Reports from the Field

Delhi Belly Turns You Into Jelly – dealing with illness abroad

The pit I was staring into was beyond a doubt the most revolting sight I had ever seen. The fact that my face was inches away from a seriously clogged-up Indian style squat toilet located on the top floor of a roadside restaurant with very questionable sanitary standards, was only topped by the acrobatic feat of trying to keep the giant backpack on my back balanced while being violently ill into said clogged pit. It was the first solo night on my first backpacking trip and I had never felt more alone, or more miserable. Cue a 10-hour train ride, dodging touts and ending up in a cockroach-infested box room with blood on the sheets. It was enough to make anyone turn around and catch the next flight home.

But I didn’t. Fast forward 10 years and I still haven’t managed a single trip to Asia without ending up in a hospital sooner or later. I have contracted dengue fever, been stung by venomous critters, owned three sets of crutches (one of which was hand-crafted from bamboo on account of being in the middle of nowhere), had several motorized accidents, been food-poisoned and ended up with my head in the toilet more times than I can count. Looking back, that first solo night in India pales into insignificance in comparison with all my travel-related mishaps since. And yet I never bought that early ticket home. Here’s why you shouldn’t either.

Be prepared

Being ill has never been much fun but being ill abroad adds a whole new layer of unpleasantness to the experience. You’re already out of your comfort zone on the best of days but when you hit that lowest of low points, all you want is your own bed, not being faced with incomprehensible labels in the pharmacy, hospitals that look like they might do more harm than good and trying to explain with sign language why your broken foot will not be cured with vitamin C.

But there it is. If you are travelling abroad for any extended period of time, chances are overwhelmingly large that you will fall ill, whether from invisible little microbes on your water bottle or cracking your skin open following a fall from your newly rented motorbike. The key to managing this terrifying prospect is preparation. Pack that first aid kit, even though it takes up precious space in your bag and you think you’ll never use it. Stock up on your prescription medications, you most likely won’t find them where you are going. And while you should most definitely get recommended vaccinations, some diseases such as dengue fever can only be avoided by not getting bitten by disease-transmitting mosquitos so make sure to pack that insect repellent too.

Traveller’s diarrhoea is another classic that has brought many a seasoned globetrotter to their knees. While not dangerous in itself, it can leave you dangerously dehydrated. Pack a few rehydration sachets or tablets in your bag; you’ll thank me later. However they are only usable if you have drinkable water at hand. This is the reason my Steripen became my best friend that one time in Laos when I succumbed to violent food-poisoning for 2 days straight. Walking 10 minutes to the shop was simply not an option. With reliable water purification, having just a sink at hand will save the day.

Get insurance!

I cannot stress this enough. However much you might resent the sizable chunk your travel insurance will take out of your savings: It. Is. Worth. It. Simply because you cannot control everything that might happen, no more than you could at home. Most of the time, you will never have call to use it, which for obvious reasons is a good thing. But that one time that you do, it will make ALL the difference. Can’t afford being airlifted because there are no proper hospitals until the next country? You don’t won’t to have to make that choice, simply because you didn’t want to spend those $200. Your life is worth a lot more than that.

Ask for help

Being ill while travelling sucks. Being ill while travelling solo sucks a whole lot more. Not only are you physically weaker, but your mood will be affected as well and that care-free attitude you so carefully cultivated can fly out the window in the face of those weird rashes that have suddenly appeared all over your body or having no-one to guard your stuff while you make the 19^th visit to the bathroom in the space of two hours.

But just because you travel alone doesn’t mean that you are alone. Ask for help. Whatever your view is of the human race, most people are quite willing to help a stranger in need. Befriend that cute little family in the next cabin. Ask the hotel staff for advice on local amenities. And trust me, showing up on crutches anywhere in Asia will prompt an effusion of sympathy and offers of help, though healthily seasoned with unmitigated stares. You can’t win them all. Just accept and hop along.

Find perspective

As I sat in a dusty Cambodian hospital, waiting for someone to tend my cuts, bruises and broken bones, I felt quite sorry for myself. Possibly I was the most sorry person on the planet, with the worst luck ever. No one had ever been worse off than me. Then I remembered where I was and what I had seen. I remembered who these people were, whom I was cursing for keeping me waiting, alone and in pain. I remembered their recent history of unimaginable horror, cruelty and loss. That’s when I began to feel privileged. Safe. Safe in the knowledge that my injuries would heal, with no more than a faint scar as a reminder. Privileged that I was lucky enough to travel freely – through that wonderful country, and many more thereafter.

When all is said and done, ill health on the road is a fact of life, just as it is at home. With luck, it will merely make for an unpleasant day or two and another notch in your traveller’s belt of yarn-worthy experiences. Broken bones will mend, scars will heal, illnesses will pass. The most important lesson of all when it comes to facing the prospect of illness abroad is perspective. Would puking your guts out for a night make you quit your job? Didn’t think so. Then it shouldn’t stop you from continuing your journey, no matter how miserable you will feel for that one night. Well, maybe two nights.

Global Nomadic offers Professional Internships, Volunteer Projects and TEFL Programmes in 29 countries worldwide. Start travelling your career today!

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Jeremy Freedman
Posted on: 20 Jul 2015

Climate Clever Travel – How To Travel Like You Care

The planet we call home is changing. The evidence is all around us. Temperature rises, freak weather patterns, the lack of distinct seasons. All of these things point to changes on a planetary scale.

The impact of these changes is huge. They are forcing us to re-evaluate how, and where, we live. Many people are fleeing from their homes in places like Bangladesh, where river flooding has gone from being a valuable part of their way of life, to a serious danger. The animal kingdom though, struggles to adapt much more than we do.

Some people argue that these changes are occurring as part of a natural cycle. Others say that all of the problems are man-made. Whatever the truth, it’s an issue that evokes a lot of emotion in people who care.

Passionate about climate issues? Us too. At Global Nomadic, some of our most popular internships involve conservation and ecological work. These placements give great opportunities to make a real difference in reducing our impact on the natural world. But maybe you’re planning a different kind of trip?

Perhaps you want to explore the tropical islands of South East Asia. Beaches, palm trees, exotic food, possibly even some cute monkeys? On the other hand, maybe you want to see all the great cities of Europe. Traverse mountains and lakes, try the wine, pasta, strudel, take in magnificent paintings and old buildings? Don’t want to be left out? The good news is, you can still make a difference by reducing your personal impact on the environment. No matter what kind of travel you’re planning, there are several ways you can be climate clever.

Throughout the world, highly trained teams of people tackle specialised jobs. From fire and rescue crews, to conservationists. Each team has its own special equipment and tactics to complete their task. If you want to travel the world like a climate clever specialist, you’ll need the same.

Equipment

One of the first things we often think about when planning a trip, is what to take with us. The more places you visit and the more seasons you experience, the more your equipment gets refined. In the meantime though, start in the best possible way.

Clothing

What to wear? There are infinite answers to this question. Well… definitely not sandals and socks, m’kay?!

As a minimum, you should consider buying clothing made from bamboo. Typically combined with organic cotton, bamboo clothing offers outstanding everyday comfort, alongside superb climate credentials. Bamboo is one of the world’s most sustainable resources. It’s high yield, uses little energy or water to grow and is a low maintenance crop.

If you don’t want an entire wardrobe from bamboo (or you want amazing socks), consider merino wool. Also sustainable, it brings more benefits for travel. The merino sheep that have developed this wool live in the mountains of New Zealand where it’s 35° in the summer and -20° in the winter. Therefore, their coats have to be able to keep them both cool in the summer and warm in the winter. For you, this means you can purchase garments that you can wear all year round in a variety of conditions. They’re also anti-bacterial and wick sweat away to keep you looking cool, even when you’re boiling!

Power

Another important requirement for the modern traveller is remaining connected to the rest of the world whilst travelling. These days, this typically involves a smartphone at the very least. It gives you the ability to share your journey, makes meeting other travellers easier and of course, allows you to plan and learn about your destination.

However, we know that electricity is not only limited the more off the beaten path you go, but it’s also costly to the environment to produce. Fortunately though, there are two easy answers here. The first is solar power. It’s now possible to charge your smartphone entirely with the power of the sun. This means zero environmental impact and you get to be free from the need for power sockets.

There’s more to life than just your phone though. You’ll want to take a camera and perhaps some other gadgets to keep you looking your best. The good news is you can now charge camera batteries directly from a solar charger. For everything else, you can also carry AA or AAA batteries and charge them from the sun as well.

Water

The reality though is that the most important thing to your trip is water. As the number one human need, without it, everything else is pointless. It’s also an area where you can make one of the biggest reductions to your environmental impact.

On a typical travel day, it’s easy to go through several bottles of water. Each time you do, you’re creating more plastic waste for the planet to deal with. Most countries exacerbate the problem by not having effective recycling programs in place.

The solution? Carry your own water container with you and refill as you go. This will save dramatically on waste, but it requires another piece of gear to be super effective in many places – purification equipment.

Given tap water is unsafe to drink almost everywhere across Asia, South/Central America and Africa, water purifiers should be essential for the majority of travellers. They can save the environment, save you money and keep you healthy. A real no-brainer.

Tactics

So now you have the gear, you’re already well on your way to massively reducing the impact of your travels. But there are more things you can do to maximise your results.

You already know that flying is one of the biggest culprits of emissions and yet it is perhaps the most key ingredient in opening up our world to travel. However, planes use the most fuel whilst taking off and landing, so if you can, avoid multi-stop flights and fly direct. That way, you can still travel far for cheap, whilst limiting the damage you’re doing.

Once in the region you’re travelling through, go one better and travel overland. For example, an overnight train ride from Kuala Lumpur through Malaysia and across the Thai border can cost as little as £10. It’s much more climate friendly and it gives you a real sense of adventure. There are trains all over the planet and even in Western Europe, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and beyond are all easily accessible from London and therefore the rest of the UK.

Another tactic that’s essential is to travel light. No matter what form of transport you’re using, more weight means more emissions. So carry less. The planet, and your back, will thank you.

Now, pack your gear, plan your trip and head out into the world knowing that you’re helping to preserve the amazing places you’re going to see.

Global Nomadic offers Professional Internships, Volunteer Projects and TEFL Programmes in 29 countries worldwide. Start travelling your career today!

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Jeremy Freedman
Posted on: 02 Jul 2015

Culinary Nomad – The 4 Best Kept Travel Food Secrets

Everybody eats. Almost everybody loves doing so. For many people, food is a true passion. Wherever you fall on the scale, food is clearly a hugely important topic. Of course, here at Global Nomadic, we’re passionate about travel. We’re always looking for new ways to help you travel and fulfil your potential with internship placements and volunteer experiences. But we also love food!

There’s no denying that food & travel go together perfectly. Food is certainly one of the biggest attractions when travelling. New places present diverse flavours, interesting cooking methods and totally different dining cultures. The opportunity to try something different is always there. Equally, your established favourites often taste better with a change of venue (or even country). It can be a lot of fun to keep one favourite dish in mind and try it wherever the opportunity arises. Seeking out perfection could take a colossal amount of time, but somebody has to do it.

Given how big a topic travel food has become, there is a huge variety of information available out there. Some of it is great. Much of it is not. Many blog posts aim to educate you about saving money. Others deal with getting the best food and drink experience. Then there are the omnipresent posts on healthy eating. Of course, all of these categories are important, but the secrets they talk about are often obvious.

What is obvious is that you deserve better. So we’ll take a look at 4 common “secrets” and dig a little deeper to get to the good stuff…

1) Do As The Locals Do

This is perhaps the most obvious tip ever written about. In Venice, the most expensive place to eat is St. Mark’s Square. You know this. Wherever you go, the places with the highest concentrations of tourists typically play host to bars and restaurants that charge over the odds, or offer sub-standard food and drink. In the worst cases, they do both.

So the standard tip is to watch the locals. Look for crowds of them queuing and you can be sure of a quality meal at a decent price. Venture further afield and seek out the less touristy places. Then observe what locals eat and copy that.

Really though, the thing to do is talk to the locals. Learning even the tiniest amount of their language and adopting a friendly and open attitude will often get you everywhere. Make friends. Not only will you learn about the classic dishes of the region, but you may even get an invite to their home for a true taste of the local cuisine. These friendships will prove invaluable in loads of other areas too.

2) Stay Somewhere With Cooking Facilities

A relatively modern tip that only tells you half the story. You don’t eat out every day at home (or maybe you do, in which case I’m jealous). So make sure you have access to a kitchen whilst travelling. That way you can hit the supermarket and save money.

Having access to a kitchen is, of course, worthwhile. But a supermarket? In almost every top tourist destination on the planet, there are local markets. These vary in quality from 100% genuine, local produce used by little old ladies to feed their grandkids, to tourism-based, tat-filled emporiums design to rip you off.

Finding the right market can sometimes be as easy as a quick online search. Other times it might talk some investigation. Either way, once you’ve found it, you’ll be enjoying the finest food and for little money.

If you’re really lucky, you’ll encounter a friendly local who makes a special “secret ingredient” for use at home. Then you can really get cooking…

3) Street Food

Another classic and deservedly so. Street food is fantastic. Most tips tend to focus on South East Asia and value for money. This make a lot of sense, given SE Asia is renowned as a cheap destination for backpackers and budget travellers. However, it’s hardly a secret and certainly not the full story.

Street food can be anything from one man and his wok, to a gourmet food truck. However, it’s not just about value. Quality is important too. In many cheaper destinations, you’ll often find that good street food will taste better (and be healthier) than what’s on offer in lower-end hotels and restaurants. Many countries display some of their most famous, signature dishes on the street. In Denmark, pølser (hot dogs) are everywhere. Colombia fills the streets of its cities with the smell of empanadas.

Wherever you’re heading, the trick is to do plenty of research before you go. That way, you’ll know what to look for. Then when you get there, the real secret is just to follow your nose…

4) Avoid Alcohol

This one is widely talked about for two reasons. The first is cost. The second is health. Apparently, avoiding alcohol will make your travels cheaper and healthier. And that’s a top travel secret? Really?

Aside from being blinding obvious, that statement also does a disservice to specialist drinks producers all over the world. Archaeologists have found evidence of alcoholic drinks from as far back as Neolithic times. So with at least 10,000 years of practice, the human race has become adept at producing a wonderful variety of alcoholic drinks.

As part of the social fabric of society in many cultures, a drink or two can not only allow you to join in with the locals, but add something extra to your culinary experience. Wine, beer and spirits all have their place at dining tables worldwide.

The key to enjoying your culinary travels? Experience and intuition

When you travel abroad, the key thing to remember about food is don’t be swayed by what other people say. Use your intuition and seek out both the things you know you enjoy and the ones you want to try.

The more experience you gain, the more you’ll know what to look for. You’ll also come away with some great stories. Enjoy.

Global Nomadic offers Professional Internships, Volunteer Projects and TEFL Programmes in 29 countries worldwide. Start travelling your career today!

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Jeremy Freedman
Posted on: 12 Jun 2015

The Surprising Truth About Why You’re Not Ready to Move Abroad

As I went through the sliding doors and onward to the outside world, the first thing I noticed was the heat. It was really warm. Especially given it was mid-March. I paused to reassess my grip of my two suitcases. As I did, I began to take in more than just the ambient temperature

Chaos. There were people everywhere. Taxis and buses were coming and going. Then a bit further away there were palm trees. Like a big, natural sign, welcoming travellers to their sub-tropical destination. Beyond them, mountains could be glimpsed in the distance. All framed by a huge, blue sky with not a single cloud. All around, the sweet sound of the Spanish language completed the scene. So exciting to finally arrive, but massively overwhelming.

I had just emerged from the airport on the island of Lanzarote. It was to be my home for the next 10 months. The plan had always been to deliberately make quite a big change. I had thought I was ready. I wasn’t. But not in the way you might expect…

Challenges

Spain was an obvious choice as a first destination. The warmth of the climate and the people are well known. And as a Brit, at times it’s easy to find your home country lacking in both of those. So it’s easy to think that a change of scenery is a great idea. Of course, there is a lot more to it than that. Challenges are everywhere, from adapting to a new culture to missing your friends and family.

But if you know there are going to be challenges, you can plan accordingly, right?

Planning

When you decide to move abroad for the first time, you plan. A lot. There’s a lot to consider. Maybe this is just for a month. Or perhaps you’re thinking about a longer stint. The length of the trip, destination and reason for travel all factor into your planning.

You pack every conceivable item of clothing. Then there are all of the electronics and travel gadgets. Phrasebooks and guidebooks are important, not to mention fun to shop for. Of course, after endless hours of Internet research, there’s always something new that you haven’t considered before.

And that’s before you’ve discussed your awesome plan with all your friends and family until you’re blue in the face. Some of them think you’re crazy, others offer support without really understanding. If you’re really lucky, you’ll come across someone who has already travelled and might offer some good advice.

After all of this, you’re convinced you’ve planned for every eventuality and you set off out the door on your very own adventure.

Change

So turns out you did a pretty good job in the planning stage. Nice work. The guidebook(s) you bought help you make the most of your time and find all the coolest places to go and see. You make new friends, explore new places and discover all kinds of new food and drink.

Bit by bit, you start to change. And you don’t even notice.

That language that seemed complicated when you first arrived becomes more familiar. It starts with the easy stuff you hear every day. Hi, bye, please and thank you soon become second nature. If you keep practicing and learning, you’re able to give strangers directions in no time. Then of course, once you’ve had a drink or two, you’re practically fluent. (Trust me, we’ve all been there).

learning the correct customs in your new country will go a long way!

So, you’re overcome the language barrier. The next big change most people worry about is connecting with people from different cultures. How will you relate to them? What if you do or say the wrong thing? Well, turns out pretty much everybody you meet abroad is looking forward to meeting you. As you realise this for yourself, you’re likely to find yourself making friends left, right and centre. These people will expand your outlook faster than you can drink your new favourite cocktail.

Sounds good, doesn’t it? All that planning worked out well. You were ready. You have overcome the challenges of living abroad. In fact, you’ve had a great time. However, there’s one thing you didn’t think about. And that one thing is the reason you’re not ready to move abroad.

Returning Home

However long you move abroad for, you’re likely to do all kinds of new things. You’ll meet plenty of people, learn new skills and probably be confused on several occasions. But that’s just all part of your fun adventure. What nobody tells you is, that will all change when you head home.

The first day or two is usually just loads of rest and catching up with family. You’re exhausted. It’s been a long journey. Then it’s time to start meeting up with friends to tell them all about your adventure. After a few days, you’ll start to check Facebook waaay too often. Looking at pictures of memories you made along the way and hoping to stay in touch with friends you left behind.

Then finally, after a week or two, it hits you. You’ve changed. You didn’t realise it whilst you were there, but it was quietly happening along the way and now it’s smacked you in the face. Sure, it was nice to see everybody. You haven’t had to concentrate to have a conversation in English. Still, you tried to order coffee/wine/food and not only was it stupidly expensive, it just wasn’t the same as what you’re used to.

Guess what though? With time, you’ll figure it out. And this new person you’ve become is more capable than the one that left on an adventure.

The Surprising Truth

You’re not ready to move abroad yet, because it will change you in ways you can’t even imagine right now. And nobody is ready for that when they start out. But that’s the whole point. However ready you are now, you won’t know what can you achieve if you don’t make a start.

You’ll be forced into situations that you’ll have no idea how to deal with. You’ll have immense difficulty explaining things to people. You’ll probably end up being embarrassed on at least a couple of occasions.

But the surprising truth is that you’ll adapt to all of that and have an incredible time doing it. You may come home a different person, but that’s the whole point. You’ll also have the most fun you’ve ever had.

And of course, that’s exactly why you should start planning right now. Living abroad will fundamentally alter your life in the most amazing ways. If you don’t do it, you’ll never know what you’re capable of.

Global Nomadic offers Professional Internships, Volunteer Projects and TEFL Programmes in 29 countries worldwide. Start travelling your career today!

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Jeremy Freedman
Posted on: 02 Jun 2015

How To Find Your True Career Path

We spend so much of our time trying to figure out what we want to be when we grow up. Going to college just ramps up the pressure. After all, we spend all that money and time on education so that we can have a satisfying and lucrative career. Most of us have had this same struggle and know that finding our calling in life can be a difficult process. Fortunately, options do exist that help us discover what we are meant to do.

Aptitude Tests

I once took an aptitude test that advised me not to be a truck driver. That judgment was sound: I have no sense of direction or spatial reasoning ability. For college students, more sophisticated exams exist that help guide them to careers that fit their interests.

The MAPP Career Assessment Test has helped people figure out their career paths since 1995. Based on answers to 71 “triads,” you simply choose which of the three statements you “most prefer” and which one you “least prefer”. The results of this testing, which has been endorsed by the psychological community, can give you a clearer career picture.

Volunteering

You may volunteer in hospitals, care facilities, animal shelters, legal aid offices or schools. Volunteers often get the least glamorous and most physically demanding tasks available at these workplaces, but they also get a better understanding of what the associated careers involve. This understanding may lead to the perfect career choice.

Volunteerism in college not only helps you choose a career; it helps you become a better person while building a strong resume, mixing personal growth with personal advancement.

Internships

You will benefit most in your search by obtaining an internship with a reputable company. Being an intern means you will not be paid, but the advantages of taking such a position are many. An internship offers:

Work experience
Improved work skills
Networking contacts
An “in” at the company

Most importantly, you will find out if the career is a good fit for you. Only by doing the job day by day can truly we learn if we can live with it on a long-term basis. An internship with an international NGO can really open doors for you. These non-governmental organizations work to better communities around the world and offer an impressive list of job opportunities for college graduates.

Whatever career you choose, whether it be politics, medicine, business, or something in international development, make certain that you have taken steps to see that it fits you and is truly your calling. In my experience, being a happy employee means I am a productive employee.

Global Nomadic offers Professional Internships, Volunteer Projects and TEFL Programmes in 29 countries worldwide. Start travelling your career today!

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Jeremy Freedman
Posted on: 14 May 2015

10 Travel Fears You Need To Forget

In this day and age, travel is extremely common. Flights are cheaper than ever, there is a vast array of opportunities and an increasing number of people are stepping out the door on an adventure. Some go for a summer internship, others may be looking at something more long term like a gap-year before uni. Either way, more and more people travel.

But maybe you haven’t travelled yet. You might think it’s too expensive, or your personal circumstances make it too difficult. But in fact the thing stopping most people traveling is fear. Here are the 10 scariest things that stop people travelling.

1) It Might Be Dangerous

This is perhaps one of the scariest things you encounter when you first start researching a trip. If you look at message boards, review sites and various other places, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the scary stuff. Couldn’t there be sharks, or thieves, or civil unrest? Of course you may see a news report about war, terrorism or the general lack of safety in a particular area.

The truth is though, that travelling abroad is often no more dangerous than walking around the streets of your local town. As with many other aspects of travel, the trick is common sense and being prepared. Keep your eyes open and be alert. If something doesn’t feel right, walk away.

2) Solo Travelling

It’s common wisdom that when we do things alone, they’re scarier. So when you first think about travelling, you start to make a list of all of the people who might go with you. After all, not only will it be less scary, but it’ll be more fun – right?

Well, maybe. But solo travel is actually better in several ways. There’s nobody to argue with over what to do next, or where to go. You also have to make your own decisions and that leads to improved confidence and an ability to handle yourself in a variety of situations.

Also, you’ll often find that when you ask people to go with you, they rarely commit. People are often in a different place to you and may not be ready to travel. If you keep waiting for someone to travel with, you may never leave. This of course brings us on to the people you’ll talk to first…

3) Friends and family

This is a tough one. A lot of people get over their initial fears of travel and then get really excited about all of the possibilities ahead. Then they want to start telling everyone they care about. But what if some of them don’t approve? When this happens (and it’s quite common) remember that people may not be supportive because they care about you and worry about your safety.

Just be firm and assure them that this is something you want, and that you can take care of yourself. Which you totally can.

4) Moving Outside Your Comfort Zone

Assuming you’ve overcome the first 3 travel fears, the last scary thing before you travel is the thought that you might actually go. What if you do and then you miss home? What if it’s not what you expect? What if you fail?

It IS scary. But facing that fear head on and going anyway will change your life for the better in ways you can’t even imagine right now. And once you’re there, you won’t even remember being scared of leaving. You’ll be too busy having an amazing time.

5) Meeting People

Meeting new people can often be scary overseas. You’re in a foreign country with different culture and customs. It can be a daunting prospect.

But there are loads of ways to cope. It’s ok to keep in regular touch with your friends and family back home. And by travelling in groups, especially with an international internship, you automatically have new friends around you who are all in the same boat when you arrive.

6) Foreign Languages

A lot of people think that if they can’t speak a foreign language, they won’t be able to communicate with people on their travels. This is nonsense. Firstly, basic English is much more widely spoken than most people realise. It’s also easy now to learn some key phrases with either a book, your smartphone or just from research before you go.

Don’t forget though, that learning a foreign language is much easier when you’re surrounded by it every day. And any language skills you pick up will be invaluable to you in the future.

7) Food

This is another culture-based one. Stories of weird insects, animal testicles, or various other odd foodstuffs can be extremely off-putting. In the vast majority of places though, this is an option and not a requirement. You can get western cuisine virtually everywhere and whilst it’s advisable to try the local produce, it’s also ok to get some home comforts once in a while.

8) Getting Ill or Injured

Having been through this one myself, I know just how scary it can be. When something happens at home, you know exactly where to go, who to talk to and what to do. Abroad it can often seem more complicated. The easiest way to combat this fear is to have comprehensive travel insurance. That way, no matter what happens, you’ll get the best possible care and be back to your adventure as soon as possible.

9) Your Unique Fears

No matter which of the things on this list you can identify with, there are bound to be other things that are unique to you. Some people are scared of certain bugs or animals. Others have a fear of heights. Maybe you have something that you’ve always been scared of whether you’re travelling or not.

Travel is the perfect way to not only confront these fears, but to get much better at dealing with them. The more you push yourself, the easier it gets.

10) Coming Home

Once you’ve been away, followed your dream and travelled abroad, it’s often scary to imagine returning home. What will you do when you get back? Won’t you be bored? What about your friends?

The thing is though, travel changes you for the better in a multitude of ways. If you decide to travel with an internship, you’ll also learn tons of valuable skills which can help you back home. Whether you want a new career, or just more travel, you’ll be more than ready.

So this really isn’t anything to be scared of. What are you waiting for? Go travelling!

Global Nomadic offers Professional Internships, Volunteer Projects and TEFL Programmes in 29 countries worldwide. Start travelling your career today!

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Jeremy Freedman
Posted on: 05 May 2015

8 Reasons to Volunteer With Animals

A famous saying in the acting world goes “Never work with children or animals”, but then, what do actors know anyway? Some of the most rewarding and life-affirming experiences can be had working with the furry, feathery, scaly and slimy. Here are the top reasons to consider making your volunteer placement a real walk on the wild side.

Every Day’s a School Day

However much you paid attention in Biology class, nothing can prepare you for just how weird and wonderful nature can be. From the bizarre and wonderful courtship displays of birds of paradise to the knowledge that sleeping sea otters hold hands with each other, there is an infinite supply of amazing things to learn about animals.

Learn More About People

Everyone knows that cats are selfish; dogs are loyal and so on. Or at least they think they do. Only when you start spending time with different individual animals will you begin to appreciate the individual personality differences between one animal and another. Getting to know the personality traits of an animal that can’t speak with you might even help you to relate to other people better too!

Animals Are Good For Your Soul!

For years, people have speculated about the mental health benefits of pet, and in particular dog, ownership. Dogs and humans have lived together for around 15,000 years, making this particular relationship a strong one indeed. There’s nothing quite like stroking a pet to calm the nerves, but alongside age-old anecdote, genuine academic studies in recent years have found that having a pet really does increase self-esteem and reduce loneliness.

Make a Career

If you’re considering a career in biology, zoology or as a veterinarian, having a bit of first-hand experience in dealing with animals can only help you to make that final decision. If you still want to go ahead after your volunteer placement, the unique experience you have gained will help you to stand out ahead of other candidates for work placements and job interviews.

Make a Real Difference

One of the greatest things about a volunteer project based around animal welfare is that you can often see the benefits of your hard work in a relatively short time. Unlike long-term development projects, where your contribution will be important but you may not see the end results, animal welfare projects can offer the chance to help a sick or injured creature and see it rehabilitated during the course of your placement.

Pictures That Make Everyone Go “Aaahh!”

There’s no denying that some animals make everyone around them go all soft and squishy inside. Back home you might be limited to cute puppies and kittens, but just imagine how jealous you can make your friends when you post those incredible pictures of you on a tropical beach working with baby sea turtles or seals!

Get Over Your Squeamishness

If there’s one thing that’s pretty much guaranteed when working with animals, it’s poo. Lots of poo. Whether it’s cleaning out the kennels or dealing with unwashed strays, you’re pretty certain to get involved with the squelchier side of life. If you’re easily grossed out, it’s a great opportunity to pull on the rubber gloves, get stuck in and get over your phobias!

Have Fun

Animals can be charismatic, funny and loving. Whether it’s playful primates or knock-kneed kids (not the human kind!), spending time around animals is bound to be a blast most of the time; I mean, how many people get to say they spend all day looking out for some of the cutest critters on the planet?

What’s not to love?

With so many good reasons to volunteer with animals, why wouldn’t you consider it? As long as you can put up with the messier side of the job, there are few better ways to develop your skills, learn about yourself and have a great time while getting to see a bit more of the world.

Global Nomadic offers Professional Internships, Volunteer Projects and TEFL Programmes in 29 countries worldwide. Start travelling your career today!

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Jeremy Freedman
Posted on: 16 Apr 2015

5 Personality Traits of an International Intern

If you’re among the small percentage of people who make the leap from saying ‘I’d love to travel but…’ to actually doing something about it, you’re probably a bit unique to begin with. So what does becoming an international intern say about you? Here’s a quick guide to the messages you send out to everyone else by being one of the few.

Love of exploration

Growing up on movies like Indiana Jones and National Treasure, you always saw yourself pursuing a life where you
get to look rugged in a khaki shirt whilst trekking through jungles to remote Buddhist temples in South Asia. You have what, to your friends, seems quite an odd fetish for maps, perhaps having a world map on your wall with pins marking all of the places you’d like to visit. You probably started young, exploring the dark corners of your house in search of hidden cookies, but who can tell where this trait will take you in the end? That’s the real fun of exploration, and you wouldn’t have it any other way!

Ambitious

A real go-getter, you don’t take defeat easily. You have high standards for yourself and expect everyone else to work hard and play fair. You can be quite ruthless when playing Monopoly but you still tip the board over when someone else cheats. You are your own worst critic, and even when you score 99% on a test, you berate yourself for missing out on 100%. Friends and family can see that you’ll go far though, and know that you’ll go the extra mile to achieve your goals.

Unworried by your image

Are you the sort of person who wears odd socks, not as a fashion statement but just because it’s easier than finding pairs? Do you sing along to Mamma Mia, loudly and in public? If so, this could be you: travelling overseas for your internship in spite of uninformed warnings from friends about how you won’t have an enormous wardrobe of outfits to suit every occasion, may not have access to a shower every day and might even come across a few bugs. You’d rather find out for yourself and focus on diving head-first into a new culture, enjoying the important things in life.

Open-Minded

Do you think you know all there is to know about the world, having watched CNN and the BBC? Do you know that your way of life is the best, with the only question being why other countries don’t seem to agree with you? If so, you’re in for a shock when it comes to interning overseas. Spending an extended period of time abroad exposes you to so many individual quirks of culture, seemingly odd practices and different worldviews to your own that if you don’t have an open mind when you leave home, you almost certainly will have by the time you return.

An Appetite for Adventure

You know your Khao Phat from your Chow Mein, and whether it’s maple syrup on french fries to deep-fried pasta, there’s nothing you won’t try at least once. When it comes to interesting and unusual cuisine you’re every bit as adventurous as Bear Grylls, only without the TV production crew in tow. The idea of dipping into a whole new culinary tradition with mysterious dishes and surprise ingredients makes your mouth water and if it’s delicious enough you don’t become squeamish at the thought of which particular body part you might be consuming! If this sounds like you, you’ll be one of the few travellers who don’t make use of the seemingly ubiquitous McDonalds restaurants found all around the world.

Sounds familiar?

While fitting this profile isn’t a prerequisite to interning overseas, take a close look at yourself in the mirror to see how much applies to you. If you’re still convinced that you don’t fit any of these (admittedly exaggerated) stereotypes, give this to your parents, siblings and best friends to see what they think. Go ahead, I dare you!

Global Nomadic offers Professional Internships, Volunteer Projects and TEFL Programmes in 29 countries worldwide. Start travelling your career today!

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Jeremy Freedman
Posted on: 10 Apr 2015

Reports from the Field

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1) Do As The Locals Do

2) Stay Somewhere With Cooking Facilities

3) Street Food

4) Avoid Alcohol

The key to enjoying your culinary travels? Experience and intuition

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Report Categories

Environmental Conservation

Healthcare

Human Rights

Marine Conservation

Media & Journalism

NGO Management

Teach Abroad

Veterinary Science

Volunteering

Wildlife Rehabilitation