The Many Possibilities of Going Abroad

Traveling abroad is a life-changing experience. Be it studying or working, it's bound to be a big adventure. You'll learn about a country firsthand. Make friends from another part of the world. Learn a culture that's different from your own. Gain a different perspective.

For young people who are seeking extraordinary experiences, the possibilities are endless. It really depends on how long, where in the world, what time of the year and what type of activity you would like to do (be it alone or in a group). You also need to decide how much you want to spend and what do you want to get out of it.

Who hasn't dreamed of taking time off to embark on an off-the beaten-track adventure, say living in a kibbutz, studying about art in Italy, restoring a medieval castle in France or learning to speak Mandarin in China. You can make it happen. One doesn't have to be a scion of a rich family or starve oneself to death in order to save for your one big travel adventure. There are a number of ways to get financial assistance to support your travel adventure.

But the question is how would you like to do it? There are different types of programs to choose from.

Study Abroad: Usually a classroom learning activity that may last a summer, a semester or a full academic year. It may be a language-learning class or spending the final year off from high school or university in a foreign country while earning academic credits back home. It usually involves homestay and a tour of the host country.

Study Tour: Combines study and tour but less structured and usually for a shorter period of time. May also involve a short homestay and mixing with local counterparts.

A Crafts or Performing Arts Program: Embark on an artistic adventure by learning a craft or a performing art that's particular to a certain country. Say, dabbling in papier mache in Mexico or learning belly dancing in Turkey. This type of study depends on one's interest or usually complements one's university course major.

Volunteer Work and Workcamps: Volunteerism is an activity that can be enriching. It usually involves very diverse activities like digging for archaeological treasures, building homes or constructing dikes for marginalized families. Often this type of program benefits a community and involves social service.

Sports/Adventure: If you are sports-minded or is into nature-tripping there are programs that run camps for gymnastics, tennis or running. One can experience the great outdoors by kayaking in the Great Yangtze river, bicycling around Europe, sailing in the Pacific or acting as a guide for an eco-tour program in the South Americas.

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