Britt’s Tips for Study Abroad 6 May 2013, 8:51 pm

With this week being National Travel and Tourism Week, we thought it would be a good idea to share some tips about travel, tourism, and most importantly, about study abroad. We’ve asked one of Interstudy‘s staff members who was the last one to study abroad to share some tips of her own. Her name is Brittany Clark and she studied abroad in Vienna, Austria in the Spring of 2011. She is now Interstudy‘s Student Services Assistant.

Here are her tips:

1. Watch what you wear. Try to wear what the locals are wearing around you. Avoid wearing sneakers, high socks, fanny packs, baseball hats, short shorts, college athletic team sweatshirts, etc. You will stand out.

2. Read up. Read up on the culture, customs, food, language, architecture, music, history… on ANYTHING of the place you will be going to prior to leaving. For example, books published by Frommer’s, Lonely Planet, and Rick Steves usually write pretty accurate information on most locations that you should read and live by.

3. Try new things. Someone once gave me advice before I studied abroad: “Don’t say no to anything.” Obviously, you are allowed to say no to things, like if someone asked you to jump off a bridge, I’d hope you’d say no. However, if someone asked you to try a food you’ve never tried, to go to a place you’ve never been to before, or to participate in a cultural activity you’ve never done before, say yes and try it! I know how to sword fight, do you?

4. Meet locals. If you don’t want to meet new people from new places you should probably stay on your college’s campus. THE best way to fully immerse yourself in a new culture or to learn a new language is to meet locals. They often have great stories too.

5. Ask. Many travelers get confused very easily and often get lost. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You might feel embarrassed or scared to ask for help, but if you don’t ask for help, you will get even more confused and lost and therefore even more embarrassed and scared. Just ask someone!

6. Step outside your comfort zone. Yes, you could stay in your room and watch Pretty Little Liars or play World of War Craft all day inside… or you could explore new places, meet new people, and see new things! It’s nice to feel comfortable, but just keep on reminding yourself that this experience only lasts about 4 months and then it’s over forever, so you should probably leave the lounging on your couch for when you get back home. Why sit on a couch when you can go caving?

7. Unplug. I know this one’s a toughie, and especially for the most technological savvy generation yet, but try to unplug, just try. Turn off your iPhone and talk to locals. Turn off your iPod and listen to the birds chirp. Turn off your computer and go outside and explore.

8. Write. Write a journal, write a blog, write a book for all we care! Just write! Trust me, you’ll regret it if you don’t. Not only will you regret it, but your family and friends will too.

9. Plan ahead. The sooner you plan things, the less stress and anxiety you will have. If you’re going on weekend trips or spring break trips, book hotel/hostel rooms, plane/train/bus tickets, and any kind of tour you plan on going on while you’ll be away before you go. Trust me, you’ll feel so much better after everything is planned and figured out instead of waiting until the last minute to book things. Sometimes figuring it out as you go works, but more times than not, it doesn’t, and could result in panic attacks… or even heart attacks.

10. Take pictures & buy souvenirs. The most important things you’ll take back with you from your study abroad experience will most definitely be your memories. Memories are awesome, but some can easily be forgotten. Be sure to take as many pictures as you can and buy some souvenirs from your favorite places so you’ll be able to remember better!

Interstudy Locations Featured on The Amazing Race 3 May 2013, 5:10 pm

We don’t know about you, but here at Interstudy, we LOVE The Amazing Race! There isn’t anything better than a show about travel, culture, and competition! For those of you who have been living under a rock and don’t know about this “amazing” show, The Amazing Race is a reality game show where eleven teams of two race around the world against each other in hopes of winning one million dollars. The race is split into twelve legs. Two of the twelve legs take place at Interstudy program locations: Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Scotland

Scotland is located on the island of Great Britain, right above England. Since Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom, Scotland has a lot in common with its neighbors. However, there are many significant differences; Scotland has its own unique history, music, food, and other specific cultural traits. Interstudy has two programs in Scotland: one at the University of St. Andrews in St. Andrews and the other at the University of Glasgow in Glasgow.

St. Andrews dates back to the Medieval times and is located on the Angus coastline of Scotland. The University of St. Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland and is the third oldest university in the English-speaking world.

Glasgow, in central Scotland, was named one of the world’s top ten cities by Lonely Planet. Glasgow boasts one of the best pub, club, and live music scenes outside of London. The University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the United Kingdom and is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research universities, the UK equivalent of the US Ivy League.

Northern Ireland

Another member of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland occupies just 1/6th of the island of Ireland which it shares with the Republic of Ireland. The country is known for its breathtaking coastline dotted with castles and awe-inspiring vistas. Interstudy has one program in Northern Ireland: Queen’s University in Belfast.

Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. A culturally vibrant city with one of the lowest crime rates in Europe, Belfast combines the excitement of big city life with the friendliness of small town living. Queen’s University is one of the oldest universities in the United Kingdom and is also apart of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group. Few other universities across the world combine international recognition for research and national recognition for innovation than that of Queen’s.

10 Reasons to Study Abroad in Cape Town, South Africa 1 May 2013, 2:29 pm

1. It is the oldest city in South Africa
2. It is full of young people… The median age in the city is 26 years-old
3. It is one of the most multicultural cities in the world
4. It is home to many of the leaders in the anti-apartheid movement
5. It has some of the most prestigious universities in not only South Africa, but on the whole continent of Africa
6. It is the second populous city of South Africa
7. It was voted Favorite Foreign City by the UK Telegraph in 2004
8. It is the only city in the world situated on the Indian & Atlantic Oceans
9. It has some of the most breath-taking landscapes in the world
10. It has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world… there are more species on Table Mountain alone than all of the United Kingdom

For more information on our programs in Cape Town, click here!

Why the National University of Ireland, Maynooth Is the Best of Both Worlds 29 Apr 2013, 2:10 pm

The National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM) is the best of both worlds, in so many different ways. Here’s three of them!

1. NUIM is the second oldest university in Ireland, and yet it is also the fastest growing university in Ireland. The campus is actually split up into two campuses: the South campus and the North campus. The South campus dates all the way back to the early 1800’s. There’s even a castle that’s apart of the South campus! Meanwhile, the North campus has some of the most modern and state of the art buildings Ireland has ever seen.

2. NUIM is a relatively small university, with a student population of only 9,000 students, and yet there’s 26 different academic departments. The university is divided into three faculties: Arts, Celtic Studies and Philosophy; Science and Engineering; Social Sciences. The faculties are then further divided into various schools and departments. The options are endless for international students! From Irish Studies to Business to Education, NUIM has it all.

3. NUIM is situated in a small college-town, however, the town is only 15 miles away from all of the hustle and bustle of Dublin City Center. The town of Maynooth is actually the only university town in all of Ireland. With a town population of only 12,500, compared to Dublin‘s 527,600, Maynooth presents students with a very close-knit university town experience. Although Maynooth may seem small and rural, Maynooth also has excellent transport connections to Dublin City Center making it extremely easy to get to and from Ireland‘s capital city where students can experience the city life if they choose.

We Want to Hear from YOU! 24 Apr 2013, 4:57 pm

ISA, Interstudy‘s partner organization, has had an awesome student blog since 2009. The ISA student blog has served as an open forum for ISA students to explore all aspects of the study abroad experience through stories, photos, and other media, and will now serve the same purpose for Interstudy too! The goal of the blog is to help prospective students get an inside view of what life is like as an ISA/Interstudy participant so they can make an informed decision about which study abroad location best suits their academic and personal goals.

ISA has had two wonderful Interstudy student bloggers for the Spring 2013 semester. One is Emily Cable from the University of Rhode Island. Emily has been studying abroad at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth in Dublin, Ireland for the semester. The other is Meghan Gaucher from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Meghan has been studying abroad at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa for the semester. We have read about their experiences with Irish music, their Spring break trips on the Dolphin Coast, their fun at Dublin‘s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and their trips to castles and on safaris. Both student bloggers have done an amazing job and we are so thankful to have had them as Interstudy correspondents. Sadly, the Spring semester is shortly ending and Interstudy now needs new student bloggers for the Summer!

Student bloggers are asked to submit regular blog posts from their host country, sharing stories, photos, tips, and insights with those back home. All accepted Interstudy Summer program students are encouraged to apply! For more information on being an Interstudy student blogger for the ISA student blog, please go here. Make sure to apply before May 10th!

Deadlines Extended for the University of Cape Town Fall 2013 Program! 22 Apr 2013, 3:03 pm

We are happy to announce that the deadline for our Fall 2013 University of Cape Town program has been extended! All paper and online applications must be received by Interstudy/ISA by April 29th in order to meet this deadline.

More details on this program, including program requirements, housing, excursions, courses, dates, and other information can be found here.

The Fall 2013 program has recently been improved and will offer new student housing, additional excursions, increased student support services, and a significant reduction in cost. If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact our South Africa Site Specialist, Langa Mchunu: langa@interstudy.org

Sawubona. Igama lami uLanga Mchunu! 18 Apr 2013, 9:15 pm

Sanibonani! For those of you who don’t know, that means “Hello” in Zulu. Zulu is a language spoken in many parts of South Africa, and a language that is now often heard in Interstudy‘s Boston office. Interstudy‘s South Africa Site Specialist and the newest addition to the office, Langa Mchunu, was born and raised in South Africa and speaks fluent Zulu and English. Even though Langa is the only one from South Africa in our office, we are all catching on with some of his Zulu phrases. The most popular one being “Yebo”, which means “Yes”. “Yebo” just falls off the tongue so much easier than “Yes”. You can count on “Yebo” being the new hip word to use in the US in a few years, and you can thank Langa for that!

Langa was born and raised in Durban, South Africa and grew up in uMlazi and Lamontville, townships 20 minutes south of Durban. He attended the University of Zululand in Durban and then worked as a logistics coordinator for an international study abroad program in Durban from 2005 through 2012. He has traveled to Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, Malawi, Sweden, Spain, Egypt, Turkey, Canada, and just moved to the US this winter. As Interstudy‘s South Africa Site Specialist, Langa is now responsible for advising students on program and course selections, giving pre-departure orientations to students, and working with the on site staff in South Africa to stay up to date with all the latest student issues and safety concerns. We are so lucky to now have Langa as a part of the Interstudy team! Ngiyakwemukela Langa!

Don’t forget there’s still time to study abroad this Fall in Langa’s hometown of Durban at the University of KwaZulu-Natal! Applications are due APRIL 30TH! Apply NOW!

There’s THREE Different Programs in Dublin?! 9 Apr 2013, 8:44 pm

Yes, you heard correctly; there are three different programs in Dublin, Ireland! Interstudy has programs at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, University College Dublin, and Trinity College Dublin. You might ask why are there three different programs in one city? These three programs might be in the same city, but they could not be more unique from one another!

The National University of Ireland, Maynooth is located a short train ride away from Dublin‘s city center. The town of Maynooth is Ireland’s only university town. The spacious campus is laid out in its own extensive grounds in rural surroundings, and is divided between an older complex of nineteenth century buildings and a modern complex of teaching, research, accommodation, and support facilities. Maynooth is the perfect choice for a close-knit campus environment, but with easy access to all that Dublin has to offer.

On the other hand, the University College Dublin (UCD) is the largest university in Ireland. The main campus is at Belfield, an easy 2.5 miles bus ride south of Dublin’s city center. It is a beautifully landscaped 300-acre campus with strikingly modern arts, commerce, law, agriculture and administration buildings, as well as the library, restaurant, sports center, and student residences. With five of Ireland’s Taoisigh (Prime Ministers) among its alumni, the university has played a key role in the history of the modern Irish State and continues to play a leading part in shaping Ireland’s future.

While UCD is Ireland‘s largest university, Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s oldest university. Located in the heart of Dublin, with state-of-the-art libraries, laboratories and IT facilities stand alongside historic buildings. While Trinity has a long and proud tradition in the arts, humanities and social sciences, it is also at the center of cutting edge research in neuroscience and is home to the key national research center for nanoscience. Its reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts outstanding professors and students from all over the world.

So study abroad in Dublin at Ireland‘s only university town, at Ireland‘s largest university, or at Ireland‘s oldest university! Choose wisely!

Meet our New (and Furry) Office Mate for the Week 8 Apr 2013, 7:46 pm

Meet Interstudy‘s new employee for the week… Cove! Cove is the dog of Interstudy‘s Director of University Relations, Paul Pelan. Cove is a Border Collie who’s FIFTEEN years old! According to one dog age conversion online, Cove would be 83 years old in human years! Cove is from Cobh, Ireland and has lived in Ireland, England, and the US. Cobh, Ireland is a popular tourist seaport town in the County Cork of Ireland, and is actually very close to one of Interstudy‘s program sites in Cork!

Cork is Ireland‘s second largest city and has one of the richest traditions of music, art and theatre. The University College Cork is one of Ireland’s leading research institutes. The University is spread over four different units: Arts, Celtic Studies & Social Sciences; Business & Law; Medicine & Health; Science, Engineering & Food Science. The University College Cork recently became the first tertiary level educational institution in the world to be accredited with the prestigious international ‘Green Flag’ award thanks to the student-led sustainable Green Campus program.

Interstudy is still accepting Fall 2013 applications for Cork until APRIL 30TH! Apply now!

Don’t Panic… There’s Still Time! 5 Apr 2013, 6:25 pm

Forgot or ran out of time to submit your Fall 2013 Interstudy study abroad application? Don’t panic! Many of the application deadlines have been extended!

Programs with April 10th Deadline:

• National University of Ireland, Galway – Galway, Ireland

Programs with April 30th Deadline:

• National University of Ireland, Maynooth – Dublin, Ireland
• Trinity College Dublin – Dublin, Ireland
• University College Dublin – Dublin, Ireland
• University College Cork – Cork, Ireland
• University of the Western Cape – Cape Town, South Africa
• University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College – Durban, South Africa
• University of KwaZulu-Natal – Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University – Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Programs with May 1st Deadline:

• Queen’s University – Belfast, Northern Ireland

Get started on your online application here! Submit your application before it really is too late! The clock is ticking!