How to Submit a Story

Title

How to Submit a Story

At MyWorldAbroad, we're eager to hear about your experiences!

If you're a student or young professional who has traveled, worked, studied, interned, taught English, learned a language or volunteered in another country or if you're just an outgoing and globally-minded student who's active on your home campus, this is your chance to share your knowledge and anecdotes with a community of internationally-oriented, motivated young people.

As our way of saying thanks, authors receive a $50 honorarium upon publication. US residents receive a PayPal transfer or Amazon gift card; Canadian residents receive a PayPal/bank transfer or Amazon gift card; contributors based abroad will be paid via the PayPal "Send Money" option. Honorariums are not available for study abroad submissions from Europe/UK, due to high volume.

We are particularly interested in submissions from students in the following categories: 

  • Virtual international programs (all fields except teaching English)
  • International business internships
  • International law programs
  • UN volunteer & internship 
  • Latin American programs
  • Middle East programs
  • International skill-building on home campus (Top Priority)

Follow the steps below and start creating your submission!

1. Choose a type of experience. 

Further down this page, you will see a list of experience types. Select the correct experience to find the appropriate questions. 

2. Choose a format for your submission.

Stories from Abroad submissions can be made in one of two formats:

a) The Q&A Format: Choose 7 - 12  of the questions provided. Answers should be 50 - 200 words per question, written in paragraph form. Your total submission must not exceed 2,400 words. 

b) The Essay Format: Use the same guideline questions and general themes from the Q&A format to create an essay of no more than 2,400 words. This is a great format for aspiring writers who want to discuss topics broadly or delve into the cultural and career-boosting aspects of going abroad. The essay format is ideal for those with strong writing skills.

3. Write about your experience.

Keep your submission upbeat and informative, geared towards motivating others. When answering a question for the Q&A format, try to focus on a single story, or something particular that you learned. Include a bit of detail, as well as your personal perspective. We love having sector-specific information included. So if you're an international engineering student who studied abroad in Germany, try to discuss how your global experience connects with your industry and career goals. 


If you've chosen the essay format, try to ensure that your story has a clear structure. you can write chronologically about your experience, or you might choose to deal with specific themes, one at a time (e.g. language learning, host family interactions, cross-cultural practicalities). Whatever format you choose, keep in mind that you are writing to all of our MyWorldAbroad users. Writing should be as engaging as possible!

4. Submit!

Email your completed profile and pictures to claire@myworldabroad.com and we'll be in touch soon after. If you are chosen for publication, you'll be featured on the MyWorldAbroad blog and Web site. To protect your privacy, your family name will not be used, but your first name and school may be included. PLEASE REMEMBER to include at least five images of your time abroad in addition to a usable, close-cropped headshot of you, the author.

By sending us your profile answers, you are giving MyWorldAbroad permission to publish your submission now or at any time in the future. MyWorldAbroad will also edit submissions for grammar, clarity and flow if need be.

PLEASE NOTE that although we gladly accept submissions from contributors around the world, we are only able to offer the $50 honorarium to US and Canadian residents due to money transfer restrictions. We also are not able to offer the honorarium for STUDY ABROAD submissions for EUROPE and the UK, due to high volume. 

Reasons to Submit a Story

A well-written contribution can be used to your professional advantage. A well-constructed, thoughtful story will give you an edge with employers, grad schools, and in other potential post-graduate opportunities. Your story also provides you with an opportunity to showcase your writing/analytical skills and allows you to make personal statements about the impact of your experience, including your professional skills in an international context. Our editors are committed to working with you to ensure that your story is polished and professional. When looking for future professional work, you can provide links to your Story from Abroad in resumes, cover letters and online profiles like LinkedIn.

Q&A Topics

Select a topic below that best suits your experience. Please note that we are no longer offering honorariums for study abroad stories from Western Europe or East Asia.

Virtual International Internships

If you've chosen the essay format, please read through the questions below to get inspiration. Be sure to incorporate discussions about cross-cultural interactions, the skills you built, and how these might be applied in a professional context. We also want to hear about your specific industry/sector and how your professional goals align with your experience abroad. Try to incorporate an analytical perspective as opposed to simply recounting experiences. 

  1. When and where did you complete a virtual international internship? (Please note the organization, program provider, length of placement, industry, etc.) [REQUIRED]
  2. What is your major or area of study? Does your industry have international components? [REQUIRED]
  3. What made you pursue a virtual international internship?
  4. How did you prepare for the cross-cultural aspects of your placement? Describe any research or preparation you undertook, and how it impacted your experience.
  5. How did you manage your home workspace and schedule?
  6. Did you face any challenges as a result of working remotely? How did you overcome them?
  7. What support systems were made available to you via your school, placement agency or employer? How did you take advantage of them?
  8. What cross-cultural communication issues did you notice during the placement, and how did you adapt?
  9. What steps did you take to learn about your employer's home culture? Were you able to socialize or engage in any additional activities or advising sessions that expanded the cultural learning component of your experience?
  10. Do you have any advice for professional communication via online channels (online meetings, Skype, chat, phone messages, file management, etc.)
  11. What did your placement teach you about your own cultural framework and approach to the workplace?
  12. Describe a situation during your virtual international internship that required you to use your cross-cultural awareness and adaptability.
  13. Do you have advice for others hoping to pursue virtual international internships?
  14. How will international skills impact your future in your chosen industry? [REQUIRED]
  15. What are your future plans for international learning, travel and/or your career? [REQUIRED] (Our experts would like to supply you with some personalized advice and relevant reading from the MyWorldAbroad site.)

Build International Skills on Campus

EDITOR'S NOTE: This Q&A is for students who are highly active in building cross-cultural skills and international connections on campus. If you're proactive and globally-minded, consider answering this set of questions.

If you've chosen the essay format, please read through the questions below to get inspiration for your submission. Be sure to incorporate discussions about cross-cultural interactions, the particular skills you built, and how these might be applied in a professional context. Try to incorporate an analytical perspective as opposed to simply recounting your experiences. 

  1. What drives you to be an internationally-oriented student?
  2. What is your major or area of study? Does your industry have international components? [REQUIRED]
  3. Do you have an international interest in a particular subject area, language, or region of the world? If so, why?
  4. How have you geared your classes or study path to incorporate your international interests?
  5. How do you keep up with international news and/or stay connected globally?
  6. What internationally-focused activities have you taken part in on campus and why are you attracted to these activities?
  7. Do you participate in international clubs and what do you enjoy about them?
  8. Have you connected with international students on campus? If so, what have you learned from these connections?
  9. Have you connected with internationally-oriented faculty members? How have they helped you expand your international understanding, focus your goals, or gain more experience?
  10. Have you benefited from services in the study abroad or career offices; and how have they helped with your international aspirations?
  11. Please describe what makes you successful as a globally-minded student.
  12. Do you have a classroom story that gave you particular insight into other cultures?
  13. Have you participated in any off-campus activities that have helped you build your cross-cultural understanding and skills?
  14. Have you been abroad? When, where, and why did you go? What impression did your trip make on you?
  15. Describe an "international experience" at home or abroad that made a particularly strong impression on you.
  16. Do you have advice for anyone hoping to build international skills on campus?
  17. How will international skills impact your future in your chosen industry? [REQUIRED]
  18. What are your future plans for going abroad, building your language skills, and for your career? [REQUIRED] (Our experts would like to supply you with some personalized advice and relevant reading from the MyWorldAbroad site.)

Travel Smarts

If you've chosen the essay format, please read through the questions below to get inspiration for your submission. Be sure to incorporate discussions about cross-cultural interactions, the particular skills you built, and how these might be applied in a professional context. Try to incorporate an analytical perspective as opposed to simply recounting your experiences. 

  1. When and where did you travel abroad? Did you backpack? [REQUIRED]
  2. What is your major or area of study? Does your industry have international components? [REQUIRED]
  3. What made you want to travel abroad?
  4. What was the biggest surprise about your travel experiences abroad?
  5. Did you participate in cultural activities abroad? If so, how did they differ from social activities in your home culture?
  6. What made your travel experience abroad a success?
  7. How did you finance your trip abroad and did you find any creative solutions to stay on budget?
  8. Can you talk about a particular instance that gave you insight into your host culture or that helped you build cross-cultural communication skills?
  9. How did you deal with the cultural divide?
  10. What was your return like?
  11. What is your number one tip for anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps?
  12. Describe an experience that made a particularly strong impression on you.
  13. What did you miss most about your home while traveling abroad?
  14. Do you have any final observations on your experience?
  15. Describe an experience you had abroad that made a particularly strong impression on you.
  16. How will international skills impact your future in your chosen industry? [REQUIRED]
  17. What are your future plans for going abroad and for your career? [REQUIRED] (Our experts would like to supply you with some personalized advice and relevant reading from the MyWorldAbroad site.)

Intern Abroad

If you've chosen the essay format, please read through the questions below to get inspiration for your submission. Be sure to incorporate discussions about cross-cultural interactions, the particular skills you built, and how these might be applied in a professional context. Try to incorporate an analytical perspective as opposed to simply recounting your experiences. 

  1. When and where did you intern abroad? What was your position? [REQUIRED]
  2. What is your major or area of study? Does your industry have international components? [REQUIRED]
  3. What made you want to intern abroad?
  4. How did you conduct your search? What made you select your program/company?
  5. Describe the application process. What made you successful?
  6. What was the biggest surprise about your intern experience abroad?
  7. Did you participate in extra-curricular or social activities while interning abroad? If so, how did they differ from social activities in your home culture?
  8. What made your experience abroad a success?
  9. How did you finance your trip abroad and did you find any creative solutions to stay on budget?
  10. Do you have a story from your intern workplace that gave you particular insight into your host culture?
  11. How did you deal with the cultural divide during your internship?
  12. What was the most important thing you learned about communicating in a foreign culture?
  13. What is your number one tip for anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps?
  14. What did you miss most about home?
  15. Do you have any final observations on your experience?
  16. Describe an experience from your time abroad that made a particularly strong impression on you.
  17. How will international skills impact your future in your chosen industry? [REQUIRED]
  18. What are your future plans for going abroad and for your career? [REQUIRED] (Our experts would like to supply you with some personalized advice and relevant reading from the MyWorldAbroad site.)

Volunteer Abroad

If you've chosen the essay format, please read through the questions below to get inspiration for your submission. Be sure to incorporate discussions about cross-cultural interactions, the particular skills you built, and how these might be applied in a professional context. Try to incorporate an analytical perspective as opposed to simply recounting your experiences. 

  1. When and where did you volunteer abroad? What was your position? [REQUIRED]
  2. What is your major or area of study? Does your industry have international components? [REQUIRED]
  3. What made you want to volunteer abroad?
  4. How did you conduct your search for a position? What made you select your program?
  5. Describe the application process. What made you successful?
  6. What was the biggest surprise about your volunteer experience abroad?
  7. Did you participate in extra-curricular or social activities while volunteering abroad? If so, how did they differ from social activities in your home culture?
  8. What made your volunteer experience abroad a success?
  9. How did you finance your trip abroad and did you find any creative solutions to stay on budget?
  10. Did anything happen in your volunteer workplace that gave you particular insight into your host culture?
  11. How did you deal with the cultural divide during your volunteer experience?
  12. What was the most important thing you learned about communicating in a foreign culture while volunteering abroad?
  13. What was your return like? Do you plan to go abroad again?
  14. What is your number one tip for anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps?
  15. What did you miss most about home?
  16. Do you have any final observations on your experience?
  17. Describe an experience from your time abroad that made a particularly strong impression on you.
  18. How will international skills impact your future in your chosen industry? [REQUIRED]
  19. What are your future plans for going abroad and for your career? [REQUIRED] (Our experts would like to supply you with some personalized advice and relevant reading from the MyWorldAbroad site.)

Working Holidays

If you've chosen the essay format, please read through the questions below to get inspiration for your submission. Be sure to incorporate discussions about cross-cultural interactions, the particular skills you built, and how these might be applied in a professional context. Try to incorporate an analytical perspective as opposed to simply recounting your experiences. 

  1. When and where did you work abroad? Did you go with an agency? [REQUIRED]
  2. What is your major or area of study? Does your industry have international components? [REQUIRED]
  3. What made you want to take a working holiday?
  4. How did you conduct your search? How did you select your program/country and/or find employers abroad?
  5. What was the biggest surprise about your working holiday experience?
  6. Did you participate in extra-curricular or social activities while abroad? If so, how did they differ from social activities in your home culture?
  7. What made your experience abroad a success?
  8. How did you finance your trip abroad and how much did you earn while abroad?
  9. Do you have a story from one of your workplaces that gave you particular insight into your host culture?
  10. How did you deal with the cultural divide during your time abroad?
  11. What was the most important thing you learned about communicating in a foreign culture while you were abroad?
  12. What is your number one tip for anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps?
  13. What did you miss most about home?
  14. Do you have any final observations on your experience?
  15. Describe an experience from your time abroad that made a particularly strong impression on you.
  16. How will international skills impact your future in your chosen industry? [REQUIRED]
  17. What are your future plans for going abroad and for your career? [REQUIRED] (Our experts would like to supply you with some personalized advice and relevant reading from the MyWorldAbroad site.)

Teach English Abroad

If you've chosen the essay format, please read through the questions below to get inspiration. Be sure to incorporate discussions about cross-cultural interactions, the skills you built, and how these might be applied in a professional context. We also want to hear about your specific industry/sector and how your professional goals align with your experience abroad. Try to incorporate an analytical perspective as opposed to simply recounting experiences. 

  1. When and where did you teach abroad? Did you go with a program? [REQUIRED]
  2. What is your major or area of study? Does your industry have international components? [REQUIRED]
  3. What made you want to teach English abroad?
  4. How did you conduct your search? How did you select your program/country and/or find an employer abroad?
  5. Describe the application process. What made you successful?
  6. What was the biggest surprise about your teaching experience abroad?
  7. Did you participate in extra-curricular or social activities while abroad? If so, how did they differ from social activities in your home culture?
  8. What made your experience abroad a success?
  9. How did you finance your trip abroad and did you find any creative solutions to stay on budget?
  10. Do you have a story from your workplace that gave you particular insight into your host culture?
  11. How did you deal with the cultural divide during your time teaching abroad?
  12. What was the most important thing you learned about communicating in a foreign culture while you were abroad?
  13. What is your number one tip for anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps?
  14. Do you have advice on how to handle a cross-cultural classroom?
  15. What did you miss most about home?
  16. Do you have any final observations on your experience?
  17. Describe an experience from your time abroad that made a particularly strong impression on you.
  18. How will international skills impact your future in your chosen industry? [REQUIRED]
  19. What are your future plans for going abroad and for your career? [REQUIRED] (Our experts would like to supply you with some personalized advice and relevant reading from the MyWorldAbroad site.)

Study Abroad (Please note: We are no longer offering $50 honorariums for study abroad stories from Western Europe or East Asia.)

If you've chosen the essay format, please read through the questions below to get inspiration. Be sure to incorporate discussions about cross-cultural interactions, the skills you built, and how these might be applied in a professional context. We also want to hear about your specific industry/sector and how your professional goals align with your experience abroad. Try to incorporate an analytical perspective as opposed to simply recounting experiences.  

  1. When and where did you study abroad? Did you have a study focus? [REQUIRED]
  2. What is your major or area of study? Does your industry have international components? [REQUIRED]
  3. What made you want to study abroad?
  4. How did you search for programs? What made you select your program?
  5. Describe the application process. What made you successful?
  6. What was the biggest surprise about your study abroad experience?
  7. Did you participate in extra-curricular or social activities abroad? If so, how did they differ from social activities in your home culture?
  8. What made your study abroad experience abroad a success?
  9. How did you finance your trip abroad and did you find any creative solutions to stay on budget?
  10. Do you have a classroom story that gave you particular insight into other cultures?
  11. How did you deal with the cultural divide?
  12. What was the most important thing you learned about communicating in a foreign culture while you were studying abroad?
  13. What was your return like? Do you plan to go abroad again?
  14. What is your number one tip for anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps?
  15. What did you miss most about home?
  16. Do you have any final observations on your experience?
  17. Describe an experience from your time abroad that made a particularly strong impression on you.
  18. How will international skills impact your future in your chosen industry? [REQUIRED]
  19. What are your future plans for going abroad and for your career? [REQUIRED] (Our experts would like to supply you with some personalized advice and relevant reading from the MyWorldAbroad site.)

Learn a Language Abroad

If you've chosen the essay format, please read through the questions below to get inspiration. Be sure to incorporate discussions about cross-cultural interactions, the skills you built, and how these might be applied in a professional context. We also want to hear about your specific industry/sector and how your professional goals align with your experience abroad. Try to incorporate an analytical perspective as opposed to simply recounting experiences.  

  1. When and where did you learn a language abroad? Which language? [REQUIRED]
  2. What is your major or area of study? Does your industry have international components? [REQUIRED]
  3. What made you want to learn a language?
  4. Were you involved with a particular program or school? What made you select your program/country?
  5. Did you have experience with the language before going abroad?
  6. What was the biggest surprise about your experience abroad?
  7. Did you participate in extra-curricular or social activities while abroad? If so, how did they differ from social activities in your home culture?
  8. What made your experience abroad a success?
  9. How did you finance your trip abroad and did you find any creative solutions to stay on budget?
  10. How did your language skills improve? Did anything in particular help you improve?
  11. Do you have a story from your classroom or workplace abroad that gave you particular insight into your host culture?
  12. How did you deal with the cultural divide during your time abroad?
  13. What was the most important thing you learned about communicating in a foreign culture while you were abroad?
  14. What is your number one tip for anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps?
  15. Do you have any final observations on your experience?
  16. Describe an experience from your time abroad that made a particularly strong impression on you.
  17. How will international skills impact your future in your chosen industry? [REQUIRED]
  18. What are your future plans for going abroad, building your language skills, and for your career? [REQUIRED] (Our experts would like to supply you with some personalized advice and relevant reading from the MyWorldAbroad site.)

Work Abroad

If you've chosen the essay format, please read through the questions below to get inspiration. Be sure to incorporate discussions about cross-cultural interactions, the skills you built, and how these might be applied in a professional context. We also want to hear about your specific industry/sector and how your professional goals align with your experience abroad. Try to incorporate an analytical perspective as opposed to simply recounting experiences. 

  1. When and where did you work abroad? What was your position? [REQUIRED]
  2. What is your major or area of study? Does your industry have international components? [REQUIRED]
  3. What made you want to work abroad?
  4. How long did it take you to find a job and what job-search strategies did you use? Did you work in your field of interest?
  5. Describe the application, interview, and selection process. What made you successful?
  6. What was the biggest surprise about your work experience abroad?
  7. Did you participate in extra-curricular or social activities through your work abroad? If so, how did they differ from social activities in your home culture?
  8. What made your work experience abroad a success?
  9. How did you finance your trip abroad and did you find any creative solutions to stay on budget?
  10. Do you have a story from your workplace that gave you particular insight into your host culture?
  11. What was the biggest challenge in adapting to your international work environment?
  12. How did you deal with the cultural divide in the workplace?
  13. What was the most important thing you learned about communicating in a foreign culture while you were working abroad?
  14. What did you miss most about home?
  15. What is your number one tip for anyone hoping to follow in your footsteps by working abroad?
  16. Do you have any final observations on your experience?
  17. Describe an experience from your time abroad that made a particularly strong impression on you.
  18. How will international skills impact your future in your chosen industry? [REQUIRED]
  19. What are your future plans for going abroad and for your career? [REQUIRED] (Our experts would like to supply you with some personalized advice and relevant reading from the MyWorldAbroad site.)

(Please note that while we welcome submissions from around the world, we are only able to offer honorariums to US and Canadian residents.)