Choosing the year abroad destination - breaking it down

Introduction:

If you study a modern language at an English Univesrsity, one of the main focus on your mind will or should be the impending year abroad, even on day one of lectures. The process of narrowing it down can in fact be quite tricky, given the fact that there are so many ifs and buts; do's and dont's; and yes and no's to consider in the selection process. I am hoping that this will provide those who's year abroad is upcoming, a quick and easy breakdown guide as to how I chose my 2 destinations (in my case).

Tips for breaking down the selection and/or application process:

1) I know what all first and second year students are thinking at this time of year, especially second years. I can't believe that the year abroad has come around so quickly, and I actually have to get my life sorted. First and foremost, probably my most important piece of advice that I could give you is DON'T PANIC. Panicking is without doubt the worst thing that can be done at a vital time like this. What panic does is that it forces yoour brain to work overtime and therefore it is increasingly likely that it provokes wild and rash decision making, something that I strongly advise against both before and during the year abroad (probably after it too, but I don't know that for certain as I am only almost half way through mine). From my personal experience of selecting my destinations, I can tell you that I was probably guilty of panicking, hence why I am taking the time to advice you guys against doing the same as me. In reality, there is nothing to worry about. It is one year of your life, and you will embark on an opportunity that you are extremely unlikely to happen again, so make the most of it. 

2) Secondly, yet equally as imperative, is that it is an absolute must to consult with your family and friends. They are your family and friends for a reason, and needless to say they will support you no matter what, come rain or shine. But perhaps more importantly, they know you as a person better than anyone, hence they will point and guide you in the right direction when selecting where the best place to go is, that suits not only your personality, but also your lifestyle choices. It seems like only yesterday when I was weighing up my options with my family. Eventually I chose to spend the first semester woking in Madrid (which I sorted myself), and come January of next year, I will be enrolling at the 'Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis' for the second semester of the academic year. Thus far in Madrid, work has been very rewarding, yet also tough at the same time. What you musn't forget is that you are a small fish in a big pond, and you have to make things happen for yourself, life will not wait for you, especially when one is outside of their comfort zone.

3) This brings me onto my next point, leaving one's comfort zone. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, I cannot stress enough the importance of putting yourself out there. Realistically, you are going to have to leave your comfort zone anyway by being in a foreign country for a whole year, without any guidance nor help in your hour(s) or need. As I made reference to in the above paragraph, you are a small fish in a big pond. In order to make yourself a bigger fish, it is essential that you leave your comfort zone, your little bubble, and do things that you wouldn't necessarily do in the UK (in my case), or wherever in the world you live. Personally, I have made a big effort to explore the city, especially during the summer months, when it's beautiful and warm. It almost seems a shame to stay inside and waste your time, and money away.

4) In addition to the above, another fundamental aspect of decision making is that you don't rush anything. At the end of the day, this is one whole year of your life being spent abroad, so without doubt you want to make sure that you make the correct decision in terms of destination. With that in mind, do your research on the potential destinations that you may have in mind. However even before that, make a quick list of 5 or 6 European or Worldwide possible destinations. After having done that, do a google search and see what their respective cities have to offer, and then it becomes much easier to narrow the list down to what best suits you, with the aid of family and friends, of course. I again was probably a bit guilty of rushing decisions, and I must admit, before committing to Madrid fully, I had anticipated that I was going to go to Valencia (mainly for the beach), to study. I was speaking to a friend who was there last year and he basically sold the city to me, but I had to go with my heart, and given that I already had a job offer in Madrid, I could never live with myself had I not accepted the offer. I am happy to report that I love Madrid, so it all works out in the end.

5) Slightly different, but my final piece of advice would be that once you have actually physically made your decision, DO NOT LEAVE THE FORM FILLING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. I am not saying you have to do it immediately (actually I would advise against doing it immediately), but what I would say is that one should have a look on the websites of the university you will be studying at, or the company you will be working at, and basically do your homework on it. Particularly in my case of working in Madrid, I want and need to get a good reference from my company upon finishing just before Christmas, so I am desperate to leave a good, lasting impression. But I digress. I feel like I am repeating myself but in a way, I am because I am again guilty of leaving things. It's a classic case of, it all works out in the end. It does! But, why make things difficult for yourself? In truth, I haven't even submitted all my forms for the next semester at the university of Nice. I will, but I am also busy at work, don't forget, and I usually like to unwind from the computer when I arrive home after a long day. It goes without saying that the univesity give you plenty of time to complete all the forms, so make use of that time. Whilst you aren't strictly in a rush, it just avoids potential complications down the line.

So there you have it. My 5 step guide to stay on top of things when choosing your destination(s) for your year abroad. I hope this article has given you guys the belief that you are going to absolutely smash your years. If you are less excited about the prospect of leaving home (like I was), don't be, it is one of the best life decisions you will ever make. You will surprise yourself. 

Feel free to get in contact if you have any additional comments/questions for me!

Jonny