Author: Katrina Hannan

In Greenheart Travel’s ongoing blog series on how travel experiences change our lives, boost our careers and develop our leadership qualities, we are thrilled to share Pola Henderson’s insight into how she has made travel an integral part of her profession. Founder of Jetting Around and JAMedia, Pola is no stranger to getting out of her comfort zone and connecting with people in countries and cultures around the world.

A 2013 Greenheart Travel Correspondent Scholarship winner, and alumni volunteer at our project in Ecuador, Pola has been an important member of the Greenheart Travel family. Read on to learn how she has made her passion for exploring new places an integral part of her career.

What First Inspired You to Explore the World and What Travels Made the Greatest Impact on You?

I credit my parents with making me curious about the world. We traveled a lot as a family when I was little – due to dad’s engineering job – and I got to visit places that couldn’t have been more different from home. My first trip was to the Middle East when I was three, followed by several extended stays in North Africa.

Those early experiences, as well as moving from Europe to the US after college, have without a doubt influenced me. I love learning languages, trying all sort of cuisines, connecting with people around the world. My group of friends on and offline is very diverse.

As a successful travel blogger and with your recent launch of JAMedia, do you have any advice for anyone pursuing their dreams of travel but worried about their careers?

Don’t be afraid of change. I switched my career path twice before I realized what I wanted to do with my life. But if you’re going to travel extensively or try freelancing, make sure to have some money in the bank. Jetting Around started as a hobby when I had a full-time job. I traveled and blogged whenever it was possible.

How important do you feel experiencing another culture and country is to overall personal and career development?

Very! We live in an increasingly global community, and smart employers will recognize that hiring well-traveled professionals can benefit their companies. As far as personal development, I believe that we truly grow when we are exposed to people, ideas, and situations that differ from our home environment.

How have your experiences in a new country or culture helped you overcome challenges that come with being and entrepreneur?

Travel has taught me patience and that things don’t always go as planned. If plan A doesn’t work out, you need to come up with plan B and keep going. There is no crying in business (unless, of course, nobody is watching…).

Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you to get out of your comfort zone and pursue your goals?

Now is the time. We don’t know what the future holds or how long we’ll be around. If you are passionate about something – go for it, make it a part of your life, and enjoy the benefits.

One of my biggest regrets is not learning French when I had the chance, i.e. when I lived in Algeria as a teenager and went to a French language school. We had to leave the country when the Civil War broke out, then my French education stopped. Little did I know that I’d want to live in Paris years later… After a recent stay, I’ve made an effort to study French almost every day – and this time I’m not quitting.

If a student wasn’t sure about taking the time to study abroad or take a gap year, what would you tell them?

If you wait to travel until you retire, you’ll miss out on so many experiences! And from a career standpoint, travel – especially international travel – helps you develop or improve a number of skills that are sought-after in the workplace: communication, creative thinking, problem solving, adaptability to change. And who knows, maybe traveling will inspire you to start your own company or nonprofit organization?
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Pola Henderson is the founder of Jetting Around, a blog dedicated to city travel. Her writing and photography has been published on CNN, Yahoo, and Expedia, among other outlets. Pola grew up in Krakow, lived in North Africa, and has called Chicago home since 2002. In addition to writing, she hosts a weekly city travel discussion on Twitter called #JAchat and international networking events for travelers, JA Café: Travel Talk Over Coffee. She is also the owner of a communications company JA Media.

 

Pola Henderson is our Greenheart Travel Scholarship winner who is participating on a volunteer program in Ecuador. She also has her own travel blog site: JettingAround. Check out her video on our YouTube channel.

 

I came to Ecuador just over a week before the start of my volunteer program. Even though I would spend three weeks near Quito, I knew that there wouldn’t be much time to visit other places. And from what I’d heard about the country, there was a lot to see: colonial towns, volcanoes, rain forests.

It was the right choice. Exploring Ecuador not only turned out to be one of my favorite travel experiences with lots of “firsts” (first time zip lining, first time bridge jumping, first time in the jungle), but also eased me into the program. By the time it had started, I was familiar with local food, Ecuadorian Spanish, and how to take public transportation. There wasn’t much adjusting to do on Day 1. I was ready to work.

First impressions

Landing in Quito was not for the faint of heart. Due to the mountainous setting and winds in the valley, the plane swang and tilted upon descent. But the views outside made me forget all about it – I couldn’t wait to see the colonial city center and hike the Pichincha volcano on the west side of the city.

I had been to several old towns in the Americas, but none of them were as large as Quito’s. It’s very well-preserved and in 1978 was the first area to be named a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site (coincidentally, along with my hometown Krakow). I had a hard time putting the camera down, as every intersection and plaza looked like they were there to be photographed.

Ecuadorian cuisine quickly became one of my favorites. As a vegetarian, I’ve had no problems finding things to eat, and everything tastes fresh. I’ve been eating lots of rice, beans, avocados, and plantains, and drinking all sorts of fruit juice. Some of my discoveries: guanábana (soursop) and tomate de árbol (“tree tomato”). This country has been keeping me quite healthy…

And then there are people. They have been very friendly towards me – not only my host family and people I’ve been working with – but strangers: cab drivers, shopkeepers, hotel workers. They’ve made it easy for me to feel comfortable and welcome.

The host family

I’m staying in Lumbisí, a native community about 30 minutes east of Quito. My hosts are a married couple who have four adult children (one of them lives in their house and the rest nearby). Clara is a homemaker and takes care of farm animals, her husband Espiritu runs a carpentry business, and their youngest son Braulio is studying to be an electrician. I have also met other members of the family, including their children, grandchildren, and nephews.

We eat together in the dining room three times a day. Most of the time it’s me, Clara and Espiritu, but we have been joined by others several times. Each meal is an occasion to share stories: about our families, daily life, and the culture of the United States, Ecuador, and my native Poland. One topic that keeps coming up is the 2014 World Cup, as we are all soccer fans, plus Ecuador has a chance to qualify (good luck!).

The experience

There are two reasons I chose to come to Ecuador: I am fond of South America, having previously visited Uruguay and Argentina, and I wanted to brush up on my Spanish. So far, it’s been going well.

Interacting with the host family allows me to practice both listening and speaking skills. At times it takes an effort, because everyone is accustomed to speaking at their natural pace (i.e. faster than classroom Spanish), but it’s exactly the kind of challenge I was hoping for. And working at a day care center has improved my knowledge of… imperatives. Plus, I’ve learned some words that I didn’t even know in my first language (what’s Polish for colchonetas*?).  

Thanks to being familiar with Latin America, not much has come as a surprise to me in Ecuador. But I did have to learn to aggressively push my way through the crowd in order to get on and off trolleys in Quito (a common practice), and I’ve noticed that local septic systems can’t always handle toilet paper (you are encouraged to dispose of it in a garbage can). On a positive note, Ecuador’s official currency is US dollar, which means no hassle to exchange money.

*foldable mattresses/lounge chairs for children to play and sleep on

Next post: Settling into My Volunteer Project