Get Your International Swagger Back
I had a moment of tearful joy watching my new favorite Wrigley’s Gum YouTube ad. (Get ready for full throated jubilation!)
With Celine Dion belting out “All coming back to me”, you will experience the feeling of the world opening up again. Through brilliant storytelling and acting, you will participate in life’s big, beautiful moments of connection. I dare you to make it through the ad without a tissue; it can’t be done!) It captures the moment of stepping outside of our constricted home zones and appreciating our world again. I feel happy every time I watch it. (A special shout out to the Chilean crew who created the ad.)
It made me realize that I can start to plan again for both short-term travel and longer-term stays abroad. I have missed the adventure of life and relationships tremendously and cannot wait to see friends again around the globe. In short, I want to travel!
So, what about you? Do you dream of travel again? Do you want to experience connection, adventure and learning again? It can be done, and now is the time to start planning. While not everywhere is open as fully as the US is right now, it is coming, especially as vaccine rollouts happen across the globe.
For short-term travel to Europe things are shifting at a dizzying rate. For the latest COVID-19 regulations for those travelling to European Schengen countries go here. I like this site as it keeps pace with the rapid COVID rule changes across the EU Schengen area.
If you are a long-term voyager (like an undergrad or grad student abroad), there are usually even more ways to make your dream a reality. Why? Because not only do the tourist rules apply, but you may also have other avenues to enter: Many countries that haven’t opened up fully to short-term tourists have quarantine opportunities for long-term sojourners, like students. (Caveat: Quotas may apply.) So, the world is nearly your oyster.
So, here are three easy next steps as you venture out of your home and begin to plan for your next big adventure abroad. Being a full-time degree student abroad is possible.
Learn how undergrad and grad programs abroad work.
Affordable Degrees Abroad has created an Undergraduate Abroad Guide and a Graduate Abroad Guide to orient you to the possibilities of doing a degree abroad. A degree abroad may be for you if you are globally minded and want an affordable, quality university experience in your chosen field.
Jumpstart your research.
How do you even know where to look for programs abroad? The world is a big place, and it can be difficult to even know all the options. First off, don’t Google. There are thousands of choices, and Google isn’t your friend when it comes to sifting through the myriad options. Instead, here are some of my favorite search engines for grad or undergrad abroad. Use these databases to create your master list.
More Global University Rankings
Join a community of students wanting to build a vibrant life abroad.
Don’t do this alone. It is too bloody hard to sort through all the options and to figure out all of the questions yet alone the answers. Affordable Degrees abroad has a new virtual community space that is free to join and will feature tips and action items to move your dream to a reality. Did I mention that it is free?
It’s all coming back to me now. Remember when we could travel? The time is now.
