So, you’ve been accepted, you’ve paid, and you’re ready to go! But before you go on your
merry adventure, here’s a list of things you should ensure you’ve either done or will do in
plenty of time, before you head away.
Visas and Work Permits:
do you have the necessary documentation? Always remember
to check online or contact the embassy if you’re unsure. Your host LC should provide
you with these details if you feel the need to ask them.
Attend the Outgoing Preparation Seminar:
your local LC should give you the opportunity
to attend the Outgoing Preparation Seminar, which will give you a run-down of what
you should expect from your experience, as well as what you aim to get out of it. You’ll
go through your developmental goals, and sort out any of the finer details. If you have
any small questions to ask, the OPS is the best time. This is also a great opportunity to
encourage cross-LC communication. This is one of the most important things to do
before your experience.
Co-ordinate pickup on arrival:
make sure to communicate with your host, so that you
can arrive on the day without having to worry about transport. Whilst this may not
always be necessary, it is something worth discussing with the host LC.
Accommodation:
it is a good idea to examine what your accommodation will look like
before arrival. This should prevent any unwanted surprises, and you can fix issues
before you arrive. You host LC should have given you an idea of what to expect.
Co-ordinate flights:
knowing when you want to arrive, and leave will make life easy for
everyone. It is best to leave a couple of days on both sides of the formal exchange dates.
This is because you’ll want a bit of time to familiarize yourself with your surroundings,
and to have your last hoorahs before leaving. This also allows your LC to co-ordinate
accommodation and pickups.
Living costs:
this one might be a bit difficult, but you should try and have an idea of how
much you should expect to spend whilst you’re away. Best to co-ordinate with your host
for this one. Try and establish a weekly spending budget if you can, but make sure to be
flexible with it.
Expectation Setting:
perhaps one of the most important things to do, you need to know
what kind of experience you’re going to have before you leave. This could go through
your responsibilities or activities with whoever you’re working with, to living conditions.
This is not as scary as it sounds, but we want to also avoid any fantastical expectations.
We’ll also want to clear any miscommunications or misunderstandings regarding the
nature of the work aspect of your experience.
Written by Alex McDonald
