I currently live in Brussels, Belgium.

I have also lived in Prague, Czech Republic and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

I grew up in a small town in Connecticut, USA.

For my Bachelors, I attended Anglo-American University in Prague, Czech Republic, and graduated with a BA in Humanities; Society & Culture.

For my Masters, I attended Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Brussels, Belgium, and graduated with an M.Sc. in New Media and Society in Europe (now renamed Digital Media and Society in Europe).

Yes! AAU teaches exclusively in English for all their degrees. The VUB teaches mostly in Dutch, but offers many degrees taught entirely in English too.

Not necessarily, but it does depend on where you choose to move.

I do recommend that you do your best to learn the language of the country you move to. Being able to communicate on a basic level to get through daily tasks, such as grocery shopping, ordering coffee, navigating public transportation, etc. will make your life a lot easier.

But, you don't necessarily have to be perfectly fluent before you move, and definitely don't restrict yourself to only English-speaking countries if you're looking to move abroad! Knowing English will help you quite a bit anywhere you move as it is one of the most widely spoken lingua francas of the world - it may be a bit of a crutch when you are trying to learn a new language that everyone tends to switch to English when they realize you don't speak their language.

Just like how you would make friends anywhere else in the world! If you speak English, then language likely won't be nearly as big of a barrier to making friends as you think it will be.

Most of my friends are from my universities (just like if I had gone to college in the US!) But, I also have made friends through mutual friends that go to other unis, since Prague has such a large student population. I have also become friends with my coworkers, and I've met people through them as well! And finally, I have met a bunch of my friends through social media!

As you get older and graduate, it definitely becomes more difficult to meet people, but that's honestly the case anywhere in the world. It just means you have to get a bit more creative with making friends. Find friends with shared interests by joining groups based on hobbies like knitting groups, team sports, book clubs, etc. You can also join international organizations like Global Shapers so wherever you move you'll have a network of like-minded individuals there waiting for you. Nowadays, there are several initiatives aimed at connecting young people and helping people meet new people, such as & the Table. And don't be afraid to try out apps like Bumble BFF or just reach out to people on IG or TikTok whom you think you could click with!

Just remember, there are plenty of other people your age facing the same issue in the same city, so don't be afraid to go looking for them!

There are plenty of jobs that international students can do, even if you don't speak the local language!

Here's a non-exhaustive list of jobs I know of international students doing;

• ESL Teacher (Check out franchises like Kids&Us, Berlitz, )

• Tutor

• Au pair (check visa restrictions, but this can be an amazing option)

• Nanny/Babysitter

• English taught Kindergarten, Pre-school or daycare teacher or teachers assistant

• Dog walker

• Petsitter

• House sitting and/or cleaning

• Dishwasher

• Waiter (the Hard Rock Cafe hires English speakers!)

• Food delivery

• Tour Guide

• Bar crawl leader for tourists

• Look into "expat"/immigrant-owned small businesses that operate in English, such as The Globe in Prague

• English bookshops

• Hostel receptionist (I have a friend who actually lived in a hostel for free for a semester doing this!)

• Remote jobs like copywriting, social media management, UGC creator, and other freelance work

• Translator (if you speak more than one language)

• And check your school for on-campus jobs!

With a basic level of the local language;

• Barista

• Waiter

• Some stores in the city center that often cater to tourists may hire English speakers as cashiers/sales clerks.

And don't forget to check out Linkedin job postings! Some surprising positions may need someone who specifically speaks your native language for a part-time job.

You should always confirm that your student visa allows you the right to work and if there are any restrictions for working students, such as a limitation on hours or maximum wage. (In the event your student visa does not allow you to work there may be other paths to the right to work such as a freelance permit, but you will have to research this option based on the country you study in.)

It sounds so cheesy, but when you move abroad, the world really does become your classroom. I gained a new perspective of the world I would have never received otherwise!