annelijn-blog

[annelijn-blog]

4 Tips to go on your internship abroad with peace of mind

What's to come?' and 'What do I need to be well prepared?' are guaranteed to be questions that go through your head when you realize that you're going to be doing an internship abroad within a few months. Don’t worry! Personally, I was also very nervous and didn't really know where to start with the preparations. Here are the most helpful tips that received from students who already went on an internship abroad.

 1.         Choose your country and hotel

Then you suddenly receive a large list with a choice of countries from all over the world. And if it's not enough, there are per country a lot of different hotels. The tip is that you should keep in mind that you are going to live and work in this country for 6 months. So consider that you should be interested in the different (working) culture and that you should be able to adapt to this as well.

 2.         Your motivation and top 3

Now the next phase comes. Which countries and hotels are in your top 3? But also important is why is that country your number 1 choice? Your motivation is not only very important for the school and the hotel where you want to go to, but also for yourself.

Tip: Make a good overview of this for yourself, for example by comparing the opportunities and threats. It's also important to list your strong and weak characteristics. This will help you find out whether the concept of a hotel really suits you.

 3.         Selection and job interview

After you have given your preference for your number 1 country and hotel, the most challenging part starts. You will have to see if you will be accepted at all. Don't panic! Your school is there to help you. They will check whether the country and hotel are suitable for you.

What helped me a lot for the job interview was that I had put post-it's around my laptop with information about the hotel and myself. Make clear for yourself what your learning goals are and tell them during the interview. This will reassure you and make you much less nervous. Most important tip of all: Be yourself! 

  4.         The last few months

You are hired and it's almost time! Here is an overview and tips of the last things you need to arrange:

- Look for a room in the city. You are working a lot, but this makes it easier to explore the city and meet new people in your spare time.

- Arrange public transport membership in your country.

- Take out a bank account and mobile membership abroad.

- Arrange public transport compensation and Erasmus grant (within Europe).

 I hope these tips will help you a lot. Don't forget to enjoy your time during your internship. It will be an important experience in your life. I wish you the best of luck and successful internship!

[annelijn-blog]

Is the vegan lifestyle that healthy?

Eating is complicated. Nowadays, many documentaries and books recommend the vegan lifestyle. Everyone thinks that vegan is the best way to live healthy. Make your own decision, of course, but these are the main reasons why I would never become vegan. It's simply not that healthy.

1.            The vegan diets do not provide enough vitamins

Meat and fish contain a lot of vitamins that you need to be able to live a healthy life. The vegan diets aren’t nearly as healthy as you think. Think for example of the vitamins A and D. Many variants of these vitamins are only found in animal products such as eggs, meat and especially grass-grazing animals. Vitamin A and Vitamin D are especially essential for the immune system, digestion, fertility, and hormone balance.

 2.            Real Food > Fake Food

Replaceable products are often made for vegans. But you can't replace cheese, eggs, milk, meat, etc. so easily. Soon new trends are made such as the vegetarian burgers. Are these as healthy as you think? It's too essential to be able to live a healthy life. For generations and centuries, these products have been part of people's eating culture. We can hardly live a healthy life without these nutrients. For example, animal products are a non-negotiable, essential part of curing leaking intestines to tackle autoimmunity.

 3.            You must take life to have a life

Most people choose veganism because they are too sorry to take the life of an animal and then eat it. But if we really think about this, not only animals live, but also plants. Plants are also living beings and also capable of communicating and sense emotions. The following quote by Therapist Liz Wolf gives the following idea:

‘If we truly believe that no living thing should have to die for our dinner, we shouldn't eat at all. If we truly believe that all life deserves equal respect, why not equalize ourselves by embracing the elegant fact that we are all, as Nelson writes, "driven by the same hungers that motivate any other creature- the squirrel in the forest, the vole in the meadow, the bear on the mountainside, the deer in the valley?".

 Of course, it remains your choice and the vegan lifestyle certainly has its advantages. I personally have also experienced in my own environment that people who are vegan, become weaker and sick faster than others. Think about it first and first do some research on what is best for your body and what makes you happy. Goodluck!

[annelijn-blog]

Travel with me through Israel

 A country with a lot of history. The country and center of many different faiths. Israel is an interesting and impressive country where you learn a lot and come back from.

 When I was just 18 years old I went with the organization 'The Lions' on exchange to Israel. The first two weeks I stayed at a Host Family in Tel Aviv. This is definitely a tip to do, because this is the best way to get to know the culture better. People here are very warm-hearted, open and hospitable. During my Homestay I got to know the rest of the group. Young people from all over the world; from America, all over Europe and even Hong Kong.

 When you're alone in an unknown country, it's easier to get to know new people. I also have two best friends from London and Croatia who I visit every year.

Together with the whole group we travelled through the country under the guidance of a local guide. Tip: When you travel with a local guide, you will see and learn a lot more!

 We travelled from the south of the Qumran, Masada and the Judea desert and the dead sea, to the cities of Jerusalem and Nazareth in the middle, the gaza strip up to the wooded and beautiful nature in the north. All these places are all very impressive and you can't believe your eyes. My tip is to read you well in advance about the culture and history of the country. It is also advisable to travel with several people. This is for safety but also for a different experience.

 A completely different culture, a country with a lot of history and stories, but with the sweetest people. If you love something completely different and a country with intense stories, Israel is absolutely recommended! Don't be scared to do something totally different.

[annelijn-blog]

The top 10 MUST SEE in London!

London, the big city with 8.1 million inhabitants. So big, so much to see, but what are the must see’s and to do’s when in London?

London belongs to one of the major fashion cities. That's why Oxford street and Harrods are in my top 10.  

if you are very interested in, for example, the brexit or of course, the Big Ben, go to the beautiful Parliament. Buckinghem Palace is also nearby. You can walk trough the beautiful Hyde Park.

For the most impressive view over London, I recommend you ‘fly’over London with the Emirates Air Line cable car.

If you like to party just like me, London is the place to be with all the Pubs, Bars and Clubs. The Nights out are guaranteed to always be fun.

Do you want to also see some culture, or if you like the beautiful historic buildings in London, go and check out the London Tower and Tower Bridge.

Last but not least, go watch to Piccadilly Circus and if you are also in to sweets, go to M&M World. 😊

[annelijn-blog]

Outline

Topic: London

Controlling idea: The top 10 ‘must see’ in London!

 1.      Introduction

I wrote something relevant to the reader or found something in the news to get to my topic. Journalists call this the lead. It should relate to your title or you’ll lose readers immediately.

London, the big city with 8.1 million inhabitants. So big, so much to see, but what are the must see’s in London?

 2.      Explanation of main concept

I often use research and data. Readers like this since it grounds your blog post in facts and establishes trust

This is my personal top 10 of the things you must see when you are in London.

1.      Oxford Street; fashion

2.      Harrods ; fashion

3.      The parlement / big ben

4.      Buckinghem palace

5.      Emirates Air Line (most amazing view for a few pounds)

6.      Tower bridge

7.      Nights out

8.      Pubs

9.      Harry potter for the fans

10.  piccadilly circus

 3.      Show and tell

Provide at least one example of the concept in action. This makes the ideas concrete for your readers.

  4.      Tips and tactics

This makes my content actionable. It tells readers how they can use the concepts.

-          Get an Oyster card for a few days. This is the best way to travel through London and also a fun attraction to experience. The DLR’s are quite nice, because they are on the ground so you can see London from a ‘rollercoaster’.

-          The people in London are always in a rush. You will get used to it, but keep it in mind when someone is running for the tube, while the same one will also go a few minutes later.

 5.      Conclusion

This ties your article together referring back to your title and opening.

London is a beautiful, crowded city. A lot of tourists from over the world. But not only tourists come tot he city. The city is really international, so a lot of people from over the world live and work here. This is what makes this city so divers and wonderful!

Blog writing tips

  Bron 1.

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/8-essential-writing-tips

 -          Lot of examples

-          Tells you what to do and what not to

  Bron 2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnX9INqSflA

 -          Tips by someone who has experience over the last nine years

-          Her tips for starting a blog

-          Very easy, for beginners

-          Video, easy to understand

 Bron 3.

https://www.reviewpro.com/blog/top-10-things-to-write-about-in-your-hotel-blog/ 

 -          10 things to write about in your hotel blog

-          Hospitality related

-          Good summary of the article