Gap Year, Time out and Sabbatical - Theme

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Take a Gap Year, use a time out or go for a sabbatical

Table of contents of the subject

Taking a gap year, intermediate period or sabbatical abroad

What is a gap year?

  • A gap year is a longer period between two courses, between a course and a job or between two jobs. Where you more or less consciously choose not to switch directly from one to the other. A gap year is generally not literally a year but can vary from a few months to a year

What are the pages involved on a gap year, intermediate period or sabbatical abroad?

  • see below on this page

What countries, regions and cities are related to a gap year?

What are the main activities related to a gap year or sabbatical?

What are the main organizations and sectors related to a gap year or sabbatical?

What are main study fields related to a gap year or sabbatical?

    What internships are related to a gap year or sabbatical?

    • See for internships and getting word experience abroad the main page about Internships and work experience
    • Check below for blogs, organizations, experiences and tips

    Which travel topics are related to a gap year or sabbatical?

    What volunteering jobs are related to a gap year or sabbatical?

    • See for volunteering, project support and volunteer projects the main page about  Volunteering and projects
    • Check below for blogs, contributions and tips

    Which work abroad is related to a gap year or sabbatical?

    • Check for jobs abroad, summer jobs or work and travel the main page about jobs, travel and work abroad
    • Check this page for blogs, contributions and tips

    Which competences and values are related to a gap year or sabbatical?

    Which Worldsupporter goals related to a gap year or sabbatical?

    What are the main topics in Dutch?

    Gap year abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?

    Gap year abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?

    What is a gap year abroad?

    • A gap year is a longer period between two courses, between a course and a job or between two jobs. Where you more or less consciously choose not to switch directly from one to the other.
    • A gap year is generally not literally a year but can vary from a few months to a year.
    • The international term for a gap year is 'gap year', although gap year is more often used when it comes to a less serious way of spending the period.

    How can you fill a gap year abroad?

    • You can perfect your language skills and you can take classes in subjects of your choice, from art and history to media studies.
    • You can also gain work experience and improve your skills by doing an internship at a local company.
    • You can help yourself and someone else by doing volunteer work.
    • You can fill your backpack with experiences by making a long or world trip.
    • You can also do it all and not make it a gap year, but the starting year of the rest of your (meaningful) life.

    Why should you take a gap year abroad?

    • work or study experience in those areas that may be important for your study choice or career. Before you choose a direction, it is nice to know a little about what you are getting into.
    • experience with immersing yourself in another culture, without being bothered by your friends, family or other limitations.
    • a mountain of self-knowledge that you will continue to benefit from your whole life.
    • a lot of new friends or acquaintances.

    What do you need for a gap year abroad?

    • A sufficient budget to last as long as you want, or enough work ethic to earn money there.
    • The realization that when you return, you may want to leave again immediately.. so take enough time to acclimatize at home.
    • The realization that after the period that you have been away, you may think very differently about your future.
    • The realization that after the period that you have been away, you might think exactly the same about your future.

    What is the best place to go during your gap year?

    • Become an au pair: Argentina, Australia, China, England, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Austria, Spain and the United States.
    • Backpacking and earning money: Australia, Canada, Curacao, Europe, New Zealand.
    • Learn Chinese in China: for example in Beijing.
    • Become a divemaster and teach diving: Greece, Egypt, Indonesia.
    • Learn German: (Berlin), Austria or Switzerland.
    • Learn English abroad: Australia (Sydney), England (Brighton, Cambridge, London), Canada (Toronto), Ireland (Dublin), the United States (New York, San Francisco), Malta, South Africa (Cape Town).
    • Learn French: Biarritz; Nice, Paris, Switzerland.
    • Learn Italian in Italy: Florence, Rome, Siena, Venice.
    • Learn Spanish in Spain: Barcelona, ​​Granada, Malaga, Madrid, San Sebastian, Seville, Tenerife, Valencia.
    • Learn Spanish in the Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic.
    • Learn Spanish in Central America: Costa Rica (Turrialba), Guatemala (Antigua), Panama (Bocas del Toro).
    • Learn Spanish in South America: Argentina (Bariloche, Buenos Aires), Ecuador, Peru.
    • Learn Swahili in Africa: Kenya (Kilifi), Tanzania (Zanzibar).
    • Volunteering with children or the elderly: you can do volunteer work in almost any country in the world. Check the JoHo country pages for an indication of the work or projects.
    • Volunteering as an animal caretaker: Australia (koalas, kangaroos, horses), Curacao (dolphins, dogs, cats), Indonesia (orangutans, street dogs), South Africa (monkeys, cheetahs, sharks, penguins, rhinos, elephants).
    • Volunteering: protecting turtles: Sri Lanka, Costa Rica. Traveling around the world: South-East Asia, Latin America or Australia.
    • Travel the world: Southeast Asia, Latin America or Australia.

    What are the risks of a gap year abroad?

    • Your health insurance coverage may lapse if, for example, you go and will work abroad.
    • You may suffer from homesickness and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do about it, and prepare for it!).
    • You may have problems with the organization with which you are going abroad (read more about solving problems abroad).
    • What are the consequences if, for example, you end up in a hospital?
    • If you end up in a hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities.
    • Are you insured for a gap year abroad? A gap year abroad can be covered by your current travel and health insurance if you do not go abroad for too long, do not undertake paid work or special activities. In most cases, special insurance is recommended or really necessary.
    • Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
    • Read more: Vezekeren van een tussenjaar het buitenland (NL)
    Activities abroad: for gap year, sports, travel and outdoor abroad

    Activities abroad: for gap year, sports, travel and outdoor abroad

    Bundled content for gap year, sports, travel and outdoor abroad

    Mountaineering abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?

    Mountaineering abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?

    What is mountaineering?

    • Mountaineering can range from hiking in the Alps to mountaineering in the Andes, from free climbing in the Ardennes to a multi-day trek in the Himalayas. For centuries, people have been fascinated by the mountains, reaching mountain peaks and being active in mountainous areas. There are dozens of types of mountaineering, including mountaineering, mountain climbing, fat biking, free climbing, rock climbing, zip lining, ski touring, winter sports, ice diving and ice climbing. In the last century, you have also seen more and more sports in which descending the mountain in an original way has become central. You can go abseiling, base jumping, hang gliding, but also skiing or sledding.

    What is abseiling (rappel)?

    • Abseiling is independently descending a steep wall using a climbing rope. In climbing it is used as a technique to descend, but in canyoning it has also become part of the sport

    What is alpinism? 

    • Alpinism is mountain climbing in terrain consisting of rock, snow and ice. The emphasis is on 'vertical' ascent, using arms and hands to get up. Rock climbing and ice climbing are forms of alpinism. Alpinism originated more than three centuries ago during a scientific expedition that climbed the summit of Mont Blanc. Today's alpinism is more about climbing technique, the level of difficulty or the beauty of the route, than about reaching the top of the mountain.

    What are trekking and mountain hikes?

    • This means that you walk along paved and unpaved paths through the mountains. When you also need your arms and hands, people quickly speak of mountain climbing. Simple glacier walking is also considered mountain hiking. 'Rambling' is a simple way of trekking, and 'scrambling' is a simple way of climbing where one occasionally needs the help of hands or knees.

    What is free climbing and wall climbing?

    • Free climbing is a form of rock climbing where you climb up using your hands and feet. It does not mean that you do not have any form of protection (that is known as free solo climbing), but it does mean that you are not allowed to use any aids for the climbing itself. Wall climbing: is climbing in a covered area on a climbing wall without aids.

    What are other mountain and climbing sports?

    • Bouldering is a climbing sport where you climb unsecured to a height of about 4/5 meters. If you fall, you basically fall on a thick mat. Bouldering is very similar to life, and often revolves around finding the right route.
    • Hangliding: see air sports.
    • Deathriding or ziplining: see air sports.
    • Skiing or sledding: see winter sports.

    What do you get out of it?

    • Better health: from respiratory tract to fitness.
    • A sense of humility, and the world around you.
    • An adrenaline rush or an ultimate feeling of peace.

    What do you take with you?

    • Bring a good basic condition.
    • Bring sufficient water and food for the journey and for the duration of the trip.
    • Use your common sense (so as not to become overconfident).
    • Arrange for difficult trips a guide who knows the area well

    What are the risks when practicing mountain sports abroad?

    • With every form of mountain sports you also run more or less risk of having an accident or breakdown. You can get lost.
    • You can have an accident (slip, trip).
    • You can be faced with rapidly changing weather.
    • Your equipment can break.

    To what extend are you insured during mountain sports?

    • The consequences if something goes wrong during mountain sports are, if you need help and have to be taken down a mountain, or repatriated from a remote area, the costs can be quite high. The costs of deploying a rescue helicopter alone are around 5,000 euros per hour! In addition, you can be faced with the costs of a rescue team
    • If you also end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself, if you have not taken out insurance that covers your mountain sports activities.
    • Mountain sports abroad are generally limited by regular insurance. Usually you also run a greater risk of having an accident or breakdown.
    • Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
    • Read more: Verzekeren en sportieve activiteiten (NL)

    Where is the best place to go for mountain sports?

    Where can you go for the most beautiful mountain walks and treks?

    • The Inca Trail (the route to Machu Picchu)
    • Mount Rinjani (beautiful volcano on Lombok, Indonesia)
    • Mount Kailash (Tibet, famous pilgrimage route, high and difficult)
    • Resurrection Pass Trail (Alaska, through Chugach National Forest)
    • Dogon Valley (Mali, very traditional area)
    • The South Downs Way (South-East England, Sussex)
    • Trollheimen (Norway, several options)
    • Olympus (the famous mountain in Greece)
    • Western Way (ancient pilgrimage route in Ireland)
    • Taquesi (Bolivia, from Andes to Yungas)
    • Hiking route E5 (Austria, runs from Swiss to Italian border)
    • Gr 11 (Grande Randonnée)(Long distance hiking route through the Pyrenees, runs from the Mediterranean to the Basque Gulf)
    • Neltner/Toubkal (Morocco, in the high Atlas Mountains)
    • Leh (North-East India/Himalaya, beautiful dry trekking area)
    • Darjeeling/Sikkim (North-West India/Himalaya, beautiful green trekking area)
    • Retezet (Transylvania, Romania)
    • Wildcoast Coffeebay Trail (Transkei, South Africa, coastal area)
    • Milford track (South of New Zealand)
    • Annapurna (Nepal, well-known but still very beautiful)
    • Chang Mai Hill Tribes trek (Thailand, multiple routes)
    • The Bear Route (Oulanka, Finland)
    • Fish River Canyon (Namibia, desert area and oases)
    • Patagonia (Traveler's paradise with Torres de Paine)
    • Great South West Walk (Australia, along the coast of Victoria)
    • Overland track (Tasmania, lots of wild and varied landscape)
    Diving abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go, and are you insured?

    Diving abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go, and are you insured?

    What is diving or scuba diving?

    • Diving is staying underwater for a long time with an air tank on your back to be able to view the underwater world up close and personal.
    • A diver breathes through his breathing apparatus, looks around through a diving mask, swims calmly through the water with fins and often wears a diving suit to stay warm.
    • Diving is also called scuba diving.
    • SCUBA is the abbreviation of Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. That is the international term for a compressed air device such as that used by divers.

    Why would you go diving abroad?

    • Distraction: only a few things work better as a distraction than making a deep sea dive.
    • Relaxation: once underwater you end up in a rare quiet environment, at a slow pace you swim through a completely different inhabited world.
    • Adrenaline: some dives can provide encounters with special fish species or large coral inhabitants. You will never forget the thrill of swimming quietly past or through them.
    • Love of nature: you will encounter so much beauty that you will often put protecting the underwater world higher on your list.

    What do you need when you go diving abroad?

    • Good health: diving can involve risks if you are not fit enough or suffer from certain ailments.
    • Respect for the underwater world: as a diver you can destroy more than you would like.
    • A bag with useful items for diving, for before and after the dive (water, sunscreen, etc.).

    To what extent are you insured for the risks of diving abroad?

    • On average, diving is no more dangerous than most other sports.
    • However, preparation and learning about the dangers of diving are more important, so you are well prepared when you face challenges.
    • It is not without reason that the diving schools first require you to obtain your diving certificate (for example PADI) before you can go out on your own. But even with your diving certificate in your pocket, it is often wise to go out with a local dive master.

    What are the consequences if something goes wrong while diving?

    What are the best dive destinations?

    • Micronesia: Palau
    • Red Sea: Egypt, Djibouti
    • Indian Ocean: Maldives, Pemba & Zanzibar
    • Caribbean: Bonaire, Cayman Islands
    • Indonesia: Sulawesi (Bunaken!), Lombok (cheap) Raja Ampat
    • Malaysia: Borneo (Sipadan!)
    • Papua New Guinea: multiple options
    • Australia: Great Barrier Reef, if in the right location
    • Central America: Honduras, Cozumel (Palancar reef), Panama (Bocas del Torro)
    • India: Andaman Islands, Ladakshadweep Islands
    • Oman

     

    Diving instructor and divemaster abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?

    Diving instructor and divemaster abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?

    What do you do when you are a divemaster of dive instructor?

    • Being a diving instructor or divemaster means that you teach diving theory and practice, you teach about what you see underwater and how to deal with it.
    • You are also involved in all kinds of practical matters such as how to handle equipment and what the signals are for mutual communication underwater.
    • At the end of a course you will take an exam, evaluate the students and hand out certificates.

    What do you learn?

    • Becoming a diving instructor means learning to teach students who want to get their diving license.
    • You learn to give specific training for navigation or underwater photography.
    • You will learn how to advise students on the most appropriate courses and programs.

    Why should you become a divemaster or dive instructor?

        What do you need as a diving professional?

        • To work as a diving instructor you will need to have the appropriate licenses, certifications, sufficient "flight hours and to have a medical certificate from a doctor regarding your health, signed within the last 12 months".
        • To be and feel empathetic: feeling for people with a love of underwater flora and fauna.
        • To dare to take risks: you should not be too frightened.
        • To be aware of your surroundings: being environmentally aware love of underwater flora and fauna.
        • To be conscious of the organization: being organizationally aware safety is an element that comes back every minute. You must always be able to stay alert, because you are responsible for yourself and your students.
        • To be flexible: do not be too impatient.

        Where can you go to work as a divemaster or dive instructor?

        • Some of the most favorite diving destinations for instructors and divers
        • Micronesia: Palau
        • Red Sea: Egypt, Djibouti
        • Indian Ocean: Maldives, Pemba & Zanzibar 
        • Caribean: Bonaire, Cayman Islands
        • Indonesië: Sulawesi (Bunaken!), Borneo (Sipidan!), Lombok (cheap)  Raja Ampat
        • Papua New Guinea: Several options
        • Australia: Great Barrier Reef, if the right spot
        • Central America: Honduras, Cozumel (Palancar reef), Panama (Bocas del Torro)
        • India: Andaman islands, Ladakshadweep islands
        • Oman

        What do you have to insure?

        • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when doing paid work abroad, especially in the diving sector.
        • During work, internship or volunteer work abroad, the coverage of your local health insurance normally expires. You will then need special insurance to remain insured for illness and accidents.
        • Local employers usually offer no, or limited, additional insurance. When working as a diver, you may already be insured by your employer during your work. This varies per country and per employer. Check it carefully.
        • If you become a diving instructor or diver master, special rules apply and there are specific insurances that take into account the risks you run.
        • Some specialized insurances offer opportunities to do (temporary) paid work abroad.
        • Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
        • Read more: Verzekeren van duikactiviteiten in het buitenland (NL)
        Canoeing, kayaking and rafting abroad: what is it and what is the best place to go?

        Canoeing, kayaking and rafting abroad: what is it and what is the best place to go?

        What is rafting?

        • Rafting is going down a fast-flowing river in a large inflatable boat.

        What is canoeing?

        • Canoeing is sailing with 1 or more people in a narrow and open boat where you propel yourself forward with paddles.
        • In a canoe you use a paddle with a blade on only one side.
        • Canoeing is usually done on calm water, but in certain countries, for example, fishermen also use a canoe on the open sea.

        What is kayaking?

        • Kayaking is sailing in a narrow boat that you often close in around your waist and where you can easily capsize and come back up.
        • When kayaking you use a paddle with a blade on both sides to push yourself off in the water. Kayaking can be done at different levels, varying from small rapids with mostly low waves to long stretched rapids with high, irregular sharp bends, difficult breakers and whirlpools.
        • With sea kayaking, the type of coast and the weather determine the risks and level of difficulty

        What is river trekking?

        • River trekking is floating down a fast-flowing river with a life jacket and a protective helmet.

        What is tubing?

        • With tubing, you float down a river in an inflated tire.
        • Because tubing is usually offered on not too wild rivers, it is also a good way to experience the landscape.

        Why would you go rafting, canoeing, kayaking, rivertrekking or tubing abroad?

        • Relaxation: once on the water you will find yourself in a rare quiet environment, where you are surrounded by nature.
        • Adrenaline: some kayak and raft routes provide adrenaline to every fiber.
        • Love for nature: you will encounter so much beauty that you will often put protecting nature higher on your list.

        What is the best place to go if you want to canoe, kayak or raft abroad?

        • Canoe or raft trip on the Zambezi (at the Victoria Falls!) or on the Orange or Doring river in South Africa
        • Kayaking trips to Mumba Island, Malawi
        • White Water Rafting in Bali, in the Andes or the East Coast of Australia
        • Kayaking, diving or surfing course in Panama
        • Kayaking course on a wild river in Turrialba, Costa Rica
        • By canoe (hollowed out tree trunk) down the rivers (with rapids!) of the immense Amazon region
        • Kayaking trips around Vancouver (Canada)
        • River rafting on the Apurimac and Urubamba rivers (Peru)
        • Combine a canoe trip with wild camping and discover the Swedish lakes or the island-rich coast

         

         

        Outdoor and sports instructor abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?

        Outdoor and sports instructor abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?

        What does it mean to be a sports instructor abroad?

        • A sports instructor is someone who teaches sports in theory and practice. You teach how to master a certain sport, or learn to practice it better.
        • In addition, you are often busy with all kinds of practical matters concerning the requirements for the sport in question.

        What does it mean to be an outdoor trainer abroad?

        • An outdoor instructor is someone who teaches the theory and practice of an outdoor activity. You teach how to master a certain activity, or learn to master it better.
        • With many outdoor activities, you pay extra attention to safety while practicing the activity.
        • In addition, you are often busy with arranging and organising all kinds of practical matters around the activity.

        Why would you become a sports instructor or outdoor trainer abroad?

        • Helpfulness: it is rewarding work that you get a lot in return. You are busy transferring knowledge to others.
        • Involvement: it strengthens your sense of connection with people and nature.
        • Experience: You gain unique experiences in another country, in another nature and in another culture.
        • Sense of freedom: especially when you are working outside in a beautiful environment.
        • Self-insight: you learn independence, to trust yourself and how to react in difficult situations.

        What do you need, or what skills can you acquire as a sports instructor or outdoor trainer abroad?

        • Empathy: feeling for the people you teach or guide.
        • Having courage: you should not be too fearful in some sports.
        • Being aware of the environment, respect for the flora and fauna and the culture in which you work.
        • Being aware of the organization: you must always be able to remain alert, because you are responsible for yourself and your students.
        • Flexibility: the weather conditions and seasons, the physical condition of yourself and your students can have an influence.

        Where can you become a sports trainer or outdoor trainer abroad?

        A short list of popular outdoor destinations

        • Australia
        • Canada
        • Chile
        • Costa Rica
        • El Salvador
        • Germany
        • Iceland
        • Norway
        • New Zeeland
        • Switzerland
        • United States

        To what extent are you insured for the risks?

        Snorkeling abroad: what is it, what is the best place to go, and are you insured?

        Snorkeling abroad: what is it, what is the best place to go, and are you insured?

        What is snorkeling abroad?

        • Snorkeling is swimming with a windpipe and diving goggles to be able to view the underwater world from above.
        • You usually wear flippers to make it easier to move, or to be able to dive a few meters deep.
        • A snorkeler breathes through his snorkel and looks down through his diving goggles.

        Why should you go snorkeling abroad?

        • Experience: Unforgettable impressions: the first time you snorkel among the many colorful fish is an unforgettable experience for everyone. In real life it is much more intense than you would have expected.
        • Involvement: Snorkeling increases your awe for nature underwater, whether you go snorkeling with dolphins, come face to face with enormous manta rays or encounter a sea turtle while snorkeling, your view of nature will never be the same again! Stability and stress reduction: Snorkeling is not only the ultimate relaxation, it is also fantastically beautiful to float among thousands of fish and coral species, to let yourself be carried by the current along a rock wall with bright red fan corals and parrot fish that calmly look at you.

        What do you need and what should you take into account when you go snorkeling?

        • Environmental awareness: for example by using coral-friendly sunscreen, by not standing on corals, and by touching as little coral or fish as possible.
        • Health: snorkeling can sometimes involve risks if you are not fit enough and there is a strong current.

        What are the risks when practicing diving abroad?

        • Snorkeling is relatively harmless.
        • Do inquire well about the local dangers such as currents and certain dangerous fish species.
        • To have a pleasant night's sleep afterwards, you better make sure that you do not burn your back and legs, that happens very quickly!

        What are the consequences if something goes wrong while snorkeling?

        • If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you do not have insurance that covers your activities.
        • Are you insured for snorkeling abroad?
        • Snorkeling abroad is generally not restricted by regular insurance
        • Be careful not to take unnecessary risks. If there is a red flag in connection with the visit of a white shark or dangerous jellyfish, skip a day of snorkeling because your insurance will not cover you if you are careless
        • Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
        • Read more: watersport en duikactiviteiten verzekeren (NL)

        Where is the best place to go if you want to snorkel and have an unforgettable experience?

        • Australia: top locations you will find the Great Barrier Reef
        • Bonaire: check the right places
        • Egypt: top locations you will find in the south and in the Sinai
        • Philippines: besides Palawan and Bohol there are several top locations
        • Honduras: for example around Roatan and Utila
        • Indonesia: such as on Lombok (cheap), Sulawesi (Bunaken!) and Pulau Weh (Aceh)
        • Maldives: on many of the islands you can snorkel super
        • Malaysia: the Perhentians and Sipidan (on Borneo)
        • Panama: for example on Bocas del Torro
        • Tanzania: on Pemba and Zanzibar

        Where else in the world can you snorkel really well?

        • Canary Islands
        • Curaçao
        • Greece
        • Cape Verde Islands
        • Malta & Gozo
        • Turkey
        • Thailand
          Gap year abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?

          Gap year abroad: what is it, why do it, and where is the best place to go?

          What is a gap year abroad?

          • A gap year is a longer period between two courses, between a course and a job or between two jobs. Where you more or less consciously choose not to switch directly from one to the other.
          • A gap year is generally not literally a year but can vary from a few months to a year.
          • The international term for a gap year is 'gap year', although gap year is more often used when it comes to a less serious way of spending the period.

          How can you fill a gap year abroad?

          • You can perfect your language skills and you can take classes in subjects of your choice, from art and history to media studies.
          • You can also gain work experience and improve your skills by doing an internship at a local company.
          • You can help yourself and someone else by doing volunteer work.
          • You can fill your backpack with experiences by making a long or world trip.
          • You can also do it all and not make it a gap year, but the starting year of the rest of your (meaningful) life.

          Why should you take a gap year abroad?

          • work or study experience in those areas that may be important for your study choice or career. Before you choose a direction, it is nice to know a little about what you are getting into.
          • experience with immersing yourself in another culture, without being bothered by your friends, family or other limitations.
          • a mountain of self-knowledge that you will continue to benefit from your whole life.
          • a lot of new friends or acquaintances.

          What do you need for a gap year abroad?

          • A sufficient budget to last as long as you want, or enough work ethic to earn money there.
          • The realization that when you return, you may want to leave again immediately.. so take enough time to acclimatize at home.
          • The realization that after the period that you have been away, you may think very differently about your future.
          • The realization that after the period that you have been away, you might think exactly the same about your future.

          What is the best place to go during your gap year?

          • Become an au pair: Argentina, Australia, China, England, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Austria, Spain and the United States.
          • Backpacking and earning money: Australia, Canada, Curacao, Europe, New Zealand.
          • Learn Chinese in China: for example in Beijing.
          • Become a divemaster and teach diving: Greece, Egypt, Indonesia.
          • Learn German: (Berlin), Austria or Switzerland.
          • Learn English abroad: Australia (Sydney), England (Brighton, Cambridge, London), Canada (Toronto), Ireland (Dublin), the United States (New York, San Francisco), Malta, South Africa (Cape Town).
          • Learn French: Biarritz; Nice, Paris, Switzerland.
          • Learn Italian in Italy: Florence, Rome, Siena, Venice.
          • Learn Spanish in Spain: Barcelona, ​​Granada, Malaga, Madrid, San Sebastian, Seville, Tenerife, Valencia.
          • Learn Spanish in the Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic.
          • Learn Spanish in Central America: Costa Rica (Turrialba), Guatemala (Antigua), Panama (Bocas del Toro).
          • Learn Spanish in South America: Argentina (Bariloche, Buenos Aires), Ecuador, Peru.
          • Learn Swahili in Africa: Kenya (Kilifi), Tanzania (Zanzibar).
          • Volunteering with children or the elderly: you can do volunteer work in almost any country in the world. Check the JoHo country pages for an indication of the work or projects.
          • Volunteering as an animal caretaker: Australia (koalas, kangaroos, horses), Curacao (dolphins, dogs, cats), Indonesia (orangutans, street dogs), South Africa (monkeys, cheetahs, sharks, penguins, rhinos, elephants).
          • Volunteering: protecting turtles: Sri Lanka, Costa Rica. Traveling around the world: South-East Asia, Latin America or Australia.
          • Travel the world: Southeast Asia, Latin America or Australia.

          What are the risks of a gap year abroad?

          • Your health insurance coverage may lapse if, for example, you go and will work abroad.
          • You may suffer from homesickness and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do about it, and prepare for it!).
          • You may have problems with the organization with which you are going abroad (read more about solving problems abroad).
          • What are the consequences if, for example, you end up in a hospital?
          • If you end up in a hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities.
          • Are you insured for a gap year abroad? A gap year abroad can be covered by your current travel and health insurance if you do not go abroad for too long, do not undertake paid work or special activities. In most cases, special insurance is recommended or really necessary.
          • Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
          • Read more: Vezekeren van een tussenjaar het buitenland (NL)
          Activities abroad: for languages courses and learning a language

          Activities abroad: for languages courses and learning a language

          Bundled for languages courses and learning a language

          Language courses abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

          Language courses abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

          What is a language course?

          • A language course is a series of lessons in which you learn the basics of a language in a short period of time.
          • The average duration of a language course is 50 to 100 hours spread over several weeks or months
          • A language course differs from a language study mainly in having a lower intensity, lower study pressure and less focus on the scientific side of a language
          • A language course normally costs an amount comparable to other courses. Sometimes you can “trade” a language course by taking lessons from someone who wants to learn to speak your language

          Why learn a language and take a language course abroad?

          • Helpfulness: once you speak a local language somewhat you are immediately better able to communicate with the person you would like to help, and can also make yourself more helpful
          • Involvement: once you speak another person's language you become closer to that person. It strengthens your sense of being involved, and part of the local culture.
          • Experience: going abroad to learn a language is one way to get out of your comfort zone in the Netherlands.
          • Creativity: learning a language is a way to better use your creativity. For example while searching for descriptions or using hands and feet.
          • Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself in a different way of speaking and often a different way of thinking

          What do you need to learn a language and take a language course abroad?

          • Being environmentally aware: no matter where you are taught you will always have to consider your surroundings. Each country has its own rules and customs that you will have to follow to a certain extent.
          • Be organization-conscious: every school or educational institution has its own way of teaching or learning. Here too you will have to take more into account. As well as the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack or rather an abundance of money or facilities
          • Communication ability: already some prior knowledge of the local language is not a must but a great advantage

          To what extent are you insured when taking a language course or a language year abroad?

          • What are the risks?
            • Your health insurance coverage may expire if you go to work abroad, for example
            • You may become homesick and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do to prevent this and prepare for it!
            • You may have problems with the organization you are going abroad with (read more about solving problems abroad
          • What are the consequences if you end up in the hospital, for example?
            • If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay for the costs yourself if you do not have insurance that covers your activities.
          • Are you insured during a language course abroad?
            • A language course abroad will be within your current travel and health insurance if you are not going abroad for too long, will not be doing any paid work or special activities. In other cases, special insurance is often recommended or sometimes necessary
          • Read more

          Where is the best place to go for a language course, or to learn a language abroad?

          • Learn Chinese in China: e.g. in Beijing
          • Learn German: (Berlin), Austria or Switzerland
          • Learn English abroad: Australia (Sydney), England (Brighton, Cambridge, London), Canada (Toronto), Ireland (Dublin), United States (New York, San Francisco), Malta, South Africa (Cape Town)
          • Learn French in France: Biarritz; Nice, Paris, or in Switzerland
          • Learn Italian in Italy:Florence, Rome, Siena, Venice
          • Learn Spanish in Spain: Barcelona, Granada, Málaga, Madrid, San Sebastian, Seville, Tenerife, Valencia
          • Learn Spanish in the Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic
          • Learn Spanish in Central America: Costa Rica (Turrialba), Guatemala (Antigua), Panama (Bocas del Toro)
          • Learn Spanish in South America: Argentina (Bariloche, Buenos Aires), Ecuador, Peru
          • Learn Swahili in Africa: Kenya (Kilifi), Tanzania (Zanzibar)
          Teaching English abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

          Teaching English abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

          Where can you teach English abroad as a foreigner or as a (non) native speaker?

          • When you are going to teach abroad, this can range from a paid job as an English teacher at a local school in Asia to helping children with their English at a nursery school somewhere in Africa.
          • As a foreigner, you have the most opportunities as an English teacher at a primary school or as a private teacher.
          • In addition, there are also opportunities within secondary education and special education.
          • The general rule is that as the age of the students increases, the requirements for your experience and diplomas also increase.

          What do you get out of teaching or helping at a school abroad?

          • Helpfulness: for rewarding work you often get as much, or more, back than you put in.
          • Involvement: it strengthens your sense of involvement with a group of children or adults who want to develop or need help.
          • Experience: you are pulled out of your comfort zone and experience all kinds of things every day.
          • Creativity: you can really use your creativity when creating or using teaching materials or lesson content.
          • Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself not only in another culture but also in the thought processes of your students.
          • Income: if you teach English abroad, you can often earn enough to pay for your stay. If you have been able to get one of the better positions, you can usually live well on it or save something to be able to travel further afterwards.
          • Flexibility: you strengthen your ability to flexibly look for solutions for situations that suddenly arise.

          What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in the education sector abroad?

          • Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you teach, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
          • Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of looking at education or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities.
          • Communication skills: knowledge of the local language makes your work a lot easier and of better quality.
          • Being able to be convincing
          • Being able to plan
          • Being able to radiate self-confidence

          Where is the best place to go when you want to teach English abroad?

          • Southern Europe: Spain and Portugal.
          • Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
          • Africa: Egypt, South Africa.
          • Eastern Europe: Hungary, Czech Republic.
          • Asia: China, Thailand.
          • Latin America: Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile.

          To what extent are you insured for the risks while teaching abroad?

          Learning Chinese abroad: what is it, why should you do it and what is the best place to go?

          Learning Chinese abroad: what is it, why should you do it and what is the best place to go?

          What is a Chinese language course?

          • A Chinese language course is a series of lessons in which you are taught the basics of the Chinese language in a short period of time. Most language schools offer Mandarin Chinese.
          • A Chinese language course lasts an average of 50 to 100 hours spread over several weeks or months. Due to the large differences between Dutch and Chinese, you will have to study and practice for a longer period of time to master the basics of Chinese.
          • A Chinese language course normally costs an amount that is comparable to other courses.

          Why should you learn the Chinese language and take a Chinese language course abroad?

          • Networking: Chinese is, after English, the most spoken language in the world. Although most of these speakers live in China, speaking Chinese is now a good way to broaden your career opportunities in more and more professions and countries. Helpfulness: once you speak a local language to some extent, you are immediately better able to communicate with the person you would like to help, and you can also let yourself be helped better
          • Involvement: once you speak the language of someone else, you become closer to that person. It strengthens your sense of involvement and being part of the local culture.
          • Experience: going abroad to learn a language is one of the opportunities to step out of your comfort zone in the Netherlands
          • Creativity: learning a language is a way to learn to use your creativity better. For example, when searching for descriptions or using hands and feet
          • Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself in a different way of speaking and often a different way of thinking

          What do you need or can you do to learn a language and take a language course abroad?

          • Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you are taught, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
          • Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of teaching or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack or an abundance of money or facilities.
          • Communication skills: some prior knowledge of the local language is not a must, but it is a great advantage.

          What are the risks of a language course or a language year abroad?

          • The coverage of your health insurance may be cancelled if, for example, you go and work abroad.
          • You may suffer from homesickness and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do about it, and prepare for it!).
          • You may have problems with the organization with which you are going abroad (read more about solving problems abroad).
          • What are the consequences if, for example, you end up in hospital? If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities.

          Are you insured for a language course abroad?

          Learning German abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

          Learning German abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

          What is a German language course?

          • A German language course is a series of lessons in which you are taught the basics of the German language in a short period of time.
          • A German language course lasts an average of 50 to 100 hours spread over several weeks or months.
          • A German language course normally costs an amount that is comparable to other courses.

          Why should you learn German and take a German language course abroad?

          • Networking: German is an important language for Dutch people who want to work internationally, especially within Europe, in tourism, trade and technology, for example.
          • Helpfulness: as soon as you speak a local language to some extent, you are immediately better able to communicate with the person you would like to help, and you can also get help yourself better
          • Involvement: as soon as you speak the language of someone else, you become closer to that person. It strengthens your feeling of being involved and being part of the local culture. Experience: going abroad to learn a language is one of the opportunities to step out of your comfort zone in the Netherlands
          • Creativity: learning a language is a way to learn to use your creativity better. For example, when searching for descriptions or using hands and feet
          • Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself in a different way of speaking and often a different way of thinking

          What do you need or can you do to learn a language and take a language course abroad?

          • Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you are taught, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent
          • Being aware of your organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of teaching or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack or an abundance of money or facilities
          • Communication skills: some prior knowledge of the local language is not a must, but it is a great advantage

          Where is the best place to go to learn German abroad?

          • Germany: You will find a wide range of language schools, especially in cities with a university, such as Berlin, Munich, Heidelberg or Hamburg.
          • Luxembourg: Nice and centrally located in Europe. Luxembourg city is a pleasant city to learn German and apply it directly in your work or studies.
          • Switzerland: A fairly expensive destination for your language lessons, but you get a fantastic environment in return. The most popular is Zurich, but also look at Bern or Engelberg for your German language school.
          • Austria: Combine learning or improving your German with a view of the Alps or even a ski slope. Large language schools are often located in Vienna, but you can also find good language lessons closer to the slopes.

          What are the risks of a language course or a language year abroad?

          • The coverage of your health insurance may be cancelled if, for example, you go and work abroad.
          • You may suffer from homesickness and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do about it, and prepare for it!).
          • You may have problems with the organization with which you are going abroad (read more about solving problems abroad).
          • What are the consequences if, for example, you end up in hospital? If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities.

          Are you insured for a language course abroad?

          Learning French abroad: what is it, why should you do it and what is the best place to go?

          Learning French abroad: what is it, why should you do it and what is the best place to go?

          What is a French language course?

          • A French language course is a series of lessons in which you are taught the basics of the French language in a short period of time.
          • A French language course lasts on average 50 to 100 hours spread over several weeks or months.
          • A French language course normally costs an amount that is comparable to other courses.

          Why should you learn French and take a French language course abroad?

          • Networking: French is, after English and Spanish, one of the most important languages ​​in the world. In many countries and regions, French is the first, second or official language.
          • Helpfulness: as soon as you speak a local language to some extent, you are immediately better able to communicate with the person you would like to help, and you can also get help yourself.
          • Involvement: as soon as you speak the language of someone else, you become closer to that person. It strengthens your feeling of being involved and being part of the local culture. Experience: going abroad to learn a language is one of the opportunities to step out of your own comfort zone.
          • Creativity: learning a language is a way to learn to use your creativity better. For example, when searching for descriptions or using hands and feet.
          • Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself in a different way of speaking and often a different way of thinking.

          What do you need or can you do to learn a language and take a language course abroad?

          • Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you are taught, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
          • Being aware of your organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of teaching or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack or an abundance of money or facilities.
          • Communication skills: some prior knowledge of the local language is not a must, but it is a great advantage.

          What is the best place to go to learn French abroad?

          • France: You will find a wide range of language schools, especially in cities with a university.
          • Belgium: Nice and close. Brussels is the place to learn French and apply it directly in your work or studies.
          • Switzerland: A fairly expensive destination for your language lessons, but you get a fantastic environment in return. The most popular is Geneva, but also look at Fribourg for your French language school.
          • Haiti: Combine learning or improving your French with a tropical island. French in Haiti overlaps quite nicely with classical French.
          • Senegal: Affordable destination for intensive French courses. Dakar has plenty of opportunities for language students. 
          • Overseas areas and exotic French-speaking corners of the world: Not always easy to reach, but with a high exotic content, you can also look for language schools in, for example, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, and La Réunion.

          What are the risks of a language course or a language year abroad?

          • The coverage of your health insurance may be cancelled if, for example, you go and work abroad.
          • You may suffer from homesickness and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do about it, and prepare for it!).
          • You may have problems with the organization with which you are going abroad (read more about solving problems abroad).
          • What are the consequences if, for example, you end up in hospital? If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities.

          Are you insured for a language course abroad?

          Learning Spanish Abroad: What is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

          Learning Spanish Abroad: What is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

          What is a Spanish language course?

          • A Spanish language course is a series of lessons that teach you the basics of the Spanish language in a short period of time.
          • A Spanish language course lasts an average of 50 to 100 hours spread over several weeks or months.
          • A Spanish language course usually costs an amount comparable to other courses.

          Why should you learn Spanish and take a Spanish language course abroad?

          • Networking: Spanish is the second most important language in the world after English. 350 million people speak Spanish as their native language and almost 150 million people speak it as a second language. Spanish is the official language in 21 countries. In Latin America, which is becoming an increasingly important trading partner, Spanish is largely spoken (and hardly any English). It is estimated that within 50 years, half of all US residents will have Spanish as their native language. Helpfulness: once you speak a local language to some extent, you are immediately better able to communicate with the person you would like to help, and you can also let yourself be helped better
          • Involvement: once you speak the language of someone else, you become closer to that person. It strengthens your sense of involvement and being part of the local culture.
          • Experience: going abroad to learn a language is one of the opportunities to step out of your comfort zone in the Netherlands
          • Creativity: learning a language is a way to learn to use your creativity better. For example, when searching for descriptions or using hands and feet
          • Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself in a different way of speaking and often a different way of thinking

          What do you need or can you do to learn a language and take a language course abroad?

          • Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you are taught, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
          • Be aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of teaching or providing education. You will also have to take this into account more. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack or an abundance of money or facilities.
          • Communication skills: some prior knowledge of the local language is not a must, but it is a great advantage.

          What are the risks of a language course or a language year abroad?

          • The coverage of your health insurance may be cancelled if, for example, you go to work abroad
          • You may suffer from homesickness and want to go home earlier (but there is a lot you can do about it, and prepare for it!)
          • You may have problems with the organization with which you are going abroad (read more about solving problems abroad)
          • What are the consequences if, for example, you end up in hospital?
          • If you end up in hospital, you may have to pay the costs yourself if you have not taken out insurance that covers your activities

          Are you insured for a language course abroad?

          What is the best place (for you) to go to learn Spanish abroad?

          • Spain: Fiestas, Flamenco, tapas, life on the street, visits to beaches or beautiful cities, from Andalusia to Catalonia: you can learn Spanish in Spain how and where you want.
          • By combining the course with dance, sports or culture, you can choose your ideal experience of Spain. Courses can be taken throughout Spain, including Madrid, Malaga, Valencia, Barcelona and Salamanca.
          • Cuba: Enjoy the warmth and hospitality of the Cuban people. You can combine the language course with learning traditional Cuban dance and music or with a diving course.
          • During a course you can also stay with a host family to really get to know the people and their culture.
          • Courses are given in Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Trinidad, among others.
          • Argentina: Learn Spanish in vibrant Buenos Aires, at the foot of the Andes or in beautiful Patagonia. After the language course you can participate in volunteer projects to put your Spanish knowledge into practice and really get to know the Argentine people. You can also participate in all kinds of active tours, skiing, horse riding, etc.
          • Courses are given in Bariloche, Buenos Aires and Córdoba, among others. The courses take place at international language schools and are available at all levels: from beginner to advanced, in a group or individually and from one week onwards until you are fed up.
          • Bolivia: Bolivia is known as the Tibet of South America because it is the most isolated and highest of all Andean countries. A beautiful country to get to know better, especially in Sucre, which is located at an altitude of almost 3000 meters. During the course, activities are often organized to introduce you to Bolivian cuisine, dance and sights in and around Sucre. You can follow the course in a group or individually.
          • Chile:  You follow the course in a cozy neighborhood of Santiago de Chile at a small and cozy language school. Due to the ideal location between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, there are many opportunities to seek adventure. For example, you can combine the language course with a ski course on weekends. The language school also organizes many weekend excursions, such as rafting and salsa lessons.
          • Costa Rica: Active volcanoes, beautiful beaches and the impressive tropical rainforest. More than a quarter of Costa Rica is a protected nature reserve, which makes it a beautiful country to study Spanish. There are also ideal opportunities for rafting, kayaking and diving and you can combine your language course with a surfing course or with volunteer work. Courses are given in Playa Tamarindo, San Jose and Jaco Beach, among others.
          • Dominican Republic: With its clear water, white beaches with palm trees and hospitable people, the Dominican Republic is a true tropical paradise. You will follow the course in the beautiful colonial district of the capital Santo Domingo. Here you can combine Spanish with a cooking course or a culture course, where you will learn more about the background and history of the country. Courses are given in Santo Domingo, among others.
          • Ecuador: For nature lovers, learning Spanish in Ecuador is a dream; there are countless species of birds, insects and rare plants to be found. A visit to the Galapagos Islands should not be missed. If you also want to get to know the culture, you can combine the course with a cultural program with visits to museums and other sights or with doing volunteer work. Courses are given in Quito, Montanita and Banos.
          • Guatemala: Guatemala is Latin America in extreme form. Here the volcanoes are the highest and most active and the Mayan ruins the most impressive.
          • During or after the course in the center of Antigua you can visit the ruins in the jungle of the Mayan city of Tikal, volcanoes and coffee plantations at Lake Atitlán and the market of Chichicastenango where thousands of Indians from all over the region come together.
          • Mexico: Sun, siesta, tacos, tequila, hammocks and sombreros. During your Spanish language course in Mexico you will notice that this country has even more to offer, such as the impressive Mayan culture, ruins, museums and a beautiful landscape. You can follow the Spanish lessons in small huts in Playa del Carmen, a characteristic colonial building in Oaxaca or next to the swimming pool in Cuernavaca. After the lessons you can enjoy the white beaches or try to master one of the Mexican folk dances. You can also combine your language course with volunteer work. Courses are given in Cuernavaca, Oaxaca and Playa del Carmen.
          • Peru: The riches of the Incas, the beauty of the landscape, the exuberant fauna and the strong, colorful character of its people make Peru a beautiful country to visit. During a language course in Cusco you are in the heart of the former Inca empire in a language school with its own travel agency that organizes excursions every weekend, so you can go rafting, horseback riding and visit ruins in the area.

           

          Activities abroad: for volunteering and social work abroad

          Activities abroad: for volunteering and social work abroad

          Bundled content for volunteering and social work abroad

          Working with children abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go? *
          Working in education and teaching abroad: what is it, why would you do it and where is the best place to go?

          Working in education and teaching abroad: what is it, why would you do it and where is the best place to go?

          What is teaching abroad?

          • If you are going to teach abroad, this can range from a paid job as an English teacher at a local school in Asia to volunteering at a nursery school somewhere in Africa.

          Where and what can you teach abroad?

          • As a non native English speaker abroad, you have the best chance of a job as an English teacher at a school or as a private teacher.
          • For all other subjects, from music to mathematics, the possibilities are more limited.
          • In addition to teaching English, there are also many Dutch people who work as a Dutch teacher or German people who work as a German teacher or French people who work as a French teacher. Not only at Dutch, German or French schools but also at foreign educational institutions where the language is offered as a study or subject.

          Why would you teach or help at a school abroad?

          • Helpfulness: for rewarding work you often get as much, or more, back than you put in.
          • Involvement: it strengthens your sense of involvement with a group of children or adults who want to develop or need help.
          • Experience: you are pulled out of your comfort zone and experience all kinds of things every day.
          • Creativity: you can use your creativity well when creating or using teaching materials or lesson content.
          • Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself not only in another culture but also in the thought processes of your students.
          • Flexibility: you strengthen your ability to flexibly search for solutions for situations that suddenly arise.
          • Self-insight: there is no better mirror for your own development than a classroom full of children or involved students.

          What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in education abroad?

          • Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you teach, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
          • Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of looking at education or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities.
          • Communication skills: knowledge of the local language is not a must but is a great advantage.
          • Being able to be convincing
          • Being able to shape planning
          • Being able to radiate self-confidence

          What is the best place to go if you want to teach abroad a volunteer or intern?

          • Argentina: for example teaching street children in Buenos Aires
          • Bolivia: from teaching English to helping at a local village school
          • Cambodia: from teaching monks to helping in special education for blind or disabled children
          • Ghana: for example teaching English or mathematics in the countryside of Ghana.
          • Guatemala: helping with teaching around Antigua
          • India: for example teach children from slums or women and offer them more future prospects in this way.
          • Kenya
          • Middle East: in many countries in the Middle East there are opportunities to teach English, paid or unpaid
          • Nepal: including opportunities for internships and research internships in the field of teaching.
          • Thailand
          • South Africa: for example teaching sports in the townships

          What is the best place to go if you want to teach abroad a paid employee?

          • Aruba: working in lower vocational education, secondary education or secondary special education.
          • Bonaire: teaching at a primary or secondary school in various subjects
          • China: At the moment, more than 300 million Chinese are learning English. No wonder that most (well-paid) jobs in education can be found in China.
          • Brazil: Many opportunities to teach within large companies and the thousands of language schools spread across the country; from small villages to the big cities.
          • Chile: often has a relatively higher demand for English teachers.
          • Suriname: for example as a teacher in the interior of Suriname.
          • Italy: there has been a high demand for English teachers in Italy for a long time, for example in Rome.
          • Spain: working as an English teacher teaching Spaniards who want to improve their chances on the job market.
          • South Korea: for the more experienced teacher.

          Are you properly insured if you are going to teach abroad?

          Community and social work abroad: what is it, why should you do it, and where is the best place to go?

          Community and social work abroad: what is it, why should you do it, and where is the best place to go?

          What is community work or social work?

          • Social work and community work are often used interchangeably. In English, people often simply refer to 'social work' or 'community work'.
          • In social work abroad, you help other people with one or more aspects of life that they could use help with. For example, think of projects on loneliness, (financial) self-reliance, language skills, hygiene, preventive care or exercise/sports.
          • You can also consider your commitment to an organization that focuses on certain social themes as social work. For example, think of helping in a museum or other cultural institution.

          Why would you do social work abroad?

          • Your involvement with others can take on a new dimension by helping abroad. You will experience a deeper layer in the culture and the specific challenges that people deal with.
          • By sharing your experiences in and with other cultures, you not only strengthen your own capacities, but you can also help with the transfer of knowledge.
          • By working abroad, you often encounter new sides of yourself and give those sides the opportunity to develop.

          What are the core competencies you need, or can strengthen, for social work abroad?

          • Adaptability
          • Involvement
          • Empathy
          • Flexibility
          • Collaboration

          Where is the best place to work for in community and social work?

          • Bonaire
          • Curacao
          • Brazil
          • Philippines
          • Ghana
          • Guatemala
          • India
          • Indonesia
          • Madagascar
          • Nepal
          • Vietnam
          • South Africa
          Teaching English abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

          Teaching English abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

          Where can you teach English abroad as a foreigner or as a (non) native speaker?

          • When you are going to teach abroad, this can range from a paid job as an English teacher at a local school in Asia to helping children with their English at a nursery school somewhere in Africa.
          • As a foreigner, you have the most opportunities as an English teacher at a primary school or as a private teacher.
          • In addition, there are also opportunities within secondary education and special education.
          • The general rule is that as the age of the students increases, the requirements for your experience and diplomas also increase.

          What do you get out of teaching or helping at a school abroad?

          • Helpfulness: for rewarding work you often get as much, or more, back than you put in.
          • Involvement: it strengthens your sense of involvement with a group of children or adults who want to develop or need help.
          • Experience: you are pulled out of your comfort zone and experience all kinds of things every day.
          • Creativity: you can really use your creativity when creating or using teaching materials or lesson content.
          • Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself not only in another culture but also in the thought processes of your students.
          • Income: if you teach English abroad, you can often earn enough to pay for your stay. If you have been able to get one of the better positions, you can usually live well on it or save something to be able to travel further afterwards.
          • Flexibility: you strengthen your ability to flexibly look for solutions for situations that suddenly arise.

          What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in the education sector abroad?

          • Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you teach, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
          • Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of looking at education or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities.
          • Communication skills: knowledge of the local language makes your work a lot easier and of better quality.
          • Being able to be convincing
          • Being able to plan
          • Being able to radiate self-confidence

          Where is the best place to go when you want to teach English abroad?

          • Southern Europe: Spain and Portugal.
          • Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
          • Africa: Egypt, South Africa.
          • Eastern Europe: Hungary, Czech Republic.
          • Asia: China, Thailand.
          • Latin America: Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile.

          To what extent are you insured for the risks while teaching abroad?

          Volunteering abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

          Volunteering abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

          What is volunteer work abroad?

          • Volunteer work abroad means that you work abroad for a certain period of time at a foreign project or organization to help, learn or transfer knowledge.
          • You usually do not receive any compensation for your work in the form of salary, expense allowance or room and board.
          • Projects that have little or no income themselves will generally ask volunteers for compensation for the guidance or for the room and board provided.
          • In the case of an intermediary organization, this compensation can also be made via the intermediary organization.

          Why should you volunteer abroad?

          • To help others with your efforts and skills.
          • To support projects or goals that you consider important in your life.
          • To gain experience in your own field of work, or in the sector where you may want to work later.
          • To see yourself at work in a different environment.
          • To be able to work in another area and see if you like it.
          • To use as a stepping stone to a local job with salary.
          • Because you don't think it's necessary for a project to incur extra costs for your presence while they really need every dime.
          • Because you have already raised money for the project or organization where you will be working

          What do you need if you want to do volunteer work abroad?

          • Flexibility: you already need some form of flexibility, the rest you gain during your stay abroad.
          • Ability to communicate: depending on the type of work, you will need to have a reasonable to good command of the local language.
          • Independence and/or self-confidence: you already need a certain form of independence, and this will increase your self-confidence.
          • Being environmentally aware: an important element for your stay abroad.
          • Collaboration: also abroad it is important that you learn, or are able to, collaborate when you work with others.
          • Be organizationally aware.
          • Empathy.

          Where is the best place to volunteer abroad?

          • If you are looking for social volunteer work: Curaçao - Ghana - Guatemala - India - Nepal - South Africa
          • If you are looking for corporate volunteer work: Australia - Curaçao - Spain - United States of America
          • If you are looking for volunteer work caring for or protecting animals: Costa Rica - Curaçao - Ecuador - Indonesia - South Africa
          • If you are younger than 18 years old: Spanish language course with volunteer work in Spain - or volunteer work for young people in Malawi, Uganda or South Africa
          • If you are looking for volunteer work and are traveling for the first time as a 'woman alone': Australia - New Zealand - Argentina - Ecuador - Costa Rica - Thailand - Indonesia. - Nepal - Ghana
          • If you want to gain experience 'as a woman alone', go to: Bolivia - Peru - Guatemala - Nicaragua - China and Hong Kong - South Africa - Kenya - Malawi

          To what extent are you insured for the risks of volunteering abroad?

          • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when volunteering abroad, or at least you should carefully check your insured situation.
            • Local organizations usually offer no, or very limited, insurance.
            • There is a risk of accidents, for example because you are doing work with which you have little experience.
            • During your volunteer work abroad where you receive more than €190 per month in compensation (or, for example, food and housing), your Dutch health insurance coverage will normally lapse. You will then need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
          • Read more about insuring volunteer work abroad.
          Activities Abroad: for work and intern abroad

          Activities Abroad: for work and intern abroad

          Work Abroad, Work Experience Abroad & Intern Abroad

          Community and social work abroad: what is it, why should you do it, and where is the best place to go?

          Community and social work abroad: what is it, why should you do it, and where is the best place to go?

          What is community work or social work?

          • Social work and community work are often used interchangeably. In English, people often simply refer to 'social work' or 'community work'.
          • In social work abroad, you help other people with one or more aspects of life that they could use help with. For example, think of projects on loneliness, (financial) self-reliance, language skills, hygiene, preventive care or exercise/sports.
          • You can also consider your commitment to an organization that focuses on certain social themes as social work. For example, think of helping in a museum or other cultural institution.

          Why would you do social work abroad?

          • Your involvement with others can take on a new dimension by helping abroad. You will experience a deeper layer in the culture and the specific challenges that people deal with.
          • By sharing your experiences in and with other cultures, you not only strengthen your own capacities, but you can also help with the transfer of knowledge.
          • By working abroad, you often encounter new sides of yourself and give those sides the opportunity to develop.

          What are the core competencies you need, or can strengthen, for social work abroad?

          • Adaptability
          • Involvement
          • Empathy
          • Flexibility
          • Collaboration

          Where is the best place to work for in community and social work?

          • Bonaire
          • Curacao
          • Brazil
          • Philippines
          • Ghana
          • Guatemala
          • India
          • Indonesia
          • Madagascar
          • Nepal
          • Vietnam
          • South Africa
          Grape- or fruit picking: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

          Grape- or fruit picking: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

            What is grape picking?

            • Grape picking is cutting bunches of grapes from the grapevine or vine. The bunches of grapes are removed from the grape plants in one piece and then distributed over the crates.
            • You often work in an international team from different countries.
            • The grape harvest is often a relatively short period, the timing of which depends on the local weather; it can sometimes be difficult to plan to arrive at the right wine region at exactly the right time.

            What is fruit picking?

            • Fruit picking is done in orchards where apples, cherries, olives, plums, oranges or other fruit are picked from the branches or from the ground.
            • Harvesting exotic crops such as cocoa, kiwi, coffee berries and bananas also falls under fruit picking.
            • Depending on the fruit you are harvesting, you may sometimes have to climb trees or steps or bend down a lot or even crawl.
            • Fruit picking can be done in all kinds of places all over the world. If you organize it well and know when to be where, you can pick fruit all year round in Europe or the world.
            • To prepare fruit for picking, a grower often has to do a lot of preparatory work, such as pruning, thinning and weeding. These activities in fruit growing also offer opportunities if you want to work abroad.
            • Some experience in this area can make the work more fun, and also a lot more lucrative if your payment depends on how much you pick.

            What are the working conditions?

            • In most jobs as a fruit picker, you are paid based on the amount of fruit you pick. However, there is usually a set production level that you must achieve as a minimum, especially if the farmer provides a place to sleep and food for you.
            • Try not to feel too discouraged at the end of the first day or week if it turns out that some experienced employees have picked three times as much as you. You can always try to copy their technique or ask for advice. After a week or two, your earnings and self-confidence will certainly have increased.
            • You can often stay cheaply at a nearby campsite or for free at the farmer's own place
            • How physically demanding the work is depends on the crop you pick and what exactly your duties are around the harvest.
            • You usually have to be at least 18 years old.

            Why to pick fruits or grapes?

            • To stimulate your sense of involvement: sometimes you work very intensively on a farm for a long time with the same people, you often also sleep in a room with them: you have to like that, but you also make friends for life.
            • To make the world around you more sustainable: by looking for work in organic farming or permaculture.
            • To be profitable in a creative way: Some small farmers will not be able to pay you a wage, but offer a place to sleep and food in exchange for work. To gain new experiences: You experience much more during your stay on the farm and when you go to work than when you would travel around alone.
            • To increase your self-awareness: further away from your familiar environment you discover more quickly what you can actually do and what you actually want. By going to work you encounter yourself more often, you get to know yourself better and accept who you are and want to be.
            • To test your environmental awareness: by living and working in rural areas, you experience a foreign culture in a completely different and more authentic way than when you work in the tourism sector, for example.

            Where can you pick grapes and fruit abroad?

            • Australia: fruit picking
            • England: fruit picking, especially in southern England
            • France: grape picking, fruit picking
            • Georgia: fruit picking
            • Greece: olive picking
            • Italy: grape picking, fruit picking
            • Jordan: fruit and olive picking
            • New Zealand: fruit picking
            • Spain: grape picking, fruit picking, olive picking
            • Thailand: fruit picking
            • Switzerland: fruit picking

            What do you need as a grape or fruit picker?

            • Professionalism: you often have to work hard and hard, which is why the average slacker usually doesn't last long on a farm or nursery
            • Flexibility: the weather conditions and the growth of plants don't always go according to plan, which means that your flexibility will often be called upon
            • Ability to work together: being able to or learning to work together with a group of seasonal workers or with the farm family will always be necessary

            To what extent are you insured for the risks as a fruit and grape picker?

            There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when picking fruit or grapes abroad

            • Your local health insurance normally lapses. You then need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
            • Local employers usually do not offer any, or only limited, supplementary insurance.
            • The risk of accidents is somewhat greater on farms and in the fruit growing business than in other sectors.
            • A number of specialized insurances offer opportunities to do (temporary) paid work abroad where you run a bit more risk, such as working in orchards or vineyards.

            Read more

            Internship abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

            Internship abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

            What is an internship abroad?

            • An internship abroad means working for a foreign organization for a certain period of time in order to help and especially to learn from it.
            • For your work, you generally do not receive compensation in the form of salary, expenses or, for example, board and lodging.

            Why should you intern abroad?

            • To gain experience in your own field of work, or in the sector you might want to work in later.
            • To see yourself at work in a different environment.
            • To be able to work in a different field and see if you like it.
            • To use as a stepping stone for a local job with a salary.
            • To help others with your efforts and skills.
            • To support organizations or causes you find important in your life.

            What do you need if you want to do an internship abroad?

            • Flexibility: you already need some form of flexibility, the rest you will acquire during your stay abroad
            • Communication skills: depending on the type of work, you will need a reasonable to good command of the local language.
            • Independence and/or self-confidence: you will need some form of independence, and your self-confidence will grow through it
            • Environmental awareness: an important element for your stay abroad
            • Cooperation skills: also abroad it is important that you learn, or can learn, to cooperate when working with others
            • Organizational awareness
            • Empathy

            Where is the best place to intern abroad?

            •  When looking for a social internship: Aruba - Bonaire - Curaçao - Ghana - Guatemala - India - Nepal - South Africa
            •  When you are looking for a commercial internship: Australia - Curacao - Spain - United States of America
            •  When you are looking for an internship caring for or protecting animals: Costa Rica - Curaçao - Ecuador - Indonesia - South Africa
            •  When you are under 18 years old: Spanish language courses and internships in Spain (e.g. Salamanca, Barcelona) - Youth internships in Malawi, Uganda or South Africa.
            •  When you travel "as a woman alone" for the first time : Australia - New Zealand - Argentina - Ecuador - Costa Rica - Thailand - Indonesia. - Nepal - Ghana
            •  When traveling 'as a woman alone' with experience: Bolivia - Peru - Guatemala - Nicaragua - China and Hong Kong - South Africa - Kenya - Malawi

            To what extent are you insured for the risks of doing a traineeship and intern abroad?

            • Several reasons may apply why you need separate insurance when doing an internship abroad, or at least check your insured situation carefull
              • Local organizations usually offer no, or very limited, insurance
              • The risk of accidents is present because you are doing work with which you have little experience, for example
              • During your internship abroad, in most countries the coverage of your own health insurance expires. You will then need special insurance to remain properly insured for illness and accidents.
            • Read more:
            Jobs abroad: what to do, why to do it, and where are the best places to go?

            Jobs abroad: what to do, why to do it, and where are the best places to go?

            Paid vacancies, internships and volunteer work with organizations and institutions in work fields such as consulting, administration, communications, consulting, finance, health care, legal, social services, management, marketing, environment, education, research, organization, psychology, pedagogy, engineering, tourism and science. With sector information, destination advice and job application tips

            See the following pages for jobs and vacancies per sector:

            Legal work abroad: why should you do legal work abroad and what do you gain?

            Legal work abroad: why should you do legal work abroad and what do you gain?

            Legal work abroad: why should you do legal work abroad and what do you gain?

            Why should you do legal work abroad?

            • Involvement in social legal aid in other cultures.
            • Gaining experience with legal systems in an international context.
            • Gaining self-insight by stepping out of your comfort zone and leaving your familiar environment behind.

            What do you gain of doing legal work abroad?

            • Adaptability
            • Courage
            • Flexibility
            • Professional conduct
            • Collaboration
            • Sufficient (legal) knowledge of the local language
            Outdoor and sports instructor abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?

            Outdoor and sports instructor abroad: what is it, why do it and where is the best place to go?

            What does it mean to be a sports instructor abroad?

            • A sports instructor is someone who teaches sports in theory and practice. You teach how to master a certain sport, or learn to practice it better.
            • In addition, you are often busy with all kinds of practical matters concerning the requirements for the sport in question.

            What does it mean to be an outdoor trainer abroad?

            • An outdoor instructor is someone who teaches the theory and practice of an outdoor activity. You teach how to master a certain activity, or learn to master it better.
            • With many outdoor activities, you pay extra attention to safety while practicing the activity.
            • In addition, you are often busy with arranging and organising all kinds of practical matters around the activity.

            Why would you become a sports instructor or outdoor trainer abroad?

            • Helpfulness: it is rewarding work that you get a lot in return. You are busy transferring knowledge to others.
            • Involvement: it strengthens your sense of connection with people and nature.
            • Experience: You gain unique experiences in another country, in another nature and in another culture.
            • Sense of freedom: especially when you are working outside in a beautiful environment.
            • Self-insight: you learn independence, to trust yourself and how to react in difficult situations.

            What do you need, or what skills can you acquire as a sports instructor or outdoor trainer abroad?

            • Empathy: feeling for the people you teach or guide.
            • Having courage: you should not be too fearful in some sports.
            • Being aware of the environment, respect for the flora and fauna and the culture in which you work.
            • Being aware of the organization: you must always be able to remain alert, because you are responsible for yourself and your students.
            • Flexibility: the weather conditions and seasons, the physical condition of yourself and your students can have an influence.

            Where can you become a sports trainer or outdoor trainer abroad?

            A short list of popular outdoor destinations

            • Australia
            • Canada
            • Chile
            • Costa Rica
            • El Salvador
            • Germany
            • Iceland
            • Norway
            • New Zeeland
            • Switzerland
            • United States

            To what extent are you insured for the risks?

            Paid work abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

            Paid work abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?

            What is paid work abroad?

            • Paid work abroad means that you have a temporary or permanent job with a foreign employer or that you have been sent abroad by a Dutch employer.
            • For your work you generally receive compensation in the form of salary, expense allowance or, for example, board and lodging. In addition, the better jobs may also reimburse you for your travel to and/or from work.

            Why should you go to work abroad for pay?

            • To gain experience: by working abroad, your work experience increases within your own field but generally beyond. You experience much more during your stay abroad when you go to work than if you were already traveling around.
            • To strengthen your empathy: by working in another culture, you often strengthen your own ability to put yourself in another person's shoes. The differences in culture, ways of working and ways of communicating make you accept or take other pieces as they are more quickly. Your own perspective quickly becomes wider, broader and, in particular, more flexible.
            •  To increase your stress resistance: you regularly work under reasonable or great pressure; working in a different culture can be a drain on your stress resistance. Especially due to pressures that may arise because you have to communicate in a different language, perform new work or receive limited coaching. Yet for almost everyone, these experiences contribute to greatly increasing your stress resilience precisely because of them.
            • To discover and accept your own qualities: further away from your familiar surroundings you discover more quickly what you can actually do and what you really want. It is precisely by going to work that you encounter yourself more often, get to know

            What do you need if you want to work abroad?

            • Flexibility: you already need some form of flexibility, the rest you will gain during your stay abroad.
            • Communication skills: depending on the type of work, you will need a reasonable to good command of the local language.
            • Independence and/or self-confidence: you already need some form of independence, and your self-confidence will grow through it.
            • Being environmentally aware: an important element for your stay abroad.
            • Collaborative ability: also abroad, it is important that you learn, or can, work together when working with others.

            To what extent are you insured for risks when doing paid work abroad?

            • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when doing paid work abroad: 
            • During work, internship or volunteer work abroad in many cases, you will then need special insurance to remain insured for illness and accidents.
            • Local employers usually offer no, or limited, additional insurance.
            • The risk of accidents is present because you are doing work with which you have little experience, for example.
            • Some specialized insurances offer opportunities to do (temporary) paid work abroad. See the pages on insuring paid work abroad and the pages on your medical expenses abroad.
            • Read more: travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
            • Read more: betaald werken in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)

            What are the most popular countries to do paid work abroad?

            • All countries
            • Australia: working holiday, agricultural work, health care
            • Austria : tourism, winter sports
            • Canada: working holiday, agricultural work
            • Curacao: hospitality, communication
            • France: tourism, agricultural work (fruit picking), au pair
            • Greece: hospitality, tourism
            • Italy: tourism, winter sports , teaching (English), au pair
            • New Zealand: working holiday, health care
            • Portugal: tourism, helpdesks
            • South Africa: tourism, helpdesks
            • Spain: hospitality, tourism, teaching (English)
            • Switzerland: tourism, winter sports
            • Thailand: teaching
            • United States: working holiday, au pair
            Teaching English abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

            Teaching English abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where should you go?

            Where can you teach English abroad as a foreigner or as a (non) native speaker?

            • When you are going to teach abroad, this can range from a paid job as an English teacher at a local school in Asia to helping children with their English at a nursery school somewhere in Africa.
            • As a foreigner, you have the most opportunities as an English teacher at a primary school or as a private teacher.
            • In addition, there are also opportunities within secondary education and special education.
            • The general rule is that as the age of the students increases, the requirements for your experience and diplomas also increase.

            What do you get out of teaching or helping at a school abroad?

            • Helpfulness: for rewarding work you often get as much, or more, back than you put in.
            • Involvement: it strengthens your sense of involvement with a group of children or adults who want to develop or need help.
            • Experience: you are pulled out of your comfort zone and experience all kinds of things every day.
            • Creativity: you can really use your creativity when creating or using teaching materials or lesson content.
            • Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself not only in another culture but also in the thought processes of your students.
            • Income: if you teach English abroad, you can often earn enough to pay for your stay. If you have been able to get one of the better positions, you can usually live well on it or save something to be able to travel further afterwards.
            • Flexibility: you strengthen your ability to flexibly look for solutions for situations that suddenly arise.

            What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in the education sector abroad?

            • Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you teach, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
            • Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of looking at education or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities.
            • Communication skills: knowledge of the local language makes your work a lot easier and of better quality.
            • Being able to be convincing
            • Being able to plan
            • Being able to radiate self-confidence

            Where is the best place to go when you want to teach English abroad?

            • Southern Europe: Spain and Portugal.
            • Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
            • Africa: Egypt, South Africa.
            • Eastern Europe: Hungary, Czech Republic.
            • Asia: China, Thailand.
            • Latin America: Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile.

            To what extent are you insured for the risks while teaching abroad?

            Working for an international organisation abroad: what is it, why would you do it and where should you go?

            Working for an international organisation abroad: what is it, why would you do it and where should you go?

            What is working in the non-profit sector or at an international organisation abroad?

            • 'Working at an NGO' is in fact a collective term for the many functions that this type of organisation offers: from lawyer and accountant to social media campaign leader and from biological fieldworker to investigative journalist.
            • Depending on your expertise, the sector in which you want to work for a non-profit organisation and the country you want to go to, your options will vary greatly.

            Why would you work at an international organisation?

            • To gain experience: by working abroad, your work experience increases within your own field of expertise but also outside of it in general. During your stay abroad, you experience much more when you go to work than if you were already travelling.
            • To strengthen your empathy: by working in a different culture, you often strengthen your own ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes. The differences in culture, working methods and communication methods ensure that you accept or accept other things more quickly as they are. Your own perspective quickly becomes broader, more spacious and especially more flexible.
            • To increase your stress resistance: you regularly work under reasonable or great pressure; working in a different culture can be an attack on your stress resistance. Especially due to pressure that can arise because you have to communicate in a different language, have to perform new tasks or receive limited coaching. Yet for almost everyone, these experiences contribute to a significant increase in your stress resistance.
            • To discover and accept your own qualities: further away from your familiar environment, you discover more quickly what you can actually do and what you actually want. It is precisely by going to work that you encounter yourself more often, you get to know yourself better and accept who you are and want to be.

            What do you need if you want to work abroad for an NGO?

            • Flexibility: you already need some form of flexibility, the rest you gain during your stay abroad. Communication skills: depending on the type of work, you will need to have a reasonable to good command of the local language.
            • Independence and/or self-confidence: you already need a certain form of independence, and your self-confidence will grow as a result.
            • Being aware of your surroundings: an important element for working for an international organisation abroad.
            • Collaboration skills: networking, both inside and outside your organisation, is crucial for finding a (next) job at an international organisation.
               

            Where is the best place to work for international organisations?

            Popular countries to work in, for an international organisation

            • Belgium
            • Curaçao
            • France
            • United States
            • Switzerland

            Countries where many NGO projects send employees

            • Bangladesh
            • Brazil
            • El Salvador
            • Ethiopia
            • Philippines
            • Ghana
            • Haiti
            • India
            • Madagascar
            • Nepal
            • Sint Maarten
            • Zimbabwe

            To what extent are you insured for the risks when working for an NGO abroad?

            • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when working abroad with an international organisation
            • During work, an internship or volunteering abroad your local health insurance most of the time lapses. You will then need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
            • Local employers generally do not offer any, or limited, supplementary insurance.
            • There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience, or because of challenging local working conditions.
            • A number of specialised insurances offer options for (temporary) paid work abroad.
            • See the pages about insuring paid work abroad and the pages about your healthcare costs abroad.
            • Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
            • Read more: Betaald werken in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)

             

            Working at an ecolodge, guesthouse or hotel abroad: what is it, why would you do it and where is the best place to go?

            Working at an ecolodge, guesthouse or hotel abroad: what is it, why would you do it and where is the best place to go?

            • Activities: the work can range from reception work and maintenance work to sometimes managing a local employee
            • Salary: from room and board to a salary that allows you to provide for yourself
            • Accommodation: In most cases, you will stay at the accommodation itself. Sometimes you sleep in a tent or you can bring your own tent

            Why would you work at a hotel, guesthouse or ecolodge abroad?

            • To stimulate your sense of involvement: you often work very intensively with the same people at a hotel or accommodation for a long time, you often also sleep in a room with them: you have to like that, but you also make friends for life. To make the world around you more sustainable: by looking for work at an ecolodge or sustainable accommodation you can combine your work and interests nicely.
            • To be profitable in a creative way: Some owners will not be able to pay you a salary, but offer a place to sleep and food in exchange for work.
            • To gain new experiences: During your stay abroad and when you go to work, you will experience much more than if you were to travel around alone.
            • To increase your self-awareness: further away from your familiar environment, you will discover more quickly what you can actually do and what you actually want. By going to work, you will encounter yourself more often, get to know yourself better and accept who you are and want to be.
            • To test your environmental awareness: by living and working in special places in the world, you will experience a foreign culture in a completely different and more authentic way.

            What do you need if you want to work at a hotel, hostel or ecolodge?

            • Be environmentally aware: wherever you work, you will always have to take your environment into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent
            • Being aware of the organization: every organization also has its own way of looking at hospitality and hospitality. Here too, you will have to take more into account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities
            • Communication skills: knowledge of the local language is not a must but it is a big advantage and in addition you will often have to be able to communicate well with the guests of the accommodation where you will be working
            • Professionalism: on some days and certainly during the high season you will have to work hard
            • Flexibility: the weather conditions, the behavior of animals and the growth of plants do not always go according to plan, which means that your flexibility will often be called upon
            • Collaboration skills: being able or learning to collaborate with local managers, owners and employees

            What is the best place to go when you want to work at a hotel, hostel or ecolodge abroad?

            • Working in backpacker hostels: Mexico, Peru, New Zealand
            • Working in hotels: Spain, Austria, Curacao
            • Working in ecolodges: South Africa, Costa Rica, Caribbean, Malawi

            To what extent are you insured for risks if you work at a hotel, hostel or ecolodge abroad?

            • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance for paid work abroad
            • During work, internship or volunteer work abroad the coverage of your own local health insurance normally expires. You then need special insurance to remain insured for illness and accidents. Local employers usually offer no, or limited, supplementary insurance.
            • There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience.
            • A number of specialized insurances offer opportunities to do (temporary) paid work abroad.
            • See the pages about insuring paid work abroad and the pages about your health care costs abroad.
            • Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
            • Read more: Betaald werken in het buitenland verzekeren (NL)
            Working in education and teaching abroad: what is it, why would you do it and where is the best place to go?

            Working in education and teaching abroad: what is it, why would you do it and where is the best place to go?

            What is teaching abroad?

            • If you are going to teach abroad, this can range from a paid job as an English teacher at a local school in Asia to volunteering at a nursery school somewhere in Africa.

            Where and what can you teach abroad?

            • As a non native English speaker abroad, you have the best chance of a job as an English teacher at a school or as a private teacher.
            • For all other subjects, from music to mathematics, the possibilities are more limited.
            • In addition to teaching English, there are also many Dutch people who work as a Dutch teacher or German people who work as a German teacher or French people who work as a French teacher. Not only at Dutch, German or French schools but also at foreign educational institutions where the language is offered as a study or subject.

            Why would you teach or help at a school abroad?

            • Helpfulness: for rewarding work you often get as much, or more, back than you put in.
            • Involvement: it strengthens your sense of involvement with a group of children or adults who want to develop or need help.
            • Experience: you are pulled out of your comfort zone and experience all kinds of things every day.
            • Creativity: you can use your creativity well when creating or using teaching materials or lesson content.
            • Empathy: you train yourself to immerse yourself not only in another culture but also in the thought processes of your students.
            • Flexibility: you strengthen your ability to flexibly search for solutions for situations that suddenly arise.
            • Self-insight: there is no better mirror for your own development than a classroom full of children or involved students.

            What do you need or can you learn if you teach or work in education abroad?

            • Being aware of your surroundings: wherever you teach, you will always have to take your surroundings into account. Every country has its own rules and customs that you will have to adhere to to a certain extent.
            • Being aware of the organization: every school or educational institution also has its own way of looking at education or teaching. Here too, you will have to take more account. Just like with the limitations/challenges that some schools have due to a lack of money or facilities.
            • Communication skills: knowledge of the local language is not a must but is a great advantage.
            • Being able to be convincing
            • Being able to shape planning
            • Being able to radiate self-confidence

            What is the best place to go if you want to teach abroad a volunteer or intern?

            • Argentina: for example teaching street children in Buenos Aires
            • Bolivia: from teaching English to helping at a local village school
            • Cambodia: from teaching monks to helping in special education for blind or disabled children
            • Ghana: for example teaching English or mathematics in the countryside of Ghana.
            • Guatemala: helping with teaching around Antigua
            • India: for example teach children from slums or women and offer them more future prospects in this way.
            • Kenya
            • Middle East: in many countries in the Middle East there are opportunities to teach English, paid or unpaid
            • Nepal: including opportunities for internships and research internships in the field of teaching.
            • Thailand
            • South Africa: for example teaching sports in the townships

            What is the best place to go if you want to teach abroad a paid employee?

            • Aruba: working in lower vocational education, secondary education or secondary special education.
            • Bonaire: teaching at a primary or secondary school in various subjects
            • China: At the moment, more than 300 million Chinese are learning English. No wonder that most (well-paid) jobs in education can be found in China.
            • Brazil: Many opportunities to teach within large companies and the thousands of language schools spread across the country; from small villages to the big cities.
            • Chile: often has a relatively higher demand for English teachers.
            • Suriname: for example as a teacher in the interior of Suriname.
            • Italy: there has been a high demand for English teachers in Italy for a long time, for example in Rome.
            • Spain: working as an English teacher teaching Spaniards who want to improve their chances on the job market.
            • South Korea: for the more experienced teacher.

            Are you properly insured if you are going to teach abroad?

            Working in the hospitality or entertainment industry abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go?
            Working with children abroad: what is it, why should you do it and where is the best place to go? *
            Working on a cruise ship or sailing boat abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go and are you insured?

            Working on a cruise ship or sailing boat abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go and are you insured?

            What is working on a sailing yacht or cruise ship abroad?

            • Working on a cruise ship or sailing yacht can consist of one or more roles that can or must be fulfilled. Staff on a cruise ship or large sailing yacht can be roughly divided into three types.
            • The highest in rank are the officers, which includes the captain, but also the doctor and the management staff.
            • Then comes the staff, which includes shop staff, casino staff, serving staff with customer contact, beauticians and independent shop owners.
            • The lowest in rank is the crew, which includes the stewards and catering staff without customer contact, but also the cleaners and the lowest technical staff.

            Why would you work on a boat or cruise ship abroad?

            • To gain experience: by working abroad, your work experience increases within your own field of expertise, but also outside of it in general. You experience much more during your stay abroad when you go to work than when you would already be travelling
            • To strengthen your empathy: by going to work in a different culture you often strengthen your own ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes. The differences in culture, working methods and communication methods ensure that you accept other things more quickly or take them as they are. Your own perspective quickly becomes broader, wider and especially more flexible
            • To increase your stress resistance: you regularly work under reasonable or great pressure; working in a different culture can be an attack on your stress resistance. Especially due to pressure that can arise because you have to communicate in a different language, have to perform new tasks or receive limited coaching. Yet it is true for almost everyone that these experiences contribute to the fact that your stress resistance increases significantly
            • To discover and accept your own qualities: further away from your familiar environment you discover more quickly what you can actually do and what you actually want. By going to work you encounter yourself more often, you get to know yourself better and accept who you are and want to be.

            What do you need if you want to work on a ship?

            • Professionalism: you often have to work hard and a lot. Furthermore, a positive appearance and being easy to get along with are important qualities. You are a fast learner and enjoy working in a multicultural environment.
            • Service orientation: especially if you have a lot of contact with the guests, their wishes always come first.
            • Being flexible: Do you not need to know weeks in advance exactly what your day will look like, but is it enough to find out at the moment? Then you have a good attitude
            • Communication skills: On a ship you get different guests every trip and it is important that you get to know them as quickly as possible in order to tailor everything to their wishes.
            • Collaboration skills: even abroad it is important that you learn, or can, collaborate when you are working with others

            To what extent are you insured for the risks?

            • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance for paid work abroad.
            • During work, internship or volunteer work abroad, the coverage of your Dutch local insurance normally expires. You then need special insurance to remain insured against illness and accidents.
            • Local employers usually do not offer any, or limited, additional insurance. When working on ships, you may already be insured by your employer during your work. This varies per ship and employer
            • There is a chance of accidents because, for example, you are doing work with which you have little experience.
            • A number of specialized insurances offer options for (temporary) paid work abroad. See the pages about insuring paid work abroad and the pages about your health care costs abroad.
            • Read more: Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme

            What are the most beautiful routes in the world by boat, ship or cruise?

            What is the best place to go: the beautiful and famous (top 10) sailing trips

            • Along the Ionian Islands in Greece
            • Along the Turkish coast
            • Across the Andaman Sea
            • From Bali to Sulawesi
            • From Grenada and the Grenadines to the rest of the Caribbean
            • Along the coast of Norway
            • From Colombia via the San Blas Islands to Panama (or vice versa)
            • Sailing through the Grand Canyon

            What is the best place to go: the beautiful and famous (top 10) cruises

            • Greek Islands (Rhodes, Santorini)
            • Caribbean Islands (St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Curacao)
            • Chile: Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales
            • The Nile Cruise (all of Egypt by boat)
            • South Pacific (including Papeete, Bora Bora)
            • Fjord Cruise (towards the North Cape)
            • Antarctica (fascinating)
            • Panama Canal
            • World Cruise (for example 98 days from Rotterdam/The Netherlands)
            • Southeast Asia

             

            Working on a farm abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go, and are you insured?

            Working on a farm abroad: what is it, where is the best place to go, and are you insured?

            What does working on a farm abroad involve?

            • Working on a farm means that you work temporarily as a seasonal or summer worker for an agricultural company. This can range from working as a fruit picker in France to herding cattle in Australia and from milking organic goats in Chile to working together within a permaculture community in the tropics.
            • Employment: There is always a chance of work if you knock on a farmer's door. Many farms, especially in Europe, but certainly also in Australia and New Zealand, are usually looking for assistance, especially during the busy seasons. Small-scale farms often have work for unskilled (or non-agriculturally trained) people and will also be more open to a construction with room and board.
            • Activities: There is a huge variety of seasonal jobs within agriculture and livestock farming. It can help to have experience with driving a tractor, horse riding or other work on a farm, or to have at least some feeling for working with machinery or farm animals.

            Why should you work on a farm abroad?

            • To stimulate your sense of involvement: sometimes you work very intensively with the same people on a farm for a long time, you often also sleep in a room with them: you have to like that, but you also make friends for life.
            • To make the world around you more sustainable: by looking for work in organic farming, permaculture, or for example in the production of goat cheese, you can nicely combine your work and interests.
            • To be profitable in a creative way: Some small farmers will not be able to pay you a wage, but offer a place to sleep and food in exchange for work.
            • To gain new experiences: During your stay on a farm and when you go to work, you experience much more than if you were to travel around alone.
            • To increase your self-awareness: further away from your familiar environment, you discover more quickly what you can actually do and what you actually want. By going to work, you encounter yourself more often, you get to know yourself better and accept who you are and want to be. To test your environmental awareness: living and working in rural areas allows you to experience a foreign culture in a completely different and more authentic way than, for example, working in tourism.

            Where is the best place to go for farm work abroad?

            • Australia: working holiday, agricultural work, fruit picking
            • Canada: working holiday, agricultural work
            • Chile: fruit picking, livestock farming
            • France: agricultural work, fruit picking, grape picking
            • Italy: agricultural work, fruit picking
            • Ecuador: tropical agriculture, coffee, cocoa and permaculture
            • New Zealand: working holiday, fruit picking, agricultural work
            • Spain: olive picking, viticulture
            • South Africa: ecolodges, ranches

            What do you need if you want to work on a farm?

            • Professionalism: you often have to work hard and hard, which is why the average slacker usually doesn't last long on a farm. Flexibility weather conditions, animal behaviour and plant growth do not always go according to plan, which means that your flexibility will often be called upon.
            • Collaborative skills: being able to learn to work together with a group of seasonal workers or with the farm family will always be necessary.

            To what extent are you insured for the risks of working on a farm or in livestock farming

              Medical internship and healthcare internship: what is it, why should you do it and are you insured?

              Medical internship and healthcare internship: what is it, why should you do it and are you insured?

              What are your tasks and duties as a co-assistant or intern in medicine?

              • As a co-assistant or intern, you will often work with the ward doctor or the head nurse.
              • As the co-assistant or when the internship progresses, you will be given more and more responsibility and will increasingly work independently, under supervision.
              • You will often participate in the morning and afternoon handover, the visits, the Multidisciplinary Consultation (MDO).
              • You will also learn to perform a number of medical procedures.
              • It goes without saying that your duties will be expanded as you progress through your co-assistantships or internship. For example, as a 6th-year co-assistant or intern, you will be able to do much more yourself.

              What are your (internship) tasks or duties as a care provider?

              • A care provider is someone who provides care to people, so this includes various professions.
              • You help people who need extra care, for example the sick or people with a disability.
              • You not only provide care to patients, but also to their families. It is important that you teach those involved how to deal with the situation or illness.
              • A care provider provides personal care, social and medical care and provides information and advice.
              • The care is completely focused on well-being and living. You also help with household tasks, such as tidying up, cleaning and cooking.

              What are your (internship) duties as a nurse?

              • As a nurse, you perform duties such as personal care, wound care and administering medication and injections.
              • As a nurse, you often provide a variety of nursing care to patients.
              • Nursing technical procedures include, for example, inserting an IV, a stoma, catheter or a (stomach) tube.
              • You observe the patients in the department and sound the alarm in time with a colleague or a doctor in the event of a deterioration in the patient's condition.
              • Depending on the specialism, specific nursing procedures are also added, such as taking a blood gas test in the Intensive Care Unit or the Emergency Department.
              • You also prepare the rooms and equipment for patients and do administrative work. Both doctors and nurses spend a lot of time documenting the patient's medical data (the current status, changes in the treatment plan including medication).
              • In addition to these activities, you also supervise patients; it is important that you help them in how to deal with a situation, such as an illness. As a nurse, you give instructions and advice to the patient and you are the first point of contact for the family in the department. The conversations with the family are usually conducted by the attending physician.

              What do you get out of it? Why would you do an internship abroad?

              • To gain experience in your own field of work, or in the sector where you may want to work later.
              • To experience yourself working in a different environment.
              • To be able to work in a different field of work, and see if you like it.
              • To use it as a stepping stone for a local job with a salary.
              • To help others with your commitment and skills.
              • To support organizations or goals that you consider important in your life.

              What do you bring with you? What do you need if you want to do an internship abroad?

              • Flexibility: you already need some form of flexibility, the rest you will gain during your stay abroad.
              • Communication skills: depending on the type of work, you will need to have a reasonable to good command of the local language.
              • Independence.
              • Being aware of your surroundings.
              • Ability to cooperate.

              To what extent are you insured for the risks?

              Werken op een camping of bushcamp in het buitenland: wat is het, waarom zou je doen en waar kan je het beste heen?

              SPOTLIGHT

              Themes: main theme pages for travel, living and working abroad in favorite countries

              Themes: main theme pages for travel, living and working abroad in favorite countries

              Selected theme pages with blogs and contributions of WorldSupporters about travel, work and living abroad per country

              Travel, living and working in China and Hong Kong - Theme
              Travel, living and working in Costa Rica - Theme
              Travel, living and working in Curacao - Theme
              Travel, living and working in Guatemala - Theme

              Travel, living and working in Guatemala - Theme

              Image

              Travel, living and working in Guatemala

              Guatemala, land of Maya people, mysterious traditions and amazing landscapes.

              Tikal, the Mayan center, in the jungle full of howler monkeys, together with the very colorful Guatemalan population, is the main attraction. Antigua is the place where many Spanish courses are given and where it is pleasant to stay. Chichi has

              ........Read more
              Travel, living and working in India - Theme
              Travel, living and working in Laos - Theme

              Travel, living and working in Laos - Theme

              Image

              Moving and living in Laos for work, internships, volunteering, study, travel or backpacking

              Laos is the epitome of tranquility, beautiful nature, friendly people and many monks in orange and yellow robes. Although the country is increasingly being discovered by tourists and travelers alike, it has retained its authentic character for now. You imagine yourself back in time in Laos and........Read more

              Travel, living and working in Spain - Theme
              Travel, living and working in Thailand - Theme
              Travel, living and working in The Netherlands (Holland) - Theme
              Travel, living and working in The Philippines - Theme

              Travel, living and working in The Philippines - Theme

              philippines flag

              Moving and living in Philippines for work, internships, volunteering, study, travel or backpacking

              The Philippines consists of 7,107 islands, of which only a part is inhabited. You will find many Bounty beaches and an amazing underwater world where you can snorkel with whale sharks, for example. Visit one of the small uninhabited islands and imagine yourself in paradise

              ........Read more
              Travel, living and working in Vietnam - Theme
              Sector: organizations for gap year activities abroad and sabbaticals

              SPOTLIGHT NL

              Digitale Nomaden & Werken in het buitenland: blogs en bijdragen van WorldSupporters

              Digitale Nomaden & Werken in het buitenland: blogs en bijdragen van WorldSupporters

               

               

              Op zoek naar ultieme vrijheid in je werkende (digital nomad) leven? Ga naar Canggu!

              Op zoek naar ultieme vrijheid in je werkende (digital nomad) leven? Ga naar Canggu!

              Working at the beach in Thailand

              "Working in the cloud". "Digital nomads". "Cloud computing". "Working nomads". "Wanderers". "De moderne nomaden". Vele -veelal Engelse- termen die een leven typeren met "ultieme vrijheid" waarin je werken, vrije tijd, reizen en ontspannen op een ideale manier combineert.

              Digitale nomaden zijn personen die het internet gebruiken om hun werk locatieonafhankelijk uit te voeren. Ze leven een "nomadisch" bestaan door veel te reizen en op die manier gebruik te maken van hun flexibele manier van werken en geld verdienen. Aldus Wikipedia.

              Nieuwe manier van werken

              Een steeds groter wordende groep mensen -wereldwijd- kiest voor een flexibele manier van werken. Niet meer werken op één vaste locatie, niet meer kiezen voor één vaste werkgever, maar "locatie-onafhankelijk werken", bijvoorbeeld als freelancer, veelal voor diverse opdrachtgevers. Digitale nomaden gaan een stap verder dan de thuiswerkers; men trekt de wereld in, maakt rondtrekkend werken tot een lifestyle. Digitale nomaden gebruiken internettools die "werken in de cloud" faciliteren, kiezen werkzaamheden die goed op afstand kunnen worden uitgevoerd of ontwikkelen nieuwe vaardigheden en competenties die beter aansluiten bij deze manieren van reizen en werken.

              Werkzaamheden op afstand

              Niet iedere job leent zich ervoor om afscheid te nemen van het vaste bureau op -altijd maar weer- diezelfde werklocatie. Digital nomads kiezen bijvoorbeeld voor:

              • starten van een webwinkel
              • online teksten schrijven ('content marketeer')
              • programmeren of webdesignen
              • maken van vertalingen
              • editen van videomateriaal
              • starten van een site, blog, vlog of ander online kanaal
              • ontwikkelen van apps
              • managen van social media kanalen
              • starten van een online coachings-, trainings- of adviesbureau
              • geven van (online) presentaties

              Ook voor dit soort werkzaamheden is contact met een opdrachtgever veelal noodzakelijk (tenzij je je eigen opdrachtgever bent). Maar digital nomads zijn experts in het op afstand van contact onderhouden met hun opdrachtgevers, via online meetings, videobellen etc. Of men vliegt, indien essentieel, een keer heen-en-weer voor face2face overleg op een fysieke locatie.

              Verander je vaste werklocatie en kies voor een mountain view

              Favoriete werklocaties

              Digital nomads vind je overal, wereldwijd. Volgens mij is de essentie van het bestaan als digital nomad dat je werken en reizen combineert, dat je regelmatig van werkplek en -regio verandert. Daarbij zijn vooral Zuidoost-Azië en Zuid-Amerika populaire bestemmingen; vooral vanwege klimaat, kosten van levensonderhoud en levensstijl.

              Een leuke website die digital nomad werklocaties inventariseert en rangschikt vond ik nomadlist.com. Via uitgebreide data-analyse en een duizelingwekkende hoeveelheid factoren zijn locaties in kaart gebracht. Inderdaad redelijk wat Zuidoost-Azië en Zuid-Amerika locaties in de top-50, maar toch ook veel Europese wereldsteden als Barcelona, Madrid, Berlijn, Lissabon.

              De últieme bestemming voor working nomads is echter Canggu op Bali (Indonesië). Lonely Planet noemt het meer een state-of-mind dan een echte plaats...dat zegt al heel veel denk ik. Met een enorm aantal bedrijfjes en dan vooral laagdrempelige cafeetjes worden de working nomads gefaciliteerd. De werklocaties bevinden zich, hoe kan het ook anders, met name vlakbij het strand. Bij Nomadlist scoort de plaats goed op onder andere internetsnelheid, luchtkwaliteit, verkeersveiligheid, beschikbare werkplekken, vriendelijkheid ten opzichte van buitenlanders, "fun", beschikbaarheid van gratis WIFI, vriendelijkheid voor vrouwen en tolerantie.

              Sit, relax and work at Canggu Beach

              Deel je ervaringen

              Heb jij ervaring met het nomadenbestaan als werkende reiziger of reizende werker?

              • Deel de voors & tegens met anderen die ook al rondreizen, of juist nadenken over een dergelijk bestaan.
              • Wat was jouw motivatie om je vaste(re) werkstructuren op te geven en te kiezen voor een working nomad levensstijl?
              • Heb je tips voor mensen die nadenken over een carrière-move en twijfelen om over te stappen naar een leven als working nomad?
              • Schrijf een reactie hieronder, of maak een eigen blog.

              Meer lezen

              24 uur uit het leven van een Nomadic Boyfriend

              24 uur uit het leven van een Nomadic Boyfriend

              Het is een vaak gehoorde uitspraak in onze community: ‘Het leven van een Nomadic Boyfriend gaat niet over rozen, maar over reizen’. Deze uitspraak klopt als een bus. Het is heus niet altijd makkelijk. Maar veel mensen weten dat helemaal niet. Of ze begrijpen het niet. Zelfs digital nomads hebben nog altijd moeite om te zien hoe lastig of overweldigend ons leven soms kan zijn. Daarom vertel ik jullie graag over een willekeurige dag uit het leven van een Nomadic Boyfriend. Chronologisch opgebouwd en gebaseerd op een dag die echt heeft plaatsgevonden in Jodhpur, India.

              07:00 – Vroeg op

              In de verte hoor ik een wekker gaan. Vergeleken met de dagen tijdens mijn laatste kantoorbaan, is 7 uur nog steeds een beetje wennen. Zo vroeg! We gaan vandaag het eeuwenoude fort van de blauwe stad Jodhpur ontdekken. Jodhpur is een Indiase stad in de populaire toeristische provincie Rajasthan. We worden straks opgehaald door een lokale gids die ons er alles over gaat vertellen. Daisy staat al naast het bed en rekt zich uit. Ik zie door mijn slaperige ogen dat ze bijna allebei de muren aan kan raken. De ruimte die je hebt tijdens het nomadische bestaan manifesteert zich niet in de hotelkamers. Daarvoor moet je echt naar buiten.

              07:30 – Baconloos ontbijt

              Verschillende andere backpackers hebben zich al op het dakterras begeven en iets van het menu gekozen. Ik bestel een ei. “Bacon?”, vraagt de ober/receptionist. Bacon eet ik niet meer*. “Nee”, zeg ik daarom teleurgesteld**. Ik bestel wel koffie, want dat mag ik nog wel van mezelf. Als mijn ei op is smeer ik nog een beetje suikersmurrie op een plakje toast. Ze noemen dat hier jam, maar in Nederland is de jam net iets minder suikersmurrie dan hier.

              09:30 – Rotzooi op straat

              Als we door de gids zijn opgehaald valt het me op dat er overal afval op straat ligt. Een winkeleigenaar komt naar buiten met een vuilnisemmer die hij op straat leeggooit. “Waarom wordt het afval niet gewoon opgehaald?”, vraag ik de gids. “Het is weekend, dan wordt het niet opgehaald.” Koeien kauwen op grote stukken karton en de geur is bij deze temperatuur niet te harden. De gids vertelt dat ze eerder wel vuilnisbakken hadden, maar die werden door dronken jongeren in de brand gestoken. De oplossing van de gemeente: De bakken weer weg halen. “Goed bezig”, denk ik cynisch. De bakken zijn inderdaad het probleem.

              10:00 – Zweten in de Indiase hitte

              De gids vraagt of we vanaf het hostel met een taxi of lopend naar boven willen gaan. We kiezen allebei voor lopend omdat het fort niet ver weg is. Ik heb me alleen niet gerealiseerd dat we heel ver omhoog moeten lopen. (Wat overigens wel dom is, want het fort staat op een vet hoge rots/berg). De zware tas die ik als assistent draag hangt zwaar aan mijn schouders. Er zit een Osmo+, een DJI Mavic Pro drone inclusief 3 accu’s, 2 extra lenzen, een 360-graden-camera, een microfoon, een opschrijfboekje met pen en een regenhoes voor de rugtas in de rugtas. De 360-graden-camera hebben we sinds Iran niet meer gebruikt, maar ik blijf hem braaf meenemen. Het helpt niet mee dat het om 09:30 al zo’n 30 graden is in Jodhpur en de zon staat hoog aan de hemel. Mijn rug is zeiknat.

              11:00 – Overweg leren gaan met een camera

              Als we in het fort zijn zit er een man op een trommel te spelen en te zingen. “Foto, foto!”, roept hij. Dat wil Daisy wel. Ze maakt een paar foto’s van hem en vraagt vervolgens of ik even bij hem wil gaan zitten. Ik luister braaf. Daarna geeft Daisy haar Canon 80D aan mij. Ik ben geen goeie fotograaf. Vaak zijn mijn foto’s te licht of te donker. Of onscherp. Meestal zie ik dat zelf niet, maar gelukkig helpt Daisy me goed. Deze keer gaat het redelijk. De 27ste foto is goed gelukt. En de muzikant vraagt uiteindelijk maar geld voor 1 foto!

              12:00 – Geen Selfie! 

              Verschillende houten katrollen staan aan de rand van het fort in verschillende erkertjes. Om de erkertjes staat een hekje. “Do not pass, selfiedanger!” vertelt een waarschuwingsbordje. De gids legt uit dat er een toerist naar beneden is gevallen terwijl hij een selfie wilde maken met het houten werktuig. Dood. Zo plat als een dubbeltje. Geen spaan meer van heel. Einde verhaal. Door een selfie. Dat staat dan ook op je grafsteen. Iets als: ‘Hij deed het selfie’ of ‘Hij wilde het self nie’ of ‘Gelukkig hebben we z’n foto’s nog’. Ben je mooi klaar mee.

              13:00 – Even uitrusten met een snack

              Na het fort wandelen we achter 3 koeien aan de heuvel af. We dalen aan de andere kant, richting het stadscentrum. De oude klokkentoren staat er mooi bij. De gids brengt ons naar een beroemd lokaal samosa restaurant. ‘Wil je de pittige variant proberen?’, vraagt hij. Ik zeg ja, want na 5 weken India ben ik wel wat gewend. Twee minuten later sta ik met een servetje de tranen van mijn rood aangelopen gezicht te vegen. Mijn mond staat in brand. De gids moet lachen. Ik niet. Met de wetenschap dat ik hier morgen aan de andere kant van mijn lichaam waarschijnlijk opnieuw van ga genieten stappen we het restaurantje uit. Mijn billen knijpen al angstig samen bij die gedachte.

              14:30 – De verkoopshow

              Na de lunch wandelen we nog even over het historische plein. Verschillende winkeltjes en kraampjes proberen ons spullen te verkopen. Ik probeer uit te leggen dat wij een volle backpack hebben. “Golden necklace. Very beautiful! For girlfriend”, is de enige reactie die ik krijg. Dan stopt onze gids plotseling voor een tapijtenwinkel. Of we hier even naar binnen willen, want dit is wel echt een goeie winkel. Ik heb gelijk door dat onze gids commissie ontvangt door toeristen naar binnen te lokken, maar ik heb wel zin in een showtje. Een voor een rollen twee mannen de mooist mogelijke tapijten voor ons uit. We krijgen uitleg over stoffen, over formaten en achtergrondinformatie over de zijderoute. De symmetrie van de twee verkopende artiesten is weergaloos. Dat fort is leuk, maar als je kans ziet om ook nog naar het tapijtenwinkeltje te gaan, ga vooral! We hebben trouwens niks gekocht, want dat doen wij zo min mogelijk. Maar ze verschepen eventueel ook naar Nederland.

              16:00 – Jodphur, vieze stad

              Jodhpur staat bekend als The blue city. In het oude centrum staan veel blauwe huisjes die ervoor zorgen dat de stad er van bovenaf blauwig uitziet. Als we door de stad wandelen zien we dat niet alle huisjes blauw zijn, maar wel veel. Inmiddels ben ik een beetje moe. Mijn schouders beginnen pijn te doen en mijn wandelschoenen voelen zwaar. Het is vooral de viezigheid die me opvalt, niet de blauwe huisjes. Wat een smerige bedoening is het hier. De hele stad lijkt zich te hebben ontdaan van z’n afval en dat wordt op z’n vroegst morgen opgehaald. Ik zie een rat lopen en stap bijna in de koeienstront. Die blauwe stad kan me gestolen worden. Ik ga terug naar het hostel.

              18:00 – Met z'n tweeen aan het avondmaal

              Nadat we afscheid hebben genomen van de gids en ons hebben opgefrist zetten we koers naar een restaurant dat we vanmiddag hebben gespot. Het is iets chiquer dan eigenlijk bij ons past, maar ik heb het echt even nodig na vandaag. We praten over de dag, welke blogs mijn digital nomad hierover gaat schrijven, bekijken de foto’s en kijken vooruit naar de aankomende dagen. Ik bestel weer een keer een biertje***. Dat doe ik niet meer zo vaak omdat het relatief duur is. Echt even genieten. Ik reken af en schrijf onze uitgaven op. Hoewel ik het geld niet verdien ben ik wel verantwoordelijk voor de financiën.

              19:30 – Lauwe koffie

              Veel mensen vinden het supergaaf als een goeie barista ze een mooie cappuccino serveert. Bijvoorbeeld met een herfstblad of een vogeltje. Ik baal dan altijd een beetje, want ik weet wat er dan eerst moet gebeuren: een foto maken. Pas op het moment dat Daisy mijn mooie cappuccino het eeuwige visuele leven heeft gegeven neem ik een slok. Lauwe koffie, het blijft wennen.

              22:00 – Naar bed! 

              Het was een lange dag. Niet heel bijzonder in het leven van een Nomadic Boyfriend. Er zijn niet superveel gekke dingen gebeurd. Nu is het tijd om lekker te gaan slapen. Morgen is het weer vroeg dag! Eigenlijk is dat een hele rare uitspraak, want het is elke dag rond dezelfde tijd dag. Gewoon als de nacht stopt. Als het licht wordt. Volgens mij is dat altijd vroeg. Maar goed, in het leven van een digital nomad kan alles gebeuren, dus misschien wordt het ook nog wel eens laat dag. Wie weet.

              07:00 – De volgende dag! 

              Ik hoor dezelfde wekker als gisteren. Vandaag staat er er een reisdag op het programma. We gaan naar Fort Chandalao, waar we twee nachten gaan slapen. Daar schreef ik al eens een blog over op All Day Every Daisy. We moeten eerst nog een simkaart kopen en vervoer organiseren, nadat we weer een ei zonder bacon hebben gegeten. Ik droomde vannacht van papierkauwende menskoeien met selfiesticks die zichzelf één voor één van een blauw fort af kieperden terwijl iemand probeerde een tapijt aan ze te verkopen. Het is tijd voor een nieuwe dag.

              *Inmiddels zijn wij helemaal gestopt met het eten van dierlijke producten, dus ook ei. Ook dit is een direct gevolg van wat ik leer van mijn digital nomad. Hierover vertel ik later meer!
              **Ik vind bacon nog steeds lekker ruiken en er lekker uitzien. Daarom ben ik teleurgesteld.
              ***Die drink ik nog wel gewoon.
              Hoe voel je je snel thuis als je gaat wonen of werken in het buitenland?

              Hoe voel je je snel thuis als je gaat wonen of werken in het buitenland?

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              Maandenlange voorbereidingen. Perioden van ideeënvorming, concretisering, knopen doorhaken, de emigratiebeslissing delen, praktische voorbereiding en afscheid nemen. En dan...eindelijk vertrokken naar het buitenland. Vele tienduizenden Nederlanders doorlopen globaal dit proces wanneer ze voor langere tijd, of 'definitief', vertrekken uit Nederland. Niet zelden is het beeld van "in het buitenland wonen" ‘geromantiseerd’, denken we dat alles ‘vanzelf’ gaat en ‘wel goedkomt’.

              Onnodig beren op de weg creëeren hoeft niet en met grip op alle te nemen stappen, valkuilen en een goede voorbereiding kom je een heel eind. Tóch geeft een flink aantal van de vertrokken Nederlanders aan een moeizame eerste periode na vertrek door te maken. Processen rondom culture shock spelen uiteraard een rol, maar er speelt nog wat: er wordt in de voorbereidingen vaak weinig bewust aandacht besteed aan 'het snel gewend raken op de nieuwe bestemming'.

              6 mythen rondom de eerste periode na vertrek

              Emigratiecoach Aimee, zelf een aantal jaren geleden geëmigreerd naar Frankrijk, spreekt van '6 mythen over emigreren naar het buitenland':

              Nieuwe vrienden heb je zo

              In de praktijk blijkt dat het maken van nieuwe vriendschappen tijd kost. Er zijn meerdere contactmomenten over een langere periode nodig om écht aansluiting te vinden, los van eventuele sterke culture verschillen met mensen in je directe omgeving.

              Je voelt je meteen thuis

              Bij 'je thuis voelen' komt een hoop meer kijken dan alleen een 'nieuw huis'. Het duurt gewoon even voordat je weer in balans bent. Ook in het buitenland krijg je je eerste ergernissen, gaat je roze bril na de eerste dagen of weken af.

              Contact met Nederland gaat vanzelf

              Met de huidige technologische middelen is het hartstikke makkelijk om contact te onderhouden. Voor vertrek wordt dat door iedereen ook bevestigd, maar eenmaal aangekomen blijkt toch dat contacten verwateren. Je mist belangrijke momenten bij familie en vrienden in Nederland. En zij kunnen zich op hun beurt vaak maar moeilijk verplaatsen in jouw ervaringen elders op de wereld.

              Iedereen die zegt dat hij op bezoek komt, komt ook

              Als iedereen die voor vertrek zegt je in het buitenland te komen bezoeken ook écht langs zou komen, dan zou je het razend druk hebben. Maar de realiteit is dat ook in Nederland het leven doorgaat en dat de meesten er niet zomaar even tussenuit kunnen. 

              Je (eerdere) problemen verdwijnen door de nieuwe start

              Ergens anders helemaal opnieuw beginnen, een mooie kans om een nieuwe start te maken en alles anders te gaan doen. Maar natuurlijk neem je jezelf, je karakter, je angsten en onzekerheden (en die van je eventuele partner) mee. Daarbij komt de stress van de verhuizing, die ook zorgt voor nieuwe problemen.

              De kinderen zijn snel gewend

              'Kinderen zijn zó flexibel, die zijn zo gewend aan hun nieuwe situatie.' Voor veel kinderen geldt dit ook wel. Maar ze hebben daarbij wel begeleiding nodig. Ze bewust helpen om zich goed te voelen in hun nieuwe woonomgeving kost energie.

              Voel Je Snel Thuis In Het Buitenland - Week

              Is alles rondom een vertrek naar het buitenland dan alleen maar 'kommer en kwel'? Nee, uiteraard niet! Een goede eerste periode na vertrek naar het buitenland heeft alles te maken met jezelf bewust zijn van bovenstaande mythes en je eigen verwachtingen. Een goede voorbereiding -op álle thema's rondom vertrek- kan een hoop schelen. En soms is het handig om ervaringen uit te wisselen met lotgenoten of gebruik te maken van een coach en ervaringsdeskundige.

              Hoe voel je je sneller thuis waar je woont? Hoe geniet je meer van je omgeving? Hoe krijg je meer vertrouwen in je toekomst in het buitenland? Hoe zorg je voor meer geluk in je leven in het buitenland?

              De 'Voel Je Snel Thuis In Het Buitenland' - Week wordt door De Emigratiecoach periodiek, of op maat, aangeboden. Een week lang krijg je achtergronden bij en opdrachten over kernthema's gericht op een snelle gewenning bij je nieuwe thuis. Deze focusweek stelt je in staat om te focussen op wat voor jou (en je eventuele partner, je kinderen) nodig is om snel(ler) gewend te raken aan je fysiek nieuwe omgeving, maar je werkt ook aan je mentale veerkracht. Je gaat 'thuis' aan de slag, maar staat ook in live contact met je emigratiecoach. Er is volop ruimte voor het stellen van vragen en delen van twijfels.

              Op stage in het buitenland? Tijdelijk een langere periode voor werk of vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland? Ook dan kan je direct na aankomst opeens sterke twijfel hebben over het avontuur dat je bent aangegaan, of bijvoorbeeld issues rondom heimwee ervaren. Hoezeer je ook uitkeek naar je vertrek. Leg eens contact met de Emigratiecoach om te kijken hoe je deze eerste periode goed door komt.

              Deel je ervaringen

              • Hoe sloten jouw verwachtingen voor vertrek aan op de realiteit na aankomst? Op welke manier heb je je voorbereid op de eerste periode in het buitenland?
              • Herken je bovenstaande mythes en zijn er wellicht andere zaken waar vertrekkers bewust van zouden moeten zijn? Heb je concrete tips om zelf -plus eventuele partner en kinderen- de eerste weken na aankomst goed door te komen?
              • Deel je ervaringen via een reactie onderaan, of schrijf een eigen blog.

              Lees meer

              • Oriënteer je op de kernthema's in je voorbereiding bij vertrek naar het buitenland voor langere tijd
              • Maak gebruik van de uitgebreide Keuzehulp van JoHo rondom vertrek voor een lange periode in het buitenland; bijvoorbeeld rondom culture shock, heimwee, bewust afscheid nemen en eerste regelzaken na aankomst in het buitenland.
              • Bron: De Emigratiecoach (helaas ondertussen niet meer actief in coaching van emigranten)
              Wat zijn de eerste aandachtspunten als je gaat wonen en werken in het buitenland?

              Wat zijn de eerste aandachtspunten als je gaat wonen en werken in het buitenland?

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              Vertrek je voor een lang verblijf naar het buitenland, of ga je emigreren, dan vind je online op sites, in Facebookgroepen en op fora veel versnipperde informatie. Hieronder tien eerste tips om je op weg te helpen bij je voorbereidend werk. Bij "Lees meer" vind je tips voor je vervolgroute(s)!

              1. Houd een vertrek- en verblijfdagboek / persoonlijk magazine bij

              • voor het vastleggen van hetgeen je meemaakt, ervaart
              • in alle fasen van je verblijf in het buitenland
              • om na een eerste periode van gewenning of bij latere twijfel/heimwee nog eens terug te kunnen kijken naar je motivaties en verwachtingen
              • voor het delen van kennis en ervaringen: met je thuisfront en/of met vertrekkers na jou

              2. Verdiep je #1 & start tijdig met je voor te bereiden

              • verdiep je in onder andere taal & cultuur, gezondheidszorg, veiligheid, push- en pullfactoren, budgettering
              • maak lijstjes, taakplanningen en vink af: alle mee-verhuizenden (partner, kinderen)
              • maak gebruik van de uitgebreidere checklists -zie Lees meer

              3. Benut de kennis van anderen

              • regel een sparring partner die objectief meekijkt -voor reflectiemomenten
              • regel iemand die je administratieve zaken in Nederland kan beheren c.q. een zaakwaarnemer
              • verdiep je in de ervaringen van expats, emigranten die al terplaatse zijn
              • gebruik overzichten van organisaties die je kunnen ondersteunen -zie Lees meer

              4. Maak een shortlist van eisen en wensen omtrent je nieuwe woonomgeving

              • overleg tijdig de (on)mogelijkheden van een expat afdeling als je wordt uitgezonden
              • laat je via een gespecialiseerd bureau of juridisch adviseur voorlichten over alle wettelijke regelingen rondom het aankopen van een woning als (buitenlands) particulier
              • laat de staat van je koopwoning grondig onderzoeken voordat je tot koop overgaat
              • overweeg gebruik te maken van een intermediair als je je woning in Nederland gaat (onder)verhuren en check eventuele gevolgen voor je huisverzekeringen
              • start tijdig met het opvragen van offertes bij verhuizers (het combineren van ladingen kan soms een kostenvoordeel opleveren)

              5. Let tijdig op (door)lopende regelingen & abonnementen

              • maak een lijst van alle lopende verplichtingen, abonnementen, contracten en let op opzegtermijnen of calculeer boetes in bij voortijdig opzeggen
              • informeer bij je huidige bank(en) naar de gevolgen van emigratie voor lopende rekeningen, creditcards, spaartegoeden
              • reken tijdig af met de belastingdienst
              • maak op tijd een start met het opstellen van een lijst met te informeren instanties

              6. Verdiep je #2: in regelgeving, ziektekosten, sociale voorzieningen

              • verdiep je tijdig in de regels rondom het stopzetten van je zorgverzekering & uitschrijven uit de Basisregistratie Personen
              • bouw voldoende basiskennis op over de in je nieuwe woonland geldende wetten & regels
              • vraag tijdig advies bij een specialist voor het regelen van passende internationaal bruikbare (ziektekosten)verzekeringen
              • verdiep je in regelgeving rondom het wel of niet stopzetten van kinderopvangtoeslag, huurtoeslag, zorgtoeslag
              • check welke gevolgen je buitenland verblijf hebben op AOW en pensioen; regel particuliere (bij)verzekering
              • verdiep je in lokale gezondheidszorg: ziekenhuizen, (huis)artsen, tandartsen, kraamzorg en zoek uit van welke je wel of niet gebruik mag maken (als buitenlander, via je internationale ziektekostenverzekering)

              7. Oriënteer je op tijd op werk & vrijwilligerswerk

              • oriënteer je op tijd op mogelijke werkzaamheden voor jezelf en eventuele partner in je nieuwe woonland: werk, vrijwilligerswerk
              • verdiep je in visumkansen bij het werk dat je voor ogen hebt & check beroepenlijsten die je visumkansen kunnen verhogen; maak per gezinslid een visum & (werk)vergunning inventarisatie
              • zoek uit wat de waarde is van je Nederlandse diploma's & opleidingscertificaten in je nieuwe woonland; laat documenten tijdig legaliseren
              • word je uitgezonden, informeer dan bij je werkgever naar het huidige expatbeleid en de manier waarop je bedrijf jou en je gezin kan ondersteunen
              • zoek tijdig uit welke documenten (diploma's, certificaten) je moet vertalen en legaliseren

              8. Regel ruim voor vertrek onderwijs & cursus voor jezelf en je kinderen

              • zoek manieren op je nieuwe woonbestemming om 'spelenderwijs' te werken aan je taalvaardigheden; via vrienden, verenigingen, bijeenkomsten, radio, tv etc.
              • besteed op tijd aandacht aan onderwijs voor je kinderen in het buitenland, aangevuld met (of vervangen door) onderwijs-op-afstand
              • verdiep je in de regels omtrent de Nederlandse leerplichtwet
              • onderzoek de aansluiting van onderwijsmethodieken op je nieuwe woonbestemming met onderwijs in Nederland; voorkom tijdig dat je kind achterstanden op gaat lopen of zorg voor extra lessen op specifieke vakken

              9. Bereid je praktisch voor op vertrek, cultuur & culture schock

              • wacht niet te lang met het delen van je vertrekbeslissing met dierbaren, als de knoop eenmaal is doorgehakt
              • kies een goed doordacht vertrekmoment: seizoen/klimaat, werk, onderwijs, huisvesting, reiskosten, visa
              • overweeg een centraal afscheidsmoment voor globale vrienden, collega's en kennissen
              • verdiep je vooraf in de fasen van culture shock en neem de tijd om te wennen na aankomst
              • stop energie in het opbouwen van vriendschappelijke relaties met locals en je internationale netwerk

              10. Hou altijd rekening met onverwachte of voortijdige terugkeer

              • blijf investeren in je relaties in Nederland; zowel privé als qua werk/zakelijk
              • regel internationale verzekeringen waarbij plotselinge terugkeer mogelijk is (je blijft verzekerd/kosten worden vergoed)
              • zorg voor voldoende aansluiting van het lokale onderwijs op het Nederlandse onderwijs -of laat je kinderen extra lessen volgen

              Lees meer

              Start met delen

              Leren solliciteren en werk vinden in Cambodja

              Leren solliciteren en werk vinden in Cambodja

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              Athit Kong werd in 2002 ontslagen vanwege zijn inzet voor de Cambodjaanse vakbond. Hij werkte toen zo’n 2,5 jaar als assistent-machineoperator op de wasafdeling van een textielfabriek. Maar van de een op de andere dag was het voorbij. Sindsdien maakt hij carrière bij de bond; nu is hij vice-voorzitter. Athit zorgde er samen met anderen voor dat de vakbond groeide van 5.000 naar ruim 50.000 leden. ‘Het is echt een leerproces, werken bij een vakbond. Maar langzaamaan zie ik resultaten. We groeien, de werkomstandigheden verbeteren en er is een minimumloon bereikt’.

              Waarom een artikel over de vakbond in Cambodja?

              Normaliter heb ik niet zoveel met vakbonden. Ik heb er gewoon bijzonder weinig mee te maken gehad, in mijn werkzame jaren tot nu toe. Via een klik hier en een klik daar ben ik terecht gekomen op de website van CNV Internationaal. En daar klik ik, uit nieuwsgierigheid, op de pagina ‘projecten waarvoor financiering wordt gezocht’. Om uit te komen bij de Cambodja pagina. De informatie en het interview met Athit Kong triggeren me. En specifieker, één zin blijft in mijn achterhoofd hangen.

              De vakbond in Cambodja wil graag een project uitvoeren waarbij 150 jongeren een sollicitatietraining krijgen, leren hoe ze een baan kunnen vinden en wat hun rechten zijn.

              Leren solliciteren en werk vinden dus. Mmm, dat komt me ergens bekend van voor.

              Wie of wat is CNV Internationaal?

              CNV Internationaal komt wereldwijd op voor arbeidsrechten en helpt werkenden om sterk te staan en zich te organiseren in vakbonden. Zo kunnen werknemers wereldwijd ook zélf hun werkomstandigheden verbeteren. CNV werkt samen met lokale vakbondsorganisaties. Zij weten immers zelf het beste wat er nodig is voor de mensen ter plekke, op de werkvloer.

              • CNV Internationaal is een afdeling binnen de CNV Vakcentrale, het op 1 na grootste vakverbond in Nederland met ruim 235.000 leden.
              • Het uitgangspunt van CNV? Iedereen heeft recht op goed werk.
              • CNV Internationaal heeft drie focusregio’s: Latijns-Amerika (5 kernlanden), Afrika (6 kernlanden) en Azië (3 kernlanden)
              • Binnen de drie regio’s onderscheidt CNV Internationaal drie werkterreinen: arbeidsrechten, werkgelegenheid voor jongeren en de ‘sociale dialoog’.
              • Binnen die werkterreinen focust CNV weer op vier kernthema’s: palmolie, mijnbouw, suikerriet en kleding.

              Maar goed, Cambodja dus.

              Ik lees verder op de website van CNV Internationaal. CNV steunt in Cambodja het werk van de jonge vakbondsorganisatie CLC, met CCAWDU als grootste aangesloten organisatie en dé bond voor de arbeiders in de textielfabrieken. Deze organisatie groeit van vijfduizend leden in 2000 naar ruim vijftigduizend nu. De werkomstandigheden van arbeiders in de textielfabrieken zijn inmiddels verbeterd en er is in de textielsector een minimumloon bereikt.

              CLC richtte bijvoorbeeld in 2015 bij zes bedrijven CLC-bonden op, onder meer in de horeca en de toeristische sector. Door dat te doen, kunnen de rechten van steeds meer werknemers worden gewaarborgd. Maar belangrijker nog: kunnen werknemers een normaal, fatsoenlijk loon verdienen waarmee ze in hun dagelijkse levensbehoefte (voedsel, woonruimte, onderwijs en toegang tot gezondheidszorg) kunnen voorzien.

              Werkgelegenheid voor jongeren in Cambodja

              Ook in Cambodja heeft de jeugd de toekomst. Maar om een goede toekomst te kunnen realiseren is naast goed onderwijs ook voldoende toegang tot de arbeidsmarkt nodig. Voldoende werkgelegenheid dus voor jongeren en -een andere deels overlappende focusdoelgroep- vrouwen. Maar ook fatsoenlijke werktijden, een veilige en gezonde werkomgeving, een normaal uurloon dat past bij de levensstandaard in Cambodja en normale werknemersrechten.

              Aan de ene kant kun je zorgen voor voldoende werkgelegenheid, maar dan moeten aan de andere kant de Cambodjaanse jongeren voldoende vaardigheden hebben om die banen te bemachtigen. Zie hier de zin waarmee ik dit artikel begon: De vakbond in Cambodja wil graag een project uitvoeren waarbij 150 jongeren een sollicitatietraining krijgen, leren hoe ze een baan kunnen vinden en wat hun rechten zijn.


              PROMOTING CORE LABOUR STANDARDS,  TOWARDS A DECENT JOB FOR CAMBODIAN WORKERS

              Onder deze projectnaam slaan CNV International en CLC in Cambodja de handen ineen, met financiële steun van de EU -ja, Europa dus. Dat Europa dat wij als Nederlanders zo steunen of bekritiseren.

              Belangrijkste doelen van het project, voor wat betreft de 'arbeidsrechten':

              • tegengaan van overmatige werkuren
              • steunen van het recht van werknemers om zich te verenigen
              • stimuleren van een gezonde werkomgeving, tegengaan van regelmatig flauwvallen van werknemers
              • versterken van onderhandelingsvaardigheden van vakbondsleiders

              Mede door de website van CNV had ik de gedachte dat dit project volop actief is, totdat ik in een nieuwsbericht lees dat het project met een ‘final conference’ tussen 13 en 16 maart 2017 is beëindigd. Er zijn trainingen georganiseerd over onderhandelen en gelijke rechten voor vrouwen en mannen en er zijn festiviteiten geweest rondom belangrijke internationale dagen van de arbeid, jeugd en mensenrechten. Er zijn nieuwe allianties gevormd voor een betere dialoog tussen overheid, werkgevers en maatschappelijke organisaties.

              OK – project afgerond dus. De gedachte die ik bij afgeronde projecten altijd heb bekruipt me ook nu: “En daarna dan?” Hoe staat het nu met die arbeidsrechten? En zijn die 150 jongeren nou eigenlijk getraind in sollicitatietechnieken? Zijn de werkuren en werkomstandigheden in Cambodja nu echt verbeterd? Wat doet CNV nu dan in Cambodja, in de periode 2018, 2019 en 2020?

              Ik blijf over met teveel vragen. Tegelijkertijd snap ik dat je arbeidsomstandigheden in een land met ruim 16 miljoen inwoners niet zomaar even met een ‘EU projectje’ verandert. Dat zijn processen van de lange adem. En ook snap ik dat een website niet altijd de meest up-to-date stand van zaken laat zien.

              Nog even over sollicitatietrainingen

              De hele tijd tijdens het lezen van de achtergronden van dit project blijft dat zinnetje maar in mijn hoofd hangen…150 Cambodjaanse jongeren leren te solliciteren. Wat een toeval dat mijn werkgever, Stichting JoHo, ‘talentontwikkeling’ al jaren als speerpunt heeft. Het stimuleren van vragen als (en antwoorden op) hoe krijg ik een beter zelfinzicht, wie ben ik, wat kan ik, wat wil ik ontwikkelen, waar wil ik werken, en wat past daar dan bij qua werkplek, soort werkgever en baan. Dat we al sinds jaar en dag informatie ontwikkelen over het ontwikkelen van je talenten, solliciteren, assessments, opdoen van werkervaring.

              Nu weet ik ook wel dat de bestaande info van JoHo vooral gericht is op Nederlanders. Nederlanders, die vooral in Nederland willen werken. Maar; niet voor niets heeft JoHo “talentontwikkeling” en “internationale samenwerking” als speerpunten. JoHo bereikt toch ook wel erg vaak Nederlanders die in een internationale en/of interculturele context willen werken, of ervaring in het buitenland willen opdoen. Om daar weer persoonlijk of arbeidstechnisch door te groeien. Nu weet ik ook wel dat je dat wat in Nederland werkt, niet zomaar kan doorkopiëren naar een land in Zuidoost-Azië. Laten we de culturele context niet vergeten.

              Laat mij nou even dagdromen

              Wat zou ik het mooi vinden wanneer JoHo, JoHo donateurs en andere World Supporters, samen met CNV, CLC en bijvoorbeeld partners van Nederlandse expats in Cambodja (die vaak om zingevende projecten zitten te springen) praktische, ‘hand-on’ trainingen opzetten en tools ontwikkelen die in beide landen duurzaam werken. Hoe krijg je meer inzicht in jezelf? Hoe leer je een baan vinden? Wat zijn je vaardigheden en competenties en welke banen passen daar bij? Hoe solliciteer je? Hoe presenteer je jezelf? Welke passies drijven je? Waar wil je over vijf jaar staan? Ook al is de context wellicht volledig anders; dit soort vragen leven zowel bij Nederlandse als Cambodjaanse jongeren (en niet-jongeren, trouwens).

              Trainingen, tools en e-courses die, telkens voorzien van een ‘lokale module’, wereldwijd functioneren. De ontwikkeling ervan gefinancierd door de EU en Nederlandse en Cambodjaanse ministeries.

              Laat mij nou even dagdromen…

              Wakkerrrrrr

              Natúúrlijk gebeurt er post-2017 al een hele hoop in Cambodja op het gebied van toegang tot arbeid. Zo wees Google me al heel snel op een lijvig, bijna 100 pagina’s tellend rapport ‘Kingdom of Cambodja Decent Work Country Programme 2019-2023’. Dit programma formuleert drie ambitieuze doelen voor de periode tot aan 2023, en verder tot aan 2030:

              1. stimuleren van fatsoenlijke werkgelegenheid en duurzame ondernemingen, gecombineerd met het ontwikkelen van relevante vaardigheden en competenties van werknemers
              2. versterken en uitbreiden van bescherming van werknemers, hun veiligheid en gezondheid
              3. verbeteren van arbeidsomstandigheden en arbeidsrechten, inclusief het bespreekbaar maken van seksuele intimidatie en bescherming van het moederschap

              Dat overlapt toch behoorlijk met de ambities van CLC en CCAWDU, is mijn eerste gedachte.

              > Voor de geïnteresseerden: download hier het volledige rapport.

              Ondanks gerealiseerde projecten en lijvige plannen vol mooie doelen, is er ook een realiteit van alledag. Begin 2020 plaatste Trouw een artikel over de meest recente invoerheffingen van de EU op Cambodjaanse producten, omdat het land structureel achterblijft in het verbeteren van mensenrechten en arbeidsrechten. Vakbonden en arbeiders die willen staken worden geïntimideerd, het land van boeren wordt ‘afgepakt’ door groeiende suikerrietplantages en het bestuur heeft de oppositie en media monddood gemaakt.

              De EU wil dat arbeiders een betere positie krijgen in Cambodja. Maar textielwerkers, meestal vrouwen, kunnen hun baan kwijtraken als de export afneemt. Tegelijkertijd, zonder maatregelen geen structurele verandering. Een duivels dilemma dus. De maatregelen gelden voor ongeveer 20% van de exporthandel; opkomende en dus nog kwetsbare industrieën in Cambodja worden ontzien.

              O ja, die 150 jongeren…

              Ze laten me niet los.

              Wie hen nu precies helpt om betere sollicitatieskills te bemachtigen? Ik weet het nog steeds niet. Wie het weet, mag het zeggen. Of gaan doen. Een mooie pilot-onderzoeksklus, internationale stagetaak, een mooie casestudy voor een MBO/HBO opleiding P&O / HR die over de grenzen kijkt. Samen met JoHo, CNV, CLC en die potentiële financierders?

              In de woorden van Athit Kong:

              “In Cambodja zijn de werkomstandigheden slecht en er is te weinig werk. Daarom vind ik het belangrijk om te strijden en de vakbeweging te steunen. Ik wil voor mensen een fatsoenlijk leven bereiken. Om successen te bereiken, moet je met elkaar praten. Sociale dialoog is een instrument om een platform te creëren voor de werkende klasse. Stapje voor stapje kom je verder. Hoe? Door je organisatie sterker te maken.”

              Athit Kong, website CNV Internationaal

              Ik lees graag nog eens opnieuw over Kongs gedachten in 2023, of 2030, in hoeverre het ‘Decent Work Programme’ duurzame verandering heeft gebracht. Ik hoop dat CNV deze ontwikkeling blijft volgen. En wellicht vinden CNV en JoHo elkaar nog eens, in de toekomst.

              Deel je ervaringen

              • Ben je zelf actief (geweest) met ontwikkeling van kennis & vaardigheden in Cambodja of op bijvoorbeeld het gebied van arbeidsrechten en mensenrechten? Deel je ervaringen.
              • Ken jij of steun je CNV International? Vertel over je ervaringen!
              • Hoe zou Nederland of de EU moeten omgaan met het duivelse dilemma rondom de export uit Cambodja?
              • Wat is volgens jou de sleutel tot duurzame ontwikkeling in Cambodja? Hoe krijgen vooral vrouwen, jongeren en andere kwetsbare groepen voldoende toegang tot de arbeidsmarkt?

              Ik hoor graag meer van je, via de reacties hieronder. Of schrijf er zelf een blog over.

              Meer lezen

              Werken in Australië en/of Nieuw-Zeeland als buitenlander én geld verdienen

              Werken in Australië en/of Nieuw-Zeeland als buitenlander én geld verdienen

              Image

              De laatste jaren is het steeds populairder geworden om een jaartje te reizen en werken en landen zoals Australië en Nieuw-Zeeland zijn dan vaak erg populair. Dit kan je doen met een working holiday visum (WHV afgekort), hiermee kan je rondreizen en werken tegelijkertijd en ook nog eens betaald worden voor het werk dat je doet. Echter zijn er wel bepaalde regels over het aanvragen hiervan. Zo moet je om te beginnen tussen de 18 en 30 jaar oud zijn om een WHV te kunnen aanvragen. In sommige landen is de grens al verplaatst naar de 35, maar in Australië zijn ze hier nog mee bezig. Het WHV voor Australië is online aan te vragen via de website van de Australische Immigratiedienst. Het working holiday visum is omgerekend zo’n 250 euro. Je krijgt al snel je visum in de mail, binnen een paar dagen of soms een paar uur, als je aan alle voorwaarden voldoet.

              Voorwaarden WHV - Australië

              • Na goedkeuring van je visum heb je een jaar de tijd om te vertrekken, maar je visum gaat pas in de dag dat je Australië binnenkomt.
              • Je visum is ook precies één jaar geldig, houd dit vooral in je achterhoofd voordat je een langere reis gaat boeken. Nu is er gelukkig wel de mogelijkheid om je visum te verlengen met een jaar, echter kan dit alleen als je in dat eerste jaar minimaal drie maanden in een afgelegen gebied hebt gewerkt. Dit is zo omdat er ook echt werknemers nodig zijn in afgelegen gebieden in Australië, in andere gebieden is dit vaak niet het geval.
              • Wat ook belangrijk is om te weten is dat je maar één keer een WHV voor in Australië mag aanvragen, denk daar vooral dus ook goed over na.
              • Ook mag je niet langer dan zes maanden voor dezelfde werkgever werken in Australië, handig om te weten voordat je dat allemaal regelt.
              • Als laatste moet je ook nog kunnen aantonen dat je minimaal 5.000 Autralische dollars op je rekening hebt staan, omgerekend zo'n 3.400 euro, zodat je het daar ook (de eerste paar maanden) financieel redt. Dit wordt niet erg streng gecontroleerd, dus je kan ook even regelen dat je tijdelijk wat geld leent van je ouders of iemand anders en dan eenmaal in Australië aangekomen dit weer overmaakt. Dat dit niet heel streng gecontroleerd wordt, is zeker niet een reden om dit niet te doen, want het kan nog steeds reden zijn om je te weigeren, dus zorg ervoor dat je genoeg geld op je rekening hebt staan voor je vertrek.

              Vaak gaan de meeste mensen die een working holiday visum hebben aangevraagd werken op een groente- of fruitboerderij. De reden hiervoor is omdat er altijd wel een seizoen is waarin bepaalde boeren extra hulp kunnen gebruiken, en zij zijn vaak ook gewend om met backpackers te werken. Verder is dit werk ook handig als je graag veel wil verdienen, omdat je hier al snel lange dagen maakt. Check vooral ook even of je wel genoeg betaald krijgt en dat er niet misbruik wordt gebruikt van het feit dat je een buitenlander bent. Het minimumloon is namelijk erg hoog in Australië, zo'n 18 dollar per uur, maar vaak is dit al snel 22 dollar per uur. Vraag eventueel locals en andere reizigers om hulp als je het niet vertrouwd.

              Voorwaarden WHV - Nieuw-Zeeland

              • Ook in Nieuw-Zeeland geldt dat je leeftijd bij het aanvragen van het working holiday visum tussen de 18-30 jaar moet zijn.
              • Hier geldt ook dat je WHV precies één jaar geldig is. Je kunt je visum met drie maanden verlengen als je in dat jaar minimaal drie maanden in de agrarische sector werkt.
              • Hier geldt niet dat je minstens een specifiek bedrag op je rekening moet hebben staan, maar wel moet je kunnen laten zien dat je genoeg geld hebt om een terugticket te kopen, een retourticket is namelijk niet verplicht bij binnenkomst.
              • Ook hier mag je maar één keer een WHV aanvragen voor in Nieuw-Zeeland.

              Een WHV voor Nieuw-Zeeland kost zo'n 200 Nieuw-Zeelandse dollars, omgerekend zo'n 130 euro. Je kunt je WHV aanvragen op de website van de Nieuw-Zeelandse immigratiedienst. Als alles klopt, heb je na een paar dagen na aanvraag je visum in de mail. In Nieuw-Zeeland gaan de meeste mensen met een WHV ook aan de slag in de fruitteelt. Als je liever niet in de fruitteelt wilt werken, maar in de horeca, heb je de meeste kans op een baan in toeristische plekken. Als je in de winter gaat, zou je ook nog aan de slag kunnen in wintersportgebieden als bijvoorbeeld skileraar. Wel zijn dit soort baantjes erg populair, dus begin op tijd met solliciteren om teleurstelling te voorkomen. Als backpacker krijg je vaak het minimumloon overal en dat is zo'n 15 Nieuw-Zeelandse dollar.

              Kortom, de mogelijkheid is er zeker om in Australië en Nieuw-Zeeland betaald te werken en dan ook nog te kunnen reizen. Ze zijn dus wel erg streng wat betreft data en dat je een WHV maar één keer kan aanvragen, dus bedenk van tevoren goed wanneer je wilt gaan en wat je precies wilt doen.

              Engels lesgeven online – waar kan je als non native speaker aan de slag?

              Engels lesgeven online – waar kan je als non native speaker aan de slag?

              teacher in class of students

              De vraag naar Engels docenten in o.a. Azie blijft stijgen! Ook ontstaat er een groeiende groep digital nomads die met hun laptop en rugzak al reizend werken. Ook de vraag van Nederlanders of het mogelijk is om Engels les te geven online (vanuit je kamer, of tuinstoel in Nederland, of juist onderweg), is een vraag die steeds vaker gesteld wordt. Maar wat zijn eigenlijk de mogelijkheden voor non-native speakers (waaronder Nederlanders) om online les te geven?

              Hoe werkt het online Engels lesgeven via online mogelijkheden?

              • Er zijn verschillende organisaties actief die bemiddelen tussen docenten en scholen/individuen die graag hun Engels willen verbeteren

              • Het gaat in veel gevallen om mensen die de Engelse grammatica en leesvaardigheid beheersen, maar gewoonweg te weinig Engels spreken (een beetje zoals de meeste Nederlanders Frans of Duits zullen beheersen).

              • Er is met name in Azie een grote vraag naar online tutors om Engels mee te spreken, en aangezien er overal op de wereld mensen zijn die anderen graag Engels leren spreken, is er bij veel organisaties de optie om 24/7 in te loggen en Engels te geven.

              Kan ik ook online Engels lesgeven als non-native speaker?

              • Dat kan zeker! Net als bij reguliere TEFL banen, zijn er organisaties die daarvoor open staan, en organisaties die specifiek zoeken naar native speakers.

              • Handig om inderdaad eerst uit te zoeken welke organisaties ook voor non-natives mogelijkheden hebben (die het lijstje verderop).

              • Wel vragen de meeste platformen om een TEFL certificaat, en sommigen ook om bijvoorbeeld een bachelor (HBO/WO) diploma.

              Wat verdient het ongeveer om online les te geven?

              • De verdiensten zijn best verschillend per organisatie. Sommige organisaties hebben vaste prijzen (van 10 dollar per uur tot 25 dollar per uur).

              • Andere organisaties werken met prijzen die afhankelijk zijn van bijvoorbeeld het aantal studenten.

              Wat zijn mogelijke voordelen van online lesgeven?

              • Wil je uitproberen of het lesgeven iets voor jou is? Dan is het online lesgeven een manier om er achter te komen of het je ligt of niet. Je hoeft dan niet eerst je baan op te zeggen, huis te verhuren en naar de andere kant van de wereld te gaan (laat staan de sollicitatiegesprekken en werkvisumprocedures te doorstaan). Een andere manier overigens is door het eens als vrijwilliger te proberen - of bijvoorbeeld eerst dichtbij (in Europa) uit te proberen

              • Een ander voordeel is dat je natuurlijk zelf kan kiezen waarvandaan je werkt – dat kan lekker vanuit je eigen huiskamer zijn, of vanuit een hub in Marokko of Bali. Heb je je koffers al gepakt?

              • Ook als je zoekt naar flexibiliteit, is het zeker handig. Het verschilt per organisatie hoe flexibel het is (sommigen zijn geheel flexibel, anderen vragen een standaard werkweek en minimum aantal uren). Zoek daarin vooral het platform wat bij jouw wensen past.

              • Wat voor de een een voordeel is (zoals flexibele uren), zal voor de ander wellicht juist weer een nadeel zijn.

              Wat zijn mogelijke nadelen van online lesgeven?

              • Je hebt een goede plek nodig, met steady en snel internet, om les te kunnen geven. Vanuit je backpackershostel is dat dus soms wat minder makkelijk te regelen.

              • Je geeft vaak les aan mensen in Azie. Hierdoor kan er een behoorlijk tijdsverschil zijn. Handig als je een nacht of ochtendmens bent, maar minder handig als je juist tijdens Europese werktijden wilt werken.

              • Als je online lesgeeft, dan ontbreekt natuurlijk het directe contact met de student. Vind je het juist leuk om voor een hele groep te staan, dan is lesgeven in een 'old school' leslokaal misschien meer passend.

              Welke organisaties bieden opties om als non-native speaker online Engels te doceren?

              Er zijn verschillende online platforms die de mogelijkheid bieden om te werken als non native speaker. Onderstaand een selectie van organisaties:

              • DaDaAbc

                • wie: je geeft les aan Chinese kinderen (4-16 jr)

                • uren: minimaal 4 uur per week beschikbaar

                • vergoeding: +/- 25 dollar per uur

                • vereisten: geen diploma's en certificaten gevraagd. TEFL is een pre.

              • Cambly

                • wie: je spreekt Engels met volwassenen

                • uren: wisselend afhankelijk van je eigen beschikbaarheid en de beschikbaarheid van de studenten.

                • vergoeding 10 dollar per uur

                • vereisten: geen certificaten vereist. TEFL is een pre

              • TutorABC

                • wie: lesgeven aan volwassenen of Young Learners (Azie)

                • uren: je krijgt een vaste weekindeling

                • vergoeding: afhankelijk van de lessen en de tevredenheid van je deelnemers

                • vereisten: TEFL certificaat & een universitaire opleiding (of lesgeefervaring) vereist

              • First Future

                • wie: je geeft engels les aan Chinese kinderen (meestal een klein groepje)

                • uren: je hebt vaste uren, die je flexibel kunt aanvullen

                • vergoeding: 8 tot 20 dollar per uur (non natives verdienen wel minder

                • vereisten: TEFL certificaat, TOEFL test, neutraal Engels accent

              Wat zijn jouw ervaringen met online Engels lesgeven?

              • Heb je zelf online lesgegeven of juist ervoor gekozen om naar het buitenland te vertrekken om op locatie les te geven? Laat gerust je ervaringen hieronder achter of deel je ervaringen via je eigen WorldSupporter profiel!

              Meer weten over lesgeven als Engels docent?

               

              Engels docenten gezocht (ook non-natives) in China!

              Engels docenten gezocht (ook non-natives) in China!

              Docent Engels

              Het programma voor docenten Engels is door de Chinese overheid ontwikkeld om westerse jongeren de mogelijkheid te bieden om les te geven in China en hen tegelijkertijd de kans te bieden om China te ontdekken.

              Aangezien beheersing van het Engels steeds nuttiger en belangrijker wordt, vormt het voor veel Chinese scholen een prioriteit dat hun scholieren of studenten het Engels goed leren spreken en schrijven. Aangezien lokale docenten Engels vaak niet vloeiend genoeg Engels spreken, is de Chinese overheid ook begonnen om buitenlandse docenten Engels te rekruteren om zo scholen te helpen om het niveau Engels van hun scholieren te verbeteren. China Plus is één van de organisaties die betrokken is om de Chinese overheid te assisteren bij het werven en selecteren van buitenlandse docenten Engels. Wij hebben ook als taak om de scholen te helpen om de visumaanvragen van docenten Engels te begeleiden.

              Scholen

              Bij het Docenten Engels programma, hebben we zowel openbare scholen als privéscholen beschikbaar. Het aanbod varieert van kinderdagverblijven, basisscholen, zogenaamde ‘middenscholen’ (vergelijkbaar met de onderbouw van de middelbare school), middelbare scholen en soms ook MBO- of HBO-vervolgopleidingen.

              De leeftijd van de scholieren van deze scholen hangt af van het niveau van de onderwijsinstelling. Bij kinderdagverblijven varieert de leeftijd tussen de drie en zes jaar, bij basisscholen tussen de zes en twaalf jaar, bij ‘middenscholen’ tussen twaalf en vijftien jaar, bij middelbare scholen tussen vijftien en achttien jaar en bij vervolgopleidingen tussen de achttien en tweeëntwintig jaar.

              De scholen vragen je een rooster te draaien van 25 tot 30 lesuren per week. Ze bieden een volledig gemeubileerd eigen appartement aan en op werkdagen gratis maaltijden (in openbare scholen). Elke maand ontvang je een salaris van 8000 RMB tot 16000RMB, wat neerkomt op 800 euro tot 1700 euro.

              Je bent altijd vrij in het weekend en op feestdagen. Zo heb je meer dan voldoende tijd om door China te reizen, de cultuur te ontdekken en de heerlijke Chinese keuken te proberen. Als je op een privé-school werkt, werk je in de middagen en avonden.

              Voordelen

              ✓ Maandsalaris variërend van € 800 tot € 1700 netto
              ✓ Tussen de € 500 en € 1000 vergoeding voor vliegtickets
              ✓ Gratis verblijf of vergoeding huisvestingskosten
              ✓ Gratis verzekering
              ✓ Teamverband activiteiten vanuit je school 

              ✓ Het ontdekken van toekomstige carrière mogelijkheden
              ✓ Betaalde Chinese vakantiedagen
              ✓ Doorbetaalde vakantiedagen (Afhankelijk van de school) 

              Lees hier meer of meld je direct aan!

              Online Engelse lesgeven - Tips voor het vinden van een online lesgeefbaan

              Online Engelse lesgeven - Tips voor het vinden van een online lesgeefbaan

              Image

              Online lesgeven is in 2020 dé manier van lesgeven geworden. Over de hele wereld zitten mensen thuis, waardoor de vraag naar online leraren Engels sterk gegroeid is. Maar waar moet je beginnen als je een online lesgeefbaan wil vinden? Hieronder enkele tips. 

              Volg een TEFL cursus 

              Met een TEFL certificaat kun je je lesgeefvaardigheden aantonen aan werkgevers en leerlingen wereldwijd. Kies voor een uitgebreidere TEFL cursus, zoals de level 5, om een streepje voor te hebben op andere docenten. De meeste TEFL cursussen zijn zelf ook volledig online te volgen!

              Op de JoHo TEFL pagina vind je meer informatie over de TEFL cursus.

              Vind jouw specialisatie

              Er is veel vraag naar Engelse docenten, maar ook veel aanbod. Om op te vallen kun je ervoor kiezen om je te specialiseren in een bepaalde doelgroep, zoals lesgeven aan (jonge) kinderen of lesgeven in zakelijk Engels aan volwassenen. Ook bieden veel TEFL cursussen een specialisatie 'online lesgeven' aan waarmee je klaargestoomd wordt voor deze specifieke manier van lesgeven. 

              Doe ervaring op

              Als je eerder hebt lesgegeven is dat natuurlijk een pré als je op zoek bent naar een online lesgeefbaan. De skills die je nodig hebt als leraar kun je echter ook op een andere manier opdoen. Denk aan werken met kinderen, vrijwilligerswerk of een cursus. Bedenk bij het opstellen van je CV welke ervaring jij hebt opgedaan en gebruik dit om te laten zien dat je bijvoorbeeld kunt communiceren, dat je flexibel bent of dat je kunt plannen. 

              Online platform vs freelancen

              Er zijn talloze online ‘teaching platforms’ die leraren en leerlingen samenbrengen. Het voordeel van werken voor zo’n platform is dat je niet alles zelf hoeft te regelen. Platforms hebben vaak al een groep van studenten, verschillende betaalmogelijkheden en soms zelfs lesprogramma’s waar je gebruik van kan maken. Dit is fijn als je net begint met online lesgeven.

              Je kunt er echter ook voor kiezen om freelancer te worden. Hiervoor moet je jezelf goed in de markt kunnen zetten en je eigen studenten weten aan te trekken. Het is meer werk, zeker in het begin, maar geeft je uiteindelijk wel de vrijheid om je eigen prijzen vast te stellen en te werken wanneer jij wil. 

              Zie voor een overzicht van verschillende teaching platforms ook deze blog van I-to-I.

              Ga aan de slag!

              Je hebt een TEFL certificaat, een goed CV en weet waar je les wil gaan geven? Dan ben je klaar om aan de slag te gaan. 

              Vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland: startpagina's en uitgelichte bijdragen - Bundel

              Vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland: startpagina's en uitgelichte bijdragen - Bundel

              Startpagina's en uitgelichte bijdragen rond vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland

              Vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland - Thema
              Vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland: uitgelichte ervaringen - Bundel

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