This past weekend I had the pleasure of interviewing a fellow student abroad in Barcelona, Andrew Ingber. Andrew is from the United States in a suburb outside of New York City and is studying abroad in Barcelona with the IES program. He studies business at Penn State University so knows little about Journalism or Public Relations, which is why I decided to talk to him about his understanding of using blogging or being an influencer for a full time job. We started off with grasping his prior knowledge of what being an influencer consists of, then talked about if he thought that would be enough to sustain a life long career. He dove into specific influencers that he follows and his personal experience with being coerced to buy products that they endorsed. It was great talking to Andrew and seeing an outsiders perspective on a job that has been becoming more and more popular among our generation.
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Tips for Traveling Europe – Save Time & Money
1. Packing cubes
Packing cubes have changed my life for the better. They have been a life saver in packing for weekend trips. Most come in a pack of five or six cubes, all different sizes. I like to organize an outfit per cube so then I can keep my things all together and nothing gets lost. Also, it eliminates the issue of overpacking. The packing cubes I use are not the prettiest you can find but they are very practical and not overly expensive. I highly recommend for students abroad doing weekend trips.
2. Skyscanner
Sky scanner has been another life saver when booking flights for the weekend. Sky scanner is special because it will search the cheapest flights pairing different airlines together for round trips. It also gives you options to book the cheapest or fastest flights and what your options would be for that. I have found that sky scanner always has the cheapest flights for round trips and I recommend it for anyone traveling in general and the numbers show.. check out this article by BBC.
3. Download Airline Apps and Follow on Social Media
Another tip I would have would be to download the airlines apps that you fly on the most. For me personally it would be Vueling, but I also have Easyjet and Ryanair for the occasional few times I have flown with them. It makes it so much easier to download boarding passes, change seats, add bags and the list goes on.
Vueling does a great job of keeping their passengers updated via social media as well as give helpful tips. Vueling, in my opinion, is by far the best low cost airline in Europe. Its app, social media and costumer service is above all.
4. Apple Wallet
My apple wallet has been a very helpful tool as well. Apple pay is not as common in the United States, but it definitely should be. It is a more efficient way of paying and mostly everywhere in Europe accepts it so I recommend you add your cards to your wallet.
Another great thing you can do with the apple wallet is add your boarding passes which I recommend doing for every flight. Most airlines will let you download your boarding pass directly to your apple wallet which eliminates the possibility of waiting in a long queue at check-in.
5. Download TV Shows or Movies
For people like myself that cannot sleep on planes, Youtube Premium, TV app on iPhone, and Netflix (Mobile Version) will be your best friends. I have such a hard time falling asleep on planes, especially shorter flights. Usually I will download one or two episodes of current shows I’m watching. Youtube premium allows you to download youtube videos, the TV app allows you to download current shows for a low price via iTunes and Netflix downloads are free with a subscription.
6. Reusable Water Bottle
My favorite, Hydroflask, is an essential for me while traveling. I hate becoming dehydrated during travel and unfortunately it happens quite often. I like to bring my Hydroflask empty through security then fill it up at a water fountain. This eliminates the annoyance of paying for an overpriced water bottle at the airport and keeps your water cool for 24+ hours.
7. Travel Sized Items
I got all my travel sized toiletries from Target and all my makeup travel sized items from Sephora. Both have a huge variety and you can find most of the products you use in travel sizes. This has been a huge issue abroad because if you travel with friends and stay in Airbnbs or hostels they usually don’t supply toiletries. Many people studying abroad forget things or don’t even bother buying travel sized anything so will use all their friends. Don’t be that person…
8. Noise Cancelling Headphones
Noise cancelling headphones are also great especially if you are traveling longer distances than usual. They cancel out noises like babies crying, people talking or anything else you might unexpectedly encounter on your flight.
These Bose ones are good..
Or these Beats ones..
9. Portable Charger
Here is an article on the best portable chargers of 2019. Mine personally is from Amazon because I was short on time and needed one before abroad. Although, this was the best seller and holds almost two full charges for my phone. It has been an absolute essential for traveling, especially for me because I can’t sleep on planes and watching movies/TV drains my battery. It is also important to have a charged phone at all times for your boarding passes or copies of your passport/other documents you could need.
10. Neck Pillow
This is the neck pillow that I use, I know it looks a little strange but I promise it is so much better than the conventional neck pillow. I am obsessed with it now and will certainly not be going back to a normal one. It is again from Amazon, where I get most of my things.
Marta Llibre – Guest Speaker #2
Marta Llibre, a 26 year old communications consultant, started out in a couple PR firms before going off on her own to start her own company. She is an extremely young female entrepreneur that specializes in startups. She also has a passion for women’s rights in Spain and hopes to be able to use her skills to help any movement that has to do with that in the future.
She started off at Canela PR where she worked as an Account Assistant while she was still in university before moving to an Executive Assistant after she got her degree. She stayed at Canela for three years before moving to Lewis Global Communications where she was quickly promoted, moving from a Senior Account Executive to a Account Manager in just three years.
Marta’s progression in the field of Public Relations shows clearly that she is very good at what she does. While having these full time jobs she also maintained holding other jobs consisting of being a co-professor for classes at CIEE, being a press assistant for Barcelona 2013 15th FINA World Championships and being a Communications Consultant for Roomtabs.
All of these experiences got her to where she is today. She gained the knowledge, expertise and the clients to go off on her own and start her own business. She is inspiring to young women, like myself, to work hard to get where you want to in life. Her journey is a perfect example for something that I would want to do eventually. Even her tweets reflect on her drive and passion to do great things..
Marta’s blog,called Communication Season: “Do it well, let it be know” consists of TV/movie reviews, educational pieces about advertising, thoughts on women’s rights or whatever she feels like talking about. I enjoyed reading through her blog because after hearing her speak I trust her opinion on things, especially in the Ad/PR world. This was my favorite article because I think it’s very relevant…
During Marta’s talk she spoke a lot about the difference between publicity and advertising. I appreciated this greatly because so many people do not know the difference. Publicity is when you persuade someone or something to speak on behalf of a product/service without paying them directly and advertising is paying upfront for exposure.
She also talked about how PR gives you credibility. I completely agree with her and I think that she was the perfect example of a credible person. She spoke with confidence and used her background and experience as proof. When you listened to what she said you believed her because of her credibility in the field, and that is what PR is: creating credibility, positioning a company as an expert in it’s sector, increasing awareness and humanizing a company through spokespersons.
Aside from PR, Marta has a strong passion for defending women’s rights..
This is a section from an article on Marta from an Empower Women website.
I found Marta’s presentation to be insightful and motivating. I hope to be half as successful as her one day.
Multimedia Project
MOJO
Background
MOJO or Mobile Journalism is a very important concept in our current day. As smartphones become part of our daily lives more and more, staying updated with current events on your mobile device is something that has become necessary for our generation. In order to keep up with new trends, news sites must keep up with methods of mobile journalism.
Keeping your audience updated quickly and before anyone else is essential. This is where your smartphone is a tool that is absolutely necessary. You can tweet, Facebook Livestream, or basically post anything you want. This is why you cannot avoid mobile journalism because it is becoming part of our daily routine – you are always staying informed.
Pros and Cons of Mobile Journalism
Pros:
- Quick and easy way to stay informed on current events
- Smartphones are less expensive than nice camera equipment
- Easy to upload directly to social media or a news website
- Small – very easy to transport
Cons:
- You do more on a smartphone than just journalism so you could get interrupted by texts or other push notifications during reporting
- Phone battery is not long lasting usually
- Small – easier to lose
- Less durable (screen cracks easily)
- Less storage
- stability issues
Notable Mobile Journalist
On of my favorite mobile journalists is Casey Neistat. I have been following him for ages and watched him grow his platform into millions of followers. He often uses his Youtube, Instagram or Twitter to spread powerful messages that are important to him.
In this particular video, Casey uses his Youtube platform to help raise money for a man who delivers UPS packages to him, Marlin. His sister could not afford treatment for dialysis and his followers raised over $100,000.
He also uses his Youtube platform to create reviews that are helpful for anyone thinking of purchasing what he tries out.
He is a notable mobile journalist because of his method of informing his audiences on important things going on in the world. He has multiple ways to do reach people such as using Youtube, Twitter and Instagram, three of the most popular social media platforms today. His posts are always meaningful, you take away something from everything you read or watch from him.
From informing the public on the snowfall in a very creative way…
To DIY tech projects – informing the public on how they can do it themselves.
It doesn’t just stop there. Casey uses Twitter daily to send updates on what is going on wherever he is in the world.
From updates on the weather…
To more technology reviews…
To more important things, like spreading awareness for a great cause. Casey Neistat is a mobile journalist that keeps me informed using multiple platforms and always keeps it interesting.
My Favorite Destination in Europe so Far – Amsterdam
I have been living in Europe for two months now and have explored eight different cities. I loved them all in different ways and for different reasons but one stood out to me – Amsterdam. This city has a reputation for being the city where everything is legal, but it is so much more than just that.
This is a must-see city in Europe. It is different than any other city I have ever been to. From the amazing food to the fantastic shopping, you will never run out of things to do.
One of our first stops when we got there was Polaberry. Their chocolate covered strawberries were the perfect thing I needed after our flight. They have multiple locations, but this one had a great spot to sit outside across from a canal.
Continuing the food tour, we went to Samba Sushi shortly after for dinner. This place also has multiple different locations, but this location was especially different because it was on a canal. The food was absolutely amazing and I will definitely try to check them out in their different locations.
They even have vegetarian options…
Another one of my favorite things that we did when we were there was visit the Moco Museum. This was a modern art museum that featured the works of Banksy and Daniel Arsham. I usually don’t enjoy art museums that much but I loved this one.
On the last day we packed in a canal tour, the swing at the A’Dam look out and the Heineken tour. To be honest, I was apprehensive about these activities and doubting they would be that interesting. I was very mistaken. The swing was so much fun and a great way to see the entire city. Similarly, the canal tour was a great way to explore the city, but see it in different way. The Heineken Museum was the most surprisingly interesting things to me. I don’t love beer but the tour was so interactive and cool with all the graphics that it is definitely a must-do if you visit Amsterdam.
Our last stop on this trip Sunday Morning before our flight, was Rainbowls. It was the perfect way to end our trip. Not only did the bowls taste amazing, but they look beautiful. The food in Amsterdam was out of this world.
Guest Speaker – Valentí Sanjuan
This past Monday, our class was able to hear from a interesting man with an impressive social media presence, Valentí Sanjuan.
Valentí had an incredible story in the way he started building his personal brand, his journey through becoming an amazing athlete, all with the many challenges he has overcome throughout his life.
He started off on a Radio show 10 years ago but eventually got fired. Some might say this was unfortunate, but Valentí took it as an opportunity to start building his own brand. This was when Instagram was initially starting to become popular so he became an active user as well as started his own Youtube channel.
After the unfortunate loss of his father, he decided he was going to start doing Iron Man and Ultra Man challenges. He created his own niche on his social platforms where he would do 10 Iron Mans in 10 days and other challenges of that nature. No one had ever recorded Iron or Ultra Man challenges before so he was one of a kind and the viewers showed interest. He attracted multiple types of viewers, bikers, runners, swimmers, people that loved watching challenges, etc.
He social platforms were something that I admired most about Valentí. What I liked most was how real he was with his followers. He shows his wins but also his losses…
Instagram is his most popular platform follower wise. Although he also has two different youtube channels both with large subscriber bases. One channel is for his crazy challenges that he completes in a more formal way and the other channel (my personal favorite because of the funny name) is for his Vlogs.
As I watched some of his videos, this was by far my favorite challenge that he did. I think the length of the video is perfect and I loved how he incorporated so many different camera angles to follow his journey.
On his vlog channel, this was my favorite that I watched. It was hard to follow along because my Spanish isn’t great but I liked the multiple camera angles again as well as how it wasn’t just him talking to the camera the entire time.
After Instagram and Youtube, Valentí’s most popular platform is twitter. I like how active he is on twitter and how he promotes his other platforms every time he posts on them. This was one of my favorite tweets from his twitter because he incorporated a really cool video.
Valentí also has a Facebook page with a vast liking and a website that he continues to update his followers on as well as sell his merchandise.
This made me realize that with a niche idea that you love and you think other people might love, you can be successful. His presentation in class made me want to pursue my dreams of starting a successful Youtube channel because I saw how it worked out for him. Overall, I loved hearing Valentí’s story and wish him the best for his next adventure.
The Most Useful Digital Tool of our Generation – GroupMe
GroupMe is an app owned by microsoft intended for communicating through large group messages. You can use it as a mobile app as well as a platform used on a desktop.
GroupMe vs. Competitors
You might be wondering what makes GroupMe so much better than other mobile or desktop platforms for messaging or group messaging. GroupMe allows you to add up to 500 members to a group which surpasses WhatsApps 256 person limit for group chats.
Meanwhile on GroupMe….
What Makes GroupMe so Great?
GroupMe is also an extremely easy platform to navigate. All your group messages are in one place with the option to mute ones that you do not want to receive notifications for. This is especially useful when your friends don’t know when to stop blowing up your phone…
To add friends to a group message you need to have their number or contact saved in your phone. This eliminates the issue of being added to random groups that you might not know. Another cool feature is the ability to like other user’s messages, similarly to iMessage where you can thumbs up someones text.
I picked GroupMe as the most useful tool of my generation because I am at time in my life where almost everything I do is in a large group. From internships, greek life, clubs, sports or just friends in general, group messages are basically essential to communicate. GroupMe makes that easy which is why it is the most useful digital tool.
Travel Essentials
After traveling to different places in Europe for the past 4 weekends, I’ve gathered some accessories that are essential for me when traveling. Obviously these things are not all necessary, but make the hassle of traveling a little easier.
The first essential for me is the Summer Fridays Jet Lag face mask. This mask is so life changing and leaves your skin feeling amazing. It is a clear mask so don’t worry about anyone looking at you weird, but it is so hydrating. Leave the worries of your skin drying out from the plane behind and splurge on this product.
Next, are Airpods. I never used to understand why anyone would splurge on something like this, but after using them, I now understand. It makes a huge difference in all your wires getting tangled and just makes things hassle-free. Again, not an essential but eliminates the annoyance of tangled wires. If, you have a birthday coming up it makes a great gift.
Going with the electronic trend, a portable charger has been my lifesaver. I use the Anker charger which holds two full lives of battery and is pretty affordable. I always download some TV shows or movies for my flight which drains my battery. A lot of the trips I have done we don’t have time to go home and charge my phone. This portable charger fits in a smaller bag and is very easy to travel with so it has been a must have for every trip.
A blanket scarf has also been one of my favorite things to travel with. This is a similar one to the one I have but I suggest a neutral color so it matches with everything. I get very cold on planes but I never want to bring a full sized blanket because it takes up too much room. Bringing a huge scarf is perfect because it looks stylish but also doubles as a blanket. I can’t fly without one.
Lastly, is a mini hand sanitizer. Airports, planes, trains, taxis, etc. can be very gross and germy. Hand sanitizer is a must have for me traveling especially with preventing getting sick. I use it at least 10 times every time I’m flying somewhere. Also it’s super affordable and tiny so it can fit anywhere.
Isabel goes International 