About RA

I had initially planned to study abroad in Russia in summer 2020 to improve my Russian language skills—but that, of course, didn’t happen. In spring 2021, I learned about the Fulbright program. I saw it as a potential gateway to language immersion and cultural exchange before entering the “real world.”

Still working at the startup, I submitted a Fulbright application to Moldova—not expecting much, especially after being rejected for the CLS scholarship. But in April 2022, I received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant award. I eagerly accepted and prepared to leave my internship, live alone for the first time, and move to a part of the world I’d never been to.

If you’ve read my articles about Moldova, you know how deeply I fell in love with the country, its culture, and its people. I was fortunate to receive a second Fulbright ETA award to Moldova. Over those two years, I taught—but in many ways, I was the student. I learned about myself, gained new perspectives, picked up new languages, and developed resilience through challenge and change. Moldova is where I truly discovered my love of travel and cultural immersion.

After two years, the linguist in me was ready to dive into a new challenge: learning an Austronesian language. I had previously studied Mandarin and Thai and knew tonal languages didn’t come easily to me. In spring 2024, I received a Boren Fellowship to study in Indonesia.

Before the program began, I had only a brief exposure to Bahasa Indonesia, but I felt confident in its accessibility. I lived with a host family in Malang and studied intensively at Universitas Negeri Malang. Within two months, I reached a C1 proficiency level and began conducting research on how tourism development impacts local culture and language.

Throughout all these programs, I made it a point to travel to lesser-known cities, villages, and towns—to speak with locals in their languages, and to document those experiences on RA. The goal? To offer thoughtful, culturally rooted travel content—not just another “influencer” blog.

What I loved most was highlighting local voices and stories. Many people I met had never interacted with an American before—something I’d never thought about until I left the U.S.

Now that I’m back in the States, I carry those lessons with me daily, both professionally and personally. Unlike many travel bloggers who quit their jobs to travel full-time (which is great for them!), I thrive in structure, building communities, and pushing myself to grow in a professional role. Why? Because everything I learn in marketing jobs, I apply back to RA—what works, what doesn’t, what trends, and what connects.

It makes every moment abroad even more meaningful.