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[dofry]

Is your life boring?
Do you feel like you need a long vacation?
Do you feel a change of scenery would be good for you?
Is there a burden on your shoulders that you want to shake off?

Go abroad.

My friend Douglas did it after we had a short chat about it.

I said to him, "Listen Quaid, What is it that is exactly the same about every single day in your life?"
"I give up", he replied.
"You! You're the same. No matter what you do, there you are. It's always the same old you. Let me suggest that you take a vacation from yourself.
I-I know it sounds wild. It is the latest thing in self improvement.
We call it International Exchange." And off he went.

I think it was because he felt stressed in his current job, was unhappy with his temperamental wife, lets just call her "Sharon" and some other problems he had with his collegues at work, so he changed routines, got a ticket, got new friends. He needed some air, so he got his ass to Mars.

I felt we needed some official thread for dicussing exchange into other countries, so here it is.

In this thread you can:

• advertise exchange opportunities/places to visit
• share your experiences of another country
• give tips to anyone interested in going abroad
• ask help from people if you are interested in taking the bigger step

You can talk about any country. Of course Japan has been the most popular topic on GAF, but I personally would like to know more about any country you have been to for a longer period of time. Iceland, Mexico, Taiwan, Italy, anywhere! I do have to enforce a 3 month minimum to a stay, even though it's a bit too short itself.

GAF, I ask you this, if you haven't been an exchange student or worked in another country as a teacher, babysitter, stock trader, a visiting researcher or a gigolo, what has stopped you from experiencing the world? Is it school, work, money or a spouse? Why not join the merry bunch of people that have. Join usssss. If you're a student, I expect you to be writing an application right now!

If you don't have five kids to feed like my pal Benny here, so what are you waiting for?

Look how heartbroken he is. Poor man.

Here are some pros for you to consider:

• People are nice everywhere.
• You can choose a place where you always wanted to be in, be it sunny, cold, bubbling with life or only a few residents.
• New connections create new opportunities
• When you come back, you have grown to be a more open person
• Food man, new delicious meals everywhere!
• If you go, stay a year. Don't leave too early.

On the other hand you have couple of cons:

• You need funding
• It's not all fun and play. You got to study and work too if you want results and good feedback.

In the end, It's not the place, it's the friends you make in the process that counts.


All I ask for is, no derailing (or how we need more blasians in the world)

Come on GAF, share!

 

[Songbird]

I'm very interested in seeing where this thread will go. If I had the chance to jump ship and start a new life abroad I'd do it right now. Even Mars...

 

[Crazylegs]

I'm very interested in seeing where this thread will go. If I had the chance to jump ship and start a new life abroad I'd do it right now.

This.

A ton of my teen-aged daughter's friends have done 1-year exchanges through the Rotary International program. Basically, you live in another country for 1 year - often rotating 'host families' every 4 months. Also, they try to send you somewhere where you do*not* speak the language. I know 17 year-olds who've spent their year in Thailand, Japan, India, Germany.... It's definitely a challenging year, but they all have come back better for the experience.

I wish I had had that kind of opportunity when I was that age.

 

[friskykillface]

I'd also want a change of scenery , somewhere in Europe would be my top choice.
I remember I had a chance to study in Spain for a year but I didn't get selected for the paid schlorship what could have been.
Hopefully someday after I graduate college.

 

[The Elite]

Did this thread really happen or was it all just in Quaid's mind?

I'd love to jump ship. I have some pressing responsibilities though.

 

[Songbird]

This.

I wish I had had that kind of opportunity when I was that age.

I'm not that age anymore, unfortunately. I just see threads about people going off to Japan

Spoiler

or the off world colonies

to "teach English."

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

If it wasn't for me wanting to work for the government, I'd move to Europe.

EDIT-Then again, I can still work for the U.S. government while living overseas. It's early and I just woke up. =\

 

[dofry]

What is this age limit you are talking about? There are ways to do it later too.

 

[AlucarD.eq]

Right now I'm living in Shanghai (I'm from Ecuador), i'll stay here 1 more year until I finish my Masters degree.

So far the best/worst thing about the city is that in most of my circles people speak english. This mean it's easy to communicate but bad if you want to practice/learn chinese.

My family help me to get a loan to pay for this so I have been living a pretty "easy going" life, from the university to my dorm and to my workplace (actually is an internship so no $ involved) and a few times to go out to a bar with friends. I can easily say I can live under 400 USD per month without having to complain about anything.

For a "cool" life (aka go out 2 or 3 times a week) + travel a little bit more I could said that anything above 700 USD works.

This is mostly because it's Shanghai so the prices are way up compare to smaller cities in China, I'm not an expert but I'll like to help if anyone have a question.

 

[persongr]

Many Europeans students participate in the ERASMUS Programme, and from what I've heard Finland,France and Spain are the top choices. It usually lasts a semester (6 months) and everyone who had such an experience were really ecstatic about it. Of course there are many other options for students (IAESTE and so on) but ERASMUS is the most famous.

When it comes to non-student adults, i don't really know, it's a life-changing decision, especially if it lasts for over a year. I would happily go to Australia (yes, weird choice I know) though. My homecountry, Greece, is a nice option too, if you have a huge bank account and don't need to work seriously over here...

 

[dofry]

Shanghai sounds like a cheap place to live in if you can manage with only 400.
How much is basic meal if you eat out? What do you study? Is education in english too?

ERASMUS is pretty popular here. Lots of foreign students use it.

 

[Zyzyxxz]

I studied abroad in Hong Kong for a little under half a year. It was a pretty cool experience and I'm looking to go back to work in this restaurant I really want to learn from if they would accept me.

Right now in the near future after I'm done with my current job I want to go live in Japan for a month or two. Does anybody have recommendations on temporary apartments to rent?

 

[dofry]

This.

A ton of my teen-aged daughter's friends have done 1-year exchanges through the Rotary International program. Basically, you live in another country for 1 year - often rotating 'host families' every 4 months. Also, they try to send you somewhere where you do*not* speak the language. I know 17 year-olds who've spent their year in Thailand, Japan, India, Germany.... It's definitely a challenging year, but they all have come back better for the experience.

I wish I had had that kind of opportunity when I was that age.

My sister did this years ago in Germany. She is fluent in German and has a lot of friends there now that she visits from time to time. I think best way to do it is to speak the language if you really want to learn. Avoid english at all cost if possible and never be afraid to speak and make mistakes.

I'd also want a change of scenery , somewhere in Europe would be my top choice.
I remember I had a chance to study in Spain for a year but I didn't get selected for the paid schlorship what could have been.
Hopefully someday after I graduate college.

My first trip I paid myself. I actually still pay it. I took a loan and used my saving but it was worth it. I did get a small grant for the plane ticket but that was it. Make a budget plan, ask around. There are a few grants that people can apply for.

If it wasn't for me wanting to work for the government, I'd move to Europe.

EDIT-Then again, I can still work for the U.S. government while living overseas. It's early and I just woke up. =\

Don't spies travel all the time? Here in Eurolands it easy, because you can see a lot of countries easily which have totally different cultures. Come here. Nordic girls (or men if you're a chick) are pretty (handsome) too.

I studied abroad in Hong Kong for a little under half a year. It was a pretty cool experience and I'm looking to go back to work in this restaurant I really want to learn from if they would accept me.

Right now in the near future after I'm done with my current job I want to go live in Japan for a month or two. Does anybody have recommendations on temporary apartments to rent?

What did you study? Culinary arts?

Japan is easy place to be in. A bit bureaucratic system, but polite place to be.
Check this for rental apartments in Osaka: Flat Osaka
Bad part is that the apartments are pretty expensive. You can find hotels cheap too. Just have to take advantage of discounts or know good websites.

 

[Alpha-Bromega]

Going to Konstanz, DE in about 2 months. Living there for a year, and already looked into how I can stay there 4ever after I graduate.

Any Swiss-Germans here? Ich habe angst vor Dialekt, dass ich lernen muss!

I'll update this thread as my journey commences

 

[Zyzyxxz]

What did you study? Culinary arts?

Japan is easy place to be in. A bit bureaucratic system, but polite place to be.
Check this for rental apartments in Osaka: Flat Osaka
Bad part is that the apartments are pretty expensive. You can find hotels cheap too. Just have to take advantage of discounts or know good websites.

no I was in a business degree program at the time of my exchange, wasn't until after I graduated I figure I would pursue the culinary arts.

 

[dofry]

no I was in a business degree program at the time of my exchange, wasn't until after I graduated I figure I would pursue the culinary arts.

If I had the skills, I would love to make a nordic style restaurant in another country. I envy your profession even though I know it's a tough industry.

 

[Zyzyxxz]

If I had the skills, I would love to make a nordic style restaurant in another country. I envy your profession even though I know it's a tough industry.

Heh, you got the Noma hype too?

 

[dofry]

Heh, you got the Noma hype too?

Naah, just would like to spread my food culture abroad. I'm sure having e.g. salmon dishes nordic style would be suitable for many. Uuuuu, I wanna make salmon soup now. So basic, so tasty. I sure would like to bring a lot of asian cuisine to Finland too. Here Japan=sushi. Nothing else is known. (hah, I'm derailing my own dont'derail thread.)

What I most loved going abroad for a longer period was that it opened up my tastebuds. I wanted to try everything everywhere. Made me appreciate different tastes and local specialities. Can't be picky anymore.

 

[Zyzyxxz]

seriously that's my whole point for going to Japan, I want to learn and experience current food trends and new techniques that you can't learn in the states unless you can read Japanese.

I'm still debating would I be better off spending a few weeks in each different region of Japan or will I learn more by stay in one region for a month?

It comes down to how much hassle I want.

 

[cloudwalking]

Going to Konstanz, DE in about 2 months. Living there for a year, and already looked into how I can stay there 4ever after I graduate.

Any Swiss-Germans here? Ich habe angst vor Dialekt, dass ich lernen muss!

I'll update this thread as my journey commences

i don't know why you'd need to learn swiss german if you live in konstanz! sure, there are a lot of swiss people/tourists there, but the de facto language is german.

unless you want to learn swiss german just because! it's a very cool language but it might be a bit harder to learn in konstanz than it would be if you lived in switzerland (since it's not a written language you basically have to pick it up by ear, which might be trickier just listening to tourists). it's definitely not hard to pick up once you have a grip on german, though.

edit: oh yeah, and konstanz is only about 30 minutes from me... beeeeeautiful city, i'd love to live there myself.

 

[numble]

seriously that's my whole point for going to Japan, I want to learn and experience current food trends and new techniques that you can't learn in the states unless you can read Japanese.

I'm still debating would I be better off spending a few weeks in each different region of Japan or will I learn more by stay in one region for a month?

It comes down to how much hassle I want.

Just go to Mitsuwa--there's one on Las Tunas.

 

[Alpha-Bromega]

i don't know why you'd need to learn swiss german if you live in konstanz! sure, there are a lot of swiss people/tourists there, but the de facto language is german.

unless you want to learn swiss german just because! it's a very cool language but it might be a bit harder to learn in konstanz than it would be if you lived in switzerland (since it's not a written language you basically have to pick it up by ear, which might be trickier just listening to tourists). it's definitely not hard to pick up once you have a grip on german, though.

edit: oh yeah, and konstanz is only about 30 minutes from me... beeeeeautiful city, i'd love to live there myself.

one of professors was a Swiss German, would teach us super weird idioms, like just for etwas essen wollen simple stuff

I just figure in such a location the accent/dialect would be suuuuper weird! french, austrian, german, swiss, ya kno?

You're so lucky! i can't wait to live there, it seriously looks absolutely beautiful. the bodensee looks so beautiful

 

[dofry]

seriously that's my whole point for going to Japan, I want to learn and experience current food trends and new techniques that you can't learn in the states unless you can read Japanese.

I'm still debating would I be better off spending a few weeks in each different region of Japan or will I learn more by stay in one region for a month?

It comes down to how much hassle I want.

Osaka is a food city, so learning what they have to offer takes a while.
But on the other hand every area has their specialities, Osaka has local Takoyaki squid things, Kouchi-ken has the best Katsou no tataki fishdish, etc. So maybe best would be to travel around after the best recipes.

Research or ask around for the best places to visit in one or multiple cities, contact them that you are willing to learn, and maybe you get free lodging in the process or at the very least some friends. If you can write well maybe you could even fund some of your trip if you write or later sell a few articles about the foods. I got a good amount on an article I wrote about Sumo wrestling for a 5 page layout in a magazine.

EDIT: Watched some photos of Kostanz online. Looks really nice.

 

[Zyzyxxz]

Just go to Mitsuwa--there's one on Las Tunas.

lol but thats the worst one! All the big Mitsuwas are 40 minute drives away or further!

 

[Bollocks]

Going to Konstanz, DE in about 2 months. Living there for a year, and already looked into how I can stay there 4ever after I graduate.

Any Swiss-Germans here? Ich habe angst vor Dialekt, dass ich lernen muss!

I'll update this thread as my journey commences

Yeah you should be afraid, my grandma is from Bregenz and wtf at the accent, thankfully she dropped that accent when she moved. Several years ago we made a trip to Bregenz, some folks approached us and I still don't know what they said all I could think of was dude, that's just wrong we're both Austrian and yet I don't have a clue what you're talking about. But apart from that they are the nicest people you'll ever know, enjoy your stay!