Traveling Beyond the Reels

Emily Yn
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  • PLACES & TRAVEL
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Studying abroad looks like a dream. Travel, new friendships, and life-changing experiences. But what’s the reality beyond the Instagram posts? Emily Yn dives deep into the unfiltered truths of studying abroad through candid conversations with American students who have lived it. From unexpected culture shocks to the emotional highs and lows, we uncover the parts of the experience that don’t always make it to social media. Episodes explore the impact of social proof, travel expectations vs. reality, mental health, languages, education, and the lasting effects of time spent abroad.

Episodes

  1. 04/02/2025

    Santiago, Chile w/Owen Lane

    South America is an overlooked study abroad destination that deserves more social media attention. In this episode, Owen Lane eases safety concerns and brings appreciation to Chile, especially their schooling, modernity, and nature! Owen recommends maximizing your time and thoroughly researching your study abroad locations and subsequent travel destinations!

    21 min

  2. 03/31/2025

    Study Abroad Struggles and Social Proof w/Tessa Yell

    Language barriers, reverse culture shock, and homesickness, Tessa Yell and I open up about these inevitable struggles all in this episode, while touching on their lack of attention on social media. With social media's glamorization and people's social media anxiety, most people don't broadcast their full experiences. Tune in to how Tessa shares her life through a more honest lens.

    19 min

  3. 03/29/2025

    Singapore w/Madhav Kotecha

    Singapore! An amazing blend of Asian and Western cultures! In this episode, Madhav Kotecha shares his study abroad experience in Singapore, explaining why he chose Asia over the typical European destinations, how social media shaped his expectations, and the cultural adjustments he had to make in Singapore and his other spontaneous trips across Southeast Asia.

    17 min

  4. 03/25/2025

    Study Abroad Tips and Cuisines w/Ava Nguyen

    Packing essentials, unexpected emotions, and the power of social media to plan trips, Ava Nguyen and I unpack it all in this episode. As foodies, social media aided us in finding hidden culinary gems that aren't on those travel guides! Our packing list: Universal adaptor, packing cubes, travel size bottles, decorations for home, portable charger, necessary medications, and Bonus: a voltage converter!

    26 min

  5. 03/21/2025

    Remaining Sane While Abroad w/Áine Mannion

    Mental health can be a struggle, especially while abroad. From the excitement of global travel to the emotional toll of being far from home, Áine Mannion opens up about navigating mental health challenges, the pressure of social media perfection, and the highs and lows of life abroad. There's a lot that happens behind the scenes and it's important to remember that nobody is perfect. It's really okay to not be okay, and as Áine says, take it one day at a time.

    15 min

  6. 03/17/2025

    The Hague, Netherlands w/James Granger

    As James Granger says, the Netherlands is more than just Amsterdam! In this episode, James focuses on his study abroad experience in The Hague, Netherlands. With its central location, he delves into the ease of travel within Europe and how social media influenced his study abroad expectations and travel plans, as well as the cultural differences he encountered.

    17 min

  7. 03/14/2025

    RIL Cohort in France w/Keegan Clendenin

    The Responsible International Leadership (RIL) cohort studies abroad in Cergy, France at ESSEC Business School! In this episode, Keegan Clendenin shares his year-long immersion abroad, with his close proximity to Paris, service work in Scotland, and travels around Europe and beyond.

    21 min

  8. 03/09/2025

    Trips, Travels, and Study Abroad Freedom w/Aubrey Jennings

    The freedom of studying abroad on a new continent inspired Aubrey Jennings and I to embark to 18 countries together. In this episode, we share how we planned our trips, the experiences that shaped us, and the role social media played in influencing the realities of our journeys versus the ones our followers saw. Aubrey's advice? Travel with those you are compatible with and enjoy the duration of your time abroad!

    37 min

  9. 03/03/2025

    IBEA Education and Consulting w/Kailee O'Donnell

    IBEA offers the unique opportunity to work on consulting projects with real-world companies around the world to provide solutions to their problems. In this episode, Kailee O'Donnell and I talk about our experiences working with these companies and our adjustment to schooling in Germany, Singapore, and Brazil. Kailee's advice? Say yes to your opportunities! But, she also has some tips to balance studying abroad and applying for jobs.

    17 min

  10. 02/28/2025

    International Business Education Alliance w/Brigitte Pinochet

    IBEA! The International Business Education Alliance is the foundation of my study abroad experiences, where I studied abroad in Germany, Singapore, and Brazil. In this first episode, I am joined by Brigitte Pinochet, as we introduce both the cohort program and our abroad experiences. We explore the realities of life abroad, from adapting to different languages and academic systems to dealing with homesickness, travel burnout, and the pressure to “do it all.”

    35 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Studying abroad looks like a dream. Travel, new friendships, and life-changing experiences. But what’s the reality beyond the Instagram posts? Emily Yn dives deep into the unfiltered truths of studying abroad through candid conversations with American students who have lived it. From unexpected culture shocks to the emotional highs and lows, we uncover the parts of the experience that don’t always make it to social media. Episodes explore the impact of social proof, travel expectations vs. reality, mental health, languages, education, and the lasting effects of time spent abroad.

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