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You remember Opal – our first success story from March. 


I recently checked in with Opal to find out how she is doing, six months after returning to the US from Italy, moving in Los Angeles, and working as a television producer for the show “The Amazing Race.”

Opal is an eloquent writer, so I’ll let her speak for herself.

“I have changed for the better since I’ve returned from abroad. After returning, I moved to a completely new place. Los Angeles is home to people from all over America and the world. It’s very rare to run into someone that is actually born and raised in Los Angeles. Although I’ve always thought of myself as an open-minded individual, traveling and talking with different cultures prepared me for this new life. It’s a big place to live and can be overwhelming. Finding and building relationships with people is your biggest asset, and the best way to find your place in this large city. Making relationships with people from different backgrounds abroad has opened me to new relationships here.

Guy in Ireland.

Letterfrack, Ireland, Co. Galway

Friends, Romans, lend me your ears.

Today I’d like to shine a spotlight of global moxie on a woman whose efforts and successes truly merit mention. Lauren is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma (Letters, Italian, European Studies); indeed, she hails from Oklahoma City, the very heart of Tornado Alley.

While an undergraduate at OU, Lauren studied abroad in Bologna, Italy – widely acknowledged at that time as the deep end of the study abroad pool. Bologna’s a big city; with one of Europe’s four oldest universities, the place is literally swarming with college students. You have to be brave, and linguistically confident to dive into this one. Lauren did – and like so many others whose stories I’ve been told, the first half of her Bologna experience was fairly terrifying. Oral exams in Italian. Huge classes. Brusque professors. And, it must be said, a fleeting sense of failure as she struggled to meet academic expectations. At one point, a professor of Church History cut her oral exam short, and recommended that she go somewhere and read for a few months before returning to attempt it again.

Bologna’s arcades in the center of town.

But it got easier. She made friends. Bologna became smaller and more manageable (it’s a city close to my heart). Who could fail to be comforted by the food there? Tortellini al brodo, crisp pizzas drizzled with spicy oil … lasagna casalinga. She hit the books, and her Italian got better. She went back and passed the Church History oral exam. She went home with an Italian friend for the Christmas holidays, and the gentle hug of that family stayed with her forever – in  particular, the utter lack of commercialism in their holiday celebrations. A family party where an adult daughter was overjoyed to receive a bottle of shower gel as a gift. Because the real gift in that family was being together, sharing time and space together, eating together.

The mythical Rome spreads forward fro m St. Peter’s Square

So, in 2008, after she’d completed her bachelor’s degrees, Lauren applied to a graduate program in Rome through an American University (St. Johns, in New York), and got funded through student loans since all her credit was transcripted in the US (very clever, that). Her program in International Government and Politics required an off-site internship in Rome. It went very well. She finished her master’s degree in 2008. One thing led to another, and five years later, she’s still in Rome.
Her career has taken off in the direction of writing, editing, and translation; she takes time to mentor undergraduate students on study abroad (as she did here, in Arezzo, this spring – below.)

Lauren said a few things that really stayed with me when I sat down to interview her in April.

First, all her jobs in Italy came from the resilient network of friends and colleagues. Not once has she applied for a position listed publicly, American-style. The Rome internship led to other not-for-profit positions in editorial and press pools. As her colleagues began to see that Lauren was, in fact, intent on staying in Italy, they began to give her referrals to new contracts and to new jobs. She took a risk, and stayed – and it paid off, both professionally and personally.

Second, Lauren spoke very movingly about how Italy had changed her – for the better. Her time in Bologna took her off the frenetic award track of America. A self-confessed study nut, Lauren’s undergraduate self at OU would barely take time off to have a coffee, so permeated was her world view and approach with American go-getter-ness. She remembered that undergraduate time as one of a discontented competition. What was all the rush for? Why did she want to get ahead, what did “ahead” look like, and why was it a problem if someone else arrived there first? Her months in Italy changed this. She began to appreciate small things – an espresso, a morning walk through the arcades – a talk with a friend. The way a family can sit down and spend and afternoon together in the living room in Italy, and no one is trying to run errands, go shopping, or rake leaves. Italy helped Lauren slow down and truly define her goals – ultimately, becoming more of the person she always was.

Another story of true global moxie. Follow Lauren online at http://www.mediterraneanmoves.blogspot.it/.

Monica and Lauren in the classroom at OU in Arezzo, before her hosted talk with students.

The damage of the Moore tornado was visible in the morning light a week ago today – and it was breathtaking. Worse than the 1999 twister that mowed a path from Newcastle to Stroud, finally losing steam south of Tulsa. More than 13,000 buildings destroyed. 24 fatalities. Over $2 billion in damage. There was a greater loss of life in the 1999 tornado, but this 2013 tornado will have a far greater economic impact as people start picking up the pieces, making their lists, and trying to figure out where to start to rebuild.

The funnel’s path tracked just 15 km north of our Norman house, on Classen Boulevard. Too close for comfort, even from abroad. Had we been home, this would have been the fourth spring in a row that we would have taken shelter with a tornado on the ground in the vicinity. Tornadoes seem to be stronger than they did when I was a kid, growing up in Oklahoma. Or are our weather news and alerts just better?

The Italians in Arezzo continue to ask us questions about the tornado. They want to know if everyone is ok. They want to know if more tornadoes will happen. (“Definitely,” I tell them.) I, for my part, am regularly checking social media for news and updates about my friend and colleague Robyn, who suffered a catastrophic loss of property in the twister. She is doing ok, and even better, they were reunited with her dog, the faithful Mona, on Friday evening. Mona is recovering from her adventure; aside from some minor medical issues, by all accounts, she is in good shape, and will be back to her playful self soon. A huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone around the world who made contributions large and small to Robyn and Ivan’s fund at http://www.gofundme.com/robynivan (still accepting donations, and no, it’s not too late.)

Global moxie happens every day. You know what it is? It’s when the world feels small, in a really good way, and accessible. Global moxie is reaching far and finding that, in fact, it is very close.

I have been in constant touch from Italy with friends, family, and coworkers, as we work to accumulate resources for our friend and colleague, Robyn Rojas, who suffered a catastrophic loss of property in the May 20 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. Skype, MagicJack, and Facebook, along with a ton of old-fashioned email, and a web-savvy friend who quickly set up a GoFundMe account to help Robyn. Robyn is eight months pregnant – due July 25 – and she and her husband lost everything in the tornado. Literally everything.

There is a picture of her in the national news, sitting on top of a pile of rubble with her mother, eating dinner out of a styrofoam to-go box, looking with frustrated disgust at some small wooden tchotchke – perhaps a napkin holder; they are sitting in what looks to have been her kitchen; it’s hard to tell – and the look on Robyn’s face says, “well, here’s something to save, I guess. I wouldn’t have set it aside as something special!”

The Italians here in Arezzo have voiced constant concern and support. In fact, Robyn’s situation was even publicized in Italian news (she is not named) here (in Italian). They all invoke their concern and dismay and grief after the terrible earthquake in L’Aquila, Abruzzo a few years ago. Many want to know why Oklahoma homes do not have basements. Many have asked us why builders were issued permits to rebuild in an area that is known for repeat targeting by tornadoes of historic strength (1999, 2003, again now 2013). All have expressed special concern for the affected elementary schools, Briarwood and Plaza Towers. They want to know why children were permitted to attend school in a building that was known to have no safe shelter from tornadoes if it is a constant headline in our weather. They are grieving with Oklahomans for the loss of young life in Moore. People around the world are asking these questions.

I am working all channels on behalf of Robyn. We have three home options lined up for them as possibilities for this summer. A short-term car loan for the summer has been offered. As soon as she is ready, she will be taken care of and will have a support network for months to come. The collections on the GoFundMe site are in the five figures now. But how much does it take to repurchase life as it was? Is it even possible to do so? Probably not. But little ways can help. They need everything. At this time, they have nowhere to store anything. (They are still indexing what was not destroyed at their house, like that napkin holder.)

If you have not donated to Robyn’s GoFundMe campaign set up by their friends and colleagues, please consider doing so here. Please. They truly need our help. I am honestly touched by the donations from around the world from people who are most likely OU international alumni – Japanese donors who survived the 2011 tsunami, Chinese alumni, latino alumni. The list of international names grows and grows. Not to mention the list of our international education colleagues from around the country – Texas, Florida, Oklahoma… companies and campuses large and small.

Robyn has plenty of global moxie herself, having traveled and danced with a company in Asia. She abroad in Mexico as an undergraduate. She speaks fluent Spanish; her husband Ivan is Colombian. In her job, she works with people from all over the world every day (I know this because we shared a cubicle wall before my husband and I came to Italy for the year.) Honestly, Robyn could have a career in diplomacy. Her attention to etiquette, kindness, and detail is incredible, and she’s putting those skills to work locally, in Norman, Oklahoma – which is home to quite a large international community, thanks to the university.

Robyn’s dog Mona has still not been found. (If you aren’t busy and have internet access, here is a picture of her dog, Mona. It has been hard to match the lost and found pets with the limited internet access in Moore. And the fact that everyone’s laptop and computer and router are gone. And all the cables connecting all the telecomm.) Shelters and owners have been posting images, but it has been hard to play the lost-pet memory game online with so many different sites, grainy images, etc. There is a good chance that Mona is fine and is in shelter somewhere. A post-tornado picture of her might be on the web. Can you help Robyn look for Mona? Owners and pets are being reunited each day. Pets are smart – they know how to survive, if it is at all possible. I know Robyn’s heart would be far less heavy if she could just hug Mona.

Global moxie is essentially local moxie. You’re always somewhere – you can’t be everywhere at once. The global moxie eats and sleeps on planet earth.

What is global moxie? It is a plane ticket, a passport, a paycheck? Or is it a way of life, and a state of mind? Is it possible to be global when you’re at home? Does being out of country permanently change you, or the way you view the world, or the way the world views you?

Is global moxie a new pair of shoes or glasses, or is it an experience that becomes a touchstone for future endeavors? Can it be gained on a short trip abroad, or must the voyage be longer, or must one go abroad at all to find global moxie?

I am at the tail end of a year in Italy, and am mulling these questions. I’ve seen three seasons of students comes and go – summer 2012, fall 2012, and summer 2013 – and the 2013 summer students are arriving. I am wondering how the reentry experience has been for the students who have come and gone, and who are now in the US again. What has changed, what is different? Are you different? Do you feel more different than you look? I want to know.

Coming soon: the tale of Lauren Sanders, Ms. Global Moxie if I’ve ever met her, an Oklahoma girl from Midwest City who moved to Italy in 2008 and never looked back. I interviewed her last month – feature coming soon. Stay close!

I have a wonderful anecdote about a recent OU graduate with a ton o’ global moxie. I would like to share it with you by way of illustration. (I haven’t asked for her permission to use her name, so let’s call her Opal.)

Opal studied abroad in Arezzo with the OU in Arezzo program last fall. She graduated from OU in December. Opal was very engaged in her Italian experience! She really wanted to find a job in Los Angeles in the industry (entertainment industry), like about 3 million other people. Opal had a great resume of internships that made sense and aligned with her interest in production and film. I was in touch with Opal by Skype and email, talking about her resume and her cover letter, helping her create language around her experience and creative passion that would speak to prospective employers.

Yesterday, she told me she had been hired as a full-time production assistant for a well-known television series (“The Amazing Race”) – one of just ten full-time staff members. Everyone else working on the show is a temp or contractor. Opal related how well her interview went because she was able to talk at length, and thoughtfully, about her experiences abroad. She said that she and the hiring manager really connected on this point, and the interview veered into about twenty minutes of personal chat about living and working abroad. She was proud of her recent study abroad experience, and I can just see her emanating enthusiasm in some Los Angeles office.

The point here is this: Opal had had great experience so far, and a sharp resume. But it was her ease talking about living abroad that helped that hiring manager really connect with her, and see her passion for learning and exploring.

You might be well-qualified for a job, both on paper and in person, and have the skills necessary to do it well. In fact, I think that this is true of everyone. But what sets you apart? You’re never the only person applying for a job, and if you were, ummm … maybe you shouldn’t be. Many people have your skills and interests. But remember – most hiring managers look at 10-200 applications for every position they hire. Stand out. Have that energy. Be memorable. Talk about your international experience as something integral to who you are (it is), as something that has helped form your professional identity (it has). Those hiring managers are tired of reviewing lackluster applications. Honestly, they would like to talk to someone who not only has skills, but who lights up when they’re excited about something. Because that is just the kind of energy that every hiring manager wants to see on the job. You know, the work that they pay you to do. Do it with style. Be international. Bring it.

Opal, good luck in LA! I knew you could do it!

I’m going to cover some very basic stuff here if you are in a job search, or planning one soon, as a person with global moxie.

First, draft a good cover letter. They’re important. I am always surprised by young professionals or soon-to-be graduates who have not written a good cover letter, or been advised to do so. Why are cover letters important? First, they show your written communication skills. They show that you can think coherently, and that you understand your own narrative about your experiences and your career goals, and how the specific application you are submitting aligns with your goals and experience. Think of a cover letter as a friendly way to have a professional introduction that you get to initiate – you’re basically holding the attention of the hiring manager for a few minutes. Just you! You alone! Talking to a person who might want to hire you. Don’t waste this opportunity.

Start with an introduction, reference the position, and then give a first paragraph about your skills and experience. In your second paragraph, explain how your skills and experience can address specific requirements of the job. Then make a nice conclusion. Be friendly, but not pushy. Say you hope to speak with the hiring manager further about your application.

And for Pete’s sake, do it well. A bad cover letter is the kiss of death. Check for grammar, typos, word choice. Keep it professional. Don’t sound crazy, and don’t use nutty fonts.

This is the inaugural post for GlobalMoxie, a blog dedicated to rising graduates and young professionals who have studied abroad, lived abroad, interned abroad, or worked abroad, and who now find themselves back home wondering how to position themselves to get that next job – or their first job.

The world is a big place, and if you’ve ventured forth into it, you’ve got great experience – skills and understanding that people often don’t have if they’ve never explored beyond their comfort zone. You can understand problems and how to solve them; you have learned how to function in a different language or culture; you know firsthand how to analyze a complicated problem and move through it to find a solution; you can get along with different people. These skills are important, and every hiring manager in America wants to find someone like you. A bachelor’s degree isn’t enough anymore in our labor market. What distinguishes you? Study abroad? A master’s degree? Significant work experience? What else? Let’s find out.

I’ve been there, I’ve done that, and I want to help you do it too.

I’ve traveled extensively (lost count a few countries ago), lived abroad a few times (Spain, France, Italy), and love to learn what makes the world – and people – tick. I put in my time in the classroom learning languages, but it was rarely as rewarding as being immersed in a culture, taking it all in, all synapses firing. I’ve enjoyed an evolving international career since 1997, working in the field of U.S. immigration, writing, and editing in New York, Seattle, and Oklahoma. I teach. I’ve reviewed thousands of cover letters and resumes as an immigration specialist and as a hiring manager, and I know what works – and what doesn’t – in a job search. Believe me. There are some basic tenets.

Every job I’ve ever been hired to do since I was 20, paid or unpaid, was due to the fact that I had studied abroad and lived abroad, acquiring language skills along the way. I know I’ve turned searches and interviews my way because of my ability to talk about my international experience. I have good ideas about how recent graduates and young professionals might shape their job search. I’ve had some great conversations in the past year or two, but I think we can reach more people this way. Are you interested? Want to follow? Good, because I’ll be putting a lot of ideas here in the future.

Comments, suggestions, ideas are welcome!

– Monica