We highly encourage all of our program goers to document their time abroad! First and foremost, it helps you to preserve your memories and experiences for years to come. By documenting your journey, you can revisit your study abroad experience whenever you want, relive the moments that made it special, and reflect on the lessons you learned.
Additionally, documenting your time abroad can help you to communicate your experience to others. Whether it’s sharing photos and stories with friends and family or including your experience on a resume or job application, having a record of your study abroad program can help you to articulate the value of your experience and the skills you developed while overseas.
Documenting your time abroad can also serve as a useful tool for personal development. Through journaling, blogging, or vlogging about your experiences, you can reflect on your personal growth, identify challenges you faced, and how you successfully overcame them. This type of self-reflection can help you to develop a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you, which can be invaluable in both your personal and professional life. Below are some creative ways to document your time abroad!
Here are 10 creative ways to document your time abroad:
- Create a travel journal: Jot down your thoughts, feelings, experiences and observations in a travel journal. Include pictures, tickets, maps, and other mementos that capture your journey.
- Take pictures and videos: Capture the sights and sounds of your travels with pictures and videos. Use them to create a photo album or video montage that you can share with friends and family back home.
- Write a blog: Start a travel blog to document your experiences abroad. Share your thoughts on the places you visit, the people you meet, and the cultural differences you encounter.
- Make a scrapbook: Collect souvenirs, postcards, and other memorabilia to create a scrapbook of your travels. Add captions and notes to remember the details.
- Create a video diary: Use your phone or camera to record short video clips of your experiences each day. Edit them together into a video diary that captures the highlights of your trip.
- Interview locals: Take the opportunity to interview locals you meet on your travels (With their consent and understanding of your project of course!). Ask them about their culture, traditions, and way of life. Use the footage to create a short documentary.
- Take cooking classes: Attend a local cooking class and learn how to make traditional dishes. Document the process with pictures and notes, and create a recipe book to take home.
- Attend cultural events: Attend local festivals, concerts, and other cultural events. Take pictures and videos to document the festivities.
- Draw or paint: If you have a talent for drawing or painting, capture the sights and scenes of your travels with your artwork. Use your creations to create a portfolio of your trip.
- Create a playlist: Create a playlist of music that reminds you of your travels. Include songs that you heard on your trip, as well as music that is popular in the region.
I hope these ideas inspire you to document your time abroad in a creative and meaningful way!