About

Meet Cate

{Principal + Founder}

The first time I came home from abroad I was 17; I’d just finished a year as an exchange student in Germany.

I thought I’d aced re-entry. It wasn’t until a decade later when I was TA-ing a study abroad class as a grad student that I discovered I’d struggled in ways I never could have expected.

Re-entry is sneaky like that.

During my first re-entry, all I could think about was going abroad again. So, in college, I spent a year studying in Stuttgart.

After college, I taught English in Magdeburg. In grad school I studied at the Goethe Institute in Murnau, interned with a study abroad program in Freiburg, and conducted dissertation research in Mayen. In-between stints living abroad, I traveled all over Europe, and then later the US, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Germany is where I discovered many of my “loves.” In Hamburg, I became fascinated with the process of learning a new language and culture. In Magdeburg, I discovered my love for teaching.

While interning with a study abroad program in Freiburg, I taught a German class to undergrads who were spending the year attending the local university. Teaching undergrads how to find their voice in a new language and culture solidified my passion for helping travelers and expats through the transitions inherent in traveling abroad and returning home (and then, as it often happens, going abroad again, and again, and again).

I started creating workshops for study abroad students while in grad school, and then got a job helping teachers from around the world adjust to living and teaching in the US.

I also began consulting for international education organizations, speaking at conferences in the US and abroad, giving workshops around the world, and doing some coaching here and there.

In 2011 I started Small Planet Studio by offering professional development teleclasses for colleagues in my field. I now offer a range of classes and coaching services for travelers, expats, and students who want to re-launch themselves into their next great thing.

When not working on Small Planet Studio, I teach intercultural education and run a service-learning program at UNC-CH, create intercultural education programs for education organizations, blog at TrekDek.com, and serve on the Board of Directors for the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR-USA).

Thanks for reading. I’m glad you’re here!

Here’s my contact information – I’d love to hear from you:

Cate Brubaker, PhD
smallplanetstudio@gmail.com
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About Small Planet Studio

Small Planet Studio offers practical resources to re-launch yourself into your next great thing after being abroad.

My re-entry philosophy is based on 3 ideas:

1. Re-entry is a gift. But it doesn’t open itself.
2. Re-Entry isn’t about re-adjusting to being back home. It’s about re-launching yourself into your next great thing. Every time you go “home.”
3. We learn, grow, and re-launch better together than alone.

Whether you’re going through it for the first time or are an old pro, plan to stay home or go abroad again, returned yesterday or 10 years ago, you’ll find practical advice and inspiration on the blog, in the podcast, and in events and classes to support you in every stage of your re-launch.

Contributors

One of the things I love about Small Planet Studio is that I get to collaborate with awesome people. Above you see just some of Small Planet Studio’s faculty, podcast and video interviewees, and guest posters.

I’d also like to introduce you to Carrie Niesen, Small Planet Studio’s first intern. Carrie teaches communication courses at Winona State University, and is working with me on SPS’s 2013 Re-Entry Reality event.

Will You Join Our Community?

If you’ve been abroad, this is your community. Join and you’ll get instant access to:

• A 23-page excerpt from my forthcoming Re-Entry Reality: Your Guide to Re-Launching Yourself After Being Abroad e-book
• The Post, a once-a-month community newsletter
• Member updates, discounts, and freebies
• Advanced notice and priority access to all SPS events
• A welcoming community of like-minded world travelers
• Instant access to 6 sixty-minute teleclasses

Just enter your email below and you’re in! Your information is safe with me. I won’t share it with anyone, ever.