What Does Authenticity Look Like in an EdOdyssey Program?
We live in a world—especially with the quickly evolving advancement of AI—where the line between what is genuine and what is manufactured is increasingly thin and often blurred. This is true not only on social media, but in our daily lives, and on our travels.
One of our most important values at EdOdyssey—one that threads through all of our programs, partnerships, and itineraries—is that of authenticity. But what does that actually look like in practice for your students?
UNDERSTANDING AUTHENTICITY
Authenticity as a word has become somewhat overused, perhaps dulling its impact, so it’s important to unpack it and define what it means to us.
Students are stepping into a world very often unfamiliar to them when they travel with us. We believe authenticity means intentionally creating opportunities for them to immerse themselves in this new world below the touristy surface, and simultaneously embracing a bit of space for serendipity. Sure, they might take some time to marvel at the Colosseum or stand in awe while they admire the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, but while iconic landmarks have their place in a student travel experience, authenticity is about connecting to the soul of location, joining in on the rhythms of its everyday life, and getting to know the people who call it home.
Authenticity means students are able to have rich and layered experiences within a local community. They are able to leave the classroom walls behind and engage directly with—talk to, learn from, be inspired by—people who live in this place where they are guests. Students are encouraged to embrace a mindset of curiosity as they learn about the cultures, traditions, and histories that have shaped their location. Authenticity is about safely diving into the deep complexities, embracing the discomfort of the unfamiliar, and seeing the challenging aspects of life in a certain place with an open mind and a sense of empathy.
There is a lot to take away from simply wandering through the town square on a busy day in small-town Italy, listening to elderly residents gather to chat about weather, politics, the past, and more; from browsing the colorful market stalls in Lima, listening to the chatter of the vendors and seeing the vibrant local produce; or from riding a bullet train alongside commuters as the countryside of Japan whooshes past in a blur.
An unexpected conversation with a barista, an act of kindness from a bus driver, or a genuine smile from a street musician can leave a bigger impression than you might expect, because authenticity is also about connection. It can be found in quiet stories and belly laughs shared over a meal prepared by a host family, in chats with local students whose warmth and curiosity can bridge language barriers, and in interactions with artisans whose craft spans generations. These are encounters that stay with students long after their itinerary has come to an end.
AUTHENTICITY IN PRACTICE: A FEW EDODYSSEY EXAMPLES
As an example of just a handful of the many impactful—authentic—experiences our students have enjoyed recently, they have:
Participated in a bamboula (a drum and dance style that has deep African and Afro-Caribbean roots) workshop with local musicians in New Orleans.
Visited with employees of Toshiba, MIXI, Indeed, KIRIN, Ohtsuka Sangyo Material Co, and SmartEd to learn firsthand about business practices in Japan.
Embarked on an art walk in Italy called “Inside the Roman Walls” with a special focus on 2nd-century Roman Florence where they discovered hidden traces of ancient Roman Florence still visible today.
Tested local streams near Lake Tahoe under the guidance of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center while on a hike to learn about the natural and human history of the area.
Met with the local community in Villa El Salvador (a low-income area near Lima, Peru), including the family of a young girl who is quadriplegic, and Aurora who runs an exercise and dance studio. They visited a soup kitchen—Olla Común—in the same neighborhood.
Went for a hike on the slopes of Mt. Etna in Italy, guided by a local volcanologist while they learned about geology, eruptions, and life in the areas surrounding Sicily’s iconic volcano.
Explored the grounds of London’s Chelsea Football Club, one of the most successful soccer teams in the world, visiting the dressing rooms, press room, the player’s tunnel, pitchside, and more while learning about the team’s 118-year history.
HOW WE PRIORITIZE AUTHENTICITY IN EDODYSSEY PROGRAMS
True authenticity in student travel programs doesn’t just happen. It’s something we design with intention, with care, and with a belief that students will be able to stand in this open doorway to a wider world and walk through it with the sort of mindset that will allow it to challenge and transform them.
To build an authentic travel program, we lean into these four Rs:
RELATIONSHIPS. Since the beginning, back in 2014, when our CEO and Founder Peter McGovern began EdOdyssey as a solopreneur, it has always been about relationships. Building genuine, long-term relationships and friendships in EdOdyssey locations means our students are invited to experience local life in a way that the average tourist would never be able to access. We value these connections immensely and are grateful for those around the globe who have opened up their worlds for us.
RESPECT. True authenticity can not happen without a real sense of respect for a community’s identity: its culture, language, religion, history, traditions, food, beliefs, and the people themselves. This means understanding intricate layers of experiences and perspectives and appreciating the complexity and multifaceted nature of local life. It means helping students to understand these things too. When students are able to encounter differences with humility and curiosity and without judgment, they will open up a rich, powerful, and transformative experience.
RESPONSIBILITY. To engage with a community authentically means to engage ethically, to consider our impact, to leave no trace behind us, and to keep local voices at the center of our conversations. We love to see students participate thoughtfully and mindfully in activities, collaborating with others, practicing listening, asking questions, and being aware of context in each encounter.
REFLECTION. Authenticity isn’t just about the activities themselves or even those chance encounters. It also includes ample opportunities for reflection. It matters how students process and understand their experiences. It’s about introspection, about taking a look at their own biases, challenging their assumptions, and leaning into growth. This space to think, to write, and to have deep conversations with their peers gives them a chance to connect the dots between their world back home, their exposure to a different culture and way of life, and how their own identity is being shaped.
Photo from EdOdyssey student Jasmin Harzall
CREATE A CUSTOM PROGRAM WITH US—ROOTED IN AUTHENTICITY
Your culturally-curious students deserve an educational travel program that’s not just run on a cookie-cutter agenda, but that takes them on a journey into the real heart of a place: its people, its pulse, its complexities.
When we partner with you to build a custom program, we begin by exploring your learning objectives, goals, and vision in our “Start Planning” meeting. Then we bring in our own expertise, global connections and knowledge, and support at every stage: from planning, to travel, to return.
Together, in true partnership, we design a program for your students that’s not only educational but transformational—with authenticity at its core.
