Seize the day – go travelling!
The weather is getting colder, for most students money is getting tighter, and, with only a month left in the semester, the workload is piling up. Perhaps you are like me and you are looking at your remaining coursework and carefully calculating how much sleep you can exchange for coffee. In short, the last thing on most of our minds is what we’re going to be doing next summer. If you have any inclination to travel, however, it’s something you should be thinking about.
Even though university may feel overwhelming at times, these are the years when we have the most freedom to travel. It may, at first, feel selfish to consider going on a trip instead of working or saving, but now is the most opportune time to be just a bit selfish. I am preparing to graduate and begin the job-hunt that I have been led to believe will be so arduous and unlikely; as I write and re-write my cover letter and resume, I find that my experiences abroad and the skills gained on those journeys (literal and personal) set me apart. This is the first of a short series of articles about travel opportunities. There are many ways to see the world – what way will be most beneficial to you?
It may not really be all grave-robbing and train-hopping, but archaeological digs are still a great way to experience a different culture, develop meaningful skills, and make worthwhile, lasting friendships and potential career-contacts. Like other equally worthwhile volunteer opportunities, such as building a school abroad, teaching English, WWOOfing, providing relief in an underprivileged area, or otherwise, excavations combine work and pleasure over a longer period of time than one would normally travel for just a vacation. Usually, excavation projects take volunteers for an average of four weeks.
There are a variety of volunteer opportunities one can research and apply for online, but excavations are particularly good, as many provide the option to get a university credit in addition to experience. I have been to both Romania and Turkey on excavation projects through the University of Guelph, and I consider them two of the most worthwhile elements of my undergraduate experience. In both cases, there was the option to get a school credit, and I was still able to spend the remainder of my summer working to offset the cost. By doing a course over the summer, I also had the opportunity to take fewer courses in the fall and pick up a few more hours of work. I encourage any students considering school-related travel in any form to research travel grants – our university offers several which make going overseas much more financially feasible.
Currently, Guelph professor Dr. A.N. Sherwood is looking for students interested in going to Turkey to work at a site called Pompeiopolis next summer. There is no need to commit, but if you are potentially interested in going, a government security form needs to be filled out before the end of November in order to be allowed access to the site. I volunteered with this particular project last summer and was so thrilled with it that I am hoping to go again next summer.
There is so much of the world to see and so many different ways to see it. I have always considered travelling with a purpose beyond relaxation to be the most fulfilling, and I encourage all students to find a project they feel passionate about and get on a plane (or bus, or boat etc.) Talk to your professors, do some research, go to a study-abroad information session, find out about conferences and internships, and seize the day!