St. Patrick’s Day: Celebrating Boston-Ireland Ties

Across the Atlantic, half a million people—including an influx of more than 100,000 tourists—will gather in Dublin this Sunday to watch the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Last year, 4,200 performers, from marching bands to aerial acrobats, filled the air with thrilling energy and excitement.

In Boston, where EdOdyssey was founded, the St. Patrick’s Day celebration is even bigger. Streets will flood with up to a million spectators who will show up to enjoy the 286th annual parade with its distinctive bagpipes, brass marching bands, fife and drum bands, and intricately designed floats. The streets will transform into a sea of green and orange balloons, leprechaun t-shirts, wacky hats, dyed green hair and beards, emerald scarves, and cheeks painted with shamrocks.

Celtic music will continue long into the night, shifting from the daytime parade to the Irish step dancing and performances at Faneuil Hall before carrying its spirited tunes into the cozy, traditional Irish pubs dotted around the city. As usual, revelers can also catch the city’s most famous Celtic punk rock bank Dropkick Murphys at MGM Music Hall. 

Celebrating Irish-Americans 

As we know from past experiences, St. Patrick’s Day in Boston is a lively, uplifting event, and it’s a ton of fun! It brings a diverse community—not only those with Irish roots—together to join in on the festivities.  

But at its core, it is a nod to the city’s Irish heritage and connections, which run deep through Boston’s history. Beyond the cries of “sláinte,” clinking green beers, and the rowdy, joyful crowds, there’s also a recognition of past and present Irish Americans and their many contributions to the city. In fact, as a gesture of solidarity with immigrant newcomers, Bostonians were the first in North America to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day—as far back as 1737.

Many of the earliest arrivals from Ireland came from Ulster and worked as indentured servants. They were followed by a group of “Scots-Irish,” then, in the 1820s, a wave of Irish Catholic immigrants relocated their lives and families to Boston. Immigration continued through the 19th century and beyond, especially as the Great Potato Famine deteriorated the quality of life and caused widespread devastation in Ireland. Much of the City of Boston was built by an Irish workforce, as were many railroads, canals, and the subway system. As time carried on, the Irish community members in Boston became more established as business leaders and in politics – a great example being President John F. Kennedy who was Massachusetts-born and of Irish heritage. 

The St. Patrick’s Day parade snakes through the streets of South Boston where a significant Irish-American community lives today.

Study Abroad: Ireland as a New EdOdyssey destination

With our strong ties to Boston, including through the Boston Area Study Abroad Association where EdOdyssey President Peter McGovern is Co-Chair, we know and love our city and its Irish connections.  

So, we are thrilled to have recently launched Ireland as one of our newest destinations for custom study abroad programs!

Ireland: Why do students love it?

Ireland is always popular with students, especially the so-called “heritage seekers” who are hoping to discover, understand, and form a connection with a land their ancestors called home. As noted in a 2018 report titled “Understanding U.S. Study Abroad in Ireland,” “Ancestry is a significant factor in determining a study destination and of particular importance for Ireland, with an earlier study finding that almost 70% of U.S. students had some degree of Irish ancestry.”

But students also love that Ireland is an English-speaking destination (and the opportunity to learn a little bit of the fading Gaelic language). They love that it’s “different but not too different,” it’s easy to travel through Europe, it’s generally safe and friendly, it has a culture that students perceive as “fun” (because “craic”) and plenty of other reasons! 

Build a custom program with us

If you’re considering taking a cohort of students on a grand adventure, work with us to create a custom program that will let you explore the Emerald Isle with its rolling green countryside hills and mountains, ancient castles, beautiful coastline, and vibrant cities.

Your students will get a sense of what life is really like in Ireland through the eyes of the (famously welcoming) locals, and take a deep dive into the country’s customs, history, and culture far beyond the typical tourist traps. Whether it’s Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway, or somewhere a bit different, our team knows Ireland extremely well, has expert local connections, and will work with you to tailor your program to your learning objectives.

Sources

• “Half a Million People Attend St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin.” The Irish News. 17 March 2023. https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2023/03/17/news/half_a_million_people_expected_to_attend_st_patrick_s_day_parade_in_dublin-3143367/.

• “Irish.” Global Boston. https://globalboston.bc.edu/index.php/home/ethnic-groups/irish.

• Southern Cross Consulting. “Understanding U.S. Study Abroad in Ireland: Economic Impact and Future Possibilities Maid Research Report 2018.” https://www.educationinireland.com/en/Publications/Understanding%20US%20Study%20Abroad%20in%20Ireland.pdf.

• “St. Patrick’s Day Parade.” Boston Discovery Guide. https://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/st-patricks-day-parade.html.

• “The Parade’s History.” South Boston Allied War Veteran’s Council. https://southbostonparade.org/history.

Women’s History Month 2024: A Celebration of Women who Advocate for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

As we march forward toward the warmer days of spring, we are already well into Women’s History Month where a new theme celebrating and amplifying the achievements of women, past and present, is set for the year ahead. We’d like to acknowledge several of the many inspiring and hard-working women in the international education field who advocate tirelessly for equity, diversity, and inclusion – 2024’s theme, which resonates deeply with the team at EdOdyssey.

The Women’s History Alliance elaborates, “Today, equity, diversity, and inclusion are powerful driving forces that are having a wide-ranging impact on our country.  Advocacy is an action of courage. Throughout 2024, we honor local women who have taken the lead to show the importance of change and to establish firmer safeguards, practices, and legislation reflecting these values. Following decades of discrimination, we are proud to celebrate women who work for basic inclusion, equality, and fairness.” 

To the women below and countless others in the study abroad industry who share and dare to stand up for these values, thank you for all you do.

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Dr. Fanta Aw
Executive Director & CEO of NAFSA

One of the most recognized names in International Education, Dr. Fanta Aw is consistently a strong voice, a frequent speaker, and a persistent advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. In an interview with The PIE News just over a year ago, discussing her induction as Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA, she said, “It will be really important for us to look at the intersection of the work of IE along with diversity, equity, and inclusion. I often say that the center of gravity around this work is shifting along with the demographic shift that’s happening globally. We really need to be thinking about how we open up opportunities for areas of the world that have never been as engaged.”

Dr. Fanta Aw on LinkedIn

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Melissa Torres
President & CEO of The Forum on Education Abroad

Like Dr. Fanta Aw, Melissa Torres leads one of the biggest professional organizations in international education in her role as President and CEO of The Forum on Education Abroad, and she uses her powerful role to speak out about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of study abroad and beyond. increasing diversity in the field is a key priority for the Forum, and Melissa has spotted change in this area, commenting in an interview with The PIE News after last year’s March conference, that, “There was a noticeable increase in the number of people working in this field now who are representative of the changing demographics of our students and communities. It’s a wonderful change and made me proud of The Forum’s leadership in this area.”

Melissa Torres on LinkedIn 

May Arthur, Alissa Kramer Briggs & Jennifer Dressen
NAFSA Region XI “Chair Stream”

As our headquarters are Boston-based, EdOdyssey has always had a particularly strong tie to NAFSA Region XI where President Peter McGovern served on the leadership team for three years. The recent “Chair Stream”—May Arthur, former chair who is now “retired” as an international education consultant and recently won a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to the field; Alissa Kramer Briggs, Past-Chair from Clark University; and Jennifer Dressen, current Chair from Brown University—make an incredible trio. They hold tightly to the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion, as set out in NAFSA’s own values that the leadership of each region upholds: “We believe that international education lies at the core of an interconnected world characterized by diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, and well-being for all. NAFSA believes that diversity in our classrooms, our communities, and our workplaces is our strength.”

May Arthur on LinkedIn
Alissa Kramer Briggs on LinkedIn
Jennifer Dressen on LinkedIn

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Sarah Reid & Maddie Reeves
EdOdyssey 

We’d also like to acknowledge two amazing women from our team at EdOdyssey who always keep diversity, equity, and inclusion at the top of their minds. They are both advocates for DEI and work behind the scenes to make our programs, registration, communications, student experience, and more as inclusive and as equitable as possible, and supportive of diversity in all its forms. One example of many: When Sarah joined EdOdyssey years ago, she led an effort to recreate our registration and student housing forms to make them more inclusive, adding new options for students to specify gender, pronouns, and preferred names, etc. should they wish to do so. We’re proud that, with the help of Sarah, Maddie, and the rest of our wonderful team, we’ve been able to support so many incredible students of so many different identities and backgrounds through the years, helping them discover and learn from our beautiful and complex world.

Sarah Reid on LinkedIn
Maddie Reeves on LinkedIn

Besides these remarkable women—who are all dedicated and dynamic leaders in organizations that EdOdyssey is proud to be an active part of as a team and company—are so many others; to all of you who continue to drive home the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion in international education, we salute you!

As the Women’s History Month proclamation sets out, “Let us honor the women who have dedicated themselves to advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion, and let us continue to work together to build a more just, equitable, and inclusive world.” 

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DEI in International Education Resources

• Diversity Abroad

• NAFSA’s DEI Resources Page

• FORUM’s DEI Resources Page

• Frontiers’ DEI Articles Roundup

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Sources 

The PIE News. “Fanta Aw, incoming CEO, NAFSA.” 12 January 2023. https://thepienews.com/pie-chat/the-big-tent-of-international-education-an-interview-with-fanta-aw/.

The PIE News. “Forum Pictures US Education Abroad Sector’s ‘New Normal.’” 27 May 2023. https://thepienews.com/news/forum-discusses-eas-new-normal-at-annual-conference/.

NAFSA. “Mission, Vision, Values.” https://www.nafsa.org/about/about-nafsa/mission-vision-values.

National Women’s History Alliance. “The 2024 National Women’s History Theme.” https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/2024-whm-theme/.

New Year Traditions & Celebrations In Our Program Destinations

Around the world people have celebrated or are continuing to celebrate the start of a brand new year.
Some of the most interesting celebrations and traditions happen in our current program destinations. Read on to find out how people observe the new year in ten different countries!

Canada

• Most cities in Canada put on elaborate fireworks displays. Niagara Falls is well known for hosting the largest free concert and firework show in the country.

• Winter sports like skiing and ice skating are enjoyed during this season. In recent years it’s become very popular, especially for those who live in rural areas, to go night ice fishing on New Year’s Eve.

• Known as the ‘Polar Bear Plunge’, especially adventurous Canadians will brave a dip into a nearby frigid lake, river, or ocean, on January 1st as a way to reboot and recharge for the year ahead. Polar bear plunges have been taking place in the country since the 1920s. 
  

Chile

• A typical Chilean New Year celebration consists of partying until late in the evening, taking in fireworks displays, and having at least 1 traditional ‘Cola de Mono’ drink. Translated as a ‘monkey’s tail’, this holiday drink consists of Aguardiente liquor, coffee, milk, and cinnamon.

• There are many different New Year traditions and superstitions in Chile. Want more travel opportunities on your calendar? If so, in Chile, you’ll need to carry empty luggage around the block before the clock strikes midnight.

• Throwing open all windows and doors before 12:00 pm is thought to clear out old negative energy and welcome positivity.

China

• Chinese New Year also known as Spring Festival is a 15 day celebration of festivities that starts with the new moon that often falls between January 21 and February 20th.

• This extended celebration includes a variety of activities. During this time, people typically give their homes a thorough cleaning and decorate with red lanterns and paper cuttings to attract  good luck and prosperity. Family members return home for a reunion and share special regional foods like Jiaozi (dumplings) and Dayu Darou (whole fish or meat).

• Money in red envelopes is given to loved ones, particularly to young children, married couples, and the elderly.

• Fireworks are not just used for display- they are lit with the intention of helping to drive away bad spirits or energy to make way for good in the new year. Many people also partake in Shou Sui- the practice of lighting candles and staying up late with family and friends to keep a vigil over the night which is also believed to help ward off bad energy and bring forth good happenings in the year ahead.

• Many Chinese New Year celebrations feature a dragon dance. In China the dragon is an important cultural symbol that has many positive associations including: wisdom, power, dignity, fertility, and auspiciousness.

Ireland

• In Ireland during New Year’s Eve dinner traditionally it’s important to set out a place at the table and unlock the doors both as a way to remember loved ones that have passed on in the past year and as a way to allow them to visit.

• People looking for love in the next year may consider putting holly, mistletoe, or ivy under their pillows on January 1st. It’s thought that this ritual will cause one to dream of their future partner.

• Many Irish believe starting with a clean slate for the year begins with cleaning their homes from top to bottom for a guaranteed fresh start.

Italy

• Italians also appreciate having a New Year’s Eve feast with family and friends. Typical celebration foods include: Cotechino- large spiced pork sausage, Lentils for good luck as they’re thought to resemble coins, and Panettone-a sweet bread filled with raisins, candied fruit and almonds. Many Italians also eat 12 grapes at midnight in a similar tradition to Spain’s.

• Watch your head! More of an ancient tradition but still often practiced in the southern part of the country, before midnight some Italians will throw old items like pots, pans, furniture, etc out of a window, as a way of welcoming all things new.

• Many Italians will light a fire on the last day of the year (an act which can also hold religious symbolism-as an invite to Mary to warm Jesus by the flames).

Japan

• Known as shōgatsu, New Year’s Day is the most important holiday in Japan. It’s a special occasion meant to be spent with family. Japanese families typically spend the day visiting local shrines or temples. They also gather together to share special dishes like ozoni (a soup with rice cakes) and otoso (sweetened rice wine).

• January 1st is an important day for firsts in Japan. Many people make it a point to watch the first sunrise of the year, believing doing so sets the day up to be calm and filled with joy, while also setting a similar overall tone for the year. Many also believe the first dream of the year is symbolic of the year ahead. You are in for a good year if your dream includes either Mount Fuji, a hawk, or an eggplant.

• It’s a very popular custom to send New Year cards to friends and family. Many people ensure their cards are postmarked for January 1st.

Peru

• The holiday season in Peru occurs during summertime! So many Peruvians like to head to a nearby beach to frolic for New Year’s celebrations.

• Some Peruvian’s may take a bath with certain colored flowers if they are desiring something specific in the year ahead. Different flower colors represent different things, for example roses symbolize love. This practice is known as ‘Baño de Flores’.

• Just like in Spain and Chile, Peruvians enjoy eating 12 grapes before midnight. Another food related tradition involves putting three potatoes under a chair. One potato is unpeeled, one is half peeled, and the other is completely peeled. At midnight without looking, you’ll need to pick a potato to find out what kind of year you’ll have when it comes to finances. Picking the potato with no skin means you’ll have no money, while choosing the half peeled potato means you’ll have a normal year, and finally choosing the completely peeled potato means your destined for economic windfalls.

• Many people will wear specific colors for New Year’s Eve or day depending on what they hope to call to them in the next year. Yellow represents luck and happiness, green means money, red signifies love, and white stands for health or fertility. Yellow undergarments are especially popular in Lima.

Spain

• In Spain, people like to spend time gathering with family and friends over a large meal. As the new year countdown approaches everyone will be prepared with 12 grapes. Listening for a local clock or watching a national broadcast, family and friends will try to eat 12 grapes before the end of 12 rings sounded to signify each month in the new year. Eat all your grapes in time and the next year will be filled with good luck and prosperity!

• One of the most famous New Year countdowns takes place in Puerta Del Sol, in Madrid. Thousands of people gather in the city center to celebrate and of course eat grapes together.

• Also typically night owls, many Spaniards enjoy staying out late on New Year’s Eve and top their celebrations off with churros and chocolate in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day.

United Kingdom

• During the Welsh tradition of Dydd Calan on New Year’s Day,  children and often choirs will go door to door to greet neighbors who in return hand out sweets and sometimes money.

• All over the UK thousands of people make it a tradition to jump in chilly bodies of water on New Years Day, sharing the same sentiment with Canada, that a cold dip recharges a person for the year ahead. Scotland is famous for having The Loony Dook celebrations, where participants dress up in costumes before taking an icy plunge.

• In Scotland, the first person to cross your threshold after midnight will represent the kind of year you’ll have, according to the old tradition called ‘First Footing’. It’s believed it’s good luck to have a dark haired person be the first to cross with a trinket of coal (in current times, a gift). Fair-headed visitors have been thought to bring bad luck.

• All over the UK just before midnight people stop their festivities to sing Auld Lang Syne together and then hug one another as the clock hits 12:00.

United States

• As the US is a melting part of cultures, there is an amalgamation of different New Year traditions and celebrations throughout the country. The most famous American celebration on New Year’s Eve is the countdown ball drop at Times Square in New York City. The ball drop is so popular that other American cities have taken to dropping their own items in a countdown to 12:00 pm. A music note drop  occurs in Nashville, Tennessee and a great sardine descends in East Port Maine.

• As a tradition, American’s are often in search of a special someone to share a kiss with as the clock strikes midnight.

• What’s on the menu for New Year’s meals? That depends where you are in the US! It’s customary to have black-eyed peas in the Southern states. Pork, sauerkraut, and pretzels are all must have foods in certain states like Ohio and Pennsylvania. Tamales and tamale making is a cherished practice in many western and Southwestern states. 

• New Year resolutions are popular with Americans. Many people will create a list of goals or improvements they would like to accomplish in the next year.

Merry Celebrations: The EdOdyssey Team Shares Their Holiday Scenes

The EdOdyssey Team is made up of dedicated staff from around the world!
Take a mini virtual trip🧳to see how we each uniquely get into the spirit of the season:

Stefano, Senior Program Director, Italy

In the picturesque Italian Alps, Stefano enjoys celebrating with his family while sharing a traditional Panettone- a sweet bread filled with raisins, candied fruit and almonds. Stefano always includes a thoughtful prayer for world peace during his holiday celebrations.

Peter, President/ Founder,
Massachusetts

In Boston, Peter likes to go for a holiday walk with Wyatt & Hailey to check out the special Boston Christmas Tree. Since 1971, the tree has been a gift from Nova Scotia to Boston in thanks for first responder assistance given after the 1917 explosion in Halifax, the largest non-nuclear explosion in recorded history. The tree is a beautiful staple decoration in the city around the holidays and a warm symbol of friendship and cooperation.

Sarah, Director of Program Operations, Japan

Sarah combines traditions in Japan! She hosted friends to help with pre-holiday baking; chocolate chip and snickerdoodles are her go to cookies. Sarah says the traditional Japanese Christmas dinner is KFC and fancy cake. She and her family had both while celebrating with a group of international friends.

Luis, Program Director, Peru

During the holiday season in Peru it’s common to see displays of the nativity scene both outside people’s homes and in city parks and squares. Luis & Pepe recently checked out a large nativity display in the San Borja district of Lima. Luis also likes to check out and do some holiday shopping at various fairs that are held around the city.

Maddie, Program Operations Manager, Michigan

Maddie is second from the right.

Maddie bundles up in Michigan to take annual hayrides with her family at her dad’s cottage. These family hayrides include hot chocolate and cookies afterwards! As snowy Christmases are common in the state, Maddie says she and her family don’t mind the cold and actually really enjoy spending time outside doing as many winter outdoor activities as possible.

Kylie, Marketing & Comms Manager,
new Mexico

In southern New Mexico, Kylie & Buzz take a stroll around the Village of Mesilla’s plaza to see it's holiday displays. The historic village, once home to Billy the Kid, now hosts many seasonal fairs where traditional New Mexican holiday foods can be bought including Bizcochito cookies as well as savory and dessert tamales. While strolling the plaza, Kylie stopped in at one of the shops to purchase a red chile ornament- a common decoration found on many New Mexican’s Christmas trees!

Guide, Executive Assistant,
Philippines

Guide poses with a parol- a typical decoration seen around the Philippines during the Christmas season. Parol’s are star shaped ornaments that symbolize the Star of Bethlehem. Parols are hung outside or from windows. Guide shares that parols are traditionally used to light the way to church during the Christmas season for early dawn masses, also called “Simbamg Gabi”. The decoration is also used for the “Misa de Gallo”, the midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

Trek Days: Big Days Out

In October EdOdyssey partnered with Northeastern Oakland to create and coordinate Trek Days; an ambitious two-day event with the goal of providing over 800 first year students unique opportunities to experience the renowned creative and entrepreneurial landscape of the Bay Area. 

Following dynamic and varied itineraries, NU Oakland students were able to see and feel the surrounding area, where they now call home, come alive for them in exciting new ways.

Business+ Community Connections

Students visited multiple innovative and world-changing companies, startups, government orgs and nonprofits, while following one of three trek paths:
(1) Technology, Ethics, & Creativity, (2) Sustainability, (3) Health and Wellbeing.

Thirty one companies and organizations hosted events for Trek Days and over 100 professionals and leaders interacted with students. Each day was full of learning as well as moments that sparked curiosity and inspiration.

Special Highlights

During Trek Day 1, students:

• Explored cutting-edge facilities at biotechnology company Checkerspot.

• Engaged with hands on learning at T-Mobile, including building their own cell tower models in groups.

• Spoke with leaders from Kapor Capital about bringing inclusive tech to marginalized communities.

• Learned about Kaiser Permanente’s legacy and mission as a leading healthcare company.

• Viewed the organic garden that Farmscape maintains and the fresh produce Stem Kitchen + Garden incorporates in their menu.

• Experienced the bustling transportation and trade activity at the Port of Oakland.

On Day 2, students:

• Toured TCHO Chocolate production facilities while hearing about important topics related to chocolate sourcing, including environmental impact and sustainability. They also put their tastebuds to the test, sampling different chocolates to identify flavor notes and complexity.

• Spoke one-on-one with Google leaders after visiting the campus and attending an interesting panel on technology, creativity, ethics, business growth, and AI.

• Dressed the part for safety while observing project sites and hearing from Turner Construction company about being a leading international builder in diverse market segments.

• Suited up in PPE at Onto Innovation to get an up close view of critical production processes in the semiconductor value chain.

Student Experiences AND iMPACT

Trek Days made a lasting impression on student attendees.
In participation surveys conducted after the events several students shared reflections on how Trek Days energized and impacted them:

NU Oakland student Sarah M. said of her experience, “[Trek Days] showed me firsthand what I can do. I feel like it can be very helpful to see role models in front of you, and it helped me understand what real world careers can result from my college education”.

Student Theresa K. agreed and noted “I [saw an example of] a women of color start her own company and be successful, which was inspirational”.

Thanawan N. thought Trek Days helped them navigate their interests and future career opportunities.

When polled on Trek Days overall:

-96% of students believed the event opened their eyes to potential career paths and sectors.

-91% thought Trek Days helped clarify what they were interested in studying.

-95% said Trek Days made them feel motivated about a particular area of work.

-96% agreed the experience made them excited for future experiential work opportunities.

Collaboration for student success

Largescale, well coordinated teamwork went into making each Trek Day successful.

Trek Days 2023 truly exemplified the power of place and brought people together; over 900 people were involved in this special event. EdOdyssey is proud to have partnered with Northeastern Oakland and every single company/ individual collaborator to create and run such a quality learning experience for students!

See all the activity and energy of Trek Days:

Does your school want to plan a similar event with EdOdyssey’s help?
Let’s connect!

2023: A Year of Milestones

It's hard to choose favorites, but we have done our best in this recap of great memories from this year, including: inspiring site visits, recent custom faculty led programs, EdOdyssey new hires, the impact of First Year Experience programming, and so much more:

Amazing Site Visits:

Exploring Ireland

In April EdOdyssey participated in Education In Ireland’s country site visit and tour of five Irish universities; Maynooth University, University College Dublin, University College Cork, Queen’s University Belfast, and the University of Limerick. Touring each college and university was fascinating and helped Program Operations Manager, Maddie Reeves, evaluate EdOdyssey’s programming options in the country. The experience of the trip contributed to the decision to add Ireland as one of of our new programming destinations!

Adventuring in Peru

June kicked off with an exciting site visit to Peru with study abroad colleagues from the University of Massachusetts Boston and Fitchburg State University. During this unique trip attendees were able to gain insight into both EdOdyssey’s short term and semester programming in the country. University staff were also able to experience Peru’s history and culture first hand. Notable visits included checking out our partner campus and meeting with host families to hear about their experiences welcoming and engaging study abroad students.

EdOdyssey Peru Program Director, Luis García, helped lead the way and inform trip participants during each excursion. Luis says his favorite part about coordinating this year’s site visit in his home country was being able to design the trip so that study abroad advisors experienced traveling in the same way their students would. Luis shares, “One of our study abroad visitors mentioned how our work is really an asset to the overall student's experience, as they have someone they can turn to for information, advice, and support while they are here.”

Program Operations Manager, Maddie Reeves, agrees and says “my favorite part about hosting these kinds of visits is getting to show EdOdyssey's values, heart, and uniqueness in action to study abroad professionals who normally would not get to go on our programs. Bringing the experiences that we speak about with professionals to life is so rewarding, and it’s fun to see the participant experience through their eyes!”
She also commends Luis on the passion he has for Peru, “he made every moment a teachable one in a way that welcomed all of us in to experience things for ourselves firsthand. It really goes to show just how special our team is and our programs are.” 

Custom Programs:

Unique Experiences

Late spring and the summer months were packed with custom and faculty led programs! These specially tailored excursions are always fun to coordinate and watch take place because students get so much out of each uniquely focused trip while also connecting closely with their peers and school staff.

Atlanta Classical Academy in Italy

This program provided students with a deep understanding of Mediterranean culture, including it’s people, history, cuisine, and multiculturalism.

Salisbury University Honors Program in Sicily

Salisbury students exploration of Sicily included visiting the Neapolis Archeological Park and Greek Theatre, hiking Mt. Etna and Taormina, and learning the art of pasta making. This was the second Salisbury Honors Immersion program and we look forward to helping coordinate their third program to Sicily in 2024!

Loyola Blakefield in Peru

Loyola Blakefield high school students had a full spectrum experience in Peru! They visited wonder of the world Machu Picchu. Students also had the opportunity to connect with the local Amaru community to learn about textile production and agriculture. Another favorite stop was being able to visit a local school to meet with Peruvian students!

Meet Up and Team Work In Chicago

In July, EdOdyssey Manager of Program Operations, Maddie Reeves, Director of Program Operations, Sarah Reid, and Founder/President, Peter McGovern, traveled to Chicago to collaborate during coworking sessions. This meeting was exciting and significant not only because great work was going to happen, but also because the trip provided a fun chance for Maddie, Sarah and Peter, normally remote coworkers, to finally meet in person.

Peter describes the Chicago meet up as “a perfect blend of productive work sessions at the office and fun-filled adventures exploring the city.”

While EdOdyssey is a remote company, our team knows the value of special in person meet ups to refresh team energy and reinforce our commitment to delivering exceptional educational experiences.

EdOdyssey celebrates 9 years!

In August EdOdyssey blew out 9 candles and celebrated many wonderful years of providing transformative study abroad programming!

Over these years, we have grown our program locations, worked with thousands of students, and have increased our partnerships and global connections.

We are proud to do this work, excited to reach more goals, and will continue to champion the important fields of international education and study abroad.

First Year Experiences:
Adventuring From Coast to Coast

Domestic First Year Experiences are intended to help freshman college and university students bond with each other and feel a sense of belonging in their new environment. During these experiences, students explore off campus around their local community and go even further afield while on interesting day trips.

This year in September and October EdOdyssey partnered with Northeastern University to facilitate experiential learning opportunities for both their Boston and Oakland campuses.

East Coast: Boston, Cape Cod, Portland and Providence

Students who attended these trips were able to visit different parts of New England and learn more about each place’s local cities, history, sights, as well as agriculture and geography. Highlights from these trips included: checking out art in Providence, taking a coastal ecology lesson on the beach in Cape Cod, and traveling by train in Portland for a lighthouse visit.

Oakland

Gaining a greater feel for California’s Bay Area was on the agenda for NU Oakland students. During a few trips students engaged in cultural experiences and participated in outdoor activities. Particularly fun for students was getting to trek through Muir Woods and visit Alcatraz Island.

Expanding The Team: Welcoming New Hires

September and October brought with them new faces and new additions to the EdOdyssey Team!

Kylie Arrieta joined as Marketing and Communications Manager. She is from New Mexico. Kylie has previously worked as both a Communications & Event Coordinator for degree seeking international students, as well as a Study Abroad Advisor for domestic students. In her free time, she enjoys road trips, practicing yoga, and searching out new music.

Isaac Wittenberg, M.A., is a current part-time Program Operations Coordinator. Isaac is currently based in Michigan. He studied Japanese at Western Michigan University and received his master’s in International and Regional Studies with a specialization in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan. Isaac enjoys attending concerts, playing piano, and learning the shamisen (a Japanese stringed instrument).

Continued Thought Leadership:

contributions to the field

In November, EdOdyssey Founder/ President Peter McGovern traveled to Montreal to attend the NAFSA Bi-Regional Conference for Regions X and XI.
While there, Peter co-presented on two important topic sessions:

• "Global Bridges: Unleashing Cross-Cultural Potential through Integrated Student Programs" with Noa Watkins and Payal Batra from New York University and Greg Costalas of Rutgers University.

• "The Power of Place: First Year Experience Case Study" presented with Shannon Joseph Fairley-Pittman, Ed.D., from Northeastern University.

Each session was impactful, illustrating the current power and future possibilities of domestic and international experiential learning.

Peter has also recently been named Co-Chair of the Boston Area Study Abroad Association (BASAA). Peter and the EdOdyssey Team are committed to being active participants in these organizations and many other key groups dedicated to enhancing and evolving the fields of international education and study abroad.

Happy Memories & Embracing The Future:

Inspiring site visits, quality custom programs, powerful first year experiences, continued growth and connections- we are grateful for all of these moments that made 2023 a year of expansion and success.

We look forward to even more milestones in 2024 and a great year ahead! 🎇