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I've recently been thinking a lot about doing exchange programs, and I was wondering if anyone here has gone through the process of actually travelling to another country for work, school, volunteer, and so on and so forth.
Australia is a place I'm seriously considering at the moment (been doing a bunch of online research).
Thanks guys.
They are awesome!
This summer I am spending 2 months in Argentina and I plan to spend a year in Taiwan or China after high school. These two things I am doing with Rotary... which I highly recommend you use (more below). Last summer I went to ecuador for about 5 weeks, though not with Rotary. There I volunteered (met awesome people), took spanish "classes" (they weren't classes in the sense they were much work, just talking in spanish with some language points and them correcting me occasionally). I also lived with a host family, which is a big plus (especially if you are considering learning a language, but obviously not in your case).
With Rotary... the first thing that comes to mind is that it is extremely cheap. It is not-for-profit... everyone involved is pretty much a volunteer and the only thing you pay for is plane tickets, some random charges, and insurance. For a year it comes out to be like 4000 dollars. I'm spending 2 months in Argentina and not including plane tickets it only cost me about 300 dollars or so. They match you up with a host family and you stay with them so it's pretty great.
It's a ton of fun, for sure. I defintely recommend it.
Is Rotary only with American citizens?
Thanks for the information, though.
Nope, Rotary is an international program. Kids from hundreds of countries all over the world sign up to go to hundreds of other countries :)
Right on, just did some google searches. Do you have to be a student to enlist yourself in Rotary? I checked and most of them are student programs, and I graduate in two weeks...
I would love to do work or volunteer hours, if anything. How did you get the volunteer work one?
Oh... well, depending on your age you might be too old for the program especially by the time you sign up. You don't necessarily have to be a student, but for most of them the max age (by the time you leave) has to be 18-19 years old, and it takes a long time to sign up for it (as in, I doubt you can go now because it is so late in the year). For the volunteer work one, I researched on my own for "spanish schools" in Ecuador and there was a volunteer program. I mostly did it because I had to have volunteer hours for my high school, but it was still really fun (and the guy's daughter who I did work for was super super hot....). Anyways, I just found a program that had classes, volunteer work optional and I could stay with a host family. If I were you I'd try to research some programs to do volunteer work in Australia. Perhaps something like habitat (http://www.habitat.org/intl/ap/12.aspx) or something like that. I looked at the Peace Corps website, but they don't offer Australia as a country, not to mention I heard that you can't choose where you go?
When I was 16 (about a million years ago) I did an exchange program to Germany. It was a great experience, and I recommend it to anyone. You learn a lot by spending time in another country.
I studied abroad in Ireland, one of the best experiences of my life!
Looks like it's disgustingly easy to get a job or volunteer or whatever abroad. However, you'll probably need a thousand or so bucks to pay for whichever program... The ones I were looking at were in New Zealand. You pay some deposit thing and then you go find some job, fairly easily. The only downside about the jobs is that they're really low paying stuff, but if you don't mind not having any money after the trip, then that's no problem.
I was a Rotary exchange student to Japan in 2000-01. They'll sponsor students in any country Rotary is active in. It was a really good deal. I got $300 a month living stipend, host family, three meals a day, and an incredible experience. I've also managed to use the Japanese I learned as a marketable skill. If you can get a club to sponsor you, go for it.
I'm too old to be a student, though, I think. :(
Are you going to college/university in the future? You can study abroad then, as a student.Quote:
Originally Posted by CoLd BlooDed
I remember when I was in highschool in my native country and all the students wanted to visit America. Mostly because they wanted to try the Big Hot Dogs and Big Burgers, of course among other things.
Really! Wow, how can I get set up with that?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant
Haha, it's funny how different the perspectives range from country to country. America would be known for the big hot dogs and burgers, though. :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Switch