Alternatives to Studying Abroad in Ottawa Student Housing
Many university students choose to study abroad to broaden their horizons and experience other cultures. Unfortunately, the ongoing pandemic and travel restrictions have disrupted many students’ plans.
While we wait for vaccination rates to increase, there are many alternatives to studying abroad that you can explore in the meantime. They may not be the same as walking the streets of Bali or Barcelona, but they’re the next best thing.
Go on a virtual study program
The current state of international travel has made it possible for organizations to offer virtual study programs. These programs recreate the study abroad experience, albeit in a more accessible and cost-effective way.
You may not be there in real time, but you can still immerse yourself in the culture, learn a new language, and meet the locals.
For example, Washington State University has a virtual study abroad program that allows you to take online classes from various universities abroad. You can learn Spanish at Universidad de Salamanca, or learn about Italian art at Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici from your own Ottawa student housing accommodations.
Take part in virtual tours
Many museums, galleries, national parks, and zoos have started to offer virtual tours to cater to people who can’t go in person.
Virtual tours offer a rewarding sensory experience that makes you feel as though you’re really there. Some of the institutions that are offering online tours include the Louvre, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Yellowstone National Park, and the Atlanta Zoo.
Work on a virtual internship
A virtual internship will speed up your career development and improve your employability. You’ll be able to explore a particular industry in greater detail and determine if it’s the right path for you.
As a virtual intern, you’ll take on real-life projects with experienced professionals from the comforts of your own home. An internship during this unprecedented time will show potential employers that lockdowns and outbreaks did not prevent you from getting the work done.
The odds are high that the hiring process will be conducted online, so make sure to submit an impressive resume and conduct mock Zoom interviews to increase your chances of winning that much-coveted internship.
Study on the go
There are lots of places you can still travel to despite the pandemic. Some of the countries that have open borders right now include Mexico, Maldives, Belize, Greece, and Cambodia.
Of course, you will need to be extra cautious while traveling in the midst of a pandemic. Make sure to choose an off-peak time to travel, and implement social distancing, mask wearing, and hand washing wherever you may go.
Since not too many people are traveling right now, take advantage of the lull and visit touristy places that are empty of crowds. Do outside activities where the risk of transmission is low such as day hiking, swimming, and biking. And lastly, don’t forget to support small, independent businesses that have been struggling to survive since the start of the pandemic.