Blog of the Week: Vai Via Blog

by Tiffany Harrison on Friday, 7 October 2011 · 0 comments

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It's Friday -- and time for GoAbroad's Blog of the Week! This week's selection is:

Vai Via Blog

Vai Via is a blog created by SIT Graduate Institute student and emerging international education professional, Deidre Young. By sharing memories from her own study abroad experience as well as observations about the field, Deidre seeks to encourage and excite others (particularly minorities) to seek out study abroad opportunities. She describes Vai Via as "a place where people can feel comfortable asking questions, sharing their experiences, and just learning about an industry they’ve probably never given a second thought to."

Why We Love It

For Deidre, studying abroad changed her entire life perspective. As an African-American female, her experience abroad in Milan, Italy with 115 other American students--only three of whom had the same skin color as Deidre--increased Deidre's desire to share her experiences and inspire other African-American travelers. With posts ranging from discovering happiness from traveling to lessons learned while abroad, Vai Via has something to offer to every potential traveler interested in study abroad.

In Deidre's own words, "while there are debates going on in this country about closing the 'achievement gap' why can’t we also close the 'experience gap' or the 'opportunity gap' or how about the 'exposure gap'? That is the sole reason I have embarked upon this blog." By also helping others through the study abroad application process, and working towards a career in international education (focusing on minorities at higher education institutions) Deidre and her Vai Via blog are more than just noteworthy study abroad resources--they are an example to other travelers of how far a passion for international education can take you.

Check out more ways to connect with Deidre on the Vai Via blog and explore all of your study abroad options at GoAbroad.com!

Every week GoAbroad features an abroad-related blog as our selection for Blog of the Week. The featured blog has been chosen because it features interesting and well-written abroad or travel-related experiences. Do you know a blog you'd like to nominate for the GoAbroad Blog of the Week award? Get information on how to submit a nomination on the GoAbroad Blogger Programs page!