Romanticizing Your Study Abroad Era
You’ve already pictured it. The morning coffee at a café you can’t pronounce. The business meeting in a city you’ve only seen on Pinterest. Maybe you’re ready for your study abroad era. The version of you that walks off a plane in Tokyo, Seoul, or Amsterdam and just — gets it.
That feeling? Lean into it. Your study abroad era deserves the hype you’re giving it.
Here’s the thing no one tells you: the romanticization isn’t delusional. It’s actually a sign that you’re already doing something right — you’re visualizing a version of yourself that’s more global, more capable, and more connected. And with the right program, that version of you is not a fantasy. It’s a flight booking away.
“63% of college freshmen say they want to study abroad — but only 14% actually do it. Don’t be the one who stays on the fence.”
This one’s for the students already deep in their study abroad era before they’ve even submitted an application. Let’s make sure the reality lives up to the vision.
The “Main Character” Energy Is Actually Good for You
There’s a reason the “romanticize your life” trend took off the way it did. In a world designed to be overwhelming, choosing to treat your life like a story worth telling is genuinely healthy. Psychologists call it anticipatory savoring — the act of mentally previewing positive future experiences, which research shows actually boosts motivation and follow-through.
In other words: daydreaming about your semester abroad isn’t procrastination. It’s fuel.
The students who go in with intention, who’ve already imagined sitting across from a business executive in Singapore or walking through a market in Cape Town, tend to get more out of the experience. They’re not just showing up. They’re stepping into something they’ve already decided to make count.
So yes, make the playlist. Mood board the cafés. Screenshot the neighborhoods. Just make sure you actually book the trip too.
What Your Study Abroad Era Actually Looks Like
Here’s where we get specific, because the aesthetic is one thing, and the actual experience is so much better than the mood board.
Picture this: It’s Tuesday. You’re not in a lecture hall — you’re in the boardroom of a multinational company in Berlin, asking a senior executive how they scaled their business across three continents. Your professor is in the room. So are eight of your classmates. And you realize, somewhere between the Q&A and the handshakes, that this conversation would never happen at home.
That’s the GLO experience. It’s short-term, faculty-led, and built specifically around the kind of access that transforms a trip abroad into a legitimate career moment. Think of it as your first business trip, except you’re still a student.
GLO alumni have done company visits across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, walking into rooms most professionals don’t get into until years into their careers. The culture, the food, the late-night conversations in cities that don’t sleep — that part is all there too. But it hits differently when there’s real professional weight behind the trip.
The Pre-Departure Era Is Its Own Thing
Nobody talks enough about the weeks before you leave. The pre-departure era is lowkey one of the best parts, and it’s worth romanticizing on its own terms.
- Do the research, but make it fun
Look up the neighborhoods. Learn three phrases in the local language. Watch YouTube vlogs from students who’ve been to your destination. This isn’t obsessing, it’s orientation. The more context you have going in, the more present you’ll be when you’re actually there.
- Set an intention, not just an itinerary
Ask yourself: what do I actually want to walk away with? A new perspective on global business? A contact in a different industry? The confidence to navigate a city solo? Writing it down before you go makes it real, and makes it more likely to happen.
- Tell people you’re going
Seriously. Say it out loud. Post about it. Not because you need the likes, but because articulating the experience makes you more committed to it. Your study abroad era starts the moment you decide it does.
Why Short-Term Programs Are Having Their Main Character Moment
The old narrative was that “real” study abroad meant a full semester overseas. That’s changing fast, and for good reason.
Short-term programs now make up the majority of study abroad participation, with more than 63% of U.S. students studying abroad for eight weeks or less. It’s not just about convenience — it’s about intensity. A focused, faculty-led two-week program in multiple cities can deliver more professional exposure than a semester of wandering with no structure.
GLO programs are designed around exactly this reality. You’re not filling time — you’re stacking experiences. Company visits, university lectures, cultural immersion, and a global network, compressed into a format that fits your schedule and doesn’t delay graduation.
Short-term doesn’t mean low-impact. It means high-efficiency. And Gen Z gets that better than any generation before.
The Version of You That Comes Back Is the Point
Here’s the part of the romanticization that’s actually 100% accurate: you will come back different.
Not in a cliché “I found myself in Bali” way. In a specific, concrete, this-changed-how-I-think-about-my-career way. Students who’ve done GLO programs describe coming home with a clearer sense of what global business actually looks like from the inside — not the textbook version, but the real conversations, the real decisions, the real people behind the companies they’d only read about.
That’s the version of you your future employer is going to ask about in an interview. And that’s the version of you that already exists, you just have to go get them.
The romanticization isn’t the problem. Letting it stay a daydream is.
Ready to Make It Real?
Your study abroad era doesn’t have to live on a Pinterest board. GLO programs are designed for students who want more than a passport stamp — they want the rooms, the conversations, and the career edge that come with real global exposure.
Explore GLO’s upcoming programs and experience your first business trip abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions About Study Abroad & GLO Programs
Q: What is Global Learning Opportunities (GLO)?
Global Learning Opportunities (GLO) is an international education organization that offers short-term, faculty-led study abroad programs focused on global business, leadership, and professional development. GLO programs combine executive company visits, academic credit, and cultural immersion, positioning each experience as a student’s first business trip abroad.
Q: What makes GLO different from traditional study abroad programs?
GLO programs emphasize professional exposure and real-world business learning rather than long-term academic immersion alone. Participants engage directly with multinational companies and industry leaders while earning academic credit in a short, intensive format.
Q: How long are GLO programs?
Most GLO programs last between one and three weeks. This format allows participants to gain meaningful international experience without delaying graduation or professional commitments.
Q: Can I romanticize study abroad and still be realistic about it?
Yes — and you should. Research shows that anticipatory visualization of positive future experiences increases motivation and follow-through. The key is pairing that excitement with clear intentions: know what you want to learn, who you want to meet, and what you want to carry home. Programs like GLO are structured specifically to help students turn that vision into a concrete professional experience.
Q: Is short-term study abroad worth it for business students?
Absolutely. Short-term, intensive programs can deliver significant professional exposure in a compressed timeframe. GLO’s model — which includes executive company visits, academic credit, and multi-destination travel — is purpose-built for students who want meaningful global experience without disrupting their academic timeline.
Q: Do I need prior international experience to join a GLO program?
No prior international experience is required. GLO programs are designed to be a student’s first professional experience abroad, with faculty leadership and structured programming that supports first-time travelers and seasoned explorers alike.
Q: How does studying abroad with GLO support career development?
GLO programs help participants develop global competency, professional confidence, and international networks. Direct exposure to multinational companies and business leaders gives students real-world context that strengthens their resume and prepares them for cross-cultural careers.
