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Renting a flat for a week, shopping in local markets and learning a few words of the language are all great ways to immerse yourself in a foreign culture while traveling -- but there's only so much you can do on a week-long vacation. For a deeper look at a new place, there's no substitute for actually spending some time living there.

We interviewed 12 IndependentTraveler.com staffers and readers to find out about their adventures in working, volunteering or studying abroad. They shared where they went and how they did it, and revealed the lessons they learned from their once-in-a-lifetime experiences (such as how to use a squat toilet in Thailand or why you should always check your tires before driving in Australia). Click on any image to start the slideshow and get inspired!

--written and compiled by Sarah Schlichter