The experiences and journey abroad - #DefinitelyPTE

Most of us know from experiences of friends, families, social media platforms, movies, etc  that traveling is never a flawless art, especially for students going abroad.

No matter how on top of things an individual may believe oneself to be, students are still eligible for curve balls when studying abroad in a foreign land with vastly varying forms and norms of culture, languages, and ways of life.

If one encounters a problem while on the study abroad trip, one should not panic as these things happen to nearly everyone at some point, should they venture out into a country with which they are unfamiliar.

Here are some of the most common study abroad problems one may face - 

a) Language and communication issues - 
One might have studied Spanish for 6 years, but one finds that once the individual steps off the plane in Barcelona that one can’t understand anyone around oneself. This is likely because there’s no real way to teach someone a language such that they can understand every idiom and every element of regional slang that native speakers are used to using. And this might stress the individual considerably, seeing that communication is imperative when one is on their own in an entirely new environment far from what one knows.

b) Fear of being left out and missing - 
When one is meandering around the new city struggling just to find a good breakfast place, it’s easy to feel like an outsider. One must not let the fact that one is new to the country get spirits down if basic tasks become much harder in the new environment. It’s understandable that one will need time to adjust to such a different environment than one usually operates in.

c) Currency issues - 
If an individual has never left the country before, using a new form of money can be really odd at first. One starts wondering how the usual currency translates into the new currency, how to use a new type of currency, and most importantly, if one will have enough money to last the whole trip.

d) Home-sickness - 
For many students who embark on a study abroad trip, it’s their first time going somewhere far away on their own, and it’s their first time being so far from their closest friends and family. Anxiety can become a huge problem abroad if one feels less than confident about taking care of oneself in a brand new place especially when the usual support group cannot come over to comfort overseas.

e) Managing finances - 
Like all students, one will find it hard to stay on top of the finances from time to time. When one is living abroad, it can be harder as one is often juggling one's living expenses on top of study expenses. Worries about the finances can really drag a person down, and make one feel alone or stressed.

Thus, we can see that growing up is a tough process and being on our own during such a sensitive period is another inevitable milestone one has to reach. Sometimes, being a student’s feels like this never-ending experiment some prodigy has invented, and enjoys piloting over our life. Once a person gets a grip on that joystick, one will face and beat all of the challenges that one won’t be able to avoid once one steps foot on this foreign land of opportunities.

PTE Academic is the world's leading computer-based English Language test of English for studying abroad and immigration.

• Fast - PTE Academic typically delivers results in five business days, so the test taker does not need to worry about waiting for results.

• Flexible Test Dates - The test is run into sessions 360 days of the year, at one of over 200 locations worldwide, so one can choose a time and place that suits the individual.

• Approved - Approved by the Australian and New Zealand governments for visa applications and accepted by thousands of institutions in the UK, Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland, including Harvard University, Yale University and INSEAD.

• Secure - Enhanced Security measure at PTE Academic including palm-vein scanning, randomised test forms and data forensics – give universities confidence that the scores can be trusted.

• Unlimited score referrals - Candidates can send their scores to an unlimited number of institutions without additional fees via their secure online account.

• No bias - The test is scored by computer so it doesn’t matter where test takers come from or what they look like, PTE Academic only tests their English skills.

The structure of the test is - 
PTE Academic consists of three main parts and there are 20 different question types. The test is an integrated skills test, each question type assessing one language skill or a combination of language skills. Question types are task-based, representing the range of functions and situations that students will encounter in an English speaking environment.

The Scoring Pattern/Evaluation - 
PTE Academic is scored against the Global Scale of English, a granular scale from 10-90. The PTE Academic Score Report includes the test taker’s overall score, communicative skills scores and enabling skills scores.

Preparation - 
Like any test, test takers should prepare by becoming familiar with the test format and learn how to tackle questions correctly. Pearson offers test takers a range of resources designed to help maximize their scores online: pearsonpte.com/prepare.

The above points make it imperative for an individual to chose #DefinitelyPTE.

The foundation lays in the initial steps! Water is life.

Life without water is next to impossible. Without fresh water we will die in just a few days.  Plain and simple, no sugar coating, it is a simple morbid fact that helps drive the point across, water equals life.  Most of us learn this along the way, so why are we complacent when we see fertilizers, oil and other pollutants pour into rivers and streams each time it rains?  Would we like to eat a fish with some weed killer marinade, or drink water with a nice motor oil sheen on top?

• Using less water keeps money safely inside our pocket.  By utilizing basic water conservation techniques we are able to save thousands of gallons of water each year.  We can do the math, use less water and the water company charges us less money.  That sounds like a good deal all around. Also the initiatives by brands such LIVPURE go a long way in creating awareness and awaken people about the importance of conservation measures.

"Thousands lived without love, but not without water.
Thus it becomes even more imperative to save water!"

• Using simple water conservation techniques can help cut our water usage by more than half.  If we commit just a little extra effort each day you alone can make a difference.  Whether we try our hand to use a low flow shower head we can see reduced water bills within the first month.  Do the planet and our future generations a favour, conserve water and stay thirsty for more savings every day.

"One doesn't have idea about how much water one wastes,

the reservoirs do!"

• Protecting our natural eco-systems from further damage is critical, especially for the survival of some endangered species.  The oceans, streams and lakes that are the lifeblood of so many local eco-systems are used as dumping grounds, hurting everything that relies on these water sources.  The great pacific garbage patch is a great example of the worst side of our wasteful practices.

"The health of our waters is simply 

the measure of how we live on land."

• Conserving water can also save largely on the energy grounds.  In order to pump the water from a central facility into our home or office, energy is required to run that equipment. So saving water means using less energy which reduces your carbon footprint and helps the country become more energy independent.

"Water is life's mater, matrix and medium."

• Water conservation can also actually help in reducing the occurrence of sinkholes.  When the natural aquifers run low, it leaves a gap where water once was.  Simple gravity pushes the ground downward since there is now a void and voila, we see a sinkhole.

"Conserving water is conserving life."

Easy and simple steps go a long way in making life changing discoveries. It is important that we bring a change in our behaviour and lifestyles which would help in making mind-boggling changes within the nature which would benefit and sustain the life on this blue planet, Earth.

#CuttingPaani brings up some of the easy and amazing ways to prevent wastage of water and make its efficient use. To be a part of the petition, sign the petition 

Nature is a blessing, and let's make our best efforts to seek those blessings in the rightful manner, by avoiding misuse and wastage of the resources at our bay.

LIVPURE