[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n
Why doing a Year Abroad is always a great idea<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n Nothing is more daunting than your first hour of being alone in a foreign country; you haven\u2019t yet met your flatmates let alone made any friends, you may not be familiar with the language, you don\u2019t know anything about the culture nor the rhythm of life (aside from what you were taught at university!). You have already lost your way five <\/em>times on the metro and still can\u2019t figure out the complicated transport card system. Suddenly it hits you that this strange new land will be your home for the next nine months… But little do you know about all the exciting adventures and life experiences that will soon take you by storm, all the people you will meet, places you will go (Hello Dr. Seus!), and delicious food you will eat! And sure enough, fast-forward nine months, you are crying at the airport wishing it didn\u2019t have to come to an end but feeling very grateful that it happened.<\/p>\n Doing a year abroad is easily one of, if not the most <\/em>transformative and enjoyable experience of your university life, and here are my reasons why\u2026.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n 1.It challenges you and pushes you out of your comfort zone! Moving to another country in itself can be a huge step out of your comfort zone, but ultimately will allow you to grow as an independent individual as you face a new set of challenges.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n 2. You will experience a new culture! This varies from place to place, but there are bound to be cultural differences in each of them. In Spain, I found that Spanish people greet with kisses on both cheeks rather than one, their eating times are a lot later than in the UK, they have a more laid-back lifestyle, and there is a huge <\/em>coffee (caf\u00e9 con leche) culture!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.17.6″ src=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/salc-students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2022\/09\/coffee.jpg” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3. You will visit some of the most beautiful places on Earth! It\u2019s worth travelling to neighbouring cities or even countries while you are abroad and explore as much as you can (you will never have this much free time again!).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.17.6″ src=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/salc-students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2022\/09\/hol1.jpg” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.17.6″ src=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/salc-students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2022\/09\/hol2.jpg” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4.\u00a0Your language skills will improve! But only if you are constantly pushing yourself to speak in the target language, read the local newspapers and watch local television. I found it was all too easy to slip back into talking English at work, with friends etc. who all spoke amazing English!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n 5. You will meet people from diverse backgrounds and hopefully make life-long friendships! Again, pushing yourself to meet new people will result in months of memories that you will always treasure.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n 6. You can partake in fun cultural traditions! One of my favourite traditions, \u201cLas Doce Uvas de la Suerte<\/em>\u201d (12 grapes of luck), takes place on New Year\u2019s Eve, where you eat one grape at every stroke of the bell at midnight to ring in the new year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.17.6″ src=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/salc-students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2022\/09\/grapes.jpg” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 7.\u00a0You will discover all kinds of new and delicious authentic foods\u2026 and maybe even learn how to make them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.17.6″ src=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/salc-students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2022\/09\/food1.jpg” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.17.6″ src=”https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/salc-students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2022\/09\/food2.jpg” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 8. Your self-awareness will develop! Living by yourself in a new country and context can force you to tune in more to your own thoughts and feelings and recognise your strengths and weaknesses.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n 9. It\u2019s an amazing experience to add to your CV! Employers love to see that you have experience dealing with people from different cultures and that you are an adaptable person.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n 10. You may experience a shift in perspective\u2026 learning about the local art, history and culture can change the way you view the world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n I was looking forward to my placement abroad ever since I started my first year of university, and it definitely exceeded all expectations. I found that I had gained more confidence, become more independent and found a new motivation to tackle final year! The University provides many opportunities and support to those who want to go on a placement abroad or study abroad; some degrees also have the year abroad already embedded in the programme. The Residence Abroad and Placements Office<\/a> provides support and guidance, and you can also find out more information about becoming an English Language Assistant Abroad<\/a> here.<\/p>\n Post written by\u00a0Hanan Elnazarova<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"