The Study Abroad Pod
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Will you meet new people to call friends, learn new skills to spice up your resume, and see the world through different eyes if you study abroad? Yes! Let's talk about it!
Subscribe to THE Study Abroad Pod to learn all the tips for having one of the greatest life-changing and cross-cultural adventures of your life. University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) is a nonprofit that hopes to make an international education accessible to all students. Listen for advice from our U.S. and international staff about choosing the right program, classes, and excursions for you!
How to say “let’s be friends” wherever you go
In this episode we’re sitting down with Zack Patton, a University of Houston student who turned one study abroad into three — learning Spanish, French, and German along the way. Joined by USAC Resident Directors David Gilland and Luis Fernández, Zack reflects on language learning, idiomatic hacks, culture shock, and why fluency isn’t the goal: it’s connection.
More episodes
Interning with purpose: women creating change abroad
Women can do it all: from isolating the chemical compounds in medicinal plants in Thailand, to advocating for abuse victims in India, there’s a place to practice your craft in a study abroad internship. This episode highlights Maggie, from the University of Idaho, and Haley from the University of Nevada, Reno, who saw firsthand the global impact of women forging their own pathways in their communities.
Throwing frisbees and catching feelings in Korea
Wright State University student Celeste Irwin shares her unique journey of playing Ultimate Frisbee in South Korea while studying abroad at the USAC Gwangju program. With USAC Verona alumna Sophia DeYoung as host, they discuss the thrill of connecting with a new culture through sports, balancing academics and athletics abroad, and the unforgettable friendships forged on the field. Whether you're an athlete, a student, or just curious about the intersection of sports and study abroad, this episode is for you.
Embracing distant and newfound family in Japan
In this episode, we’ll visit Nagasaki, Japan, with two Asian American students who became best friends abroad. Aolani, a University of Houston alumna, shares her experience reflecting on her Japanese American identity and reconnecting with her Japanese relatives. Gabby, an Indian American and University of Nevada, Reno senior, recounts exploring Japan for the first time, being welcomed into Aolani’s family, and building a bond that crossed cultures and continents.
Out and abroad in London
What does it mean to be out and abroad? In this Pride Month special, Jeanine Martinez, a Northern Arizona University alumna, and Walker Dalton, a graduate of Appalachian State University, join Dr. Jeremy Doughty to talk queer identity, London life, and finding your people. From drag queen alter egos to dating tea, this episode is a celebration of growth, community, and showing up as your authentic self.
Loving love in Lüneburg
In this episode, David Gilland, Resident Director for USAC Lüneburg, chats with Jorana and John, a couple studying abroad together in Germany. They share how they’ve grown together abroad navigating cultural differences, and David reflects on his own cross-cultural marriage to a German. Whether it’s discovering little quirks of German life or learning to balance different cultural values, this episode shares inspiring stories of the joys and challenges of life abroad with someone special.
Conociendo el mundo: Confesiones de una madre y su hija
En este episodio, escucharemos una conversación sincera entre una madre y su hija. Patricia Souza, egresada de la University of Nevada, Las Vegas, fue la primera de su familia en ir a la universidad — y en estudiar en el extranjero. Estudiando en USAC Lyon, Francia, hablan sobre cómo pasaron del miedo a lo desconocido a una confianza inquebrantable. Hablarán del choque cultural, la independencia y de cómo la distancia las acercó.
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