Becoming a world traveler means paying attention to how you interact with other people and cultures. Your values, goals, reactions — your identity — will affect your experience. To explain what that means, listen to an honest conversation between two friends: Rabiah, a Nigerian American and Muslim woman, and Thomas, an openly gay Puerto Rican man. These USAC Alicante alumni offer tips for energizing your identity.

Have an idea for a future episode or just want to learn more about study abroad? Email us at studyabroad@usac.edu.

One of the biggest concerns for students who want to study abroad is the cost. This episode, hosted by USAC Italy alumni Sophia DeYoung and Danny Rhodes, reveals several insider tips on how you can minimize travel and living costs while maximizing your experience abroad. They cover everything from setting a budget, avoiding overlooked costs, and leveraging all the ways to make a term abroad just as affordable as one at home.

Listeners will hear essay writing advice from USAC Thailand alumnus Ricardo Estrada-Davila – a California State University, Chico student who earned not one, not two, but three study abroad scholarships. Plus, we’ll get a behind the scenes look at how to make your essay stand out from the rest from Ryder Hankins, a USAC Italy Alumnus and a former University of Nevada, Las Vegas, scholarship essay evaluator.

Have an idea for a future episode or just want to learn more about study abroad? Email us at studyabroad@usac.edu.

It helps to be a part of a deep-rooted Italian community if you’re looking to be taught how to cook pasta the “right” way. Accepting new ways of doing things can also help you build the confidence to teach others about your own values as well. University of Nevada, Las Vegas graduate Ryder Hankins will walk us through the lasting impact of making good food and finding a friendly community as a queer person during his time in both the USAC Viterbo and USAC Torino programs. In this episode, we will also feature a segment of “You Belong,” a video presentation by USAC Chiang Mai alumnus Ami King, about his experience finding community as a queer person abroad. "You Belong" in it's entirety can be found on our YouTube channel.

Have an idea for a future episode or just want to learn more about study abroad? Email us at studyabroad@usac.edu.

Let's talk Study Abroad! From London bathrooms to Korean Fried Chicken, University of Nevada, Reno students and alumni Angelica, Dominic, Kaycee, and Olivia share their advice and most valuable study abroad experiences in France, Japan, Korea and the UK.

Have an idea for a future episode or just want to learn more about study abroad? Email us at studyabroad@usac.edu.

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.

Have an idea for a future episode or just want to learn more about study abroad? Email us at studyabroad@usac.edu.

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.

Have an idea for a future episode or just want to learn more about study abroad? Email us at studyabroad@usac.edu.

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.

Have an idea for a future episode or just want to learn more about study abroad? Email us at studyabroad@usac.edu.

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.

Have an idea for a future episode or just want to learn more about study abroad? Email us at studyabroad@usac.edu.