Academic Year Abroad

17-09-2007

 Adding more adventures and fun to your life

Studying in foreign lands gives you wonderful experience like knowing their culture and tradition, way of life, technology advancement and not only from the usual theories learned from the four-cornered classrooms. If you lived in third world countries you will be amazed at how other developed countries managed to handle their country to the peak of development while maintaining their tradition.

Here are basic points you should know so that you will appreciate that academic year abroad is a lot more exciting than having it only in your country. Although there maybe some schools that offer the same privilege of studying other countries cultures but the personal visit to countries alone is incomparable.

  • Great technology development – When you decide to study at a foreign country you like the first thing that would amaze you when you get there will be the great technology of the country. This is especially in developed countries of the world such as the fifty states of the US territory and all other European countries. If you are from a third world country you will be shocked to the latest technology the country is adapting because there will be many instances that you won’t find these advance technology in your own country.
  • Great architecture of the country – The great architecture of the country which symbolizes grandeur and total development is also one thing. You will be astounded to the great skyscrapers and the works of modern science and technology. If you can only see buildings to up to 10 stories in your country, in many advance countries of the world their buildings have reached to as far as almost a hundred stories. You will be amazed as to how far these developed countries have reached.
  • Schools lab facilities – If you focus your amazement in the school you are enrolled with, you can also witness the laboratory facilities especially in the medicine and healthcare industry. Many great facilities which cannot be found yet in your country but has been in their country for decades. This is how far many third world countries of the world have accomplished mighty things in the name of science and technology.
  • Tourism industry – The impact of tourism industry in many developed countries of the globe is also one thing you should consider. The tourism industry has also made considerable accomplishments which add glamour and prestige to the continuing developments of every country.
  • International experts – Among the most exciting episodes also of your international study program is the opportunity to meet international professors. This is also very important aspect because international speakers would also want to guide you develop your career in the international market. If you are a graduate of international study you should also be briefed everybody about it.
  • Online schooling – Remember, there are many things you can do in order for you to get hold of the many available jobs. Online schools for many people are also very important if you love to teach.

11-09-2007

 Studying Abroad 101

THERE are different reasons why people study abroad. One can actually grouped these people into two – the ones who are barely entering college; and adults which are on continuing education programs.

Naturally, there is only one reason why a person who has barely graduated from high school enters college in another country – the adventure. The next thing the person intends to question is on whether to study in a country where English is also the first language like Australia or used as a second language like the Philippines or is barely used at all like South Korea. Some of the students love the challenge in staying in a strange country but for other countries like England, Australia and South Africa, one will find himself or herself still lost in translation though as English here is heavily accented the non-rhotic way.

That is, if you don’t come from New England where English is naturally non-rhotic. Whichever of the three you will choose; it still is definitely an adventure. The first thing one needs to do before embarking on an international travel is to apply for a passport. Here in the United States, there are 9,000 passport processing facilities scattered from state to state. There are actually only minimal documents needed in securing for a passport. All you need to have are two photographs of yourself, proof of citizenship and a valid identification card. The photographs must be taken within six months upon applying. You got to pay $60 for a passport application and it takes at least two weeks for it to be processed.

For children, there are additional requirements needed like the child’s birth certificate, pediatrics record as well as pertinent school records. The adult filing on behalf of the child must likewise present his or her identification as parent or a copy of the court order establishing one as the custodian of that child. For renewal of passports, the fee is pegged at $67. The next thing one needs to do is to secure one’s billeting upon embarking on a foreign study. Usually, these are handled by the foreign exchange schools concerned. But there are instances when the college doesn’t include the billeting of foreign students but it may recommend a dormitory. So before signing on any contract, you must have some information on the dormitory concerned i.e. it is not located in a crime-porn area. If possible, you may know ahead whether it has an emergency exit or not and if the emergency exit is accessible. There are emergency exits which are just established there to comply with building requirements but are locked by the owners of the dormitory.

One must also know whether the dormitory is a coeducational or are sex-specific and whether the bathrooms are shared by both sexes. There are some people who may find it a little bit discomforting when sharing bathrooms with other housemates for health reasons. Yet there are still other instances that a room unit inside the dormitory is coeducational as well. In the end, it must be at the discretion of the foreign student on where he or she likes to be billeted.