Tips for the World-Traveling Student

During the last two years, I’ve traveled to Canada, Morocco, Spain, Ireland, and the Czech Republic, and lived for six months lived in the remote Kenai Fjords National Park of Alaska.

At the same time, as a student at CSU- Global, I’m committed to weekly lectures and assignments while traveling. I know how to stay focused on my schoolwork while satisfying my wanderlust. There have been bumps along the road, but here’s my system for staying on top of school while traveling.

Planning Ahead

It seems obvious to plan ahead for trips, especially overseas. But students have more on their plates. I had to discipline myself to create and stick to a daily schedule that balanced homework and explore time. When I traveled in Europe, I did classwork in the morning in hostel lobbies or internet cafés, then spent the rest of the day exploring. Schoolwork felt tedious sometimes, so self-discipline was key, and allowed me to experience foreign cultures and still finish my classes on schedule.

Another thing to consider are time zones. I’m from Michigan, so there’s been a time difference during my college experience at CSU Global, but everything changed when I traveled to Alaska and abroad, with a four hour difference between Alaska and Colorado Mountain time, and seven hours from Europe. It’s easy to forget the time change, but it’s a consideration if you want to be sure your work is turned in on time.

No Wi-Fi — No School

Another factor is Wi-Fi. In Vancouver, I had no internet access on my laptop or phone, and spent the first half day searching cafés to find an internet connection. Afterward, I made it a point to check out the Wi-Fi situation before heading for Europe.

European public Wi-Fi is tricky, so I’m glad I did my homework and booked myself into hostels with solid connections. Yelp was a great way to find out if hostels, restaurants, cafes, bars, or other public venues had secure internet available. I relied on Yelp reviews for everything in Europe, because as a solo female traveler, safety was a huge priority. I used Yelp to find safe areas, trusted ATMs, and must-see attractions. Yelp has been valuable everywhere I’ve gone.

Power Ready

Without power adaptors, you’re just on vacation. I recommend a three-in-one adaptor — I used it in four countries in one month. In Ireland, however, I had friends who weren’t up to speed on power plug updates, so everyone ended up huddled over my functional adaptor. Learn from their mistakes, and buy the correct source so you can visit any country and stay powered up.

I chose CSU Global because I felt that an online degree program would accommodate my wanderlust. CSU Global gave me the flexibility to focus on school whether I was camping in the wilderness, kayaking with orcas, or exploring foreign cities. With some discipline, I was able to travel without hindering quality of my schoolwork. I hope sharing my experience inspires your inner-traveler too.