Hello and Happy National Study Abroad Day everyone!

National Study Abroad Day is celebrated on the last Monday of February, which in 2025 falls on February 24th. 

Key points about National Study Abroad Day: 

• Purpose: To raise awareness about the benefits and impact of studying abroad. 
• Date: Always the final Monday of February. 
• How to celebrate: Colleges and organizations can host events like information sessions, study abroad fairs, panel discussions, or social media campaigns. 
• Hashtag: #StudyAbroadDay 

Study Abroad Day

On behalf of this unique day, I am choosing to share how my journey of studying, working, and living abroad began almost a decade ago in Madrid.

I went to Madrid with my high school for an international education trip.

We went in February 2017 for a week, and learned about the history and culture of the country of Spain.

I want to start by saying that I was a senior and this was very unexpected.

I switched to a new school in my junior year of high school, and though the transition was abrupt, it the opened doors for me to create an amazing senior year with travel opportunities such as this one.

As I mentioned in another post, I went to Germany to visit family my junior year, so this was second trip to Europe in a two year time span.

I was also learning Spanish at my previous school, so this trip to Spain allowed for me to practice immersion with the language in a foreign country. It prepared me for my life.

Now, I am using these experiences to help me travel and teach globally.

This is why study abroad is important, because it opens doors.

It offers access to cultural exchange.

It can build cultural connections and influence people to build new lives and relationships with people that are different from themselves.

I am very grateful for this experience because it changed my life forever.

I’m studying international education now because of this amazing trip.

I even had the chance to zipline there, and I enjoyed the food and culture. We got to see many cultural sites, including Museo Nacional del Prado, Plaza Mayor, and Royal Palace. El Retiro Park and Valle de Los Caidos were two of my favorites.

If you have the opportunity to study abroad , you should do it!

There are plenty of programs for it:

Workaway exchange programs

Study and work abroad with CIEE

Semester at Sea program

Peace Boat Teaching Volunteers

CEA Study Abroad

Intern Abroad Hq

SIT Study Abroad

NALCAP Spain Program

Fulbright Student Program

Gilman Scholars Program

Boren Scholars Program

Critical Language Scholarship

EF Gap Year

Doctors Without Borders

Peace Corps Volunteers

These are the most common ones, but there are many, many more!

If you want to learn more, feel free to schedule a call with me here below:

Schedule A Call with Lydia

Thanks for reflecting with me!

Until the next adventure,

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