Author: Janna Elwell

In honor of Mother’s Day, Greenheart Travel wanted to highlight some of the amazing host mother relationships our participants have developed during their travels. When living abroad, some of the most memorable and life-changing experiences happen while getting to know our host families. We are excited to share a few of our participants’ stories and wish all the wonderful mom’s supporting cultural exchange a very happy Mother’s Day!

Andrea Higgins – Greenheart Travel Teach in Italy alumnus

It’s a scary thought to embark on a journey to live in a new place for an extended period of time. That scary thought was immediately pacified when I met my host mother, Marilena. During my time in Italy, Marilena took me under her wing and ensured that I always felt apart of the family. She always included me in family discussions, invited me to have coffee with her and her friends (although she knew I hated coffee), we talked about my boy problems, she did my laundry, helped me with my lessons, arranged for me to see a doctor when I was sick, and even planned a trip for her and the family to come and visit me in New York. I never once felt foreign when I was with her and it made Italy feel like home sweet home. I will be forever grateful for everything that her and family has done for me and she will always hold a place dear to my heart. Happy Mother’s Day, Marilena!

 

Kirin Taylor, Greenheart Travel High School Student in Austria alumnus

I love my host mother, because although she is not a replacement mother, she gives me the support, the love, and the care that my real mother would. She has done everything possible to make me a part of her family. She cares for me and shows it, I can go to her for advice, help, or just lovely conversation, and often feel inclined to do so.

 

Michelle Gilman, Greenheart Travel English Teacher in Colombia alumnus

When picturing my life abroad in Colombia, as I set out for a new adventure in teaching English just six months ago, that image probably wouldn’t have me living with a host family. At first, it was a place to get settled in Duitama until I found a place of my own. Now almost four months later, she and her family have gone above and beyond in providing me with a home away from home. In honor of Mother’s Day, Alba (my host mom) deserves all the recognition her loved ones will extend. Living in Colombia has allowed me to witness the sincere passion that those who were born and raised here hold in all aspects of their life. In my own South American experience, I have not seen this to be more true with any one other person. Alba dedicates her every second to developing the level of English in this city. She even went as far as to open her own language institute here, which has proven to be extremely successful with very skilled foreign and local teachers. Whether the two of us are leading a 9th grade class at Guillermo Leon Valencia, or swapping recipes in the kitchen at home, her brain is always tuned to the theme of English. Thanks to Alba’s desire to open her home to foreigners (and I am not the first), Paulita has been able to get an early glimpse of interacting with people from all around the world, feeding her future wanderlust, while also practicing daily with fluent English speakers. Of course I can’t forget to shout my crazy mom who passed down these adventure-seeking genes I am constantly thanking. A todas de las mamas! Muchísima felizidad y alegría a ustedes.

 

Veronica Pantaleon, Greenheart Travel Teach in Italy alumnus

My host mom taught me how to make pasta from scratch. She’s an amazing cook and Italian food is something she really wanted to share with me since it’s so important to Italian culture.

Greenheart Travel’s mission is to change lives, advance careers and create leaders through meaningful cultural exchange experiences. While it is easy to discuss the life-changing effects traveling abroad has had on each of us personally, we shouldn’t underestimate the power travel has in landing our dream jobs and fostering leadership skills.

To help us discuss the importance of travel, we interviewed Cara Miller Brytan, Study Abroad Advisor at DePaul University who kindly shared her expertise and passion for travel as an important tool in personal, academic and career development. Read our interview below.

Q: As a study abroad advisor, what are some of the biggest questions you get from students about studying abroad? 

I think the biggest challenge for many students is the issue of cost. For many students, study abroad seems out of reach due to limited financial resources and the already expensive price tag of a college education. Study abroad is still seen as a luxury, whereas I see it as a necessity in an increasingly globalized world.

To soothe students, I tell them my story. I tell them that study abroad does not have to be expensive. There are many grants and scholarships out there to help them make their dreams happen. Students just have to hunt for those funds.

It is a good idea for students to talk with their financial aid counselors at their institutions to find out what kinds of resources are available to them. Funding a study abroad experience is getting even easier with crowd-funding sites like gofundme.com, where you can get your social or religious communities involved in helping to make your international study experience a reality.

Put fear aside, make it happen. If I can do it with limited time and limited money, then so can you!

Q: How important do you feel experiencing another culture is to landing a job and overall career development after graduation?

Experiencing another culture, learning a second or third language and exploring other countries are totally key in developing transferrable professional skills and landing a position in your desired career field. For one thing, studying abroad teaches you solid skills such as enhanced problem-solving, critical thinking, improved inter-cultural and interpersonal communication skills, foreign language proficiency, ability to tolerate ambiguity, expanded cultural awareness and appreciation, and adaptation to new and changing environments.

These skills and abilities are highly sought after and serve as relevant professional development outcomes. Secondly, only less than 10% of American college graduates have studied abroad.  Can you imagine how that would boost your chances of landing the job you want as a result of having lived and studied abroad, which makes you part of that ten percent?

Study abroad is very important to career goals as well as overall earned income in a lifetime. Did you know that individuals who study abroad earn $7,000 more on average than their peers who did not study abroad?  I cannot emphasize this enough: Study abroad is important and necessary. Period.

Listen to Cara talk about how important traveling was to her life and career:

Q: Do you have any tips for how students can approach their advisors about traveling abroad?

Yes—I recommend that students ask lots of questions and gather information early. There are these myths that you have to study abroad as a junior and that studying abroad will delay graduation. This simply is not true!

I recommend that students start preparing as soon as they arrive on campus to take advantage of short-term study abroad programming during their freshman year if possible and again, for a term-long international study experience in their sophomore year.

Studying abroad early can help you fit study abroad classes into your academic plan more easily. Study abroad students are also able to graduate on-time, and often with higher GPA’s than their peers.

Things to consider when planning for a study abroad experience include:

• understanding how to select a program that is a good fit for you (academically, logistically and financially)
• knowing what you want to get out of your study abroad experience and identifying your goals
• how much time do you want to spend abroad (short-term, term long)
• the degree of immersion you would prefer to experience
• types of accommodations and housing offered
• the extent of on-site support and balanced independence
• options for internships or service-learning opportunities
• the courses offered on the program
• the cost of the program (what it includes and does not include; the cost of living in that place; any financial resources, grants and scholarships that may apply to the program, etc.)
• personal considerations like health and well-being; prepare for medical needs while on program

Q: If a student wasn’t sure about taking the time to study abroad, what would you tell them to persuade them to go for it?

My simple answer: Do it.

Why not?  I have never had a student return from study abroad and say that they should have come back sooner—quite the opposite. My students come back from a three-month program and tell me that they wish they had stayed overseas for a whole year or even longer.

Q: What first inspired you to have the courage to explore the world?

My heritage and the desire to explore the beginnings of my family origin was the most pressing motivator for me to leave the United States for the first time. Growing up a poor kid on the south side of Chicago, I did not think that it would ever be possible for me to travel. Thankfully through grants and scholarships, I was able to apply for my study abroad program at DePaul University, to Alliance Francaise in Paris in the Spring of 2003. Little did I know that this experience would change my life forever and set me on course towards a new and tremendously fulfilling career path in the field of international education.

The travels that followed were likely a direct result of wanderlust or as some folks call it, “catching the travel bug”. Since that first experience in Paris, I have been fortunate to visit more cities in France, as well as Australia, Spain, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

I think the experiences that have made the most impact on me are ones that I have shared with others. My best memories for example, come from when I traveled with ten of the most intelligent and inspiring youth from all across the U.S. and Poland, as a Group Leader for EIL – The Experiment in International Living. As part of the Art and Adventure in Provence program, a six-week outdoor experiential learning program in the south of France and Northern Spain, we explored amazing places like Seguret, Vaison La Romaine, Moustiers Sante Marie, Nice, Collioure, and more. Together, we hiked near lavender fields in Buoux; we kayaked in the waters of the Gorges du Verdon; we rode horses in Camargue National Park; we dined at Café Van Gogh in Arles; and we painted in Perpignan and Figueres where Salvador Dali found inspiration. It was magical.

More importantly, we bonded as a group—each individual starting out as strangers to one another, slowly developing a deeper understanding of how our lives had intersected in this time and place and how we found significant meaning in these experiences traveling with one another.

I still keep in touch with this group of students and it is wonderful to see them continue to explore the world and travel to new and exciting places. And I am very excited to lead my next group of freshman in the summer of 2015, to Rome and Assisi to understand St. Francis as a social change agent and engage in a pilgrimage of peace for the First Year Abroad Italy program with DePaul University. I am certain that this program will also make quite an impact in my life.

Q: Do you have any first-hand experiences where your personal travel experiences have helped you get a job or clarify your career path? 

Yes actually, I have had personal travel inform and lead to a professional position which positively impacted my career path. I guess I will tell that story (bear with me!)…My good friend Kristin decided to quit her job as a web developer and take a year to travel around the globe. With lots of enthusiasm and little resistance on my part, she convinced me to help her start her trip by traveling to Melbourne and Sydney in Australia. The plan was for me to travel with her for the first two weeks while she worked up the nerve to travel on her own for the rest of her 9-month world tour. Together we explored rural and urban areas, watching for koalas and kangaroos, eating sausage rolls and meat pies, and attending Australian Rules Footy games in St. Kilda (which is a fascinating game to watch! I recommend it to everyone!)

In our short time there, we met a number of friendly internationals—many folks from China, India, and Korea who were studying at university there. I was fascinated by this and what I did not yet know was that a seed had been planted.

At SIT Graduate Institute, I began working on my Master’s for Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management and I was still so fascinated by my experience in Australia that I decided to do research about the Australian higher education system and why it seemed to attract so many international students. For my capstone project, I composed a paper on examining the relationship between higher education institutions in the United States and Australia in terms of recruiting international students and the lessons we could learn from them.

In order to complete my Master’s program, I was tasked to complete a minimum of six months in the field of international education, which is a strength of SIT Graduate institute in terms of partnering theory and practice in your chosen field. As luck would have it, I found a research internship in the education policy wing of AEI – Australian Education International, located within the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C. I was hired as a result of my previous experience as a Chicago Public School teacher, proficiency in research and cross-referencing skills, and because of my sincere love and passionate interest in Australia. The fact that I had traveled there and knew some of the common colloquialisms really helped me to develop rapport with the Deputy Director at my interview. By the end of the interview, they called me an “honorary Aussie” and I was hired! So I worked at the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C. before changing roles and eventually serving as Passports and Public Diplomacy Officer at the Australian Consulate in downtown Chicago. It was a really fantastic experience and it really propelled me forward in my career.

Now I serve as a Study Abroad Advisor at DePaul University, so I could not be happier continuing to inspire others to study, volunteer, work or engage in community service opportunities abroad. It really can be transformational and affect your life in ways you never dreamed possible.

Q: What destinations do you have on your travel bucket list?

Great question! I really want to travel to Argentina, Ireland, Hong Kong, Morocco and India. Those are next on my list, but in no particular order. My goal is to travel once a year if possible, so whenever I want to buy a hot chocolate at Starbucks, I simply stash it in a travel fund that I keep instead!

Q: Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you to get out of your comfort zone and go after their travel dreams?

Yes, I have two actually:

1. “It does not matter where you go and what you study, what matters most is what you share with yourself and the world.” ~ Santosh Kalwar
2. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” ~Nelson Mandela

Q: Any other additional tips you have for your students that you share on a regular basis?

I tell students to embrace discomfort and stretch themselves. We grow the most when we challenge ourselves. I often say that the meaning of life is to find meaning in life. I can’t think of a better way to do that, than to study abroad.

 

What questions do you have for Cara about studying abroad or taking a gap year in high school or college? Comment below!

 

 

 

Today we are celebrating International Women’s Day, honoring the incredible efforts of women from around the world who have worked tirelessly for recognition and equality. In tandem with this special day, Youtube launched their #DearMe initiative to foster a positive community supporting young girls to realize their self-worth. What would you tell your younger self if you could? What advice do you wish you would have been told that might have changed everything?

I asked my colleagues at Greenheart Travel to share their #DearMe words of wisdom to not only reflect on how far we have grown as women, but to inspire the younger generations of explorers and leaders to realize that each of us deserves to follow our hearts. Here are a few of their messages:

#DearMe,

Your favorite memories and experiences in life are going to be the ones completely unexpected and caught off guard. You’ll be much better off if you learn to just go with the flow and take life as it comes. You cannot choose what happens to you, but you can choose how to respond. – Shannon Shroeder, Greenheart Travel Intern

 

 

 

#DearMe,

You’ve always been worried about that plan. It’s your type A personality coming out. But it’s ok not to know. You don’t have to worry about “your future” every day, and you certainly shouldn’t let other people’s concerns about “your plan” get you down. Don’t spend so much time concerned about where you are going in life, and just let your feelings guide you. You will figure it out. That’s how life goes, and you’ve been blessed with good luck. You are resourceful, smart and creative. You don’t have to worry about “your plan” because you’re already living it. Your plan is no plan and that is ok. Don’t hold yourself back because you think it will look bad on your resume or that your parents won’t like it. Do what feels good for you and don’t be afraid to discover new options. You can try new things and not feel guilty about it! Life isn’t always about knowing, sometimes it’s just about doing and exploring. Just remember, #worryless #exploremore. – Megan Arzbaecher, Project Manager

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#DearMe,

Please, please, please know you are amazing, courageous, and deserve to go after every dream in your heart. You are not defined by the people who say they do or do not like or even love you. Failure is not the end of the world, it is just another step toward a goal and the best stories you will tell, the ones that are the most interesting, will be the ones that inevitably involved unexpected mishaps but lead to a deeper understanding of the world. One more thing. People pleasing and putting aside your own dreams might seem easier at the time, but will lead to high blood pressure later. Teach people how you should be treated. Which is to say, you deserve to be treated like a queen.  – Jill Robinson, Marketing Manager

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#DearMe

You’re thinking that moving to Korea is going to be a piece of cake, but culture shock affects even the most seasoned travelers, when you least expect it. Don’t let the culture shock hurt your pride. You’re going to struggle and want to come home for quite a while at first, but I promise if you stick it out it will be 100% worth it. – Sara Dorsey, Teach Abroad Programs Senior Manager 

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#DearMe,

Remember that nothing is more powerful in this world than an education. Malala Yousafzai, who will one day become the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate will say, “One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen, can change the world.” Malala represents women around the world who are fighting for their right to an education. You have been handed this privilege at no cost. Embrace it as a gift and use it to create positive change in the world. – Molly Fried, Outreach Coordinator

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#DearMe,

You are luckier than you realize. Your “people” are out there – do not lose yourself in others that do not align with your core self. Don’t let anything distract you from your dream of living abroad, or life, love, and jobs will get in the way. Continue on with your passion for the world, and everything will align! – Lauren Bauer, Greenheart Travel Director, Teach and Work Programs

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When young girls are supported and applauded for courage, independence and their unique talents, a ripple effect of understanding and peace is put into motion. There will not be peace and understanding in a world where only half of the decision makers are at the table, and I can’t think of a better opportunity for empowerment for anyone, men or women, than traveling.

Finding the strength to take the leap and follow your personal dreams can be tough, even terrifying. Not only do you have to battle your own inner critic, often there is a outcry from those that are supposed to love you most who feel it necessary to crush your personal pursuits with “what if’s” and cynicism. But this is important. This is your heart talking. This is about owning your incredible gifts and talents!

In honor of International Women’s Day and the #DearMe campaign, we hope that you feel a bit more empowered today, a lot more compassionate toward yourself and are inspired to be a part of a supportive community that builds each other up to go after our life’s dreams.

What would you tell your younger self if you had a chance? Comment below!

Explaining how your yearlong teaching stint in Thailand, or your three month volunteer experience in Peru makes you the best candidate for a new job can feel a bit daunting. Fortunately, you can use travel experiences to your advantage to stand out on an interview and nail that job interview with flying colors, even when your new job has nothing to do with teaching English or working with animals in the Amazon jungle. Here’s how:

1. Explain Your Initial Goals for Studying or Traveling Abroad

Assuming that your intention to travel wasn’t limited to attending an epic full moon party in Thailand, sharing your goals for taking a gap year or career break can provide great insight into your potential as an employee. The important component to this tactic is providing concrete examples of successfully achieving those goals. To really use your travels to stand out as an applicant you will need to be able to summarize your teaching experience in an Italian classroom or your responsibilities as a volunteer abroad. These stories highlight that not only do you have a global perspective, but you are able to take initiative and are motivated to following through on your goals.

2. Use Travel to Illustrate Your Important “Soft Skills”

What soft skills have you gained during your time abroad that will make you a perfect fit for the position? Navigating through a daily routine in a foreign language, adapting to new environments, and overcoming challenges while maintaining a positive outlook are all ways you can demonstrate to your potential employer that you possess skills that make you a team player as well as a good fit for the company.

3. Give Specific Examples of Meaningful Travel Experiences that Relate to the Job

It is one thing to tell your interviewer that studying abroad in Spain changed your life, but it is another to be able to offer a specific example of a travel experience that shaped your career development. Research the organization and get familiar with their mission statement. Did you volunteer while you were abroad or take any classes that gave you an international perspective on a topic that relates to your potential work? Practice articulating this experience and its meaning in a clear and concise way. Check out this article for more insight on how to talk about your travels to answer these popular interview questions.

 

A gap year or career break doesn’t have to be a source of stress on your next job interview. By using these simple strategies, you will stand out as a potential employee and advance your career through your travel adventures.

How have you used your travel experiences to land your dream job? Share your tips below!

January offers us the clean slate of possibilities for the new year, but our resolutions for 2015 don’t have to be another list we discard by mid-February. If you are passionate about your dreams for traveling abroad, don’t let life overrun your enthusiasm.

Here are a few tips to help make this year your most adventurous yet!

1. Outline Your Goals

What experience(s) are you really serious about having in the months ahead?Create a concise list of what you are ready to commit to in the next 12 months, and put it where you can see it on a regular basis. Being able to articulate your intentions is the first step to understanding how you can achieve your goals.

2. Understand What Experiences You are After 

It’s one thing to write “I Will Travel to Thailand in March,” but it’s another to have a sense of why you want to embark on this adventure. Having a positive physical and emotional attachment to this goal will help make it easier to stick to your plan when you are debating on buying a new sweater versus saving for a flight. How do you want this experience to effect you? Being able to summon the feeling of helping a student have an “aha” moment, or visualizing a sense of awe at exploring a new place will get you through the tough times.

3. Get some support

Surround yourself with people that are cheerleaders for your success. Let your friends and family know that you might not be going out as because you’re saving up for traveling. Talk with people that have had similar experiences, avoid the naysayers, join one of our Greenheart Travel Facebook groups. When people are aware of your goals, they can help you stay accountable.

This is your year to make your travel goals happen, and we’re here to cheer you on along the way!

What are your tips for sticking with a travel plan? Comment below!

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? This is the question I would ask myself while writing answers in pages of journals scribbled in different colored ink. It took me a long time to realize that this unassuming word “if” held a weight that was influencing my entire future. Such a small word, an exhale really, was deciding that I couldn’t possibly go on these grand adventures, they were “ifs.”

IF means I would never be able to afford to see, smell and touch places featured in the travel magazines I devoured each month. These destinations were already out of my reach because I had already decided subconsciously that they were unattainable goals.

If I could go anywhere in the world was strictly a hypothetical question. I had bills to pay, college classes to complete, a career and internship to consider, and the excuses went on and on and on.

Until I decided to change that little word “IF” to WHEN and then eventually I WILL.

Try it out.

Doesn’t it feel amazingly satisfying to say “I WILL travel and explore. I WILL quit my 9-5 and see the world. I WILL make an impact by following my dreams.”

Do you see? You have just set the scheme in motion.  You have changed your mindset to take control of your future. After all, if you truly want something, if you are passionate about exploring and experiencing a new country and culture, you will do what it takes to get there. The most difficult part of this journey is believing that you will commit.

Right now – not tomorrow or next month – we need to stop making excuses for why we’re not pursuing what we love, whether that is traveling, going back to school, learning a new language, whatever makes your heart sing.

When you empower yourself to follow your dreams, you are inspiring and empowering others to do the same, and your adventure starts once you believe it will. This is your chance to join a community of globetrotters that will change the world for the better. Be a part of this movement of understanding and tolerance and go someplace you have never been.

Where will you find yourself in the year ahead? Tell us below!

 

photo courtesy of Nicolas Raymond

Travel is more than just arriving at a destination…

It’s the rush of blood to the cheeks after clicking “Purchase,”  and the restless nights wondering: “Who will I tell first? How will I pay for this flight? How will I afford rent when I come back?” Inhaling the smell of new glossy guidebooks, the images making you giddy with excitment. Fumbling with foreign sounds as you stare awkwardly into a mirror practicing ‘Thank you’ and ‘Where is the bathroom?’ in a new language.

It’s the stress of putting in your two weeks notice, the thrill of a chapter closing and another fluttering open. The panic that explodes when you don’t know where you placed your passport. The ache of saying good bye, the surge of anxiety in the airport as you wait alone drinking an over-priced Starbucks coffee. The mental standing ovation you give yourself as you take your window seat with your backpack shoved in the overhead compartment without any objections.

It’s the goosebumps that prickle your arms when you step outside of the airport understanding almost nothing being said. The smile from a stranger that sets you at ease. The frustration of not knowing how to ask for a clean towel in your new host family home. The belly laugh of relief in a common understanding of a simple joke you probably would’ve never laughed at with your friends back home.

It’s the strength that rises as you start creating a daily routine in your new city. Grocery shopping is an exciting adventure. Triumph at your first full conversation in a second language with someone your age who offers to buy you a beer.

It’s pages of reflections and clarity as you journal about your travels. The moment when you look across the horizon after a long run and realize this what it feels like to fall in love. It is the journey, the adventure of exploring this new place, the confusion, the confidence, the stumbling and strutting that makes your heart pound. This is why we travel.

 

Tell us why you travel! @greenhrttravel  #iwilltravel or comment below!

“I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”   – Robert Frost 

Even for those of us not embracing the new beginnings of high school or college, there is a sense of nostalgia during this time of year. It’s also a wonderful time to be reminded of a few bits of advice to help us to always move toward our full potential, no matter where we find ourselves in life.

1. We Always Have a Choice

These choices might seem limited at times, but never, ever forget that we always have the ability to choose to live a life that brings us fulfillment. The road isn’t always easy or clearly visible, but once we stop being intentional about our education, our career, and our life’s passions, we can be sure that someone else will swoop in to impose their choices upon us. We must empower ourselves and remember there truly is magic is being able to say “yes” or “no” when it comes from the heart.

2. Traveling is an Essential Part of Our Life Education

No other time in our life will we have this much “flexibility” to explore. This doesn’t mean that it’s unthinkable to take a career gap 10 years from now, but if we are traveling with a purpose, and learning about who we are and what we want to become, we will only increase our chances of getting into that school or landing that perfect job. Traveling doesn’t have to be a choice between being a wandering backpacker and having a successful career . Exploring new countries and cultures can be a WAY of life, and one that is becoming more necessary. Become a global leader and learn more about the world in that three months of traveling abroad than any college course could offer.

3. Don’t Fear Mistakes

Being afraid of making the wrong decision is like constantly playing defense during a basketball game. Go on the offensive, choose to teach English abroad for a year to gain incredible career experience, take a few weeks to learn French and show off that sense of initiative in a job interview, visit new places and boost that creativity. Yes, we might occasionally find ourselves frustrated with living in the unknown, but when we begin a cycle of never wanting to make a mistake, we start limiting ourselves. Don’t fear life, embrace it.

We are leaders, change-makers and global citizens, and we should never underestimate the positive ripple effect we can create by expanding our world view and following our dreams.

What adventures are you ready to put into action? Share them below.

There are moments when the point between daydreaming of travel and making it a reality can seem a bit spontaneous, but sometimes the adventures that have seemed less-than-thought-out can be the most amazing and transformative. A few of us at Greenheart Travel can attest to experiences that involved booking a trip without thinking it through, being irresponsible with money and credit cards to make a travel plan work out, and various other motivators (i.e. pints of beer) for how we decided to take the leap and commit to a trip.

There are times when it’s best not to over think an epic adventure and we hope that our stories below inspire you to follow your gut and take the leap on your future travels!

 

Scotland? Sure, Why Not?

When I decided to work abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland after I graduated, it was while I was on the phone with my friend, head hanging upside down over my bed, feeling a bit lost about my post-college career. Traveling abroad sounded a whole lot better than job interviews, and when the travel plan was proposed I didn’t focus on much beyond my love for the scenes in Braveheart and Scottish accents. I had agreed to the adventure with the same type of nonchalance as I would with someone offering me a shot of tequila. “Sure. Sounds like a good idea.”

In hindsight, I cringe at the lack of research and preparation I did for my work program. Although, it was the best way for me to go about working abroad in a foreign country. I didn’t have a whole lot of time to over-think everything that could go wrong, how much money I didn’t have in my account, how this could negatively affect my chances at an internship when I returned home, and on and on. I tend to go to the dark side when given too much time to analyze a possible adventure.

I have to give credit to my parents for not throwing a fit when I announced I had booked my one-way-flight to Scotland, without a place to live OR a job. My bank account didn’t have enough money for me to last long without work, and my credit card spending limit was laughable at best. I figured that if I had lived on $600 in London for a few months (another NOT thought-out travel plan I took the year before), Edinburgh would be a breeze.

And while I would by lying if I said it was easy and problem free when I arrived, that there were no times when I went without a meal or two, no cases of bed bugs in hostels while I searched for a flat, or no sketchy living arrangements along the way, I can say with a flutter in my heart that it was BY FAR THE GREATEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. To this day, I feel like I’m chasing that feeling of arriving in Edinburgh without a clue of what was next after stepping off that bus, but knowing I was exactly where I was supposed to be in that moment.

– Jill Robinson, Marketing Manager

 

Who Needs Money to Start the New Year in Thailand?

I had been teaching in Thailand for 1 month when I found out my school was giving us 10 full days off for New Year’s vacation. Teaching had been more stressful than I had anticipated so I was pretty pumped to get some time away from the classroom. My roommate and I, along with our other teacher friends who were sprinkled around the country, decided to meet down south to do the tourist thing on the islands. My roomie and I were still unsure of the way our school did paychecks because we had only been paid once before, and that money didn’t show up in our bank accounts until about a week and-a-half later than we were told it would. So, being the smart person I am, by the time I left my apartment for the airport, I had about $100 USD to my name.

For a 10-day vacation.

That was not paid for in advance.

And there was about a 50/50 chance our direct deposit wouldn’t go through until after we got back.

I just had to cross my fingers and hope that it would work out because I was in Thailand! I had come to the country to explore and experience as much as I could! I already knew what the inside of my apartment looked like and I was not about to sit in it alone while my friends had a blast just because there was a chance I’d have no money. I could sleep outside if I needed to. And who needs food every day? Not this girl.

Before we got in line to check our bags at Don Muang airport, a green ATM caught my eye. I figured it couldn’t hurt to remind myself how much money I didn’t have to go on this vacation I couldn’t afford. I popped my bank card in, selected “Balance Inquiry” and to my delight and complete surprise, I saw all those lovely zeros sitting right there in front of me.

Hell yea! I was 32,000 baht richer and no longer had to worry about stretching my dollars.

However, I proceeded to spend almost that entire paycheck in those 10 days (and had the time of my life doing it) which left me with little to live on for the entire month of January.

It was totally worth it.

– Kara Menini, Greenheart Travel Teach and Work  Programs Manager

 

So I Had a Camel Meat Sandwich

Picture yourself studying abroad during college in London. Spring break is 5 days away, you’ve no plans and you’re at a pub pondering the last minute possibilities. It’s your last spring break of college and you want to make the most of it. You want to do something BIG/CRAZY but its 5 days away, how could you possibly plan for such a thing? That’s the exact situation I was in not too long ago.

There is so much to see in the UK and just across the channel to mainland Europe, but I saw a lot of that already. Remember: BIG and CRAZY were two key words here. I just didn’t exactly have the time to pull together a nomadic excursion in Mongolia. Weighing the options at the pub got me nowhere. The beer was warm and flat anyway. So I left dejected, yet hopeful that a change in scenery might kick-start my thought process.

…And kick-start it did. As I walked to my dorm room, the question running through my head was: where is the closest place I can go where I will feel the furthest away? I opened the door to my room and the key to my answer was staring me straight on. My roommate was an international studies major and a massive map geek. He had them plastered all over the walls; possibilities abounded.

I drew a virtual circle a few inches from London. The outer edges hit Estonia, Iceland, Turkey, Romania… and then… Morocco. Have I ever had any prior interest in Morocco? No. Did I speak French or Arabic? Nope. Had I any idea where I might stay? Not a clue. Why Morocco in particular? *shrug* Now any regular Joe might see the answers to these questions as massive barriers to this trip. The more important questions were: Is this big? Yes. Is this crazy? Most definitely. The answers to these questions broke through the barriers of the former and encouraged me to embrace a bit of ambiguity and spontaneity. On that impulse, I booked my flight to Marrakesh right then and there. The only thing that was certain in my head was that I was bringing my bike.

Fast-forward 5 days and I’ve landed in Marrakesh airport at 9:30pm and am assembling my bike in the baggage claim area. Then, even then, I did not have a clear picture on where I was staying that night. No hostels I could find had online reservations; I merely had a map and a general idea of where they were.

I would love to tell you that this is when I embarked on my trip, with fancy free vibes without any feeling of insecurity whatsoever. This was NOT the case. As I was riding my bike at night out of the airport and towards the city, I had a major holy crap moment. My wide-eyed enthusiasm for spontaneity switched immediately to a sobering realization that I had no clue where I was. The map I had only vaguely matched the actual streets. Street signs, in the rare occasion they existed, were in Arabic and French; two languages, as I mentioned before, I had no familiarity with. I turned down one and came across a group of teenagers having quite a loud argument boarding on a physical fight. Nope. Taking another street. (Did I mention this was at night?)

Eventually, I stumbled upon a group of hostels where I was headed. A man was standing under a sign to one and waived me toward him. When I approached I could see his humongous smile and although I didn’t understand the French he spoke to me, I only assume that he was saying even in the dark streets he pegged me a mile away for a foreigner.

After he helped me store my bike and I got settled into my room, I was a lot calmer. (The mint tea the owner offered helped massively in this regard.) I took some time on the balcony staring out onto the streets and orienting myself on the map as best I could. That night I resolved to snap back into reality. This is big and this is crazy and this is totally foreign. It is exactly what I wanted. I wanted to see the Sahara and it was at this time I began to plan a route. Before I went to sleep a had a 350km trip in mind.

What followed over the next 6 days was one of the most incredible and transformative trips I have ever taken. I saw the start of the Sahara, rode through rocky desert, river valleys lined with lush palm trees, ancient ruins. I summited the snow-capped Atlas Mountains at the Col du Tichka at 2,260m, and whizzed past beautiful orange groves/farm land decending the northern slopes of the Atlas at 50mph. I shopped in souks, had the most amazing oranges I’ve ever tasted, mint tea, coffee, dates, olives, couscous, and tagine. At the end of the trip, I even met a few locals over mint hookah we had a great time speaking broken English and they took me out for their favorite street food: a camel meat sandwich.

This was the perfect cap to my trip. With each salty bite of my sandwich I thought of not only distance, altitude, terrain I conquered, but also the barriers that planning usually bring on. It is an experience that I will look back on forever especially for the life lesson: ask ‘why not’ instead of ‘why’. Embrace a bit of ambiguity and get out there!

– Kyle Trebotich – Director of Greenheart Travel

 

Being Fiscally Responsible vs. London? Duh. London

By the end of my time working in Berlin, I had spent all my savings on electro music festivals, traveling, and late night kebab. I was fast approaching broke, sleeping on a friend’s couch, and living out of a tiny suitcase. Fortunately, the “hipster or homeless?” look was considered cool in my neighborhood because all of my clothes were ripped and I had to wear the same thing every day. So when a friend of mine invited me to crash at her flat in London for a few days, of course, I had to decline. “No, thank you. I can’t afford it because I spent all my money on Radler.”

Just kidding! Obviously, I said yes. London? YES. Instead of creating a plan to get my finances back on track, I was overtaken by the depressing thought of wasting my last opportunity to travel in Europe. I swiftly bought a cheap flight leaving that Friday. The next four days, I walked aimlessly around Hyde Park, East London, and along the Thames, eating out of grocery stores and shamelessly letting boys with cute accents buy me pints.

My dwindling resources were at the back of my mind, but, London! I was in London! When I flew back to the States from Germany a week later, my bank account was dry, but my head was swimming with wonderful memories. I had stretched and squeezed every last bit of adventure from my time abroad.

– Molly Fried, Outreach Coordinator

 

What last minute trips have you taken? What program are you ready to apply for without much time to plan? Comment below and inspire each other to commit to the travel adventure!

We aren’t really ones for cheesy pink hearts and teddy bears here at Greenheart Travel, but with Valentine’s Day (ahem, Single’s Awareness Day), making February’s focus on all types of love, we did get to talking about how much we are passionate about exploring new countries and cultures.

Traveling to some place you’ve never been has all the makings for a love affair. There is the rush and excitement of getting to know a new neighborhood. The butterflies and nerves of learning to communicate with the locals, the bliss of understanding a simple phrase, the frustration of not knowing how to read a menu, the longing of the next adventure, and the moment you want to shout to the world that you have given your heart to travel.

Learn the language of love on a summer language course in France, show your compassion on a volunteer trip with your friends, forever change your academic career on a high school program abroad or find yourself in a long-term relationship with travel when you apply to teach abroad in one of our amazing destinations around the world. We hope that the blogs we feature daily will inspire you act on your passion for exploration, and that instead of trying to subdue your daydreams for the safety of the routine, you get a little reckless this month and embrace that beautiful wanderlust.

“Travel is like love, mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.”Pico Iyer

Tell us how you will fall in love with travel this year! #greenhearttravel

No, seriously! Comment below or tag us in your posts and we’ll respond with an Instagram, Twitter or Facebook high-five!