How To Have A Global Summer At Home

School is out, graduation season is over, and summer plans have begun. While you may have enrolled in some summer courses, started a summer internship, or decided to take it easy this summer, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep it global. Adding some international flair to your summer can help you discover new interests and even add to your resume if you decide to get involved and volunteer.

Check out these five ways to have a global summer in your own city.

International festivals

Check out the list of international festivals taking place in your city. You may be surprised at just how many festivals you can find. Not only is this an opportunity to learn about the cultural heritage of a particular country or region, but it’s also a (usually FREE!) great way to spend an afternoon with live music, new foods, and new friends. International festivals may introduce you to a country you may not have been interested in before - but may be a good option for future international travels, school, or even a career! Bonus points if you decide to volunteer for one of the festivals!

Scout out international opportunities

The summer is the perfect time to begin researching international opportunities. You have plenty of time to find the perfect study, intern, volunteer, or graduate program abroad without the stress of upcoming deadlines. This also allows more time to figure out how you’re going to pay for it and to get those scholarship essays ready!

Join an internationally-themed group

Whether it’s samba dancing, foreign films, cricket, or learning Russian, meet-ups allow you to connect with others who have similar interests. Whether it’s once a week or once a month, connecting with a group on meetup.com is an easy way add an interesting international dynamic to your summer.

Play or follow international sports

One of the best ways to stay connected with the international community is to get involved with sports. Following internationally-popular sports like the soccer (the world’s most popular sport!), rugby, cricket, and even sailing are other ways keep your summer global. Bonus points if you decide to join a local recreational team or attend a sporting event in your city!

Learn a new language

Learning a new language (or practicing the one you’re already learning) is one of the best ways to make your summer global. Without the stress and pressures of midterms and semester exams, learning a new language can be fun. Downloading popular (and free!) language learning apps like DuoLingo makes language learning relevant and more like a game to beat than an impossible feat to conquer. Find a language buddy to get some in-person practice. Adding a second (or third, or fourth!) language can significantly increase the opportunities available in your field.

The best part about starting any of these activities is that most of them are free! So all you need is a little initiative to begin.