STAMPED

My oh my it's been a while, but I promise there's good reason for it!

This bonus clip is a special note to all our fans to update you on STAMPED...where I've been and what's to come!

It was such a pleasure to interview recent Virginia Tech graduate, Casey Molina. 

At Tech, Casey majored in Journalism and International Relations. When she began college she thought "studying abroad was out of reach", but with persistence and assistance from her Global Education Office, she was able to make it happen...more than once! 

Now Casey can add Fulbright recipient to her list of accomplishments. She is currently serving as a teaching assistant in the Canary Islands and is working on a documentary about environmental mindfulness. 

This incredibly self-reflective episode is one you don't want to miss! 

Episode Mentions:

Fulbright

Ted Talk: Reclaiming the Globe

Phenomenal and peaceful...that's how Qadira described her second collegiate study abroad experience to El Camino de Santiago. Known as one of the most popular pilgrimages in the world, the original route was to the remains of St. James. Today it is estimated that thousands take the journey annually, both as a physical challenge and a spiritual journey. 

This bonus episode is an excellent example of the reflective practices that can take place through study abroad. 

Qadira is our first guest of 2020 and trust us, you don't want to miss any of this! She openly shares how her family, friends and local businesses came together to make her dreams of studying abroad come true. You'll hear how these early international experiences shaped the trajectory of her life, so much so that studying abroad was a huge reason for choosing her university! Learn how she navigated everyone else's concerns about locations around the world and pushed forward to immerse herself in German culture. 

Resources mentioned in this episode. 

Note: These links are not affiliates. 

--Sam Ash

--University Studies Abroad Consortium

--The Vantage Point 

--The Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement 

Hello and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thank you to everyone who supported the STAMPED podcast since it's debut, November 2019 during International Education Week. 

I can't thank you enough for your support! 

I'm excited to continue sharing study abroad stories as well as stories from industry professionals and travelers like you whose experiences have proved to be meaningful in their lives today. 

Favorite STAMPED on anchor.fm/STAMPED so you'll never miss an episode. 

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IG: @TravelGeneLLC 

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#You'veBeenSTAMPED 

In this episode, I sit down with JaNell, who studied abroad during her school's May Term. 

Note: At her school-Mary Baldwin University, May Term is a three week session after the end of the spring semester when students have the opportunity to focus on a concentrated course that generally meets every day. During this time faculty can lead a course abroad.

JaNell said she’d seen the flyers around campus and knew about the places offered for study abroad but never considered it an opportunity for herself until her school’s financial aid office suggested study abroad as an option for usage of remaining funds. When she followed up with the faculty leader of the program, she found out that she could actually complete the requirements needed to obtain the Spanish minor and with that she was sold on the experience!

During our discussion JaNell shares information on practically balancing safety concerns while abroad, staying connected, and how patience served her well during her time abroad. 

You've Been STAMPED!

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In this episode, we welcomed STAMPED guest, Shayla Spruill who had her mind set on studying abroad in Japan since the 6th grade. She was so sure about this decision that she wrote out her goal and stuck it to her refrigerator for the entire family to see! Her junior year of college, that refrigerator goal became a reality when she applied and was accepted to become an exchange student at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan. 

She made it a point to apply for funding to support her study abroad experience. Between her mom’s list of scholarship options (thanks mom) and her tenacity to push through every application (including the essays) she earned 3 major awards to support her time abroad.

The first was a scholarship specific to her  university which focused on academic coursework in art, history, and culture. The second scholarship she won was the Gilman Scholarship (including the Critical Language Scholarship) . This funding enabled her to stay an extra semester which would prove to have an impact on her culminating academic requirements once back home! Lastly she won the Freeman-Asia Scholarship  which is designed for students with a demonstrated financial need and who are studying in East or Southeast Asia.

Shayla encourages any student interested in studying abroad to seek information first and then make it happen!

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For now...You've Been STAMPED!

Meet two friends, Chelse and Krystyna who are study abroad returners! Chelse spent a semester in Japan at Kansai Gaidai University while Krystyna spent the fall semester at Sungshin Women's University (South Korea) and the spring at Soka University in Japan. Their lively retelling of their time abroad awaits! 

Resources mentioned in this episode (this is not an affiliate)

Language resource mentioned in this podcast were the Youtube channel: "Talk to me in Korean".