The Study Abroad Blog

Why Students From Other Countries Make The Best Study Abroad Friends

A study abroad students story about the value of foreign friends

St. Salvatore's Quad University of St. Andrews Study Abroad

St. Salvatore's Quad - Not much has changed in 20 years

This is a guest post by a fellow study abroad alum of University of St. Andrews in Scotland. She brings a new perspective to the study abroad experience table, in large part due to the fact that she was abroad in 1989! I probably don’t need to explain that times were a bit different back then. Anyway, it’s a great read, definitely interesting, and a nice change from my style of writing on The Study Abroad Blog. Enjoy. (more…)

The reality of teaching English as a study abroad student in Beijing

I just want to start by saying this isn’t a cliché post about the negative impact teaching English can have on learning Chinese. In fact, after struggling a bit to complete the final task on my list of major things I needed to get done in order to stay/survive in Beijing (i.e. make some sort of income), I actually decided to seek out an English teaching job. Long story short (although you should continue reading the long story below), after 2 months, I had “taught” a total of 2 students English, and had earned a total of $63.29 USD – oh, and I no longer teach English. (more…)

How to save money on travel and trips when studying abroad

This is Part 3 of my series, “50 Ways To Save Money While Studying Abroad”. Let’s be honest, the number 1 reason you are/went abroad wasn’t to take classes. I would venture to guess that for most people (myself included) studying abroad is maybe your first, and probably your best chance to travel the world. Of course, travel can sometimes come with a pretty hefty price tag, and when you’re on a student budget trying to visit as many places as you can in a short amount of time, spending those dollars wisely becomes important. (more…)

A little liquid cultural immersion

This probably goes without saying, but most students have a beer or 10 when they’re abroad. If you’ve read “The Ultimate Study Abroad Guide“, you’ll know that alcohol has a different place in cultures outside of the U.S., and that bar hopping and socials (which usually turn into bar hopping) are actually a important part of most clubs, sports, and activities. Not to mention alcohol usually has a connection to a country’s history, so visiting a place like the Guinness Storehouse and having a beer actually has an academic/cultural benefit. Here are my favorite beers and booze from my time abroad. (By the way, this was totally unplanned, but with St. Patty’s day around the corner, it works out pretty well.)
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A lesson in study abroad finance from yours truly – laundry

Study Abroad Laundry Woman Holding Basket

She helps me do my laundry

This is Part 2 of my series, “50 Ways To Save Money While Studying Abroad”, which in the end may have more than 50. Today’s topic is something that many people probably either forget about (because it’s such a common part of everyday life) or just don’t realize how much they actually spend doing it. While in general it may not seem too expensive, when you add up all of the separate costs, the overall damage to your wallet can be pretty big. It involves a lot of dirt, chemicals, bad smells, and (if you’re in China) some pretty big soy sauce stains. (more…)