More than Travel: Real study, volunteer, work options abroad

It’s nice to travel abroad just for the sake of traveling, vacation, or a little R&R - but getting abroad and “doing something” to facilitate international budget travels is an option worth considering. For the less wealthy westerners of this world, justifying a few grand for 4 weeks of ‘vacation’ is a bit more difficult. Thus, the options below that are more than just plain traveling might offer a medium to help you get abroad.

• Study Abroad
• International internships
• Volunteer abroad
• Language study
• Working

Study Abroad

University Partner Exchange

I always advocate for high school or university study abroad programs. Your best bet will be to go through direct University exchange partner. Coming from a big land grand university, it’s easy but somewhat naive to expect everyone has such opportunities. Doing so will ensure credits transferring and support so you don’t have to go another $10,000 semester of college to make up for a ‘lost’ semester abroad.

Directly Enroll Abroad

While there are 3rd parties that facilitate a lot of exchanges, I’ve heard some not ideal things about some operators. Maybe another option might be deferring a semester, finding a university you like abroad, and go off the grid to study for a semester. Your uni will probably frown on this since they won’t get a cut of the profits from unnecessary fees, but it’s a possibility. This way you’ll pay the local university rate which is likely much less than your current tuition.

For example, a colleague in Thailand directly enrolled into the college as an exchange student. While it was a research, credit transfer, and paperwork nightmare, he paid something like $1,500 for a semester, whereas most others paid their home university’s tuition (likely $5,000+). Definitely worth the hassle considering the savings in this case.

Conclusion: Look at direct university exchanges offered through your college, or target a country and google yourself into oblivion looking for universities and inquiring about exchange programs.

Internships

Tons of for-profit offerings. I call complete bullshit and would avoid them out of principal. Paying placement fees for low or non paying internships (in addition to flights, visa expenses, etc.) is ludicrous and I find it hard to believe that most are beneficial. I have no personal experience, this is just the strong vibe I (and most others who’ve been on the internet for more than 2 years) get.

AIESEC

A slight alternative to such internship-arrangers (can i make up that word?) is AIESEC, which is a very large, diverse, and reputable student run non-profit that arranges international experiences and internships from their large database. Unfortunately, there are annoying fees, but the wage for internships with business or technical focus is substantial enough to probably make it a net $0 type of program in the end after all is said and done.

As a student run non-profit, it caters to undergrad or grad students and requires you to be within 2 years reach of either study option I believe. To find out more, seek out a local AIESEC chapter and they can explain more of the details and possibilities. Or just email me.

Corporate

If you go to a good university or take your career seriously, you could have a chance at a real corporate internship abroad. Dual language speakers win at this as well. Probably best for business and finance majors, look at massive multinational companies like Siemens and Unilver, and also at multinational banks and investment banks if you have the resume and experience to land a great internship.

Nonprofit love

Finally, getting an internship in a NGO / nonprofit might be your best bet outside of AIESEC. Don’t expect to be paid much more than living expenses, if that. If you’re motivated here, look at grants available to those going abroad in case you qualify for a grant to go abroad and save the world through a good NGO.

Conclusion: If you have the skills, you can make mad money and build your resume going corporate. AIESEC is reputable, but be wary of other 3rd parties that act as middle men. nobody should need to pay to work, period.

Volunteering

Volunteering, like most for profit ‘internships’ can be a bit tricky to search for. I highly recommend not paying $3,000 to volunteer with babies in India for 2 weeks. There are plenty of organizations out there that would just love you to help out for free.

I’m no expert on the subject, but fellow travel blogger Nerdy Nomad has created a well-received ebook on the subject titled “The Underground Guide to International Volunteering.” I haven’t been able to read it myself, but the blogosphere seems to like it so far and she’s a great resource. I’d surely shell out $14 if I was in the market to volunteer abroad.

If you want to totally DIY, due dilligence is necessary. Here’s a quick list of reputable volunteer possibilities:

• Idealist - Authoritative volunteer search
• Peace Corps - Have 2 years? Tons of benefits upon return
• Red Cross Volunteer
• Kiva Fellows - For microfinance, Kiva rules. There are tons of microfinance programs out there if Kiva doesn’t work for you.
• UN Volunteer - its da UN, I’m assuming it’s legit
• WWOOFing - Work abroad on organic farms for room and board. This is legit.
• WorkAway - Similar to WWOOFing, but a lot more options here not limited to farm or outdoor work necessarily
• Matador Travel list of 44 International Volunteer Organizations
• Esacape Artist - Just another link list.

Language Study

Traveling slowly and learning the language along the way through private language schools is a great option for anyone. 123TeachMe is hands down the greatest resource I’ve come across that caters to those primarily interested in Spanish. There are a multitude of larger language learning companies that offer experiences around the rest of the world as well. Due dilligence will be key here though as quality can vary as the offerings have probably been commoditized recently.

Alternatively, if you’re an outstanding student you may have a shot at programs through the State Department. The Government sponsors several distinguished critical language learning programs that I’ve mentioned numerous times before.

Conclusion: If you have a shot at a grant to study or going through the State Dept, this should be your first choice. Otherwise, once again, due dilligence. Shop around and compare hourly rates. A place I found years ago with good rates was AppleLanguages - I have no experience, but 5 years ago they looked decent, so take that for what it’s worth.

Working

Teaching English

The last option is for those that actually want, or need, to work..most likely for financial reasons. Teaching English is your best bet. I’d even go so far as to say it’s a shoe in for all native english-ers. Anybody with a pulse can go to Asia and teach English, typically with just a Bachelor’s Degree. Some positions may require a TEFL beforehand, while others will offer training opportunities or sponsorship for the certification.

Teaching English is great in that it’s location flexible and/or is paid well in some areas of high demand. The possibilities are essentially endless if you’re into the whole teaching thing. Some resources to get started:

• Wikipedia TEFL - possibly information overload, but get used to it.
• JET Programme - competitive teaching program in Japan
• ESL Cafe - Active teaching forums at ESL Cafe as well
• TEFL Net
• Ajarn - Teaching English in Thailand resource
• Tealit - Teaching English in Taiwan Resource
• Footprints recruiting - Get recruited and let a 3rd party help match you.
• Teach English in Korea - Matador Travel resource
• Teaching in Japan - Matador Travel Post
• Matador ESL - All of Matador’s ESL resources

Online Entrepreneurship / “Lifestyle Design”

Lifestyle design, independent living, vagabonding entrepreneurs - whatever you want to call it, this is in. There are a ton of blogs on the subject and people to help inspire your own lifestyle designing abroad as an entrepreneur. My favorites, most definitely being AONC and Thrilling Heroics

Through the fluff, this is online entrepreneurship. Sell online products, offer online services, or run profitable advertising driven websites. Many like Cody at TH do this while living and traveling abroad where the cost of living can make online cash flow a lot more sustainable.

Multinationals & Executive search firms

If you’re a corporate executive type you should be in pretty good shape in our globalization environment. Get in touch with executive search firms and multinationals. I’m assuming that if this is you, you wouldn’t be reading my lowly budget travel blog.