the culture and society of the country you are traveling to can give you a better understanding of what life will be like when you are there and give you opportunities to interact with the language. Whether that be visiting an authentic restaurant, local market, or museum, any opportunity to learn more about the culture will benefit you in the long run.

Before hopping on my plane to Spain, I did a lot of research about the city and region I would be traveling to. I didn’t know who my host family would be, but I was able to learn about the foods and history of the place where I would live. When I arrived, it was nice to recognize some of the buildings and locations so that I didn’t feel completely lost in a new place.
Immerse Yourself in the Language

Before you travel to a different country, it can be hard to escape the English language, but by using the resources you already have you can practice anywhere. Watch your favorite movie or tv show in the language you are trying to learn, or read a magazine or newspaper article from the country you are traveling to. Try to find a children’s book translated into the language you are studying, or change your phone’s language from English to the other languages. By practicing this language in parts of your life that you know really well, you will be able to learn new words and become more comfortable with the language before you are completely immersed in it.

One of the easiest ways to practice Spanish is to change the language of your phone or other electronic devices you use daily. I keep my phone in Spanish to help me learn new words and to practice the language daily. Although it is challenging, I can usually decipher all of the messages and have greatly improved my vocabulary.

This list is just a few ideas to get you started on your language learning journey. Learning a language takes time and practice, but studying abroad is the best way to learn about a different culture and practice your skills. Keep an eye out for our next blog post about getting the most out of your study abroad experience!

Adiós for now! -Marta

_{Marta participated in the Semester in Caceres program through the Iowa State University �� Center.}

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