Teacher Exchange Lessons Learned Part 1

Dave and I have started to compile some lessons learned from our experience this year.  If you are planning to do an exchange I am happy to answer any questions that you have. This is the first installment in the series.

• 4 hours from an airport is pretty far when your main goal is travelling and exploring
• Having a duplicate of all toiletries in an easy to grab bag is very helpful when travelling regularly. Just grab your duplicate bag and you're assured that nothing has been forgotten.
• A camper van plus campsite fees plus petrol is not less expensive than a hire car and a hostel or cheap hotel (but it sure is fun!)
• It is better to plan to stay in any one place for a minimum of two nights, it takes a lot of time to set up and tear down.
• Plastic wine glasses are an extremely important part of your travel kit
• A family can stay very inexpensively at a backpackers hostel, but you will likely need to contact the hostel in advance to find out the prices for a private room.  It was not easy to get this information from the websites.  Hostels typically have a pool, a laundromat, shared kitchen (so much less expensive to cook your own meals than eating at restaurants), lots of travel discounts and are almost always located right in the heart of the city.
• Lots of major cities have free WiFi in the core.  Do your research before upping your data plan or paying for WiFi.
• Discuss professional development opportunities with your principal early in the year as funds can run out.
• Say yes to opportunities as much as you can.  You only get one shot at this!  Spend your money on experiences and save your money on the things that don't matter.
• Bangs (fringe) were a bad idea.  I love them when I have a hair dryer to tame them.  On vacation, sleeping at a hostel,  it's just a hot mess.
• Bring a sharp knife and a dish towel, just not in your carry on luggage!   We cut fruit, cheese, spread peanut butter...you name it, we found them incredibly useful.
• Get hand sanitizer that hangs off of your bag and then put it on every bag!  There are washrooms almost everywhere-most don't have soap.  *shudder*
• If you take prescription medications, vitamins or supplements confirm long before you leave your home country that you will have access to what you want in your exchange country.  Example 1-They do not have one of my son's medications in Australia. Getting it here was complicated.  Example 2- melatonin is available cheaply at Canadian grocery stores.  Not so in Australia. It is expensive and available by prescription only. All exchange families who had guests coming from Canada were asked to bring some melatonin in and then mail it to us.  Too complicated!