Eric Torres Garcia — a Mexican American, two-time USAC Italy alumnus — shares how self-discovery abroad helped him embrace his identity as a gay man and gelato-making inspired his viral hot chocolate creation and business, Cocoa Bombs™.

Learn more about Cocoa Bombs™, study abroad in USAC Verona and Torino, and explore our  LBGTQIA+ resources to help you find your ideal experience abroad. 

Julia Ratti — USAC San Sebastián alumna, former Girl Scouts CEO and Nevada State Senator (D-Sparks), and current Director of Programs and Projects at the Washoe County Health District — chats about the impact study abroad had on her career and worldview.  Julia shares her perspective on women in leadership, inequality and systemic issues, health and wellness impacts, and why she thinks study abroad should be accessible to all students.  Learn more about our study abroad programs and scholarships. 

In this episode with hosts Amber and Nicole, Brent Coulter, USAC Chengdu and San Sebastián alumni, shares his experiences as a gay man abroad, including how to find LGBTQIA+ communities, make connections and re-define identity, and how his study abroad opened doors to an unimaginable future.

Explore LGBTQIA+ study abroad topics and learn more about upcoming USAC programs.

About Brent
Brent has lived abroad for more than seven years and currently works as a Case Manager for Policy Violations at Meta. He studied abroad through USAC in San Sebastián, Spain and Chengdu, China where he later started his career as a U.S.-China policy analyst before returning to the U.S. to attend law school. His passions are languages, international mobility, and the globalization of communities. 

In this episode, hosts Amber and Nicole chat with Jade Wright and Brendan Henry, Haifa alumni about their study abroad experiences, including common Middle East misconceptions, studying Arabic, how studying abroad contributed to their careers, and the Discover Middle East Scholarship Jade founded.

Find out more about USAC's Haifa program and learn about the Discover Middle East Scholarship. 

During Black History Month, Amber Aiton, Students Beyond Borders co-host and Alumni Relations Officer, sat down with three USAC alumni to discuss their experiences as Black students abroad. With a spotlight on racial identity, overcoming barriers, and personal growth, our USAC alumni panelists share their honest reflections of their study abroad experiences in Korea, Thailand, and India and how their worldviews evolved.

This panel was offered as part of our Global Perspectives Program panel series. Stay up-to-date on upcoming USAC events by subscribing to our newsletter. 

Congratulations! After months of planning, you are finally studying abroad. This time abroad is going to be filled with a ton of new and exciting opportunities, but if you don't find a balance, you may quickly find yourself burning out. 

In this episode we talk about the importance of:

1. A morning routine.
2. Staying mindful and present.
3. Drinking enough water and staying healthy.
4. Dedicating spaces for study.
5. Methods to help you reflect and share your experience.

And SO much more! Tune in to learn how you can find the perfect balance during your time abroad.

We have finally reached the end of the year, which means that thousands of students who studied abroad this fall will be returning home from their programs. A lot has happened to those students over this past semester and they've inevitably developed new perspectives of the world and their identities. For this reason, it is important that they understand how to integrate these new perspectives into their new lives!

That's why we invited Cate Brubaker to chat with us on the podcast. Cate, and her website smallplanetstudio.com, specialize in "Re-Entry" and have helped hundreds of people around the world deal with the psychological side of returning home.

In this episode, we explore the topics of reverse-culture shock, how to work with sudden emotions, goal setting, and more, to help students have a smoother transition returning home. For more information about re-entry, be sure to check out our alumni re-entry resources.

Welcome back to another exciting episode! In this special episode, three USAC alumni join us to share how studying abroad inspired them to live lives of adventure, entrepreneurship, and travel.

During this discussion, you'll learn how one alumnus started their own chocolate business from a viral video, how another became a YouTuber based in Mexico, and yet another went from being an archeologist to a major supporter of impactful NGOs.

Learn more about our upcoming 2022 programs and find out how study abroad can create life-changing experiences for you. 

Alumni, this podcast is for you!

As a USAC alum, you will benefit from your life-changing study abroad experience AND from joining our diverse 61,000 alumni strong network! Our alumni have exclusive access to global job postings, webinars, panel discussions, and more! 

In this episode, we have our fantastic  Alumni Donations Officer, Amber Aiton, who will be sharing all of the incredible resources USAC shares with our Alumni. 

This episode is easily one of our favorite podcast recordings to date! In this episode with Nicole, Amber, and Tyler, you'll be introduced to Monte and Gino, two USAC alumni who met in Torino Italy in nearly 17 years ago and have remained close friends to this day.

This episode is packed full of career advice (especially for those interested in having a career that allows you to travel), study abroad tips, and hilarious stories from being abroad.

 You won't want to miss it!

To learn more about 2022 USAC study abroad programs, visit our website for a list of key deadlines and program statuses. 

In this special spooktacular episode, we will be showing you how Halloween is celebrated in other parts of the world! Spoiler Alert - most cultures don't celebrate Halloween the way we do in the United Staes, but they do have some very beautiful and spooky traditions of their own.

From "Dia De Los Mortes" (Day of the Dead) in Latin America, "All Souls Day" in the Czech Republic, to the "Hungry Ghost Festival" in China, we will be taking you on quite an interesting journey with this podcast.

Happy 39th Birthday USAC! As we wrap up September, we reflect on USAC's contribution to international education. In this episode, we chatted with some of our most cherished and long-standing members and asked them to reflect on how USAC has grown over the years.

We also invited them to share the many qualities about USAC that allow us to stand out from the rest. From affordable study abroad options in unique locations to the personalized touch of our Resident Directors, there are so many characteristics that make USAC a special organization. Give a listen to celebrate with us! 

In this episode, hosts Amber, Nicole, and Tyler chat common study abroad myths and share their international experiences. Do you really know what really happens during a study abroad term? Maybe, you think it's too expensive and not possible for you?  Or, maybe you're scared to leave your hometown, campus events, or friends?

Learn more about study abroad during this candid, personal chat, and then discover your dream study abroad by checking out USAC's programs and scholarships.

From Boise to Bilbao, Lindsay Woycheck is an amazing example of the life-changing effect that study abroad can have on your life. While studying Spanish in Bilbao Spain, Lindsay met her future husband, and now lives and works as a freelancer in Bilbao! 

In this episode, you'll learn tips for studying abroad in the Basque region, how to leverage your professional skills learned from study abroad, and also learn the importance of making friends on the metro! Join us for another exciting episode.

In this episode, hosts Nicole and Amber chat with Tyler Moye, USAC Shanghai & Global Perspectives Virtual Intern Alumn, and USAC Marketing Communications team member. Learn how study abroad and interning during COVID-19 changed Tyler's life direction and what lasting impacts these opportunities had on his career. 

To learn more about Spring 2022 in-person study abroad opportunities, or virtual internships, visit usac.edu. 

In this episode, host Nicole  Duxbury is joined by Amber Aiton and Tyler Moye, USAC staffers and Season 3 podcast co-hosts,  as they all share their tips and tricks for studying abroad. 

As students across the country begin studying abroad again, our hosts share their insights on how to best set a budget, what to include in your suitcase, the benefits of applying for USAC scholarships, ways to connect with USAC alumni, and more.

Ready to start your study abroad adventure? Learn more about what programs are scheduled to run in 2022, USAC scholarships and budgeting, and chat with a Program Advisor to find out more about your dream program abroad! 

Join host Nicole as she chats with Christopher Knight, a USAC Alicante, Spain Alumn, who shares his experience studying abroad as a queer, trans student. Christopher discusses how identity can be viewed in global cultures, primarily Alicante, what his experience was being a queer, trans student abroad, and how language and authenticity played a part in opening doors to his current academic and personal endeavors.

To learn more about studying abroad as an LGBTQ+ student, check out USAC's Equity and Inclusion resources, and explore more student reflections on the USAC blog. 

Thank you for listening to Season 2 of Students Beyond Borders. We will be back in July with Season 3 and even more episodes surrounding all things study abroad. Stay tuned! 

In this special Pride Month episode, host Nicole Duxbury chats with Courtney Bauman, USAC University Relations Coordinator, and Jeremy Doughty, USAC England Resident Director,  about studying abroad as an LGBTQ+ student. 

Courtney and Jeremy share personal stories and keen insights surrounding self-discovery from their international and study abroad experiences, and provide valuable reflections on the impact international education can have on one's authenticity and identity.

For equity and inclusion resources, visit the USAC website and check out the USAC blog for student reflections on studying abroad as a diverse, LGBTQ+ or first-generation student. 

In this "Ask Me Anything" episode, hosts Kate and Nicole answer the most frequent, relevant, and popular study abroad questions sourced from social media, study abroad fairs, and virtual events. Ranging from dispelling common study abroad myths, to studying abroad affordably and during the pandemic, learn more about USAC programs, funding options, and how study abroad can work for your major, your schedule, and your pocketbook.

To learn more about USAC program fees, visit the Money Matters section of our website. And,  if you're ready to dig into the total estimated costs of your dream program,  find the interactive budget sheets under the "Program & Deadlines" section of the program you're interested in.

For more stories and study abroad tips, check out USAC's blog and if you've got questions not answered in this episode, contact us at studyabroad@usac.edu. 

In this episode, our hosts Kate and Nicole chat with Taylor Doyle about her virtual internship experience. While working for Socialab, Taylor was able to have hands-on experience with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and further her career in social entrepreneurship. Taylor shares the importance of time management, networking, and finding a mentor, and the massive impact these elements can have on your professional career.  Taylor's internship will be taking her to Uruguay, where she will be joining her team in Montevideo and continuing her internship in the Fall of 2021.   

If you are interested in Taylor's work in social entrepreneurship, the United Nations SDGs, or her internship experience, feel free to email her at - taylordoyle1999@gmail.com.
 
To learn more about USAC's upcoming programs and deadlines, or if you want to learn more about our Global Perspectives Virtual Internships, then click the links to visit our website.  

In this episode, hosts Kate and Nicole chat with USAC Chile and England Alumna Anna Shoultz as she shares her experience studying abroad during the pandemic in Spring 2020 and Spring 2021.

Curious about what it's like to live abroad now? Want to know what to expect? Anna shares her insights on traveling, quarantine, COVID restrictions abroad, and why she pushed forward on her dreams despite the challenges. 

You can also learn more about her London experience in her blog, "London in Lockdown – Studying Abroad During COVID" and her viewpoints on sustainability.

Ready to go abroad? Find upcoming program statuses and deadlines here.  

Have you always been interested in the Peace Corps? Wonder what it's like to dedicate a couple of years to an international service volunteer opportunity? Want to know what to do after your study abroad program is done?

Join hosts Kate and Nicole as they ask these questions and more to Student Beyond Borders' guests and USAC University Relations Coordinators Kaitie Brown and Courtney Bauman.

Then, learn more about applying, planning, and preparing for the Peace Corps from Laura Pell, Appalachian State University's Assistant Director/Career Coach, College of Arts and Sciences and Peace Corps Prep Program Coordinator.

To learn more about the Peace Corps and current volunteer experiences, visit their website and if you're a student, be sure to talk to your career center on campus for additional information and resources.  

In this week's episode, join hosts Kate and Nicole as they chat with Megan Sattler, a Global Perspectives Virtual Internship alumna.  Megan, a math major at the University of Arkansas, interned with the Play and Learn Foundation in Accra, Ghana during the summer of 2020.

Find out more about her internship experience, her biggest takeaways and why she recommends students intern with international businesses through USAC's virtual internship program.

Interested in participating in international internships this summer? Check out USAC's Global Perspectives Virtual Internship Program and find out how easy it is to add international experience to your resume!  

In this episode, hosts Kate and Nicole chat with Adam Melamed, a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo senior and USAC Torino, Italy Alumnus and Ambassador. He shares the lasting impact study abroad had on his life, what he brought back from his time in Torino, and how his experiences abroad led him to create The Pursuit, a podcast geared toward creating inspiring and motivational content aimed at helping young adults lead more fulfilling and purpose-driven lives. 

If you're ready to study abroad in Italy, or any of USAC's 50+ locations, this summer or fall, apply now (deadlines are nearing for upcoming summer sessions). Keep in mind, if you apply for any USAC Specialty Summer program, you will receive a $500 discount per session.

Join hosts Kate and Nicole in this love-filled episode as they learn how two couples met and fell in love while studying abroad. Hear from Costa Rica Alumns Russ and Melissa Whipple and Italy Alumns Shay and Kurt Hoseley as they share their magical and heartwarming tales of meeting one another during their programs.

Ready for a life-changing experience abroad but not sure where to start? Visit our Virtual Advising Hub to get started! From Feb. 16 to Feb. 19, 2021 we will be hosting a virtual live event and giving away study abroad prizes.  It's time to turn your dream of studying abroad into a reality!