That’s why it pays to get over your initial and understandable shyness as soon after you arrive as possible, and remind yourself that there are probably other people who are new to your course as well, not to mention the college or school as a whole.

Many schools offer Home Stay accommodation placement for the first few weeks of your stay. Although not all home stay providers are equal, they offer room rental within a family situations often with breakfast and laundry services. Furthermore they spend time explaining Australian cultural differences, where to find services such as post office, transport and so on. The better home stay providers all have undergone police checks and offer a comfortable introduction to your new country. Many students arrive with 2-4 weeks of Home Stay before they venture out and find accommodation for themselves, often sharing with other students in their college.

Of course you may have gone abroad with some friends who have decided to study the same course as you are. This has its benefits, namely in that you will know each other and there is safety in numbers in this respect, but it can also be very isolating if you don’t make the effort to break out of your little group and start meeting other people.

There are a lot of benefits to meeting new people while you are studying abroad, particularly if you meet people who are native to the country and area you are staying in. No matter how well you think you know the area, you will never know it as well as a resident will, and if you get to know plenty of locals you will get to see the sights that the guidebooks often leave out.

This is where it’s worth remembering that studying abroad isn’t just about the course you are on – it’s also about experiencing a whole new lifestyle, together with getting to know the people that live that lifestyle every day of their lives. Getting friendly with the locals is the best way to find out what it’s really like to live in that part of the world, and it will give you some wonderful memories to take back home with you.

If you are visiting on your own, then it’s important not to be too shy because it could lead to you missing out on a lot of opportunities to find out all you can about a different country. Try and get to know as many people as you can who are taking the same course as you, and don’t be afraid to join in conversations or sit at a table with people you don’t know at lunch times. It’s a great way to get to meet new people and you’ll often find you are invited to parties or evenings out where you can meet more of your fellow students.

It’s easy to feel intimidated when you first arrive in a foreign country, especially if you are on your own and not part of a group, however small that group might be. But the best antidote to that feeling is to gather up your courage and get stuck in with saying hi to people – it’s a great way to start enjoying yourself!

It is quite common for a student visa to expire during your stay abroad, especially if your course is running for a year or more, so it can be a good move to find out in advance what you need to do when it does. This is likely to vary from country to country so the best idea is often to go to the relevant source of information for the country you will be staying in to make sure you know what to do and when you need to do it.

You can meet with problems if you forget to get a new visa and you suddenly find your old one has expired; while you won’t automatically be sent home you will have to seek advice as soon as possible in order to try and solve the matter. You can see why getting some information well in advance is clearly the best solution.

Some countries, including the UK, offer a service which is designed to deal especially with student visas. This type of service ensures that a renewal happens in the fastest possible time with the minimum of hassle for the student. The USA is different again; their visa allows entry into the United States but nothing else. You will need other documentation in addition to this which is known as your ‘Duration of Status’.

The best way forward is to check what you need before you go and apply for your visa in plenty of time. Make sure you are aware of exactly how far in advance you need to start the renewal process – it may be a very simple procedure or it may be best to allow a couple of weeks or more to complete it. Find out what will apply in the country you are visiting – the institution you are studying at should be able to tell you what to do and when. Most importantly visit your country’s immigration department situated in your city to discuss and find out the best approach for renewal.

You should also find out whether the renewing authorities need to see any other documentation. For example in Spain you will have to provide a valid residence permit too. Passport photos and an application form are also required in many countries.

Remember though that in the end it is your sole responsibility to renew your student visa at the right time in order to be able to remain in the country and carry on studying. Forgetting to renew your visa is not generally viewed as a mere oversight; it is usually a criminal offence and as such you can be sent home. Forgetfulness is not an excuse to cover not having a valid visa, and if you are careful and you know in advance what to do and when, you shouldn’t have any problems at all.

But it is important to make sure that you research the steps required thoroughly when you are considering the option, so that you make sure you take all the right actions at the right times. If you are accepted into a foreign study program you will need to have the time to arrange where you will live and how you will fund your studies and day to day living expenses while you are there, so it makes sense to get all the proper steps in place as soon as you can.

If you are interested in studying abroad you should ask at your local college or university to see whether they already have a foreign study program in place for students to take advantage of. Many do, and they will be able to take you through what is required and how to apply. Some programs are longer than others, and local schemes may allow for you to study in another country and incur no extra course costs by doing so – ask at your individual university to find out.

Every college or university will have its own requirements which you must meet to be considered for inclusion in their foreign study program. You also need to find out when the deadlines are to apply for such a program; you might find you have to apply twelve months before the program actually begins. If you don’t plan ahead and decide a couple of months beforehand that you’d like to apply, it may be way too late.

There are two main ways in which applications will be received, and it’s important to find out which one applies in the case of the foreign university or college you wish to go to. Some may accept applications directly, in which case it’s a good idea to visit their website and download the appropriate papers to read and fill out.

The second method is to apply through Education Agents who already have good connections and agreements with specific foreign institutions in certain countries, and if they do this is by far the best way to proceed.

The most important point to remember in any case is to check whether or not you are eligible to apply for the course you want to study. There are sometimes fees to pay for applying and they are not always fully refundable, so to make sure your money is well placed before you take the time to fill in any kind of application. Your tutors can also help and advise you on the best courses and locations to apply for.

Studying abroad is certainly a thrilling experience, but you must make sure you follow the correct procedures in order for it to become a reality.

Different colleges, universities and countries will offer different diploma programs, so be sure you know how far you are prepared to go to get into the program you really want.

Studying abroad means being able to fund your stay, tuition fees and living costs. Most diploma courses allow you to work part time (up to 20 hours per week) whilst studying the other days. Selecting diploma courses focusing in “Skills in Demand” areas such as Commercial Cookery, Patisserie, and Hairdressing means that there are many jobs that are currently unfilled. That is why these trades are classified as skills in demand.

You also need to bear in mind the amount of time a diploma course will take to complete. There may be different lengths of course available in the same subject area, so you may need to think about the exact nature you want your career to take once you have completed your studying. For example, certain jobs require a certain level of education, and you will want to be sure you select the right course before you get started on it and it’s too late to change courses.

If you are still a little unsure of the exact path your career will take once you have completed your studies, you should either look at taking the most appropriate diploma course in your chosen subject, or choose the course which will give you the most versatile qualification that can be put to good use in several ways.

If you need further advice it’s a good idea to talk to advisers at the colleges you are thinking of attending; if they are abroad your best bet is to email them to get more information on the courses and what they can lead to by way of options.

If you are seriously thinking of studying abroad you will need to think about how you will be able to fund a longer period of study. Staying abroad for a few months is a long time, but a year or two can be a long time to stay away from home. Will you be able to come back during the holidays or are you prepared to live abroad for a couple of years if it means you will get onto the right diploma program for your needs?

Answering all these questions up front will make the actual process a lot easier to handle.

For example, certain professions require certain qualifications to make you eligible to practise in that job role, and some schools of learning are particularly noted in specific areas. Harvard Law School would be one of the best places in the world you could hope to study at if you wanted to become a lawyer for instance. This fact alone makes it worth looking further afield than your own country when you want to continue your studies; the prestige of certain institutions for certain professions is unequalled.

Furthermore, all colleges and universities offer a different mix of courses, and going abroad might mean you get the exact mix you are looking for. There may also be better opportunities in other countries for getting some job experience at the same time as you complete your studies.

Studying abroad can also help you to broaden your horizons. It may be the first time you have ever travelled abroad on your own, but it can be a life enhancing experience in more ways than one. You will meet lots of new people and experience different communities and ways of living that will mature you as a person.

When you consider moving to another country to study, your mind will be on the immediate implications of the move. The practical and emotional aspects can be overwhelming at first, and yet the long term effects can also be very powerful. An extremely high percentage of people who studied abroad during their earlier years stated that they feel they have much more confidence in themselves for doing so.

In this sense, the learning you will do while living and studying in another country is not just limited to the classroom. It involves every single aspect of your life, and you will feel and experience the benefits long after you move back to your own country to continue your life and career.

Make a start by jumping online and finding out all you can about the college or university you will be studying at.  Getting to know the history of where you are going will help you to become familiar with the place before you even arrive.  This will reduce the feeling of being in a totally strange place and not being grounded.

Research the local area as well.  Find out exactly where you will be living, what services are available locally and make a list of essential services such as the local chemist, doctor and dentist in case you need them while you are away.  Download or print out a local map too and pack it in your hand luggage so it’s available if and when you need it.

You should also find out what items you are expected to bring with you when you begin your course.  Certain books may have to be purchased in the country you are visiting, but you may be able to take some with you.  Consider the practicalities of taking a lot of stuff with you though – you’ll need room for all those personal items as well as your study materials.

Don’t forget to double check your passport is well in date for the whole of your stay, and obtain any visas or other required paperwork in plenty of time before you depart.

Leaving home to study abroad may be the first time you have ventured overseas on your own.  It’s a good opportunity to discover a whole new world on your own however – so make the most of every second of it.

From a small van that offers sandwiches and refreshments to local businesses, right through to a mobile caterer that supplies buffets for functions of a hundred people or more, there are lots of opportunities in the catering business for people who have the drive and commitment to succeed.

Outlining exactly what type of food you would like to supply people with will determine your market, so it’s important that you consider all the elements that go to make up a successful catering business before you start.

Are you interested in doing cold buffets that you can supply ready prepared to your clients, or do you want to create hot buffets that you can set up at the venue?  Do you like the idea of providing a proper meal for people to enjoy?  Or does the idea of selling freshly made gourmet sandwiches to local offices pique your interest?

Whatever kind of food you prepare and whoever you will be catering for, you will need to prepare it in premises that are fit for the purpose.  Find out all the requirements you will need to meet from your local authorities, and make sure you don’t cut any corners - they will want to inspect your premises to ensure they are clean and designed specifically for catering purposes.  This applies regardless of whether you are intending to use a part of your home for this purpose, or rent an outlet to use for preparing food.

It’s an excellent idea to enrol in some training courses as well; not only is a knowledge of food hygiene a must, but even courses on starting your own business and marketing it to your customers will help immensely too.

A catering business can be run full or part time; it’s possible to start slowly with just a few clients if you still have a regular job and want the security of some regular cash coming in while you build your business.  Once you develop an income from catering (during which time you can promote your business and find new clients through word of mouth as well) you can leave your job and start doing catering full time.

The important thing is to make sure there is a ready market for what you want to offer – then you can hit the ground running and cook up a storm

Two of the main considerations are location and competition.  You need to consider how desirable your restaurant will be in a particular area, and that can also depend on what type of restaurant you are thinking of opening.  Just because there’s no Italian restaurant where you live, it doesn’t mean that it would be an automatic success.  It could be that people just don’t like eating that kind of food in that location.

This is where research and knowledge play a huge part in the eventual success or downfall of your idea.  Conversely, if there are already three pizza restaurants in your area, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle to make a mark with your own.

There are also many practical issues to think about when you have decided what type of restaurant to open and where to open it.  Creating a good floor plan with ease of access for everyone is essential to your success; if people find the restaurant crowded and difficult to negotiate, without clear signs or comfortable surroundings they are unlikely to visit again.  Enlist the services of a planner experienced in designing restaurant floor layouts to help with this aspect – they will be more than worth their fee.

Depending on what kind of restaurant you are opening, the type of equipment you need will vary.  You should research your niche carefully and make a list of what is needed, along with the likely cost.  This will help you when you are deciding how to finance your start up costs.

It can also help to visit some similar restaurants before you make any firm plans to open your own.  Take a friend and enjoy a meal together as you take note of every aspect of the restaurant.  Does it have a pleasant atmosphere?  What kind of items are on the menu?  Would you do anything differently?  What are the typical prices like?  What kind of clientele does the venue attract?

All these questions will help you to form a picture of how a typical restaurant is run, and what kind of image you need to portray to attract a specific type of customer.

There are many facets to starting your own restaurant and you will no doubt learn many things after the doors have opened to the buying public, but if you do as much background research as you can beforehand, you’ll be better able to start off on the right foot.

While earning your certificate or diploma, you will learn skills that can be used when teaching others. These skills include:

•    Knowledge of hospitality industry
•    Managing teams
•    Training employees
•    Planning menus and budgets
•    Understand how to properly prepare food
•    Customer service skills

Each of these skills can be used in a classroom environment. As an instructor, you will be asked to explain the theories of cooking, how to manage others, and the best ways to work with a variety of people.

Teaching a commercial cookery class is similar to training employees in that you will need patience, knowledge of cooking theory, and the ability to demonstrate cooking skills needed to succeed.

THE IMPORTANCE OF REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE

The kinds of experiences you have working in the hospitality industry after earning your certificate or diploma can help in many ways. Not only will you be able to give students an accurate portrayal of what it is like to work in a kitchen, you will also be able to give them tips and advice on the types of jobs to search for, which positions are beneficial to their career, and how to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times.

Working as a chef or sous chef before teaching others allows you to learn even more about the profession. You may find that training others is an easy part of your job and you may want to include teaching in your professional resume someday. Other people find that after training new employees, they would not want to teach.

REWARDS OF TEACHING OTHERS

By teaching others the techniques used in cooking, managing a kitchen staff, and providing the best customer service possible, you will be influencing the career of many talented people who will use what they have learned to create new and interesting dishes that impress customers and others.

•    Cooking skills you are interested in learning
•    The amount of time you want to spend earning a degree or certificate
•    Types of positions you are interested in pursuing after graduation

Even though each degree or certificate you earn can help you begin a career in the hospitality industry, learning specific skills in dessert making, and skills in plating and food preparation can help you find the job of your dreams.

CERTIFICATE III IN HOSPITALITY (COMMERCIAL COOKERY)

This certificate program can be completed in one year. During this time, you will learn the following skills:

•    Basic cookery methods
•    Preparing soups, salads, sauces
•    Seafood, meat & butchery, poultry & game
•    Desserts & pastries
•    Kitchen safety and hygiene

This certificate program will give you an overview of each area in a kitchen and help you develop management skills that you can use immediately after graduation.

CERTIFICATE IV IN HOSPITALITY (COMMERCIAL COOKERY)

In addition to the skills mentioned above, you will also learn how to plan menus, present food buffet-style, and learn more about running a small business. This certificate program will take 18 months to complete.

If you want to own a restaurant or manage one, this certificate will give you the skills to do so.

DIPLOMA OF HOSPIALITY MANAGEMENT (IN COMMERCIAL COOKERY)

This diploma program combines management skills with cooking skills to prepare you to work in larger kitchens as a head chef, Sous chef, or kitchen supervisor. In order to complete this degree program, you must first complete a certificate IV in hospitality that will give you a solid background in the theories of cookery.

Other skills you will learn in this degree program include:

•    Managing staff
•    Creating budgets
•    Maintaining stock
•    Customer satisfaction
•    Ensuring safety of all employees

You will have to invest two years in order to complete this program.

Each of the programs mentioned above include hands-on experience in a real kitchen that has been created for students. This will give each student the opportunity to complete tasks in each are of the kitchen. Only after students complete these assessments in a satisfactory manner will they be able to advance.