Hello! I’m Karen Kray, founder of Mindful Abroad, and I’m thrilled to invite you to be part of our community.
Like any journey, it’s best to start at the beginning—so here’s a little about me.
Years ago, I studied abroad in Indonesia. I have many amazing memories of that experience—and to be honest, a few less-than-great ones. But one of those moments, in particular, that always sticks with me is my departure day.
I had traveled from my home in Oswego, New York, hopping on a plane to Chicago to L.A. There I was, walking through the international terminal with my parents’ matching floral luggage on a trolley. I spotted a group of people who could only be my future classmates. What did I do? Took an extra loop around the ticketing area—my pulse was racing, and I was not ready to say hello.
That moment was the first time it truly hit me: I was about to spend 15 weeks with strangers in a place I barely knew, and I wasn’t even sure how to pack for it.
Looking back, I am reminded that sometimes the significance of a situation only becomes clear later. The excitement of the idea of study abroad was my focus during the predeparture period, not the specifics of what that experience might actually be. My time in Indonesia was as humbling as it was incredible. I met people, saw places, and experienced life in ways I hadn’t imagined.
Despite the ups and downs, it was the kind of transformational experience I hope every student gets to have at some point in their education. I started study abroad with no real sense of my academic interests and left completely fascinated by Indonesian politics, culture, history, and language.
Why I created Mindful Abroad
After nearly 20 years working in international education, I’ve met students who have had experiences as transformative as mine—but I’ve also learned from others about how how overwhelming, unprepared, or unsure students can feel.
And then there are the professionals I’ve met who’ve said, “I wish I had studied abroad in college.”
That’s why I created Mindful Abroad. It’s a space for you to:
- Build confidence that study abroad is for you
- Connect with peers going through similar experiences, and
- Gain the tools and support you need to achieve your personal and academic goals – whether that’s embracing cultural differences, managing challenges, or setting yourself up for a post-college career.
I want to help you craft an intentional, meaningful journey abroad that aligns with who you are and what you want to achieve.
We’re just getting started building our community. Today, we are focused on spring 2025 students heading overseas. If that is you, click here to learn more about our memberships.