Must Do Mondays – Make A Timeline

Posted by Olga at Going Global on January 4, 2010

2010 is finally here! This is the year that you will make your international dreams come true. Like the Black Eyed Peas say, “I gotta feeling” that this year is going to be a good one. Fill it with an international experience. Start it off on the right foot by making your international timeline this week. What is an international timeline and how do you make one? Follow these steps this week to make a timeline that will set the course for a year with an international experience in it.

Day 1 (estimated time – 30 min): Commit to the type of international experience that you want to have and where you want to go. Are you studying abroad, doing an international internship, taking a job abroad, going on a cultural exchange or volunteering in another country? Knowing where you want to go is essential in your time line. You may not necessarily have your country picked out. Put your top 5 choices and your international experience on your timeline with the date that you started the process.

Day 2 (estimated time – 30 min): Pick the date that you want to leave by. Are you planning on leaving next semester, next year, next month? When I was planning for my gap year after college, I worked backwards based on the date that I was leaving. I gave myself a year to save and set up my gap year. It made my planning my easier since I could project how much money I needed, how I would get there, what I needed to pack and other logistical areas.

Day 3 (estimated time – 20 min): Work backwards from your departure date. Take your trip and break it down into small milestones. Examples of these milestones are:

• Due Month 1: Making a budget and financing the experience
• Due Month 2: Researching programs, where to live, how to get there, how the program or experience counts towards college credit, a resume booster, etc.
• Due Month 3: Get a passport, visas, documentation, immunizations, etc.
• Due Month 4: Check that finances are in order for my trip (may encompass ensuring your student loans, personal loans are correct, getting a second job to help fund the trip, etc.)
• Due Month 5: Buy tickets, student or young professional international ID discount
• Due Month 6: Say goodbye to friends, family and go abroad!

The following are some resources online that can help you plan your trip and make your timeline.

STA Worldwide Trip Planner (An interactive tool to map out your itinerary. This is a huge benefit to anyone traveling to multiple destinations. STA is also a great resource for people under the age of 26 for discounted travel.)

Yahoo Trip Planner (Another interactive tool that lets you plan out where you are going, fares for your trip and share with your family and friends)

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