Daniel Dawson

Marketing, ideally, should be one of the most proactive departments in any business. What does it mean to be proactive? Marketers should not only keep the pulse on a business and its industry but can influence, drive and shape the competitive landscape. Proactive marketing is strategic, innovative and does not react to flippant industry fads, what competitors are doing, or other short-term pseudo-strategies. Proactive marketing differentiates and defines its business through its core practice… Show more

Marketing, ideally, should be one of the most proactive departments in any business. What does it mean to be proactive? Marketers should not only keep the pulse on a business and its industry but can influence, drive and shape the competitive landscape. Proactive marketing is strategic, innovative and does not react to flippant industry fads, what competitors are doing, or other short-term pseudo-strategies. Proactive marketing differentiates and defines its business through its core practice, providing value, clear communication and results-driven ROI.
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Journalists and marketers have a lot in common. In fact, many marketers wanted to be journalists in their past lives, but upon finding out the realities of the modern journalist—grueling hours, tough editors, and that starting salary—would-be journalist weenies went running for the hills. Guilty!

I was invited back by the ISA team to write a follow-up blog post because of the popularity of my previous blogs.

“Sorry if you can’t hear me. There’s a bunch of Spanish people nearby talking so loudly.”

“Don’t say that. They aren’t Spanish people—they’re people.”

In that moment I realized what I said, or even what I have been saying for the past semester. How could I have said something so glib after months of being here? It’s so easy to separate. It’s so easy to separate us from them; that they do this or that because they’re them. Of course I didn’t mean for my comment to my mom to become… Show more

“Sorry if you can’t hear me. There’s a bunch of Spanish people nearby talking so loudly.”

“Don’t say that. They aren’t Spanish people—they’re people.”

In that moment I realized what I said, or even what I have been saying for the past semester. How could I have said something so glib after months of being here? It’s so easy to separate. It’s so easy to separate us from them; that they do this or that because they’re them. Of course I didn’t mean for my comment to my mom to become a bigoted remark, but it was. What my comment really referred to was the stereotype that Spaniards are inherently loud and while it may seem harmless, generalizations are problematic. Show less

Exercising may be the last thing on your study abroad bucket-list, if not completely absent from it. Maybe you’re an athlete at your university, or that you even enjoy exercising on your own, or maybe the only type of marathons you participate in are sponsored by Netflix and comprise two of your favorite TV series and a movie.

I don’t like surprises. Do not give me a surprise present for my birthday. Do not plan a surprise vacation for me. Instead, let me research and plan everything myself. Let me scour the Internet for every nugget of information I can find so I know exactly what to expect—or at least that’s what I did the weeks before I arrived in Salamanca. What will my residencia look like? What building will my classes be in? Where are the closest supermarkets? Maybe you’re like me (hopefully not), and you… Show more

I don’t like surprises. Do not give me a surprise present for my birthday. Do not plan a surprise vacation for me. Instead, let me research and plan everything myself. Let me scour the Internet for every nugget of information I can find so I know exactly what to expect—or at least that’s what I did the weeks before I arrived in Salamanca. What will my residencia look like? What building will my classes be in? Where are the closest supermarkets? Maybe you’re like me (hopefully not), and you don’t like surprises either. However, one thing I must tell you is that when you study abroad even the subtlest things will, inevitably, surprise you. Needless to say, my research would never have been comparable to my actual experience, and even armed with an arsenal of facts and research, I’m welcoming these daily surprises with an open mind. Show less

My generation loves to travel. As one of the most globally-aware, interconnected and curious generations, we Millennials seek new adventures, meaningful experiences and personal fulfillment through traveling more than anyone else. Read more in this Nielsen study on Millennials’ propensity for travel.