Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts

InterExchange is deeply saddened by the tragedy and suffering in Haiti. Relief and recovery will be a long process, and aid organizations in Haiti need your support. We’ve posted a link on our home page where you can donate to the Red Cross’s relief efforts in Haiti, or visit http://www.icrc.org/eng

Three New Year’s Resolutions You CAN Keep: Ways to Better Your Life in 2010

We all know the top three resolutions that end up at the top of nearly everyone’s list year after year: lose weight, quit various bad habits, be more organized, etc.  InterExchange may not be able to help you exercise more, stop eating trans fats, or call your mother more often, but we would like to suggest a few options for fulfilling some of those other resolutions that may be a little further down on your list.

Resolution #1:  Learn Something New
Learning something new requires going outside of your comfort zone to challenge yourself.  Maybe you’d like to learn Spanish? Working Abroad offers programs in Argentina, Costa Rica and Peru that combine a language school program with a short-term volunteer assignment. You could spend a few weeks in 2010 studying Spanish, living in a different country, making new friends, meeting a personal challenge, and discovering something new about yourself at the same time.

Resolution #2:  Enjoy Life More
Hate being tied down to a desk job or a 9 to 5 schedule?  Did you know you can build your very own Work & Travel adventure in Australia or New Zealand?  Work short-term seasonal jobs as you travel through some of the most beautiful places on the planet. There’s no set itinerary.  Our job placement assistance offices in each country will help you find jobs that suit your interests.  But this isn’t about work, it’s about enjoying your life more, right?  While you’re there, don’t miss out on the fun of some of our optional programs.  You can catch some waves at a surf camp, learn how to scuba for a diving exploration of the Great Barrier Reef, live the rugged Outback lifestyle as a “Jackaroo” on a working Station Ranch, or one of our other options.

Resolution #3: Help Others
So you’re committed to making the world a better place in 2010, and you want to do something that can really make a big impact?  Start by becoming an International Volunteer.  InterExchange works with respected volunteer organizations in India, Africa, Australia and South America, matching international volunteers with worthy projects.  The experience can be life-changing.  This year, you can help others, while making a real lasting change in yourself.

Au Pair in New Zealand Program Just Added

InterExchange Working Abroad just announced that it is adding a new Au Pair in New Zealand program.

This new cultural exchange program matches young Americans with New Zealand host families.  Families agree to host the participant for up to one year, in exchange for approximately 20 to 45 hrs of childcare per week. Participants receive a private room, meals, a weekly cash stipend, four weeks paid vacation, and the freedom to explore New Zealand during their time off.  InterExchange also offers similar Au Pair abroad programs in France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and Norway.

“Au Pair Abroad programs are one of the least expensive, and most fulfilling ways to experience life in another country.”  says Tara Cavanagh, Working Abroad Program Manager.  “It offers a chance to really get to know your host family, work with kids, make friends, earn some spending money, and have a stable home life and base of operations to rely on as you travel the country.  You can’t do that as a backpacker.”

For travelers who prefer the backpacker lifestyle, InterExchange still offers their Work & Travel New Zealand Program, which allows a more flexible travel schedule, and opportunities to work at-will in seasonal short-term jobs around New Zealand.

5 Ways To Avoid the Holiday Blues While Abroad

Spending the Holidays Abroad?  No matter how prepared you are for your working abroad adventure, it’s common to feel some homesickness or culture shock during the holidays. Here are a few things you can do to help keep the season bright, even when you’re in unfamiliar surroundings, far from home. 

Fight Culture Shock Before You Travel

Culture shock: it’s that persistent bugaboo that afflicts countless globetrotters. Even though culture shock is a well-known occurrence, it can take you by surprise. How could you spend much time looking forward to traveling, only to be disoriented, unhappy, and homesick once you arrive at your destination? Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to prevent culture shock before you even set foot on a plane. Here are a few tips:

Reflections on a Rewarding Summer

San Francisco State University graduate student Michelle Newton spent last summer volunteering in Costa Rica, with a little help from InterExchange–and a grant from the InterExchange Foundation. Michelle recently talked to us about what she has called a “life-changing experience.”