Many of the Flourish in the Foreign guests have studied abroad and have utilized that experience to continue living abroad, myself included. I studied abroad in Valencia, Spain during undergrad and now 10 years later I live in Spain and have been living here for the past 5 years.

Here is a selection of the episodes that feature study-abroad experiences.

Annabell

Earning a Master’s in Architecture in Tokyo

In this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Annabell, a Jamaican woman who currently lives in Tokyo, Japan, shares how she first went abroad when she was 19 to Saint Kitt's and fell in love with traveling. She studied architecture in Jamaica and participated in study tours to other Caribbean islands. After graduating, she participated in an urban planning and design summer school in Finland and was struck by the unfairness of how easy it was for native English speakers to understand the content compared to non-native speakers. She then committed to learning other languages and reaching out to people from other countries, as she felt it was an extension of imperialism for the rest of the world to have to adjust to English. She decided to move to Japan to teach English and earn money to pursue a Master's degree in architectural design. Annabell shares her experiences studying at Keio University, interning in Nepal, and adapting to the infamous Japanese work culture in Tokyo.

Getting a Master's in Architecture Abroad with Annabell

Jackie

Went abroad at 16 years old to Germany.  Studied abroad as an undergrad in France and Spain. 

Jackie is a 41-year-old serial digital nomad and slow mad currently living in San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala. She left home to live abroad for the first time at the age of 16. She grew up with an international and diverse background, with an African-American mother and Nigerian father, and was exposed to travel and different cultures from a young age. She went to Germany for a year through a program partially funded by the U.S. Congress and the German Bundeslag. She had an amazing experience learning German and traveling around Europe. This experience convinced her that she wanted to spend more of her life abroad and that her race didn't just define her life. She then went to Spelman, a Historically Black College, and continued to live and travel abroad.

How to Go Abroad as a Single Mother & Digital Nomad with Jackie Omotalde

Rachel

Jamaican woman who earned her undergraduate degree and law degree in the US. Studied Abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina & Bilbao, Spain. Worked on the Mau Mau reparations case in Kenya. Then earned her Ph.D. in Barcelona, Spain.

Rachel Victoria Brown is a Jamaican woman living in Barcelona who has traveled to 30 countries. She moved to the US to attend boarding school in Hudson, Ohio at the age of 16, where she experienced culture shock and struggled to adjust to the predominantly white, wealthy community. She went on to attend the University of Southern California for her undergraduate studies, where she was involved in the Black community and learned about African American culture and traditions. Rachel has also studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bilbao, Spain, and Barcelona, where she earned a Ph.D.

Pursuing a Ph.D. Abroad with Dr. Rachel Brown

Nia

Fine Artist whose career prospects changed by her earning an M.F.A in Qatar.

Nia Alexander Campbell is a 23-year-old woman from Richmond, Virginia, currently living in Doha, Qatar. She talks about her undergraduate experience and her study abroad experience in Morocco. Nia decided to earn her MFA abroad in Qatar and she talks about her first year of studying. She said that her growth as an artist and designer has been unlike anything she has experienced before. She also mentions that her relationship with her family has grown stronger since she left the US.

Earning a M.F.A. in Qatar with Nia Alexander Campbell

Dana

Earned her Master’s in Sociology in Amsterdam

Dana, the founder of Ancestors unKnown, an education social enterprise, talks about her journey of studying and launching a business abroad. She earned a Master's degree in Sociology in the Netherlands, where her studies focused on the significance of family history research among people who descend from survivors of slavery. She revealed both shared and divergent experiences among Black people throughout the African diaspora. She then moved to several cities such as Amsterdam, Paramaribo, The Hague, and Bristol where she is currently based

Listen as she shares how her life changed once she started "thinking about the whole world as an option" for her. 

"Ancestors unKnown" with Dana Saxon 

Maya

Studied abroad in the Dominican Republic in undergrad. Earned a Masters in Public Health in Paris and conducted research in Australia.

Maya a California-bred adopted Parisienne who has been living and thriving in Paris for the past 10 years shares her journey of going abroad. She is an entrepreneur, public health consultant, and travel consultant who has traveled to over 35+ countries and lived abroad for a total of ten years. She has a wealth of knowledge and resources accumulated from her years living as an ex-pat and she has a passion for helping individuals and businesses create their own life-changing experiences abroad, ranging from planning an itinerary for the first-time Paris visitor to providing insights for those pursuing Master’s studies in Paris.

Purchasing a Home in Paris with Maya Dorsey

Amanda

Earned a Master’s in Counselor’s Education in Qatar

Amanda Bates is the founder of "The Black Expat" a website and resource for Black people living and thriving abroad. She is a third-culture kid who grew up in multiple places. She talks about her background and experiences as a Black woman living abroad, her family originally came from Cameroon, a country in Western Africa, and how her parents came to the US for better education and opportunities, but later decided to return to their home country. She also mentions how common it is for first and second-generation African and Caribbean immigrants to come to the US for a better life and education and then want to go back to their home country to contribute to its development. Amanda also talks about how moving back to Cameroon at the age of 10 with her parents was difficult for her, as it was a big change and how living in the US can be hard for immigrants who are away from their family, culture, and what they know.

From Third Culture Kid to "The Black Expat" with Amanda Bates

Latrese

Studied Abroad for her MBA in Leipzig, Germany. 

Latrese Williams is a 44-year-old woman from Chicago, Illinois who moved to Rome, Italy. She studied at an HBCU, Clark Atlanta for her undergrad. She had an opportunity to study abroad during her MBA program, which opened her eyes to different cultures and sparked an interest in living abroad. She studied at Leipzig University in Leipzig, Germany, where she took classes on the conversion to the EU and traveled to different places in Eastern Europe. The experience of studying abroad gave her a new perspective on the world and showed her that there are opportunities to live and work in other countries.

A Whole New Dating World in Rome with Latrese Williams

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