Study Abroad Programs And Transportation

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Are you planning to participate in one of the many study abroad programs worldwide; to live for a time, take courses and enjoy all the attractions and culture of a foreign country? Do you have some concerns regarding how you will get around in your host county—to classes and to various sightseeing destinations? Transportation can often be a tricky obstacle to navigate for participants of study abroad programs, which is why it would greatly benefit you to research the various transportation options in the country in which you plan to study. To help you take the first step in this process, below we have listed and described some of the more common means of transportation in foreign countries.

Study Abroad Programs and Transportation

In your home country, or at the very least, in your home city, you have no doubt already mastered the various means of public transportation and how to use them to get to where you are going. However, when participating in study abroad programs you may find some slight variations in terms of transportation, with names ...
... and schedules that may initially be a bit confusing. In most foreign countries, public transportation is relied upon heavily for getting around—transportation that often includes trains, buses and taxis—but if you currently live in a country that is not as dependent on public transportation, say, the United States, for example, you will definitely need to become a quick study on how public transport works and the various means available.

Below we have listed and described the three primary modes of public transportation you are likely to encounter in foreign countries:

Trains

There are a number of different types of train systems in foreign countries. From underground trains or subways to elevated trains and light rails to high speed trains that serve the entire country, the train systems you may encounter as a member of one of the many study abroad programs can be quite varied. Generally, there are two basic types of trains or train systems: high-speed trains that travel from point to point and slower trains that stop in many towns and regions along a specific route. In Europe, for example, there are:

• Inter-country trains. The inter-country trains in Europe are used to get from country to country. This is a very common way to travel throughout Europe, especially for students of study abroad programs who are unfamiliar with the various countries along the route.
• Intra-country trains. There are many countries in Europe (and in the world for that matter) that have their own train systems. These types of trains travel from city to city within a given country—a true bonus for those in study abroad programs, allowing them to visit cities other than the one in which their university and/or accommodations are located.

Buses

Public city buses are the easiest and by far the most affordable means of travel, taking passengers to destinations within a specific city. If you plan to live off-campus during your stay, you may want to look into buying a monthly or quarterly bus pass, as you will probably find it cheaper than paying each time for a single ride.

Taxis

The final mode of transportation in foreign countries is the taxi. Although certainly not the most affordable means for everyday travel, taxis offer the benefit of direct “Point A to Point B” transport within a city. If you find yourself in a hurry, not willing to stop at various points along the way, or if you need to travel somewhere to which bus service is unavailable, a taxi is definitely the way to go.

This article is written by Daren Kyle, A staff of Spainexchange, where you can find Study Abroad Programs, International Schools, and a lot of helpful information about schools. For details, Please visit http://www.spainexchange.com/