This week, we were honored to be invited to the White House! Here, the White House convened the most influential travel bloggers for the White House Travel Bloggers Summit on Study Abroad and Global Citizenship. It was extraordinary - and the movement started here will change lives. I'll be posting much more about this (much, much more!). It was spurred by a conversation First Lady Michelle Obama started this spring, on study abroad.

Fulbright-mtvU Fellow Andrew McGill in Malawi. Photo courtesy and copyright US Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs, adapted by Wandering Educators

But for a start, let's look at some of the twitter responses to the query #StudyAbroadBecause. I hope you'll chime in with your own reasons to study abroad - they are as numerous and as individual as the people on this planet! And this glorious hashtag trended - which is a sign that international education is really, really important.

Take a look...

#StudyAbroadBecause you’re not just changing your own life, you are changing the lives of everyone you meet. pic.twitter.com/hqIq3pqTpZ

— The First Lady (@FLOTUS) December 11, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause #travel is learning & life. Just make sure you benefit from lessons learned by others http://t.co/ADoHQl1jET #ttot

— Victoria Smith (@girltrieslife) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause experiences you share with new friends around the world will inspire you and open your heart. pic.twitter.com/xrojryJgFy

— Becca Ramspott (@beccaramspott) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause The U.S. must prepare youth for a global workforce and to become global citizens. http://t.co/SNvG0bf13K

— ABDIstanbul (@ABDIstanbul) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause you don't want to leave college thinking 'what if.'

— Anum Khan (@anumfkhan) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause New people and places challenge you to not only think like a citizen of the world but to become one.

— Courtney M Randolph (@CourtRandolph14) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause It's worth it! “@mashable: White House enlists travel bloggers to get students to study abroad. http://t.co/aiXvT8K9u8”

— Marieke (@Marieeek5) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause you'll learn more about yourself and others in a short period of time. Moreover, languages are the spice of life!

— ERIC THE TRAVELER (@ESUSMX) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause you become an expert at charades. and, you know, eventually talking with peers from throughout the world.

— Kelly Dawson (@kdawsthesecond) December 12, 2014

|| #StudyAbroadBecause you'll make friends for life, and even find a second family to call yours

— Neal Nolan (@CharmInTraining) December 12, 2014

#studyabroadbecause you will return rich, even if you have no money left...

— Barbara Wegman (@BabsSpieringhs) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause you'll learn more about yourself in one semester abroad than you will in a year or more at home. @CLSscholarship

— Alisha Thompson (@alisha_devon) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause it's the best way to live like a local and see the world. You'll find people are so different and so alike!

— Raising Travelers (@RaisingTravelrs) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause there are some lessons you just can't learn in a classroom

#StudyAbroadBecause it stretches your mind, and improves both you and those you meet. #WHTravelBloggers

— Ethical Traveler (@Ethical_Travel) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause Tough to do business with someone from a land who knows far, far more about you, than you them--Thanks, Ángel Cabrera

— Transitions Abroad (@TransAbroad) December 11, 2014

Because my cousin's house in Italy is older than our country, and he was getting snooty about it. #StudyAbroadBecause #WHTravelBloggers

— Geraldine (@everywhereist) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause u meet incredible lifelong friends, experience a culture far different than urs & get to eat amazng food u cant eat n US

— szabbie (@abbieszabo) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause it will teach you independence, compassion, and awareness in a way only travel can.

— Kelly Dawson (@kdawsthesecond) December 12, 2014

@yesprogramnews #StudyAbroadBecause i have one year to be remembered forever. I gave this to my hostfam <3 pic.twitter.com/cMG37SgWGO

— FAM #PSCScrew (@dwikekeke) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause why read about history when you can experience it? pic.twitter.com/SGmXl01nT0

— Trevor Reece (@trevorjreece) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause you can find your passion, meet your best friends, and learn the most about yourself! pic.twitter.com/Gq5YadAGD9

— ESLWriteAway (@ESLWriteAway) December 12, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause... pic.twitter.com/1j4FfinZql

— Loren Lee Diaz (@lorenleediaz) December 11, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause it will help you become a citizen of the world.

— Manja Klemencic (@manjaklemencic) December 11, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause one day you'll have an entire conversation with someone without speaking the same language... and it blows you away.

— Virginia Shaffer (@virginiahs) December 11, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause you'll learn moments and memories are more valuable than possessions

— Caz Craig Makepeace (@yTravelBlog) December 11, 2014

#StudyAbroadBecause It will bring your map to life.

— Travel Blog Exchange (@TBEXevents) December 11, 2014

Why do YOU study abroad?