Florence: Career-Driven, Authentic Semester in Tuscany, Italy

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel memory is definitely going scuba diving for the first time ever at the Belize Barrier Reef. I had snorkeled many times in many places around the world and loved it, but knew I wanted to push myself to do more and get to further immerse myself into life below the surface. I was traveling with a friend who was certified, and she encouraged me to sign up for the introductory dive class while we were on our trip!

Getting to swim 30 feet under the surface right next to large coral formations, rays, sharks, and lots of schools of colorful fish was incredible! It inspired me to pursue my Open Water diving certificate when I came home to the US that summer, so that I can continue these adventures for the rest of my life on all of my future travels!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have grown so much since starting at EdOdyssey a year ago! I have had the opportunity to meet and partner with so many amazing people in the international education field on so many amazing programs and initiatives around the world. I have also enjoyed getting to develop my understanding and skill sets in working on the logistics side of program development and implementation, because prior to this position, most of my work was more student-facing and advising based. I definitely have a better appreciation for all aspects of international education programming now with these varied experiences!

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

One of my favorite stories from a returned student was about the time one of them met a few local buddies in Costa Rica and they ended up taking him to these incredible secluded beach-side treehouses for a long weekend. He shared a few pictures of the accommodations and the views and I instantly added it to my travel bucket list! He said he would have never gotten to camp in a setup like that had he not challenged himself to branch out and meet local friends in his university classes. He and the friends were also still in regular contact and planned to get together again in the near future.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would love to go on the Japan semester abroad program! I have not been able to visit Japan yet, and I know that it is such a rich and diverse place, so I would definitely want to have plenty of time to explore it all and really immerse myself in the culture and traditions, which students get to do on several weekend excursions throughout the semester with EdOdyssey!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

EdOdyssey is made up of so many unique individuals with lots of different international education and travel experiences and perspectives. We all care about giving students authentic glimpses into life and culture in the places that they are visiting, and not just making sure that they check off visiting all of the typical tourist attractions that locations are known for on a whistlestop tour. We weave our values of education, travel, ethics, and immersion into all of our programs to ensure that students get a well rounded and holistic experience and understanding of the place they are in while they are abroad.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I believe that team synergy and purpose is key. EdOdyssey does a wonderful job at being intentional as a company and team when it comes to approaching all aspects of our work. We value each other's voices, because we each have unique perspectives and experiences that we can bring to the table to help elevate our programming and give our students the best possible experiences on their programs - which is our main overarching goal!