So, after the excitement of graduation day dies down, and you’ve enjoyed making your last magical memories in the toon, why not take the time to travel after finishing university this summer? If that hasn’t caught your attention, just wait until you hear a few of the exciting opportunities that await…
Show off your English expertise!
In my opinion, combining travel and work by becoming an English teacher abroad is one of the best post-graduate options. Perhaps like many of us, you don’t fancy taking on a career in teaching, but don’t let that stop you from seizing the opportunity to live in some of the world’s most unique and exciting destinations, and earning a very decent living whilst you do it! Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) courses are quick and not too expensive to complete, and the qualification lasts a lifetime, meaning you always have a ticket to travel abroad whenever you need a well-earned break from the working grind in the UK. I gained my qualification to teach English as a foreign language during my year off before university, and whilst I’m yet to use it, it's definitely one of the best golden tickets I have up my sleeve when I’m ready to travel again after graduation and am looking for a work opportunity that can get me there!
Continental Europe is calling….
If last weekend’s Eurovision wasn’t enough to tempt you, then buy your Interrail pass and see what incredible, diverse beauty mainland Europe has to offer for yourself! You may be thinking Interrailing is a more mainstream travel choice these days, yet Europe is geographically vast and varied, meaning you can tailor your trip to travel the most rural roads the continent has to offer and enjoy some of the world’s best natural beauty along the way. Alternatively, if you’re looking to avoid tourist-filled capitals and feel hungry for a challenge, then why not try slow travel post-graduation with an alternative mode of transport? I have friends who decided to cycle Europe from North to South over a couple of months, with nothing but a map, a tent, and an old camera to guide them. They still swear to this day that it was the most memorable trip they have ever made and the perfect way to unwind after stressful undergraduate study, weaving through the most beautiful villages and countryside on two wheels whilst meeting the most welcoming local people along the way.
The learning never stops!
If you’ve not quite had enough of studying after 3 years with your head stuck in textbooks, then look no further… we live in a world with over 7000 living languages, so why not take the chance to get to know one of them, as well as the unique and fascinating people that speak it! I may be biased as a language student, but there really is no better way to make your travels the perfect balance between challenging and life-changing than to try and learn a new language. There are so many fantastic courses out there to enrol in, or alternatively, if you’re on a budget, just touch down in your destination of choice and be proactive in finding free language learning opportunities. During my time abroad in Portugal, I considered everything from weekly language exchange meet-ups over a beer, to volunteering with youth clubs and charities for the elderly, all the way to working in a local bar just to throw myself in the deep end and perfect my Portuguese. It’s never too late to learn a new language, and there are endless ways of doing it, so bite the bullet and dedicate your post-graduate travel to mastering a new skill and making new non-English speaking mates on the journey!