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ReviewsSome thoughts on our first season:
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Sara Lipka wrote a great article about BlogAbroad.com in the number one paper for academe in the world, with almost half a million readers. Read the article here.
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| A beautiful color article was printed about BlogAbroad.com in one of the most prestigious university magazines in the country. Read the article here.
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| During BlogAbroad.com's first season, the community had an award show of sorts called the MindSay Yearbook. In it, Phil, our blogger from Rome, won Most Descriptive Blog, as voted on by the MindSay community.
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| People from all different age groups and backgrounds from all over the world have embraced BlogAbroad.com. We had avid readers from as young as middle schoolers to as late in their life as post retirement. We have readers from America, Italy, Chile, and beyond. Many of them left many wonderful messages for our bloggers. A few examples:
Phil, our blogger from Rome:
In response to Phil's last post in Rome, a recent college graduate and current middle school English teacher wrote, "Thank you so much for allowing us to read about your experience and for explaining it so vividly, making us feel as if we were really there too."
An aspiring screenwriter wrote, "It's been so amazing to hear your account, and it is so fortunate that you were there while all that stuff was going on."
A published novelist with a Master's degree in Ministry/Theology wrote, "That is so...wow. Wonderfully communicative. Thank you for sharing so much of the 'air' there with us."
In response to Phil's post about witnessing the dying of the Pope from the thats wicked awesome....i love your blog!Vatican, people wrote comments such as -
"Thank you for writing that." That was beautiful." I can practically hear the bells ringing."
"This is an amazing entry." I sat here in awe as I read it." The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and goosebumps formed upon my arms and legs." Your writing is so vivid." You have personally lived and witnessed a major piece of history..." Amazing..."
"Your 'blog' captured me totally. I felt as though I was standing right there with you as you walked the streets, on your pilgrimage. How beautiful and pituresque your ability to portay such a memorable and lasting experience. Thank you for sharing this truly amazing day with me."
"That was an amazing post. I had heard about those who had waited hours in line. While reading this it was so detailed I could picture it from all the news footage. I got to the point I was rooting for you to make it. You had me scared for a moment that you would be one of the thousands that were turned away.
Thank you for giving this point of view. It was beautiful."
"Thank you....you gave me chills...your words rang so true."
Finally, while not having to do with any of the aformentioned posts, Phil also received a comment of, "simply amazing post," and, perhaps the one that sums everyone's impressions up the best, "That's wicked awesome....I love your blog!"
Emma, our blogger from Senegal
A number of Emma's fans love her writing so much they think she should turn her blogs into a book. Some nice comments have been -
"Listen, I really, really think you should seriously consider publishing your thoughts on your experiences there. Your ability to divine exactly what it is you're feeling and experiencing, and then to peel back the layers a little more, is truly exemplary. You're an infinitely better writer than Jon Krakauer or Sebastian Junger. If you could incorporate humour, you would be on par with, or easily better than Bill Bryson as far as authors in the travel memoir department go. Seriously, Emma. Please, please allow me to persuade you. If I had connections I would jump to it. As it is, I'm pretty sure I can find a way to get you noticed. I'm a persistent bugger when I get something in my head. Your writing and thoughts are so beautiful that they move me deeply. Think on it."
"I hope you save your blogs. Your life reads like a novel: due, of course, to your vivid writing."
"Wow! You must be full of all sorts of emotions at that prospect... Your journey has had life-altering effects. You really are an excellent writer. I hope to one day hold a published copy of your travels."
"I just sobbed my eyes out!!!!!!!!!! Please, please, please write a book about your adventures there. I am still bawling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I worship you, Emma. You rock!"
"Guess what? You're going to be a writer. A phenomenal writer. End of story. That's your career. In some variation-- travel writing, journalism, future blog queen of the world... whatever."
While not a request to publish her work, a lovely note nonetheless was, "Wow, I've been reading a few of your entries and just had to say thank you for sharing. This blog is a joy to read, your life seems so fascinating, scary and joyful all at once," and someone simply wrote, "massive crazy deafening applause."
Jackie, our blogger from Chile
Jackie earned her travel agent stripes by receiving comments like, "I've had an opinion of most South American countries as being somewhat of a dangerous place for Americans (the U.S. type) and other 'rich' looking people because of the incidents of kidnapping. Being in the Marine Corps I've had training that has fed that paranoia, which is ok because most places I've been with the Marine Corps require some hyper vigilance. I've always seen Chile and Argentina as countries I would love to see, and your writing has made me rethink my preconceived ideas of the region. I've shown your blog to my girlfriend Kim and we both agree that our next trip we're heading south to Chile."
She also earned her recruitment stripes by receiving comments like, "Great Pictures!" I'm hoping you're actually going to go visit Punta Arenas -- (my son is going to be leaving for there in early July to spend his senior year) -- I'd love to hear about the place before he leaves." Your blog is so much better than the 'normal things we read about Chile!"
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