Queen’s student Lucy McDonough talks us through the importance of sorting your own ‘admin’ for your year abroad.
Hey, my name is Lucy and I spent one semester in Murcia, Spain and the second in Lisbon, Portugal during my year abroad. Whilst these were invaluable experiences, the looming stress of admin tasks has the potential to overshadow your enjoyment. Staying on top of it all is a key aspect, so here are some tips and tricks so you can jump straight into the fun!
My first piece of advice is to make sure you’re aware of everything you need, depending on your type of placement this can vary. I recommend making a checklist and ticking things off as you go along. That little sense of achievement goes a long way in preventing you from getting overwhelmed.
For my teaching work placement in Murcia in Spain, I needed an NIE number and a Certificado de Empadronamiento, and in Portugal I needed an NIF number. These appointments take time to get as there is currently a backlog. For this reason, I would recommend arriving to each of your placement destinations a week or two early at the least to ensure you have plenty of time to sort these admin tasks out!
Another really useful tip is to join any Erasmus group chats on sites such as Facebook or WhatsApp. These are not just great tools to organise social events, but many students ask and answer questions on admin issues and you get to learn from the other student’s tips and tricks who are in the exact same position as you.
Lastly, ensure you have photocopies of important documents such as your passport, driving licence, Learning Agreement, any DBS or ICPC (teaching placement specific), rental contracts etc. Some municipal offices require these and often keep the copy so it’s best to have a few of each, preventing you from stressing about where you can make copies or print documents whilst you’re still finding your feet.
Last but not least, whilst the first few weeks of settling in will undoubtably be stressful, this is an incredible experience and a chance for you to shine.
Go in with a positive mindset and allow yourself to enjoy it!
