Going Abroad This Summer = $50 Gift Card to Barnes & Noble!

May 21, 2013 – 9:45 pm

Our Volunteer and Work & Travel programs are some of the most exciting programs we offer! Whether you want to work on a conservation program in Australia, at an orphanage in India or have the freedom to find your own work in New Zealand, InterExchange Working Abroad’s Volunteer and Work & Travel programs will take you on an adventure abroad!

To get our participants ready for summer, the first 50 complete applications we receive for the Volunteer and Work & Travel programs will receive a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card! 

Get all of your travel guides and summer reads for free just by applying to go abroad!

Visit our website for more information about volunteering abroad and working abroad.

By jpageiex | Posted in Gap Year, International travel, Program News & Updates, Teach Abroad, Teach English, Travel, Travel Inspiration, Travel Tips, Volunteer Abroad, Working Abroad | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Travel Around Australia and New Zealand this Summer!

May 10, 2013 – 7:37 pm

Allie, our Ambassador, in front of the Sydney Opera House!

With summer just around the corner, you may be itching to go abroad soon. The months in between your school semesters are the perfect time to test the waters and experience living in a different country and culture for a shorter amount of time.

But, many students (and new grads) need to earn money to be able to afford to live abroad. One of our programs that gives participants the freedom to live where they want and travel how much they want, all while earning a living wage, is the InterExchange Working Abroad Work & Travel program.

Opportunities in a variety of industries are available in Australia and New Zealand. Participants receive housing assistance, cultural and social activities and job placement assistance after an orientation held by our in-country international cooperators.

For the adventurers out there, this is the perfect program for you. Discover the magical countries of Australia and New Zealand and earn money to travel as much as you want while abroad!

Visit the InterExchange Working Abroad website for more information or email our team with questions!

By jpageiex | Posted in Gap Year, International travel, Travel, Travel Inspiration, Travel Tips, Volunteer Abroad, Working Abroad | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Our Ambassador Charisse Learns How to Cueca in Chile!

May 2, 2013 – 7:06 pm

From InterExchange Working Abroad Ambassador Charisse, Teach English Chile:

I recently went to the San Bernardo Annual Cueca Festival and had a blast! The cueca is a traditional dance in Chile that showcases a male rooster pursuing a female chicken. It is the traditional game of chase and is an energetic and fun dance to watch. I even tried to dance a little!

Watch my video below to see what cueca dancing is all about!

By chholder | Posted in Ambassadors in Chile, Gap Year, International travel, Stories from the Field, Teach Abroad, Teach English, Travel, Travel Inspiration, Working Abroad | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (3)

Leverage Your Working Abroad Program Experience When Looking for a Job!

April 25, 2013 – 2:30 pm

International experience is a valuable and worthwhile investment for young people, both in their personal and professional development. If you’ve been on a InterExchange Working Abroad program, or are thinking about going on one, the skills you add to your resume once you get home will be a great way to make you stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs.

But a lot of those added skills can be more “big concept” ideas. These benefits of working and volunteering abroad can be difficult to verbalize or break down into “real world” scenarios for the people interviewing you. Attributes like flexibility, open mindedness and independence sound great in an interview or cover letter, but may need some finessing to really convey how you can use these newly-acquired skills in a position you’re applying for.

InterExchange Working Abroad programs do give you that important real world professional experience as well. Education and childhood development majors who au pair abroad or teach English will have months of hands-on experience to add to their resumes. Volunteers who participate in projects pertaining to their majors will have direct experience working on a non-profit project. And Work & Travel participants in Australia and New Zealand have the freedom to work in a variety of jobs, often involving skills that relate directly to their chosen careers. Read More »

By jpageiex | Posted in Au Pair in Europe, community development, Gap Year, International travel, Teach Abroad, Teach English, Travel, Travel Inspiration, Travel Tips, Volunteer Abroad, Working Abroad | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Chile is Full of Beautiful Things – Including the City of Valparaiso!

April 17, 2013 – 4:25 pm

The beautiful harbor of Valparaiso

From InterExchange Working Abroad Ambassador Charisse, Teach English Chile:

Early Saturday morning, I woke up for my day trip to the beautiful Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. Included with me were three other volunteers from the UK and two program staff. We all met and set off for the car ride to the enchanted city. When we arrived, the first thing we did was take a boat ride around the city. I saw all of the ports where they docked cargo and imports into the city; also seals and other wildlife. It was so beautiful—the atmosphere, weather and vivid colors, what more could you want for a Saturday?

After the boat ride and the sailor playing Bob Marley to get us in the relaxing mood, we docked and headed to the mountain top via a little, old, rickety rail. This train is several hundred years old and has survived many earthquakes in the region, however it still manages to work efficiently. When we arrived at the top of the mountain you could see the entire city, which was captivating. Read More »

By chholder | Posted in Ambassador Blogs, Ambassadors in Chile, Gap Year, International travel, Stories from the Field, Teach Abroad, Teach English, Teaching English Ambassadors, Travel | Comments (3)

International Work and Volunteer Experience + Your Resume = Standing Out From the Crowd

April 11, 2013 – 8:36 pm

How can you have a meaningful experience abroad that adds to your resume after you graduate?

Gain valuable skills and go on the adventure of a lifetime!

With an increasingly difficult job market for recent graduates in the U.S., any way to differentiate yourself from the crowd is important. A couple of years ago, the people were talking about the importance of raising the numbers of young Americans who study, travel and participate in some type of experience abroad.

Well, in 2013, the number of college students going abroad has increased exponentially. You may have already gone abroad and you probably know a lot of people who have as well. So, how can going abroad really help you in your career goals after you graduate?

There is no question that any experience abroad is an important component of a professional skills set in our very global world today. Studies, surveys from executive search firms and researchers from the last decade have all endorsed the benefits of experience abroad.

This article from Florida State University is just one of a long line of resources that say going abroad will benefit you when looking for a job, continuing your studies after graduation and with your overall interpersonal communication skills. Read More »

By jpageiex | Posted in Au Pair in Europe, community development, Gap Year, International travel, Teach Abroad, Teach English, Travel, Travel Inspiration, Travel Tips, Volunteer Abroad, Working Abroad | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

My First Impressions of Chile on the Working Abroad Teach English Program

March 25, 2013 – 6:45 pm

From InterExchange Working Abroad Ambassador Charisse, Teach English Chile:

So many mountains for a city girl to take in!

So I officially made it to Chile, or as it is properly pronounced “chee-lay.” I landed in Santiago on the first day of orientation, which as you can image, was very hectic. My first impression of Chile was amazement. When I was flying over the Andes Mountains, headed to the central region of Santiago, it was unlike anything I had ever seen before. It was a breathtaking sight; for a city girl like me, the view of mountains this large was truly a beautiful sight.

After getting through customs and being transferred to the orientation site, I was simply trying to take it all in and take things one step at a time. It was a bit overwhelming to have traveled almost 15 or so hours between connecting flights, going through processing and baggage claims then to finally be brought to a class to have to absorb new material. I was surprisingly alert and awaiting the next set of directions—it must have been my “new country” feelings. These are feelings most people get when they are traveling to a new place for the first time. No matter how bad the circumstances are, they somehow smile and await further instructions to go to the next new task. So no matter how jetlagged or weary I was, this “new country” captivated my interest. Read More »

By cholder | Posted in Ambassador Blogs, Ambassadors in Chile, Charisse, Gap Year, International travel, Stories from the Field, Teach Abroad, Teach English, Teaching English Ambassadors | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (7)

Europe This Summer? Submit Your Application Soon to Teach English!

March 12, 2013 – 4:23 pm

Summer is coming. How will you spend it?

The French Riviera or the day shift at Dairy Queen? A Roman holiday or sunburns at the public pool? Cheering on a matador in Spain or sitting in the bleachers at the ballpark?

If you are a North American citizen and want to go abroad this summer for an adventure of a lifetime, apply now for a short-term position teaching English in one of 10 countries.

Our Working Abroad programs offer meaningful opportunities to experience another country and culture while gaining international work and volunteer experience.

And if you submit your online application by 3/31/2013, we’ll waive the $75 processing fee. Think about all the gelato you can buy with $75!

By jpageiex | Posted in Au Pair in Europe, Gap Year, International travel, Teach Abroad, Teach English, Travel, Travel Inspiration, Volunteer Abroad, Working Abroad | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Highlights from Carnaval 2013 in Maastricht, the Netherlands

February 28, 2013 – 4:30 pm

From InterExchange Working Abroad Ambassador Julie, Au Pair Netherlands:

One incredible perk of being an au pair in Europe is being able to partake in the local festivals of your host country. The Carnival (spelled Carnaval in Dutch) in Maastricht is comparable to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, with slightly fewer beads. There are parades, people dressed in outrageous costumes, and you’ll find yourself singing along (despite not knowing the words) to the raucous songs as you walk down the street!

Enjoy the highlights of my Carnaval experience below: 

By jnelson | Posted in Ambassador Blogs, Ambassadors in Netherlands, Au Pair Ambassadors, Au Pair in Europe, International travel, Stories from the Field, Travel, Travel Inspiration, Working Abroad | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (4)

Discover Our New Volunteer Bolivia Program!

February 26, 2013 – 8:17 pm

We have just introduced a new InterExchange Working Abroad Volunteer program in Bolivia! Participants in Bolivia can work with children in a variety of settings, from a kindergarten for underprivileged students to a facility for special needs kids. An intensive Spanish class is also included in the program fee, as well as partial room and board! Volunteers can work for 3-6 weeks and will be able to participate in cultural events and scheduled tours around the country.

Find out more about the new Volunteer Bolivia program and apply online!

By jpageiex | Posted in International travel, Program News & Updates, Travel, Travel Inspiration, Volunteer Abroad, Working Abroad | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)