There are so many reasons to study abroad. I mean, how many times can you realistically live outside of your home country with few to no ramifications? After you finish your time at college/university, the answer is “not many.” To be fair, the easier question to answer is “why shouldn’t I study abroad?” There are … Continue reading #StudyAbroadBecause Future You will Love You
[Read More→]Whether you are abroad for a few days or a while, the first few days can be chaotic. No matter how long you travel, make sure you avoid these mistakes for a more seamless transition to your new home!
[Read More→]I’ll take a break from my usual “study abroad and international travel are great and here’s how to make the most out of an amazing situation!” to focus on something that everyone encounters during life – grief.
Loss causes grief. Any loss – a loss of innocence, a loss of life, a loss of a pet, a loss of a relationship, a loss of material goods, a loss of self-worth or direction – is devastating in its own way.
Doubts arise. Misery ensues.
There is an abundance of unanswerable questions.
Acceptance is a joke (and not a funny one at that).
However, I do like the idea of putting the “fun” in “funeral.” It helps me get through some of the tougher times when I can’t see beyond my current feelings.
Also, actively working to spin grief into a celebration of the wonderful person or thing or idea that was lost helps me.
I believe that there is nothing more celebratory than vibrant colors, sounds, and laughter at a memorial service.
The past few months have made me think long and hard about grief, and this is my brain dump about all of the reflections I have had.
[Read More→]After many years as a study abroad advisor, I can say with gusto that the majority of students are genuinely interested in finding ways to make their time abroad fulfilling and enriching. Students are the reason I go to work, enjoy my job, and find new challenges… but students also continue to find new ways to stress me out. Today, I discuss the things that many students do that will always be challenging.
Excerpt:
Let me stress that I thoroughly enjoy my job as a study abroad advisor.
(I mean, I have an entire blog dedicated to it.)
It’s never dull, students are (mostly) wonderful, and it keeps me on my toes.
However, there are some things that, no matter what, stress the hell out of me.
If you wish to remain on your study abroad advisor’s good side, here are things to NOT do.
Before: You miss deadlines.
Deadlines exist in study abroad offices for any of the following reasons:
1. You need a visa and the paperwork takes time to procure from overseas.
2. We have to review your application and it makes sense to review all study abroad applications at one time.
3. The deadline is for a scholarship (and missing these deadlines = no money fo’ you).
4. Our partners abroad require things from you (like an application).
5. We want to stress you out and find it fun.
Please don’t miss your deadlines. If you do, be prepared to not go abroad.
It’s that simple.
[Read More→]You know those days where nothing seems to go right? They even happen when you are traveling! Here are some tips for surviving your bad days to keep enjoying yourself while traveling – for me, sometimes a meltdown is the first step to recovery.
[Read More→]For all of the wonderful things about the United States, letting vacation time expire is not one of them. Here’s the case for taking vacation.
[Read More→]In response to an article in The Telegraph, the smartphone has changed many aspects about traveling. It’s not always for the worse.
[Read More→]As the end of study abroad semesters nears, students often find it difficult to balance socializing with surviving finals. Read on for some survival tips!
[Read More→]Passports are great-until you lose yours! Speaking from experience, this post outlines steps to take if you lose your passport so you can get back on track.
[Read More→]No matter how long a study abroad program is, students have common experiences that transcend borders. Here are some universal truths of studying abroad.
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