The Best Social Media for your Travels Abroad

There is no doubt that social media has revolutionised the way we interact. Everything from applying for jobs to catching up with friends has shifted online. So why wouldn’t it be an important tool to use while you’re away? I’ll share the latest social media that will help you make the most of your year abroad. Open a new tab, and get ready!

Twitter – For Short and Sweet Updates

Facebook is in danger of becoming the latest Myspace, as more of us swap posting pictures of what we’re eating in favour of speedy 140-character updates. At first it may seem like a page of random thoughts, but judging by the number of us who appear glued to our phones, it soon becomes addictive. Twitter is most useful for getting information fast. By following friends, newsfeeds and *insert random celebrities* you can see what’s ‘trending’ locally and globally.

Skype – ‘Phone Home’

In the words of E.T. ‘phone home’, but Skype is slightly more technical than pointing your finger to the sky. The video calling service allows you to contact friends and family without running up expensive phone bills. You can add contacts; sort them into groups and share videos and websites. Think of an updated MSN messenger but with webcam. And best of all, it’s free. All you need is a good internet connection, so there’s no excuse for not keeping your family informed about every little detail of your year abroad. 

Instagram – DSLR-it-up!

Instagram is fast becoming the ultimate photo-sharing website. Its many editing features give your photos a professional look by replicating the effects created by expensive DSLR cameras.  Another plus of Instagram is that you can follow your friends to see their latest snaps, and share your own photos. So when you visit that gallery abroad why not ‘Instagram-it’?

Pinterest – To Aspire and Reminisce

If you’re deciding to go on a year abroad you’re probably a fairly organised person. In that case, Pinterest is your greatest ally. It’s a site that allows you to ‘pin’ articles, pictures, anything, and organise them onto virtual boards. It’s simple yet very effective. The boards can be private or public, and depending on your interests you can follow boards and ‘repin’ what you like. So whether you want to save handy travel blogs, or repin a picture of a place you’d like to visit when you arrive, Pinterest is a brilliant way to collate and sort information. Much better than storing it all in your head, right? 

LinkedIn – Stay in Touch and Look Ahead

If you thought LinkedIn was only used by your university lecturers and past school teachers you would be doing the site a disservice. Joining LinkedIn is a great way to stay in touch with professional contacts you make while you are at university, on work experience or studying abroad, all of whom may prove useful in the future. It’s better to start building up your network now, while you’re at university, as opposed to tracking down potential contacts once you’ve graduated. The site is aimed at young professionals and allows you to advertise yourself accordingly (i.e. no embarrassing Facebook photos). You can join groups and forums that are related to your preferred industry and it also allows you to get recommendations and endorsements from contacts that can vouch for your skills. LinkedIn will help you match up to the competition and give you an insight to your chosen career path. 

So now you’re all clued up on the world of social media, why not get started now?

In the meantime, share your favourite social media below!

Putting the 'P' in Prep

Going on a year abroad doesn’t miraculously happen, and until recently I underestimated the amount of admin – that is the sending of emails back and forth and form filling – it involves. The meticulous planning has paid off though and three of my biggest concerns, securing accommodation, signing up for a language class, and choosing my modules have been organised.

I have been lucky enough to secure a room in student halls. The positive side of this is that rent is affordable and considerably cheaper compared to some rents on the private market. The other upside is that I will feel much more a part of the student community as I will be studying and living with other students.

There are alternative options though. If you don’t secure a room in student halls or prefer to rent privately, you can find accommodation by looking at local ads in newspapers, searching through accommodation listings online or even by looking at pinboards on campus when you arrive.

Heidelberg has a particularly good service called the ‘Zimmerbörse’. The exchange service allows students who are studying abroad themselves to sublet their rooms to incoming students while they are away.

Signing up for a language class was considerably less daunting than securing accommodation. Thankfully English at Heidelberg is taught in English (who knew?), but since I’ll be living in Heidelberg for a year, I figure it would be wise to at least attempt to learn the language of my host university. 

I wasn’t able to take part in the course offered at the university, but after some research I have signed up to a similar German course which is run in the city centre. The added bonus is that it is cheaper than the course offered at the university. If you don’t get onto the language course offered at your study abroad university it is worthwhile checking out other language courses offered in the city. 

At Heidelberg you are expected to email tutors in order to sign up for your modules. This means you have to be slightly more proactive and perceptive, as you’re responsible for creating your own timetable. 

At first glance the workload at Heidelberg appears to be more vigorous, in most cases students studying English will take five modules. These vary in level (and credits!), ranging from ‘A-level’ standard right up to ‘Master’s level’. Always the optimist, I’m looking forward to the variety, and the opportunity to study new themes. 

At this rate I’ll have to make the most of the summer before I’m thrown into that well-loved cycle of study, revision and exams!