Studying abroad is one of the best experiences you’ll ever have, and I can guarantee it will all be over before you know it. Soon you will find yourself back at home, reminiscing about that time you went to the top of the Eiffel Tower, or the time that you ate sushi from a market in Japan. Documenting your travels is really easy, and it’s a great way of making the memories last as well as a constant reminder of all the good times you had. Here is a list of some creative ways that you can document your experiences.
Make a scrapbook/notebook
Get creative. Collect various leaflets, postcards, photographs, menus and more from the different places that you visit. Turn it into a scrapbook of souvenirs once you return home. If you’re not feeling too artsy, write down your experiences in a notebook. It’ll be something cool to look back on in a few years time and remind you of the stuff you got up to.
Invest in a good camera
Taking photos is an obvious one, but it really is the best way to document your travels – and you can never have too many photos! It’s useful to have some form of camera for study abroad. From big fancy SLR cameras, to your phone camera (note: modern phone cameras may even have more megapixels than some standard digital cameras), to something a bit different like a Polaroid; take photos wherever you go and no matter what you do.
Social Media
Instagram a photo of the local cuisine or the beach you spent the day on. Send a Snapchat story of all of the sights. Tweet about something new you did, or tell your friends on Facebook when you’ve checked into a new hotel. Keep your friends and family back home updated on your travels with the ease of social media. Plus, it’ll be there for you to look back on too once you return.
Keep souvenirs
Collecting souvenirs from your trips is a fun way to remember all of the locations you’ve been to. Whether it’s something like magnets, mugs, shot glasses, t-shirts or something else entirely, it’s a fun hobby to have and you can show it all off once you go back home.
Start a blog
Keeping up a blog can be a hassle, but it is also a great way to document all of your travelling on your year abroad. Write about everything you’ve seen and all of the things you have learned, and share photos and videos of what you got up to. It’s the perfect opportunity to ramble on about anything you want. Your family and friends will be interested to read about your adventures, plus actually writing the blog posts can be a nice way to unwind after a long day of exploring.
Edited by Toni Moy
(Picture Sources:tumblr, google images, pinterest and buzznet )