Dear all,
Welcome to the University of St. Andrews At Home And Abroad Society's blogspot website. We have decided to set this up to provide you with access to information collected, collated and produced by the society. This website will be updated throughout the year with information from St. Andrews, (both official and unofficial i.e. numerous Neighbours updates..).
The next post is the At Home And Abroad Society's booklet for 2007. Simply scroll through to find the country you are going to next year and enjoy the wealth of information we have to offer. The intial sections are relevant to all and we would highly recommend you to read these, regarding general tips on preparing yourself before you leave.
We would like to wish you all the luck in the World on your year abroad and remember, we are always here: ahasoc@st-andrews.ac.uk
Add this page, http://sauahasoc.blogspot.com to your favourites and keep checking for regular updates!
Your AHASoc Committee
Thursday, May 10, 2007
The Booklet
The At Home and Abroad Society Information Booklet
Tips and Advice for your Year Abroad 2007
Introduction
The At Home and Abroad Society has been running for several years at St. Andrews University. We are a small organisation that strives to help those that have chosen to incorporate a year abroad into their language degree. We liaise with students intending to go away, students out on the field and students when they come back to St. Andrews to complete their studies.
This year, with the majority of our members graduating and handing over the AHA legacy to a fresh-faced group of budding volunteers, we have decided to produce a small booklet for the benefit of future students. We have drawn together our experiences from many different countries in Europe, Latin America and Russia to provide the best guidelines that we can offer with regards to advice before, during and on return from your period abroad
Working through each place, various members of the AHA society give advice on their Role, Accommodation, Practicalities, Safety, Health, Leisure and any other tips that come to mind. Under each country, there is also an available contact address that you can email with any further queries regarding your specific time abroad.
Whether you are at home and thinking about going away, have your trip planned or are abroad in a different country, this booklet provides the ideal guide to many of your concerns. We hope that you take pleasure in reading these pages that we have put together for your benefit. Have a fantastic trip - we trust that you will enjoy it as much as we did!
The Final Countdown
This special countdown article is a brilliant way to prepare for your coming adventure and what to do in the first few months in the post country. Although it is focused on a specific experience in Germany and Austria, you can adapt the knowledge to any trip abroad. Happy reading!
With so many things going on and a fair amount to do, it’s sometimes difficult to know what you should be doing when. So, here’s a rough guide to tackling the various pieces of preparation and initial red tape when you get out there. This isn’t designed to be followed religiously, it’s just to help so that it doesn’t get to the start of September and there’s a major panic!
WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING NOW
First and foremost, you should be looking forward to your year abroad. Yes it’s different and it’s daunting, but everyone, no matter what their façade, is anxious.
Once you hear from your school, keep in touch. It’s easier when you go there if you’ve kept up regular contact. Hopefully they will help with your preparation, whether it’s providing advice about accommodation or giving you tips on what to expect.
Set up an e-mail group with the rest of your year in St. Andrews. Don’t wait until you are all abroad to do something as it’s far harder to start then. These e-mails in your first days abroad can make all the difference if you start to feel a bit homesick.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO OVER THE SUMMER
Go to the British Council course in Glasgow. Whilst it may not increase your teaching ability, you will hopefully meet some of the people going to your ‘Land’. Use the course to ask any questions you still have and make contact with others. You will soon realise that everyone is in the same position as you.
Once you receive the full list of assistants going to your area, write an e-mail to everyone. It really helps to start to know people before you go over for the courses in Germany and Austria. There’s a chance you will be going over on the same flight as someone else, if there’s two or more of you, it’s not quite as daunting.
Speaking of which, book your flights over there relatively early. You’ll get more choice and cheaper flights. Also try to get something fixed for your friends to come and visit you. Their reading weeks are often a good opportunity. Once this is planned it’s something to look forward to and their trip won’t get postponed!
You probably did a fair amount research on the different Länder during the application process, but once you know your exact location read up on what there is to do, so you can start looking forward to your year.
As well as finding out information about the general area, do some research on accommodation options. There is a lot of information on the internet; try the websites of agencies as well as those of local newspapers. Check with your school/mentor teacher for more local knowledge of different areas.
Before leaving, get a few sets of passport-sized photographs done, as you will need these for lots of different things in your first weeks.
If possible head out to where you will be staying before the courses at Altenberg and in Austria. It helps you to get a head start on the accommodation hunt (if not already sorted) and will help you to settle in. It’s also less overwhelming to come back after the courses.
When at Altenberg/Austria really use the time to get to know the other people who will be near you. It’s also a good idea to arrange to meet up soon after you have started at school. You will be able to explore places to go and is also a good opportunity to exchange advice about your time so far.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IN YOUR FIRST WEEK
Anmeldung: Go to the ‘Ortsamt’ in your area to register where you are staying, even if it is merely temporarily as you may need this document, and are able to amend it when you move address.
Open a bank account. This needs to be done as soon as possible so that you don’t incur problems getting your first stipend on time. Make it clear that you are a student to get the cheapest account possible.
Give your payment details either to the school secretary or to your contact in the local authority (this will be made clear on your preparatory course). Do this as soon as you have opened a bank account, so as not to delay getting your pay.
Investigate your town/city. Look for different clubs or societies to join as well as gyms and sport clubs. Suss out courses at universities and ‘Volkshochschulen’. You may be able to use the internet at your school, but it is often useful to know where other internet facilities are available.
Plan lots of things to do and try out. The more involved in different activities you get, the less likely you are to become homesick.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO AROUND NOVEMBER
After the first weeks have passed, initial novelty may start to wear off and this can be the hardest time in the whole placement, but there are things you can do to lessen the feeling of being alone and homesick.
Travel. The money you receive each month should be enough to be able to do some travelling. Make the most of where you are and the great transport links. Perhaps arrange to visit someone elsewhere in Germany, or go somewhere with someone you’ve become friends with in your ‘Land’.
Plan things to do closer to home. If you live in proximity to a few other assistants, get together and plan a day trip or a party.
Look forward to Christmas. Around the end of November is when Germany and Austria come into their own. There are lots of things on in the run-up to Christmas, most notably the Christmas markets. Enjoy, ‘es weihnachtet!’ It also won’t be long until you’re heading home for the holiday.
Hopefully you will have visits from friends and family to look forward to. This really helps break the time up if you are feeling a little stranded.
Now it's time to move on to looking more closely at specific countries.
Belgium by Ruth Heslop
Role
~ The national authority that acts an exchange partner is the Communauté française de Belgique (CFWB) – they pay your grant and place you in the school. They are your first contact in the country and will inform you of the location of your placement.
Accommodation
~ When looking for accommodation, consider renting a kot, which are very common in student towns. Usually, you will get a lot more for your money and the majority of student accommodation is quite palatable. Deposits are standard practice as over here, but you should be able to set up either a bank transfer or pay in cash.
Practicalities
~ Setting up a bank account is necessary for the CFWB to pay your grant. It is fairly easy, but you will need to take your passport and be ready to provide plenty of details. Drawing out money with a British card will automatically incur a fee, so it’s advisable to use your Belgian account as much as possible.
~ It will take ages to get a carte d’identité or carte de séjour. The CFWB will issue you with a carte de boursier which is photo identification, but this is not considered sufficient to confirm your identity. Therefore, be prepared for numerous suggestions to carry your passport at all times – anyone in a position of authority may demand to examine it e.g. train conductors, bank clerks. It is NOT something to joke about – the Belgians take it very seriously and will consider telling the police if you tell them that you don’t have a carte de séjour. It is best not to raise the issue in conversation, for example, as the Belgians assume that every other country has the same system as theirs.
Safety
~ Drinking and driving is not a big deal in Belgium, so if you are travelling with a friend, make sure that you know how much alcohol they have consumed if you’re unsure.
Leisure
~ Belgian students tend to live away during their studies, as in the UK, and so you should meet people with whom you can socialise if you’re in a student town (most are).
NB
~ Finally, take at least three scarves – a lack of sufficient scarvage will immediately indicate that you are foreign and expose you to undisguised staring and dismayed comments, even when it is not cold.
For further information on Belgium, please contact AHA Soc directly.
· ahasoc@st-andrews.ac.uk
France by Zoe Frayne
ROLE
LANGUAGE
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, it’s the best way to learn. You’ll be amazed at how much progress you make in a short period of time. Insist that all the teachers (esp. the English ones) speak to you in French outside of classes, and that they correct your major mistakes. Keep a small notebook with you so you can note down new vocab and useful phrases. It may sound obvious but if you are going to be in a situation where you need certain vocab (either bank account, phoning a plumber etc.) look it up in advance, and write it down. Trying to explain the concept of direct debits, whilst using the words “debit directement”, is not a great situation to be in! (It’s prélèvement automatique by the way). Regarding vous and tu, use tu with your students (unless you’re with an adult class), and vous with the teachers until they tu you. All strangers are vous but don’t worry too much about it, most people understand it’s hard for us Brits to remember.
ACCOMODATION
Many people found that their schools provided them with accommodation. If it is provided, it is a good idea to accept as you will at least have somewhere to stay when you first arrive. If you have to find it yourself, many university towns have student accommodation which you can rent. Otherwise, the most successful way is through an estate agent, although they will charge a fee it is useful to have them as they will be able to help you if you have any problems with the flat. Also, don’t forget to ask the previous assistant (the British Council usually send you their contact details), and do research on the internet once you have your school and area. You will have to pay a “caution” (deposit) of about 1 months rent, but this will be given back to you at the end of your renting period (there are few fixed contracts, you just have to give your landlord about 2 months notice). Check what is included in the rent, as some provide a mixture of heating, gas, water, and others don’t.The French pay a taxe d’habitation each year, which is similar to our council tax. You are only exempt from paying this if you live in accommodation provided by the school. However, the notices are generally sent out in June, so if you are not going to be there, it’s up to you whether you want to arrange to pay it early or not at all (which is technically against the law, but many don’t pay it)
PRACTICALITIES
BANKS: this starts to become a bit of a catch-22 in France – often you cannot rent somewhere unless you have a bank account, and you may not be able to get a bank account unless you have an address! Best to start with a bank account – take your contract with you to prove you have a job and see which banks will accept just that; Credit Lyonnais is a good bet. Failing that, ask your responsable if they would be willing to write a short note saying that you are at their address – you can change the address with the bank once you have your own. Also, expect to pay for your bank account – around €3-4 a month is average, but make sure you ask for a student/young person’s rate, and some banks do deals where you get it free for a year. There’s no harm in asking!
HÔTEL DES IMPÔTS: this place, believe it or not, is your friend. When you get your first pay slip through, you need to go to it, armed with everything they could want – passport, contrat de travail, photos, housing contract, proof of student etc. and ask for the Carte Vitale (social security), which you will need if you ever need to see a doctor or go to hospital, and CAF which will give you money back on your rent as you are a low-income person.
ADMINISTRATION: You will NOT need to get a carte de séjour unless you are not an EU national. A translated birth certificate is not necessary, but it is a good idea to get one as the service would normally cost around £70, so you may as well take advantage of it being free! The French are sticklers for administration, so always take every document you can think of with you, they are bound to ask for them!
MOBILE PHONES: Get your phone unlocked before you go, that way you can buy a French sim card to put in. Orange is the best network, as it has cheaper texts to the UK. The French system is different to ours in that you have a certain amount of time to use the credit you put on your phone, and that different amounts give you different things. Some amounts give you credit in half texts, half calls. If you use Orange, it’s best to put it on in €20 instalments as this puts no limit on how much you can use for texts/calls, and you have 2 months to use it in.
HEALTH
FOOD: Find out when the local market is on. This is a great chance to get excellent quality fresh food, at really good prices. Plus, it’s amazing who you make friends with at a market! Supermarkets are all generally the same price and standard (although the staff in Auchan have been found to be universally the most rude!), and you can get everything under the sun from the hypermarkets, except things like aspirin and cold remedies, which are usually only available from the pharmacist. Also, for the vegetarians out there, life is quite difficult in France as they haven’t quite cottoned on to the concept yet, and generally consider it an odd thing to be. Restaurants and school meals generally don’t offer many or any veggie options, so you either have to be very creative or resign yourself to eating at least fish.
LEISURE
TRAVEL: Travelling in France is much easier and more efficient than the UK. They have excellent train/coach provisions and it’s excellent value for money. It’s worth investing in a travel card for people under 25, as for €50ish, you get up to 50% off all train journeys (book in advance if possible to get maximum discount) and coach journeys, which provide excellent town/city links. If you are living in a city, and are going to be using the buses regularly it may be worth getting a “carte bleu” – you pay around €30 a month and can make all the bus journeys you want, which usually cost around €1.10 each. Take the opportunity, and travel round France as much as possible, and also make use of its excellent rail/air links to other countries.
TELEVISION: Despite the fact that France is the same DVD region as the UK, the TV’s have a completely different standard, so if you were planning to take one over, don’t! Despite the fact that French TV is terrible (although Star Academy and Nouvelle Star, a re scarily addictive), see if you can find a cheap one as it’s good access to films etc. and if you can understand the weather you know you’ve made it, as the presenters speak the fastest French in the world! Also watching US shows dubbed into French is one of the strangest experiences.
SOCIALISING: Say yes to all invitations (within reason obviously!). If going out with other assistants (who you will meet at the initial department training day) try to talk French to each other, as when the French hear you talking English they either want to practice theirs or ignore you! There are often stagières (teachers in their first yr of teaching) in the school, who will be fairly close in age to you, so it’s worth seeking them out. Wine in France is very cheap and very nice, so enjoy! Make the most of every opportunity and this will be the best year of your degree!!!
For further information regarding France, please contact:
Zoe Frayne
Christie Margrave ChristieMargrave@aol.com (Socrates in France)
Kamille Benjamin kjab@st-andrews.ac.uk (New AHA French Rep)
Germany by Jess Lightfoot
1. Accomodation – for language assistants, the school may organise accommodation for you and if you’re going to Bonn, you get uni accommodation. But some of you will find yourselves leaving the UK with nowhere to live when you arrive in Germany. There are agencies that will find you a flat and you can look at their websites over the summer (e.g. homecompany.de and studenten-wohnung.de). The drawback of agencies is that you have to pay them a fee if you eventually take one of their flats. The best thing to do is to go out before the training course or uni orientation and give yourself time to find a flat. Then you can also look for ‘flatmate wanted’ adverts at the local uni. There are two types of rent: “Warmmiete” includes bills, “Kaltmiete” doesn’t.
2. Practicalities
Anmeldung – a time consuming process, but one that must be done to register that you’re living in Germany. You need to go to the Anmeldungsamt (you should be able to ask in the tourist office where the local office is, or ask your school/university for directions) Take with you your accommodation contract, your employment contract or details of matriculation, your passport and a couple of passport photos.
3. Bank accounts – We recommend the Sparkasse, as this bank does not charge you for the account. It doesn’t pay you any interest either, but since you’re not there for long, that shouldn’t make a difference. Take with you your accommodation contract and proof that you’re a student.
4. BahnCard – a discount card for rail travel within Germany. There are two options; BahnCard 25 costs 50 Euros and gives you 25% off all rail travel, whilst BahnCard 50 costs 100 Euros and gives you 50% off all rail travel, for you and one other person. If you’re planning to do lots of travelling, get one of these cards! It sounds like a lot to pay at the beginning, but it’ll pay for itself very quickly (German trains are much better than British ones, but also more expensive…) Remember though – write to Deutsche Bahn at the end of your year to cancel your BahnCard, otherwise they’ll renew it automatically and fine you if you don’t pay for it!
5. ISIC card (International Student ID Card) – some people found it useful, others got one and never used it, others didn’t get one and didn’t miss it. It’s up to you! The ISIC card is available from any STA office in the UK or abroad, so you can get one before you leave (at the travel office in the union) or get one at a later date. You’ll need a passport photo and £7.
6. Mobile phones – if you can afford it, buy a German SIM card or a new phone, cos it’ll help you keep in touch with your friends! And you’ll be surprised at the choice of networks – Vodafone, O2 and T-Mobile are the biggest.
7. Supermarkets – Tengelmann is really expensive, Plus is really cheap (but not great quality), Lidl and MiniMal are somewhere in between!
8. When you first arrive, go for a walk around the area where you’re living. You’ll discover so much more, maybe a cheaper supermarket, another bus-stop that’s more useful for getting into town, a park, the nearest post box… And you’ll feel more at home!
9. Recycling – you’ll need to separate glass (white, green, brown), paper, plastic, tin, maybe even ‘bio’ (raw fruit and veg and garden waste). It’s a lot easier than it looks, but bear in mind that they can theoretically fine you for putting the wrong rubbish in the wrong bin!
10. ‘Pfandflasche’ – an important concept in Germany! Whenever you buy drinks in the supermarket, the price will include a ‘Pfand’ (20 cents or so) which you can claim back by taking the empty bottle back to the same supermarket. The same is true in the Biergärten and at the Christmas markets – you’ll pay a Euro or two extra for your beer or your Glühwein, but when you return the glass or mug, you’ll get that money back. This means you can keep the glass or mug as a souvenir!
11. As soon as you know where you’re going to be based, get your friends and family to book flights to come and visit you. November Reading Week is a perfect time for uni friends to come for a holiday and it’s the right time for you to have visitors too, half-way to Christmas. If you’ve got a boyfriend/girlfriend, get him/her to book flights as soon as possible too and that’ll give you both something to look forward to.
12. Role:
University – if you’re teaching, you’re still able to join the local university or the local Volkshochschule as a Gaststudent/in (just attending a few lectures a week) or sign up for a course and go to tutorials too. This is a great way to meet people and to make friends!
13. Leisure:
Travel! Especially if you’re teaching, this is a gap year, a chance for you to relax and to see the world. Germany is perfectly placed for exploring the whole of Europe, so make the most of it!
14. Buy a copy of the Lonely Planet/Rough Guide to Germany or your Land and have a good look through before you leave the UK. This will become your best friend during your year.
15. Take photos! You’ll have some amazing experiences, try and keep a record. It’ll also give you something to show people when you come back, rather than just telling stories.
16. Keep smiling and enjoy yourself! There will be times when you feel homesick and lonely, but keep going and keep yourself busy. Visit the other St Andrews students who are out in Germany – this will give you the opportunity to travel, as well as free accommodation and, most importantly, someone who understands completely how you feel.
17. Have confidence in your German! Yes, at the beginning, you’ll make hundreds of mistakes and feel very silly, but the Germans are aware that their language is difficult and, unless they’re very mean, they won’t pick you up on too many mistakes. The more you talk, the faster your German will improve. And everyone has an amusing story of using an inappropriate word at the wrong moment – you’ll look back and laugh!
18. Du and Sie – don’t worry about the difference too much. In general, if you’re talking to someone you don’t know, or someone who is quite a lot older than you, you use ‘Sie’. If you’re talking to people of the same age, you use ‘Du’, even if you don’t know them.
19. Remember that if you don’t ask, you won’t get. Be proactive; accept any invitations you do get from school colleagues/other students and don’t be afraid to ask anyone for help. People don’t know there’s something wrong if you don’t tell them!
20. Have a wonderful year! Enjoy yourself and have fun at every opportunity!
Fremdsprachenassistent in Germany - Classroom Survival Guide!
By Ian Collen
It is normal to be nervous before taking up a post as a Language Assistant in a German speaking country for a year. The role of a Language Assistant is a ‘real’ job; you will be joining a team of professional teachers in a German school.
Here are a few tips so that the teaching experience will be positive for you and your pupils:
The Training Courses
The British Council usually organises an optional training course in Glasgow in late June. The course covers basic teaching methodology, administration and past assistants are on hand to give advice. The course is recommended by the majority of St Andrews students who completed it in either 2004 or 2005.
The British Council will also invite you to a four night residential training course in September in Altenberg, near Cologne. This course is compulsory. This is a great place to make friends with other assistants who are posted to towns near you. The course tutors also explain everything you need to know about administration and healthcare related to your stay in Germany.
What teaching materials should I bring with me?
Don’t lumber yourself with too much; you can use the internet when you get there. Bring some teen-magazines and short stories with you. You could also record some television programmes (BBC Newsround, Blue Peter, Grange Hill). Make sure you have five-minute-fillers (like Bingo or Hangman). Plan ahead for Bonfire Night, Christmas, St Patrick’s Day and Easter themed lessons. You can reuse lesson plans with various classes.
The First Week in School
You should make sure that a teacher from the school (normally your Betreuungslehrer) meets you at the train station and takes you to your accommodation.
On your first day at school don’t be disappointed if there doesn’t appear to be a welcome party for you when you arrive! Schools are very busy at the start of the year! You should dress appropriately (smart casual, but no jeans). Although a lot of the teachers may wear jeans, past assistants preferred to wear something more formal, to avoid being mistaken for a pupil.
You should arrange to get
· a key for the classrooms and staffroom (most schools require classrooms to be locked when not in use) and a key for the television cabinets.
· a photocopy card.
· your timetable - you are entitled to a day off for ‘study’, so try to have Monday or Friday off (so you can ‘study’ whilst travelling during your long weekend J)
Do not teach during your first week – you should only observe classes.
If possible, organise a notice board for yourself in the corridor – put up a display about yourself with your photo in the first week, use it later in the year to advertise competitions, your English club or display pupils’ work.
Past assistants strongly recommend that you define your role in the first week. If a school has never had an assistant before, they may be confused as to what exactly your role is. Teachers in the school may mistake you for a Referendar (trainee-teacher). Explain that you are not qualified and are not obliged take whole classes on your own (unless you have a keen interest in teaching and would be willing to teach alone). You should not mark work on a regular basis and if you do you should only correct it and not award a grade. Ideally you should team-teach with the regular class teacher or work with up to half of the class on your own. You should certainly not be expected to deal with difficult pupils on your own.
Also beware of the Vertretungsplan (Supply cover plan) – schools are always looking for staff to cover for missing teachers and assistants are often seen as a quick solution to their problems. Out of goodwill, you may like to cover the odd class for a colleague but it should not become a habit. If you feel uncomfortable with the situation, you should talk to your mentor teacher.
Your first lesson
In the first few weeks you will be the talk of the school; it’s a bit like being a popstar! The pupils will all be eager to have you in their class and will want to get to know you. In the first lesson you will probably be asked to introduce yourself. You will not know what the children’s level of English is, so it is best to involve them from the start. Don’t just monologue for 15 minutes about yourself. Rather, bring some stimuli in your bag – a photo of your family, a tennis ball if you are interested in sport, a CD of your favourite band etc. Get the children to come up to the front and pick something out and ask you questions to find out more about you. An easy ice-breaker!
Lesson Ideas
The website
Should I socialise with my pupils?
Well…. the official view is no. However, past St Andrews students did socialise with the older pupils who were doing their Abitur. If you do socialise with them, be sensible. Our advice is to avoid alcohol and relationships which get too close for comfort!
And finally….
Have a fantastic year, do things you have never done before, take care of yourself and come home at the end with experiences you will never forget. We are all convinced that our year abroad was the most formative period of our university education and we have become more international in a way that you never can be unless you have immersed yourself in another culture.
Before we left St Andrews at the end of second year, we set up an email list of assistants from St Andrews posted to Germany and Austria. This was a brilliant way to stay in touch during the year and share our experiences with each other, and we recommend you do the same!
For further information on Germany, please contact:
· Jessica Lightfoot
· Louise O’Hare lo26@st-andrews.ac.uk (New AHA German rep)
· Sam Millar Samantha.millar@yahoo.co.uk (Teaching Assistant in Hamburg)
Eilidh Macdonald macdonaldeilidh@hotmail.com (Language Assistant in Rheinland Pfalz)
Austria by Adam Carr
Given the cover of the Lonely Planet guide to Austria(left), you could easily be forgiven for thinking this small country tucked neatly underneath Germany on a map may have little to offer but green hills and goats. The continuing popularity of “The Sound of Music” (incidentally providing Salzburg with its main source of tourist income), the images of men in Lederhosen, women in dirndl, of Wiener Schnitzel and Apfelstrudel do spring to mind when one thinks of Austria. By and large, you will find these stereotypes do exist. I’m not saying that on arriving in Austria I was greeted by men in Lederhosen, stuffing their faces with Apfelstrudel while singing a round of “Doe A Deer”. On exploring Austria you do realise that as far as the landscape from the initial opening of “The Sound of Music” goes, you will encounter this in Austria, provided you go to any Land but Burgenland (more information about Länder) later.
Another aspect which is often a worry about going to Austria is that you might not understand the German and that you’ll struggle. At first, yes, it is hard to tune your ears into ‘österreichisch’, but most people manage this easily enough, without any major problems. If you go to the most Western Land in Austria (Voralberg), you may struggle slightly more, but I would suggest it is merely about getting used to your surroundings and the accent. Austrian German does indeed contain some words which are different from Hochdeutsch, but they mainly revolve around food and perhaps greetings (I think I could count the occasions on one hand when I heard “Guten Tag!” during my time abroad) but as I said, you get used to this very quickly, but you do have to make the effort. The temptation to spend lots of time with other native English speakers is always there, though to be honest with you, if you do this you can’t realistically expect to see a vast improvement of your German. However, sometimes you will find it difficult to practice your German as everyone is so keen to practice their English. But with a little polite explanation that you’re in their country to learn their language and perhaps some mutual swapping of language practice you’ll get on just fine.
As I said, I was at a school in Mödling, just outside Vienna, but lived with a family in another small town not far away called Baden. I had my own flat above the home of a teacher from my school and so immediately had the family contact and so the Austrian German-speaking time I needed. If you are not as lucky as this there are plenty of ways of getting yourself into speaking with native German speakers. A lot of people get involved in clubs in the town they are living in, do evening classes to improve their German (In Austria this is called the ÖSD – österreichische Sprachdiplom Deutsch and can be taken at Volkshochschulen) You may find your school may be able to help with finding an outlet to improve your German. The University of Vienna has a Sprachenbörse which is basically a database of Austrians looking for English speakers and vice-versa. I used this to meet a couple of Austrian friends who showed me Vienna and all the Austrian things like Wiener Melange und Apfelstrudel!(right) Also, sometimes your Betreuungslehrer(in) could put you with the younger teachers, who you’re more likely to have things common with than your older colleagues.
I also would say try to avoid the temptation to stick with the English teachers and speak to them in English. You will find that other teachers will be so intrigued by you as being a specimen from the British Isles that they’ll be very keen to talk to you. Sometimes this can be annoying and irritating, especially when you’re sat at a computer trying to write e-mails home! Every school is different though, as long as you go into everything with an open mind, and are prepared to adapt to your new surroundings there’s very little problem.
On a practical level, Austria is not at all the best place to fly to cheaply. Ryanair flies to Graz, Salzburg and Klagenfurt (all from London Stansted), AirBerlin go to Vienna (from London Stansted and Manchester) and skyEurope fly to Bratislava (yes, in Slovakia, but there is a dedicated bus service into Vienna). I would say book as early as possible.
The Austrian train network is good and I never had any problems with it. I would say buy a Vorteilscard <26>
When you first arrive in Austria, if you’ve been lucky enough to get a place, you’ll go on a training week in either Hollabrunn or Zell am See; dependant upon where in Austria you are going to be living and working. Personally, I found the course itself rather useless, as I’d already been on the British Council Scotland’s course in Glasgow and as what you’ll be doing will be so dependant on your school, it’s really generalised and, I found, rather vague. However, it is really good for beginning to network amongst your fellow assistants. For as much as I said it’s important to get out there and mingle with the Austrians, there are times when there’s nothing more you need than to sit in an Irish pub, listen to some cheesy poppy music and put the World to right over a pint.
So basically, don’t be put off by fears of Austrian German and not being able to understand what’s going on. You’ll soon adapt and with a bit of luck and the right attitude, end up having ein leiwandes Jahr.
For further information, please contact: Adam Carr
adam_r_carr@hotmail.co.uk (Teaching Assistant in Vienna)Jessica Lightfoot jessica_lightfoot@hotmail.com (Work Placement in Tyrol)
Spain by Jennifer Campbell
A little nervous about dealing with la vida española? Well never fear, I, in consultation with some others from St. Andrews who have been there and bought the camiseta, are here to give some advice about living and working in Spain.
I was an English Language Assistant in Tudela, a medium-sized town with a population of 30,000 in the autonomía of Navarra in 2004/05. Firstly, I think it’s important to say I really enjoyed my year, as have the vast majority of language assistants posted to Spain over the years. A chance to speak Spanish every day, the opportunity to travel round a beautiful, exciting and diverse country, going out until dawn (not to mention the cheap vino)…what’s not to love?
I worked in a secondary school (Instituto de Enseñanza Secundaria or IES). Spanish secondary education lasts for six years: from 1۫۫ESO (first year) to 4۫ESO (fourth year) and then 1۫Bachillerato and 2۫Bachillerato (fifth and six year). The timing of the school day differs from school to school, even within the same town. My school ran from 9am – 3pm with two 20 minute breaks, but the other high school in the town ran from 8am – 2pm. Language assistants can alternatively be given posts in Escuelas oficiales de idiomas (EOI), which are government night schools attended by adults and older teenagers. There are also posts in primary schools in some autonomías.
Of course, your exact role will differ depending on your school, but I worked on a 4-week timetable, seeing almost each class in the school either once or twice per month. I had a day or two days off each week, which differed according to my timetable (a lot of assistants get either Friday or Monday off, which I did two weeks out of the four, so they can travel - try and negotiate this if you can!) My classes were supposed to focus on speaking. While some teachers liked to ‘team teach’, I was almost always left to teach the classes (which ranged in size from around 12 up to 30) myself while the teacher sat at the back and did marking. I would consult with the teacher at some point before the class to see if there was anything specific they wanted me to cover (they almost always had at least a topic in mind) and then prepare the class. It’s amazing how quickly you get to grips with teaching – don’t be scared! However, Spanish kids do speak at double volume, and can be rather boisterous, so be prepared! Also, don’t worry if a few of your early classes go a bit wrong – I think it happens to everyone at some point.
My school was very well prepared for my arrival – they had my timetable ready, told me exactly what my role would be, and who to speak to if I had a problem. I also had a week of observing classes before I started teaching, which was really helpful. If your school isn’t quite as organised, do make an effort to try and pin someone down to make sure you know exactly what is expected of you, and what your exact timetable will be – it will make things easier for everybody. I had a good relationship with all the teachers and became very good friends with a few of the younger ones.
Spanish teachers dress very casually compared to teachers in this country – most just wear jeans etc. so you should wear the same – no need to buy a whole new wardrobe of smart clothes!
As for teaching materials to take with you, don’t take too much – you’ll have enough to cram in your case. Good things to take are a few bits about your home town / country to show when you first arrive, a few things about holidays (Christmas, Bonfire Night, Easter etc…), some teen magazines and music. Remember how much you can get off the internet! The school will also have materials you can use. It might be a good idea to ask your school if there is anything specific they would like you to bring before you go.
As for accommodation, I had it organised before I went. An English girl who had been an assistant the year before had stayed on (she had already graduated) and was looking for some flatmates to share with her and two Spanish girls. Another assistant and I moved in. However, I wouldn’t recommend moving in anywhere before seeing it and meeting and considering carefully who you’re going to be living with– the house and flatmates weren’t terrible but we did have some disagreements and the other assistant and I moved out at Christmas into another flat. Although you might find the idea of looking for accommodation stressful, don’t necessarily take the first place you’re offered or see – try to consider it carefully before making a decision. I know of quite a few assistants who moved out of their first accommodation before Christmas as they hadn’t thought carefully enough about what they were getting themselves into. When you initially contact your school, ask if they know of any accommodation available, and if not, where is the best place to look when you arrive – there were a couple of local magazines in Tudela with accommodation adverts and there was also a noticeboard at school where teachers looking for flatmates could post adverts.
Rent can be really cheap in Spain, especially out with the cities. I paid 130 euros per month for my first house and 160 euros for the second flat. Telephone, electricity, gas, etc… tend to be equivalent in cost to the UK. Food is slightly cheaper. The 600ish euros you get is enough to cover your costs, but doing private English teaching or another job can give you a really comfortable income. When I was in Spain (and many other years) the first pay didn’t arrive until mid-late November (later than was promised by the Ministerio de Educacción y Cultura, or MEC, the government department which pays you), so plan for that when thinking about how much money you should take with you initially – remember you will possibly have to cover a deposit on accommodation and two months rent, a months bills and everything else besides before you’re paid.
I worked in a private English Academy teaching kids aged 10-14 for 7 hours per week, for which I was paid 300 euros per month (roughly 10 euros per hour – 10 to 15 euros per hour is about average for private work). Private work can be a little more demanding than your work as an assistant (although this isn’t necessarily the case): I was the main teacher for my private classes, which I saw once a week, and was in charge of their progress in all areas. Work teaching English was readily available: even in the medium-sized town where I was based, there were at least 5 academies and lots of people wanting private classes, either for themselves or for their children. The other two assistants in Tudela were working similar hours to myself, and we could have worked more if we had wanted.
The main mobile phone providers are Movistar, Amena and Vodafone. You can either buy a new phone or a simcard (remember to get your phone unlocked before leaving the UK). I had a pay-as-you-go simcard with Amena, which cost about the same as here. Like in this country, the phone networks are more or less equal in terms of pricing, and there are phone shops everywhere, so it’s really just a case of going in and trying to get the best deal. For calling home, you can get a range of phonecards from locutorios. The best are Speak cards which cost five euros. You can use these either with a payphone (giving you around 400 minutes to the UK) or a normal landline (giving you around 150 minutes to the UK) – you just call a freephone number and type the card number into the phone you’re using.
When you first arrive, the first thing you have to do is open a bank account and get your NIE, as you have to send these both off to MEC almost immediately in order not to delay your first pay (any further than it might already be delayed by MEC itself).
As for banks, I opened an account with La Caixa. It was a simple process, and I was given a bank book straight away (which you can use at ATMs in Spain) so I was able to withdraw money from cash machines right away. I got an ATM card with Visa Electon a few days later. In Spain, you can get charged if you withdraw money from another bank apart from your own, so make sure you open an account with a large bank with branches throughout the country in case you need money when travelling. Other big banks are BBVA and Santander Central Hispano. Remember when using a credit or debit card in Spain you need to have another form of ID to show the cashier – passport or driving license.
In smaller towns, you get your Número de Identificación de Extranjero, or NIE from the local police station. In bigger cities it may be another government building – your school will advise you. Spanish immigration officials tend to be rather unfriendly, but I found it easy enough to sort it out. However, it might be a good idea to go with the other assistant or a teacher from school to get your NIE and open a bank account in case of any problems.
As for travelling, the buses are cheaper and more regular than the trains, which can run on rather strange schedules at times. The national train company RENFE has a really good website which covers the entire country (www.renfe.com). A number of different bus companies operate in Spain, and there is no one central website for times. It’s better to just go to your local station.
You will have the opportunity to attend a prepatory course in Glasgow in June and another in Madrid at the end of September. A few assistants are taken on by individual autonomies instead of by the central MEC and will have a separate course in their area. St. Andrews also recommends that you do an Introduction to Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course before leaving. Such a course runs for a week during the Easter break at the English Language Teaching centre in St. Andrews and costs £200. Certainly, writing that you have done / intend to do the TEFL course looks good on your application, and it does give you some interesting teaching tips / activities. However, by the time you have done the Glasgow and Madrid courses, which cover much of the same material, you will be adequately prepared. The Glasgow course gives you some good ideas for teaching, as well as letting you ask questions to former assistants and others in-the-know, and is well worth going to. The Madrid course is a little repetitive, but it does allow you to meet all the other assistants going to your town/area, which is great. There was also a very nice reception at the British Council building in Madrid!
Travelling to Spain can be really cheap – Ryanair and Easyjet fly to so many different cities now, mainly from London Stansted. However, when you first go out and when you come back to the UK, it might be worth going with British Airways or another similar airline because of the baggage weight restrictions – as I’m sure many of you know, one kilo over and the budget airlines will charge you.
The climate throughout most of Northern Spain (most of the area from Madrid northwards) is really cold during the winter. It was very hot through October and then the weather turned very cold (as cold as in the UK) very quickly – within a week – at the beginning of November. It was very cold until the end of February, when the weather started to get a bit better. However, it was still very mixed until the end of beginning of May. Obviously the climate is better in the south, but be prepared for a bit of bad weather everywhere!
For further information regarding Spain, please contact:
Jennifer Campbell jennifercarolinecampbell@yahoo.co.uk (Language Assistant in Navarra)
Rosanna Shaw rs45@st-andrews.ac.uk (New AHA Spanish Rep)
Italy by Rozi Lee
SOCRATES:
Studying
~ Timetables can be very difficult to organise. Some universities have theirmodule choices online - try to choose before arriving to make the processeasier.
~ Don’t be surprised when everyone you meet from other universities tells you that their grades don’t matter as long as they pass the year. St Andrews seems to be the only university that makes grades count towards your degree!Italians can choose when to sit their exams, meaning you could put them all offuntil the end of the year if you wished. This can come in handy when you’renot quite ready for an exam, but be careful not to put it all off and overload your schedule for the final month.
Accommodation
~ Not having a place to live can seem a very daunting prospect, don’t worry toomuch as most students will be in the same position at the start of the year. Finding accommodation does not need to be done 8 months in advance like it does at St Andrews! The student notice boards will be a good place to start looking.
ASSISTANTSHIP:
Role
~ Go to the optional British Council meeting before you go to your school. Youwon’t learn much about teaching, but you will make friends and meet people tostay with when you want to travel!
~ Don’t be too shy to ask for a flexible timetable. For example, it might bepossible to fit in all your lessons Mon-Thurs, giving you a three day weekend.
~ Advertise to give private lessons - you can charge €20 or more per hour.
Accommodation
~ Finding a place to live can be a worry. Consider living with students, as thisis a good way to make friends. Otherwise, there are two ways to findaccommodation - through a letting agency or through a private let. Agencies tend to want a minimum of twelve months lease and usually charge a lot in fees.~ Private lets can be a lot more flexible, but you don’t get the security that an agency provides. Talk to as many people as you can during the first few weekswhen you are looking for somewhere - parents of the kids in your class may beable to help you out.
Practicalities
~ You will probably need a permesso di soggiorno and a codice fiscale. These are essential for things like opening a bank account. If possible get the school secretary (or a teacher you know) to help you get the necessary documents as it can be a complicated process.
~ Buy an Italian SIM card to avoid roaming charges. The most popular networks in Italy are Vodafone, TIM and WIND. They all offer good pay as you go tariffs.
Leisure
~ Do as much travelling as possible. Travel in low season, when everything ismuch cheaper, and stay in smaller places outside the big cities as they tend tohave cheaper accommodation.
~ Tickets for all forms of public transport always have to be stamped (validated).Train and Metro tickets need to be stamped before boarding, buses have avalidating machine on board.
~ Be very polite and people will generally be more than happy to help you out.
For further information, please contact:
Rozi Lee
Ralph Anderson roa@st-andrews.ac.uk (New AHA Italian Rep)
Russia by Helen Garforth
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
This might be pointing out the obvious, but Russia is not a ‘normal’ travel destination, and has not entirely adapted to the idea of tourism, therefore you will probably experience a slight culture shock when you arrive. Don’t worry, everyone goes through it, but here are a few tips to help you!
ACCOMMODATION:
There are two options normally available when studying in Russia as part of your year abroad: home stay and hostel.
Home stay
This entails living with either a family or more often a babushka. You will probably stay in a Soviet-style flat, which should be within walking distance of the institute in which you are studying. This is a highly recommended experience, although you shouldn’t expect any luxuries, and you’ll be expected to adhere to the Russian customs of putting slippers on at the door, not flushing your toilet paper down the toilet, and any other superstitious beliefs your host happens to hold! However, it does help you improve your spoken Russian, and provides a hilarious insight into the life of Russian people.
Hostel
This normally entails living in a university obshejitie, and will probably mean that you will share a small flat, with kitchen and bathroom, with a few other people. Foreigners tend to be put in a slightly nicer hostel than the Russian students live in, which means that they are usually pretty clean. University hostels do have curfew times, but you can come and go as you please. Just be prepared to wake up a slightly grumpy old man whose job it is to sit there all night, waiting for drunken students to return! On the whole, hostels are slightly more ‘luxurious’ than flats and more central, but it does limit your chances of speaking Russian on a day-to-day basis.
LEISURE
As you probably already know, Russia is a country of alcoholics, and there is never a shortage of bars, restaurants, kiosks or supermarkets where you can get a pivo. The concept of ‘going out’ is slightly different in Russia, however, and young people tend to prefer to wander about and drink (gulyat’), rather than pay extra to sit and drink in a bar. This may seem slightly ridiculous, but they do it even in –30º! You do get used to it though, usually once you’ve had several shots of vodka! However, in summer there are tents (letnie kafe) everywhere, where you can sit and enjoy a local beer for 20 roubles (40p)!
As with the general concept of ‘going out’ in general, clubs in Russia are slightly different to here, and the word seems to be synonymous with ‘strip club’! However, it’s not as scary as it sounds, they tend to take their clothes off whilst you’re dancing…!
Apart from going out, young people are semi-obsessed with exercising lots, sometimes with cellophane wrapped round them! Anyway, if you want to exercise whilst you’re out there, there is no shortage of gyms to join. You can either do your own thing, or hire a personal trainer, which is sometimes not that much more expensive than the membership. Also, there are loads of swimming pools, outdoor and indoor, so, if you fancy a slightly less strenuous way of exercising, then there’s something for you too!
Basically, Russians spend their leisure time much the same as we do, hanging out with friends and family. The cinema is becoming more and more popular amongst young people, but is fairly expensive (for Russia!), so some prefer just to buy a pirate copy, which is often available before the film is released (!), and watch it at home. In fact, home plays a huge part in most people’s social life, and you’ll probably find yourself constantly being invited to someone’s house v gosti. This means drinking copious amounts of chai, and eating your own weight in biscuits and sweets…normally!
SAFETY
The main point to make regarding safety in Russia, as mundane as it seems, is to keep your wits about you and to try not to put yourself in any unnecessarily vulnerable positions. Once you have become accustomed to your surroundings it is easy to let your guard down (especially after a vodka or two). Nevertheless, you are in a foreign country, and Russia at that.
To highlight some of the more obvious aspects of safety, the first one probably has to the sampling of Russian traditional hospitality (and vodka). If you do take advantage of the variety and advantageous price of the vodkas available in Russia, then you have to be aware of how you will get home at the end of your night, particularly if you live alone and are female. Being a drunk, foreign woman alone at night can attract a lot of unwanted attention.
Similarly, it is often a good idea to try to act as inconspicuously as possible, i.e. don’t speak English too loudly when outside, and bear in mind that pickpockets are rife, especially in the tourist areas of Moscow and St Petersburg. Unfortunately, the police in Russia are not as helpful or as approachable as their British counterparts, and it is true that they often try to supplement their income by finding ‘irregularities’ with your visa.
Safety in Russia is undoubtedly more of an issue than if you were in France or Germany, say. However, without wishing to sound clichéd, it is without doubt these differences in culture and mentality, which will make your time there all the more fulfilling.
TRANSPORT
Public transport in Russia is ridiculously cheap, often extremely decrepit, although usually convenient and frequent. If you are in one of the major cities such as Moscow, St Petersburg or Nizhny Novgorod, then you will be able to use the metro system, which is normally much cleaner and more reliable than its rival in London. There will also be a tram (normally quite old but more ‘Russian’) and bus (comparable to the West) system. These, as in Britain, have set routes and stops. However, the most ‘innovative’ form of transport is the ‘marshrutka’, which looks like a minibus (often decorated in a variety of lurid ways by its driver). These run on a seemingly infinite number of set routes, but you are able to request a stop anywhere along this route, as long as you shout loudly enough! Although not to be recommended during rush hour… Taxis in Russia are occasionally available from firms like those in Britain, although more often than not it is easier to flag down a passing private car. This sounds slightly dubious, but is common practice. Just agree on a price to your destination and hop in, although it is necessary to show caution, particularly if female or if there is already more than one occupant in the car. Russian driving also leaves an awful lot to be desired!
If travelling between towns or cities, the again the trains and buses are cheap and frequent. However, actually procuring a ticket can take longer than the journey itself. Be prepared to queue… for a long time…. (And then discover that you are actually in the designated war veterans’ queue.) Long journeys nevertheless often present an excellent opportunity to see a different side to life in Russia, and make good use of your language skills.
For more information concerning Russia, please contact:
Helen Garforth
Latin America by Emma Packer
PRACTICALITIES
Read up as much as you can about your destination country: Geography, History, Music, Literature, Culture, Customs, Political situation etc… (Although nothing can prepare you for the real thing!!)
Buy a travel guide. Lonely Planet is a Bible out there.
Try to check out some Spanish typical to the country you are going to. Every Latin American country has a whole array of other words, accents and dialects.
Get the necessary vaccinations and if you plan to travel, make sure you have the right ones for those countries as well. (E.g. Brazil require Yellow Fever Certificate to get into the country)
Don’t travel too heavily. Not only are airlines becoming stricter but you will want to bring loads back. 20kg maximum.
Take out an unlocked Mobile Phone with you. You will be able to buy a Sim card out there for quite a reasonable price. Handsets, however, are particularly expensive. (Venezuela: Buy a Digitel Sim Card).
Remember to take out comprehensive Travel Insurance
Teaching:
~ Research themes for classes
~ Bring articles from newspapers and magazines on interesting topics.
~ Bring out British Music and Christmas Carols (you will miss them… trust me!)
ACCOMMODATION:
Most of the time, the programme will set you up with accommodation. If you want to move to a different place or find your own flat, the local paper will have loads of places to rent out and at a reasonable rate. Seek advice in the country you are in from work colleagues or other teachers
Make sure you check about the different bills, deposits, anything formal that you have to organise as they often like to cut corners in Latin America!
LEISURE:
Make the most of your trip. Don’t stick with purely Anglo Speakers; you are after all out there to improve your Spanish. Latin Americans are very friendly and will want to make friends quickly, let them! Be sensitive of the different culture at all times.
Join clubs/groups… maybe the local gym or Country Club.
Learn to dance (best experience I had).
Travel around the country, many Latin American countries have diverse landscapes to enjoy.
HEALTH:
Drink clean/bottled water at all times.
Be wary of certain food stalls. Most Latin American countries sell food in the street or in markets. Make sure you try this food as most of greatest food is in these places. Be careful, however, of unclean, hidden places that appear slightly dodgy. The best indicator is to go where all the locals are.
Bring Sun Cream and lots of it. It is expensive out there and you need to be wearing it constantly in certain countries
SAFETY:
Watch your bag at all times.
Don’t be scared but don’t be complacent. I never had any problems in Venezuela, but remember to have common sense and be wary of everything around you.
Seek advice from locals about where to go and don’t wander off into dodgy areas. From one street to the next you can cross into more dangerous zones.
Carry little money with you and do not take your passport around town.
Be prepared to be stared at, especially if you are a foreign looking woman. Men will not approach you but they will shout out and make comments. Do not be offended; it is part of the macho culture.
In certain countries, adopt political sensitivity in all areas, even amongst students of a classroom. (In Venezuela, try not to publicly voice political views unless you really know what you are talking about).
For any other enquiries about issues relating to Latin American travel, please do not hesitate to contact:
Emma Packer celtic_rusedski@hotmail.com (Language Assistant in Venezuela
Hannah Clarke hrc6@st-andrews.ac.uk (New AHA Latin American Rep)
Being an Erasmus student by Christie Margrave
Top tips for being an Erasmus/Socrates student:
Try and go out during the summer to get a feel for the town/ uni campus. That’s usually the best way to get in touch with student letting agencies too so you can find somewhere to live.
Maybe buy yourself a Dictaphone. You might not use it much after the first few weeks/ couple of months, but it makes you feel a lot better just knowing if you think you missed something important you can listen to it again later.
Don’t worry if things seem impossible for the first few days of lectures. It gets easier really quickly.
Introduce yourself at the end of lessons to the tutors (if it’s a small group and you think they are likely to remember you). They are usually really pleased to have foreigners trying to take their classes and will help you as much as they can.
Go to lots of classes in your first week or so and pick which you like best.
Don’t worry if you can’t find enough ECTS credits! St Andrews will help in reducing the amount you have to take if there isn’t enough available. In some universities some classes are only worth 2 credits!!
Book your flight out for about a week before classes begin – gives you time to meet people, settle in, find the nearest supermarket etc.
Always carry change when you want to use buses. Some countries/ areas don’t accept notes….
Take plenty of passport photos with you. Especially in France they tend to ask you for a lot!
Make sure the Erasmus office at the uni you are going to has informed you of what documentation you need to take with you before you go.
Brush up your “GCSE directions” skills (how to say take the first left, follow the road to the lights…. etc) – you might need to ask directions a lot to start with!
And most importantly of all - Have fun! You’ll love it!
For more information on Erasmus, please contact:
Lucy Yeatman : ly22@st-andrews.ac.uk (New Erasmus AHA Soc Rep)
Coming Home
It’s not easy coming home at all, sometimes it can be quite difficult to adapt to the completely different surroundings of a small Scottish town where people are very different. Expect this challenge but recognise that things will be ok over time.
Join the AHA Society when you come back to University. It will help you meet people that have had a similar experience to you and coped with coming home. The society will also enable you to give advice to others, passing on your knowledge to students who are thinking about going abroad.
Get in contact with others that have also been abroad (preferably the same country) to discuss your time abroad. You will need a come down period, as it is very difficult coming back. They are two distinct worlds.
Be prepared that not many people will want to hear about your trip. After a night of photos, that may be it… but you will have the adventure in the back of your head for a lifetime.
Join Sports and other Societies to make new friends, especially if you are staying for a fifth year when many of your previous friends may have already graduated.
If you are experiencing any medical changes, like continuing stomach bugs, get yourself checked out by a doctor. (Latin America)
Useful Websites
·
· www.bbc.co.uk
· http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/
· www.fco.gov.uk/travel
· http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/forcsa.html
· www.facebook.com (At Home and Abroad Society AHA Soc)
· www.elpais.com (Spain)
· www.corriere.it (Italy)
· www.orf.at (Austria)
· www.faz.de (Germany)
· www.lemonde.fr (France)
· www.bbcmundo.com (Latin America)
Contacts
Your 2007-2008 AHA Soc Committee:
President - Rozi Lee(ral7)
Vice-President - Sarah-Jane Corry(sjc57)
Secretary - Kate Dunn(kmd26)
Treasurer - Moira Frame(mjf15)
French Rep - Kamille Benjamin(kjab)
German Rep - Louise O’Hare(lo26)
Spanish Rep - Rosanna Shaw(rs45)
Italian Rep - Ralph Anderson(roa)
Latin American Rep - Hannah Clarke(hrc6)
Erasmus Rep - Lucy Yeatman(ly22)
Ex-Beginners Rep - Madeleine Price(mrp8)
Feel free to get in touch with any questions at any time or contact us at:
Thank you for reading, we hope it was useful to you. Goodbye, Good Luck and Have Fun!!!
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