Traveling (aka the well-known gap year... But how do you actually do that?)
Travelling. Just away for a few months. For study work, in you gap year or because you just want to escape and get away from the Netherlands. Grab your stuff and go; It's that easy, right? Okay, the step may feel big, but actually there are only a few things you need to take care of and you're good. For example, Anna-Sophie (we'll introduce her later) tells us about what it was like three months in Barcelona to live and what preceded it, what is involved and what is important to pay attention to before your trip. If you would like to travel/are planning to go: read more below!
It was probably already known that we are so enthusiastic about traveling and discovering new places. This is also the case with our Anna-Sophie; she was for a good 1,5 years part of the team at our office and then she left for her studies in Barcelona for three months. Sounds like a dream: sun, sea, beach every day (and a bit of work/learning)… But where do you start? It is important to have arranged a number of things in advance. 'Of course you have to find an apartment where you can stay, but you really have to ask around. We received a tip through the grapevine to look at Spotahome (this is a kind of Airbnb website) and that's how we found our home for the coming months," Anna-Sophie explains. 'We had also already arranged a bicycle in the Netherlands, a Swapfiets (which can be found almost everywhere), because yes, we can at least cycle as Dutch people.' Another tip is to join a Facebook group with other Dutch people who are also abroad (in this case Barcelona). Whenever Anna-Sophie had a question or was unsure about something, she could ask for help. "And you also get to know a few people right away, which is nice," she explains.
So grab your stuff and just go, right? Okay, one more thing you really need to arrange in advance is your insurance. Insurance may sound unnecessary, a lot of hassle and money, etc., but it is really a necessity if you go abroad for a longer period of time. Anna-Sophie says: 'To be honest, I didn't think or look at this at all at the time.' Yet misfortune is always around the corner and she has seen that herself. 'A friend of mine had a cycling accident in Barcelona and that was very bad. This all involved the police and ambulance, in such a situation it is very nice if you are insured.' Many people don't know how and what exactly to insure when they go abroad (we understand) but it is fixed within a few simple steps. And it is anything but unnecessary (plus if you are not insured and something happens, the joke is a lot more expensive). So read below how and where.
Yes, because just do it! So insure that. An accident can happen and when you are in another country it is great that you are well prepared for it. Your health insurance – and other insurance policies like we have in the Netherlands – are not always valid abroad. That's why OOM Insurance is your friend. They think along with you, so that you do not face unexpected costs and insure you for all such (blegh) business. UNCLE is one bullshit-free insurer with worldwide coverage for Dutch people who go abroad for a longer period. They offer, among other things, cover for your medical expenses abroad, wherever you are in the world. Using a simple checklist you can quickly see whether this also applies to your specific request (probably it does) and you can quick and easy be linked to the right people. Click on that link and then we can really pack up and go!
For more information see OO insurance
