Greenheart Travel

Category: Teach in a Homestay – Spain

  • My Homestay Spain Experience!

    My Homestay Spain Experience!

    My name is Casia, and I had the opportunity to travel to Madrid in the summer of 2024 on the Greenheart Travel Homestay Spain program.

    My experience was amazing and I am beyond grateful that I had the chance to travel to Spain and meet so many amazing and beautiful people. My host family was by far the highlight of my trip, and I really felt like an important member of not only their nuclear family, but also their extended family. They were kind and caring, and helped me to adapt to the city and find my way around countless museums, train stations, and everywhere throughout Madrid! 

    Everyday Life in Madrid

    Not only is the city and its people beautiful, the food is also delicious and the culture is rich! I made it a point of going to as many museums, galleries, and parks as possible because they are so accessible, with certain days being free to the public for a set amount of time. I was able to travel around with my host family and they educated me on the cultural and historical importance of certain places, which was amazing to hear from the local perspective. Not only did I grow closer to my host family by spending the time with them, but I also became closer to the culture by seeing  its meaning and how locals lived it. 

    Initially, I found the social customs to be quite different from those in the United States. Formal pleasantries, such as greetings and saying excuse me, are valued in the US and I found that was not the case in Spain. Initially I mistook it for rudeness, however the more I learned about the culture, the more I understood that the people simply have their own ways of communicating that differ from those in the United States. Once you get to know someone they can be incredibly loving however, initial interactions might be different from what you’re used to. 

    Cultural Differences

    Another aspect of my trip that I had been worried about was that I had heard that Spain could be unwelcoming to foreigners, more specifically, that there could be a lot of discrimination against people of color. As a woman of color, I was not sure what to expect, however I did not face malicious discrimination or racism the entire 5 weeks I was there. I did realize that perhaps the discrimination and racism that exists in Spain/European countries is not as active and intentional as if it is/can be in the US. The US has discrimination as a prominent and visible part of its history, but many European countries do not, so the idea of discrimination and racism isn’t so prominent and inherently fought against. Due to that, I found there to be more cultural ignorance/insensitivity but not blatant and malicious racism in the way that it is thought about in the US. 

    As someone who has dealt with ignorance, I found myself better equipped to speak with people and educate them on why what they were saying was either offensive or problematic. The people who I spoke with in this way were all respectful and kind, and we were able to converse and understand one another in a compassionate way. This isn’t to suggest that racism and uncompassionate people don’t exist in Spain, they certainly do, however, I found that the idea that the Spanish people are racist isn’t quite true in the same way it is interpreted to those living in the United States. 

    Improvement in Communication Skills

    On a different note, I felt that my non-verbal communication skills improved immensely during my 5 weeks in Spain. While I was able to understand Spanish before traveling there, there were some conversations I would enter without the necessary context, or certain terms specific to Spain that I didn’t know beforehand, and I had to learn how to still communicate, travel, and sometimes assist others without understanding every word of a conversation and by letting non-verbal cues lead me. I believe that this skill is incredibly important, especially in a world in which more and more people speak different languages and need to interact with one another. I became more and more able to understand those around me without really comprehending every word they spoke.

    Overall, the Homestay Spain program was a lovely experience that I will be forever grateful for. I could not have been luckier to be placed with such a beautiful and loving host family, with such a lovely home and space for me! I think if people have the opportunity to push themselves and travel to another country, they undoubtedly should. You learn so much about yourself and the culture around you, which is an invaluable experience that I have grown immensely from! 

    Learn more about Greenheart’s Teach English in a Homestay Spain Program!

  • Two Ways to Make the Most of 90 Days Traveling in Europe on a Budget

    Two Ways to Make the Most of 90 Days Traveling in Europe on a Budget

    Early in my travels, Europe was always the place I dreamt about. If you were to give me one of those “which city are you?” BuzzFeed quizzes that are utterly addicting, I would almost always be the whimsical romantic in the group, receiving Paris as my city time and time again.

    There’s no denying it; that continent has incomparable allure.

    It can also be mind-numbing, especially for anyone like me who is predisposed to obsess over maps and “must-see” lists. However, learn to avoid a few common pitfalls, and your 90 days could be full of unforgettable experiences.

    Fly by the seat of your pants…not your pocketbook

    When I planned my trip, I figured that I could always do it better and cheaper on my own. I only knew about travel agents. I didn’t know about cultural exchange programs, and I certainly didn’t think anything like that would end up saving me money.

    Traveling in Europe or moving there for an extended period comes with all the same costs as living in the U.S. You have to pay for housing, utilities, food, transportation – everything just as you would back home. Even if you stay in hostels your whole trip, you’ll end up paying the same or more than rent each month. And that is one of many reasons why homestay programs are a beautiful thing.

     

    Find the right fit

    First and foremost, you have to be invested in the cultural exchange experience to commit to a homestay. If you’re genuinely interested in experiencing the day-to-day life of your host family, sharing your customs with them and learning about their own, as well as having a lot of independence and personal time to explore, then a homestay might be the right fit for you.

    What’s more, it will cost you far less than trying to live in Europe on your own, whether you’re planning to stay in one place or travel around, and your travel insurance, logistics, vetting of your homestay family, and so much more will be handled for you. Most importantly, you’ll have a unique, quality experience living and learning abroad, like a local.

    Making the most ≠ seeing the most

    A common mistake that travelers make is to try and fit in as many cities as humanly possible. When I planned my five-week trip, I knew that I wanted cushion days where I could just sit in cafes and people watch. Sightseeing is a blast, but it’s also exhausting, and it doesn’t continue to be a blast if you do it day after day after day.

    The key to travel, as with most things in life, is quality over quantity. Give yourself time to absorb each place you visit. You’ll have such a better chance to learn about the culture and history, rather than just memorize the tourist sites, and you’ll return home refreshed and ready to plan your next trip!

     

     

    So, ask yourself why you want to go to Europe so badly? Is your goal to tour the country, or to teach? Is it to learn a new language or experience the culture? Or is it all of the above? Whatever combination you’re looking for, it’s possible. The following two options are just a few of the ways to fit it all in!

    1. Teach English in a Homestay

    If you’re highly independent and itching to spend a chunk of time gallivanting wherever you please, Teach in a Homestay is a good option for you. Greenheart Travel has placements in countries such as France and Spain with one to three-month program options as well as rolling start dates! It’s a highly flexible and cost-effective program to incorporate into your European adventure.

    You’ll spend 15 hours a week teaching your homestay family, allowing you to try out teaching English in a more relaxed setting and see if it’s something you want to pursue. The rest of your time is yours to explore your new home.

     

     

    If you’re looking to get a little bit of everything on your Euro-trip – professional development, cultural immersion, language practice – this is an excellent program to pair with any independent plans you want to make.

    2. Teach English in a Local School

    If you would like more structure to your 90 days and prefer to try teaching English in a school setting as a teacher’s assistant, Teaching English in Italy or France could be your jam. You’ll also gain the experience of a homestay, but you’ll get to go abroad with other Greenheart Travel teachers at the same time (with the same start date!), have the support and community of your school, and the opportunity to travel to destinations all over Europe on the weekends.

    No matter how you decide to spend your days experiencing a new culture, you’ll come back having had a life-changing, one of a kind experience that taught you more about yourself and what you want in life.

  • 8 Reasons to Teach in a Homestay in Europe in the Fall

    8 Reasons to Teach in a Homestay in Europe in the Fall

    Parlez-vous francais? ¿Tú hablas español? 

    Learning a foreign language is essential in today’s world. But learning a language is more than studying from a text book: it’s about immersing yourself in that language and experiencing true cultural exchange, and there is no better time to head abroad than in the Fall! Here are 8 reasons why you should apply for a Greenheart Travel Teach in a Homestay program.

    1.  No summer crowds

    Avoid the herds of tourists, enjoy shorter lines to museums and take advantage of off-season prices at restaurants while exploring in your free time. No lines at the Louvre!?

    2.  Beautiful Weather

    Save yourself from the potential of heatwaves when you arrive in September and October.

    3.  Cheaper Airfare

    Airfare can be more than double in the popular summer months. Sometimes you can score tickets to Europe in the fall for even as low as $500 round trip from the USA.

    4.  Wine Harvest

    Wine grape harvest season in Spain and France along with awesome harvesting festivals!

     5. Good Timing

    It is easier to take time off work in the fall after all of your co-workers have taken their summer vacations! Teach English in a Homestay’s flexible dates make it easy to squeeze in a month when it’s convenient for you. 

    6. Festivals

    Attend awesome beer, food and cultural festivals like Oktoberfest in Germany or the White Truffle Festival in Italy!

    7. Connect with the Locals

    During the summer, many Europeans go on vacation. Visiting in the fall gives you the opportunity to meet local people and truly immerse yourself in a new culture.

    8. Those Changing Leaves!

    Experience the beauty of the leaves changing while in a beautiful new landscape. What is more romantic than wandering in a park halfway across the world as the trees change colors?

    Retiro Park in Madrid, Spain in November
  • Live Like a Local and Save Money in Spain

    Live Like a Local and Save Money in Spain

    Are you looking for affordable ways to stay in Europe? Check out our Teach in a Homestay programs!

    You may be thinking, a volunteer program that requires me to pay a program fee? 

    It’s reasonable to be turned off by the program fee, but the truth is that you just can’t spend an extended period of time in Western Europe for cheap. Rent is high, food is expensive, and as a North American, you aren’t eligible for a visa that will allow you to make any real money working (read more here). The Teach English in a Homestay in Spain program costs $1,710 and allows you to stay in Madrid for up to 3 months. Think you could do it cheaper?

    Let’s break it down. Here are some numbers for you, taken from internet research combined with my experience living in Madrid for 2 years:

    Average cost of a hostel: $20/night for a dorm, $30 for a private room

    Meal in a restaurant: ~$10 (low estimate)

    Groceries: $35/week (low estimate)

    If you manage to find an apartment, the rent would be $350-$550/month for a room in a shared apartment, plus utilities (which are roughly the same price as in the US). This is pretty much impossible to line up before you arrive, so you’d have to stay in a hostel for a while until you found a place. I’m speaking from experience: I arrived in Madrid with some advantages most expats don’t have, since I was already fluent in Spanish and had several local contacts, and I spent an entire week making (no exaggeration) over 100 phone calls trying to find an apartment. Many landlords require a huge security deposit for foreign tenants (mine was €1,250), proof of employment, and a year-long lease.

    So if you stay in Madrid for the duration of your 90-day tourist visa, find an apartment after 2 weeks, only eat out once a week at cheap places, and find that rare Madrileño landlord willing to charge you 1 month security deposit and give you a short lease and prorated rent, the cost of your Spain adventure will be $2,040-$2,885. If you live in a hostel the whole time, you’ll spend around $2,340.

    That $1,440 isn’t looking so bad now, right?

    Prices obviously vary a lot from country to country, but Madrid is one of cheapest major cities in Europe. Europe just isn’t cheap.

    But I want to see Europe! Won’t my teaching job interfere with my freedom to travel?

    Your position will only occupy you for 15 hours a week, leaving you free to explore the city during the week, and to travel beyond your host city on the weekends! One of the many fabulous things about living in Europe is RyanAir! Here are some sample ideas (prices from Madrid)

    Weekend in Brussels: $49 round trip (2.5 hr flight)

    Weekend in London: $73 round trip (2.5hr flight)

    Weekend in Paris: $56 round trip (2hr 10min flight)

    Weekend in Morocco (Fez): $47 round trip (1.5 hr flight)

    Also in bus/train range:

    Granada

    granada

    San Sebastian

    also: Barcelona, Valencia, Cordoba, Lisbon, and the beaches of the Costa del Sol!

    And the biggest payout of all:

    Sure, you could shell out the extra money and go it alone, living in a hostel or renting a room in an expat apartment. You’ll spend your days, your nights, and your weekends with other foreigners, going to Irish-themed pubs in touristy neighborhoods and speaking your own language with people from your own culture. There’s a huge expat scene in Madrid, and in every other major European city, and it’s all too easy to fall into it and never actually experience the city the way the locals do. It might be fun, but you could speak English over Budweisers at a place called Finnegan’s without ever leaving your country.

    Living in a homestay, you will get an immersive, cultural exchange experience. You will speak Spanish. You’ll eat Spanish food at long, wine-soaked dinners with Spanish friends and family members. You’ll learn where to find the best tortilla de patata (hint: it’s not in Puerta del Sol) and how to order a beer (you probably didn’t know this but you want it mixed with lemon soda). You’ll learn how Spanish people talk and think and live, and you’ll learn it from the inside, not as a tourist.

    So before you let the price tag and the part-time job scare you off, consider what this program would offer you: a chance to live in Europe for cheap and travel to some of the world’s greatest cities, all while experiencing the cultural exchange of living with a local family. It’s a pretty good deal.

    Check out our Teach in a Homestay programs to get your cultural immersion experience started!

  • Greenheart Travel Celebrates Inspirational Women with a Sense of Adventure

    Greenheart Travel Celebrates Inspirational Women with a Sense of Adventure

    In honor of International Women’s Day, a global celebration highlighting the achievements of women and calling for gender parity, Greenheart Travel is showcasing a few of our solo women traveler alumni who inspire us to travel for a change.

    From stories of not letting expectations hold them back to taking chances, these women prove that it’s never too late to go after what you want.

    So in celebration of this holiday, we thank our Greenheart Travel women for their strength and sense of adventure.

    Varshini Kumar, Teach English in Thailand

    Teach English in Thailand alum Varshini Kumar had only one previous travel experience before taking the 9,000-mile journey from Chicago to Bangkok. Though she had the pestering worry she’d be lonely in her new home base, she knew not traveling would be worse. Lucky for her, she made it to Thailand and thrived.

    I’ve realized being a female solo traveler isn’t about proving to the world you can do it, but it’s about proving it to yourself. When I look back at the past six months and reflect on what I’ve accomplished, it gives me the assurance I can tackle any future obstacle that comes my way.

    Greenheart Traveler, Varshini Kumar, in a boat surrounded by lotuses.
    Varshini Kumar in a boat surrounded by lotuses.

    Susan LacCanne, Teach English in a Homestay Italy

    Susan LacCanne has “always had the desire to see the world.” So this year, she ditched the typical vacation and started a journey to experience Italian culture in-depth with Greenheart Travel’s Teach English in a Homestay in Italy program.

    The journey has just begun, but it’s already proved meaningful. She’s experienced things that “bring tears to your eyes,” like the Colosseum in Rome, and challenged herself. “As a woman, and an infrequent traveler, it is challenging to plan a day of touring in a foreign country alone. It is also very empowering, to know that you have navigated a new city on your own, figured out the train system, and ordered a coffee in Italian.”

    She’s also inspiring future travelers.

    I also feel this experience has set a wonderful example for my children. They know the world is much bigger than themselves, and they only need to be brave enough and open enough to go see it.

    Rome's Colosseum on a bright, sunny day. Photo by Greenheart Traveler Susan LacCanne.
    Rome’s Colosseum on a bright, sunny day. Photo by Susan LacCanne.

    Krystal Rogers, Teach English in Italy

    Teach English in Italy alum Krystal Rogers had one goal in 2016: travel more.

    And that year, she traveled. She flew to Turks and Caicos, Cancun and Vancouver – all by herself. Doing so gave her the confidence to try new activities, meet new people and even at times, “reinvent or find myself.” Fueled by her newfound gusto for solo travel, she took a chance to open a new boutique fitness studio in Dubai prior to teaching abroad in Italy, despite the fact her “gut instinct was to refuse the offer as it was very far, an unfamiliar culture, and a big risk.”

    Rogers is a great example of how pushing your limits just once can unravel future opportunities of growth and learning.

    I hope my travels have broken down stereotypes for some people. Women are capable of travelling safely by themselves, the Middle East can be a very welcoming place, and being solo is sometimes anything but lonely.

    Greenheart Traveler, Krystal Rogers, traveling solo in a desert.
    Krystal Rogers traveling solo in a desert.

    Dawn McGowen, Teach English in a Homestay Spain

    Dawn McGowen’s decision to quit her job and teach English in a homestay in Spain was a confusing one for friends and family. They couldn’t understand why she would choose to live with strangers in a foreign country.

    Yet, she followed her gut feeling and took the plunge because she knew “life is about more than just making money.” As it turns out, it was the right decision. Sometimes, while “sampling tapas along Las Ramblas in Spain or “climbing ancient temple ruins in Thailand” she wonders if she’s dreaming and hopes to “never wake up.”

    Nothing has impacted my life more positively than my solo traveling experiences, and I can only hope that there are many more to come.

    A photo of a castle in Spain by Greenheart Traveler, Dawn McGowen.
    A castle in Spain. Photo by Dawn McGowen.

    Everlecia Taylor, Teach English in a Homestay Spain

    Future Teach English in a Homestay in Spain alumna, Everlecia Taylor, has a birthday tradition: each year, she travels to a new country to celebrate. Last year, she took her first solo trip to Guatemala.

    Traveling for her brings unexpected friendships.

    I traveled to countries where I met people I may never see again, but the memories we created and recorded will last forever.

    People may say solo women travel is lonely, but Taylor proves it’s anything but.

    Greenheart Traveler, Everlecia Taylor, in front of a camera while traveling.
    Everlecia Taylor in front of a camera while traveling.

    What are you waiting for? You could be the next woman traveler to inspire us.

  • How to Navigate Spain as a Vegetarian

    How to Navigate Spain as a Vegetarian

    You may be a bit hesitant to travel abroad if you maintain a vegetarian diet, but I assure you that you do not have to worry in Spain!

    My name is Jolie-Anne and I am a former vegetarian on the high school program in Albacete, Spain. I decided to add meat back into my diet before coming to Spain so I could experience everything the country has to offer, but that does not have to be your case. Although you may hear many comments about how good the ham is, here’s how to navigate as a vegetarian in Spain!

    Breakfast

    Breakfast is simple normally consisting of toast with jam, avocado or tomato, cereal, fruit or sweets. There is also normally juice or coffee in the mornings as well. Worried that you can’t enjoy your almond/soy milk coffees? Milk replacements are available in the supermarkets! Needless to say, I normally had a vegetarian morning!

    11 a.m.

    Spanish meal times are very different from the United States. In Spain, we eat lunch at 15:00, so during the recreo at school at 11:00 we eat a bocadillo. A bocadillo is a sandwich that is filled with any combination of ham, chicken, tomato, humus, mayonnaise, cheese, hummus and more! It’s very easy to eat a vegetarian bocadillo either with hummus, cheese, or tomatoes and olive oil! You can also go for the delicious tortilla de patata, if you eat eggs.

    A Spanish lunch! Cheese, crackers, olives, garlics, lentil beans, and more! The dish is gazpacho and this one was cooked with meat, but my host family made it in the past with a meat substitute (tofu)! After the gazpacho we had toast with hummus!

    Lunch

    You’ve had a long day at school or work and now you are ready to eat a proper Spanish lunch… This is the meal that might give you the most trouble, but don’t worry!

    In Spain, lunch is the biggest meal, so it’s usually served with meat. The great thing about Spain is that there’s never just one food serving during lunch. Normally, there is a bowl on the table with lentils, pickles, olives, and raw garlic before we start eating as my host mom is plating the food. Then, we eat the first dish while the second continues to cook on the stove. Salads, soups, pastas, rice and vegetable dishes are common as the first and second serving.

    This is a fruit named chirimoya, and as far as I know it is not common in the US. Great for a merienda or breakfast!

    Merienda

    What is merienda? The snack at 18:00. Normally this time reveals your sweet tooth as the food usually comes from a Spanish bakery. Spanish sweets are likely cooked with eggs and milk, so if you exclude these products, you can always make toast with hummus, tomato or avocado. Also, there is a lot of amazing Spanish fruit we don’t have in America!

    Dinner

    I don’t have much advice for dinner that’s not the same as lunch! Dinner is lighter than lunch and usually, if there is meat, it is fish. You will normally eat fruit after dinner too!

    I hope this guide to vegetarian Spanish food helps you. Do not be discouraged to go abroad if you are vegetarian. Supermarkets in Spain have plenty of vegetarian options (tofu, soy products, dairy replacements) if you are buying for yourself.

    Joli-Anne Brosseau, from Savannah, Georgia, is a Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient. Learn more about Greenheart Travel’s scholarship opportunities to help you travel for a change!

  • Take 5: What It’s Like to Teach in a Homestay in Spain

    Take 5: What It’s Like to Teach in a Homestay in Spain

    What better way to learn what it’s like to Teach in a Homestay in Spain than from a first-hand experience! Jennifer is a Greenheart Traveler who took the time to share a bit about her life in Spain in this week’s Take 5.

    What inspired you to go to Spain?

    I had been to Barcelona and Ibiza before however wanted more of a cultural experience. I have always been so fascinated and in love with the language, people, art, architecture, food and so on. Since I only had a little taste and was hungry to learn more, I did a fair amount of research and found that Greenheart had the perfect program for someone my age. I am still not done exploring and regret only choosing to stay 1 month. The whole fear of the unknown, and not knowing exactly where I would be placed was half of the fun. I imagined being placed in a major city and was nervous that I was going to be living in such a rural area. Once I was there I was so grateful that I wasn’t in a larger city because I could easily plan that on my own. It was so much more valuable going somewhere I had never heard of, and that I probably would’ve never chosen on my own. It made my experience that much more special and close to my heart.

    What was your favorite way to spend your weekends?

    It’s crazy because everyone I had spoken with whether it was a Greenheart representative or Greenheart alumni, I was told to make sure that I keep busy because they had a lot of free time. I was advised to research what I wanted to do while out there. Miraculously, I was blessed with the best family ever. It was also during summertime, so there was no school in session. My host family and I spent every weekend together. Usually I love exploring and alone time however, it worked out for the better with the short amount of time we shared together. We did a lot of hiking and spent most of the time outdoors, swimming, shopping, running in the mountains, exploring new towns and cities, visited many churches, and obviously eating. I was open to trying everything and anything.

    What was the first meal your host family made you?

    The first homemade meal I had was a seafood dish with a tomato broth. I can’t remember the formal name, but it was overwhelmingly delicious. Everything we ate was complimented with fresh bread. Would literally dip bread in almost every sauce, broth, or soup. Alongside with most meals was an ice cold cerveza in a frozen ceramic mug. The first meal my host father made for us is called pipirrana.  Pipirrana is an Andalusian dish whose basic ingredients are onion, tomato, green pepper and cucumber. I have included a picture 🙂

    What is something you learned about yourself?

    I think the most valuable lesson I learned from this experience is that only positive things stem from stepping out of your comfort zone. I learned how brave, capable, and independent I am. I came home with a new level of confidence. It was very pivotal learning that there are some really genuine people out there. Not to mention, it was such a breath of fresh air to meet and live with a family that takes such pride in where they come from.

    What was the best piece of advice you received before going abroad?

    The best advice received was to have no regrets, place no expectations, and to be grateful that I am able to take this opportunity. Not everyone is able to endure milestones like this, so I am forever grateful to have received such a gift.

  • Why Travel Makes You the Best Version of Yourself

    Why Travel Makes You the Best Version of Yourself

    Traveling isn’t always easy. Worth it, yes. Easy, no. When I arrived, I was exhausted. The jet lag mixed with the tiniest differences that shouldn’t have tired me, but did, physically and mentally wore me out. A small part of me would whisper ‘what’s wrong with you’ when I spent an hour watching Modern Family instead of being out in the city drinking sangria. So why do it? I actually got asked this question in a variety of ways and sometimes it was hard to come up with a reason. I couldn’t always put in words why I had to do it, but deep down I knew I had to do it.

    The days were filled with new and exciting events- from the big picture, observing cultural love languages to the smallest things, like why are all of the light switches different here? But that doesn’t mean that the days didn’t have their stressors. A day in the city where every little social interaction could go horribly wrong or make you feel horribly stupid was, well, stressful. So, duh, right? Well yes, but the thing that I got from it is (and no I’m not going to say laugh at yourself although, true.) is that it is good to be scared. It’s good to be afraid. Because in these situations was when I got out of my comfort zone. I put a new (both cultural and personal) lens to my own behavior. Getting out of your comfort zone while in a new location and when you don’t really have much of a choice makes it a whole lot easier when you’re back home. I realized I had to just bite the bullet with so many little things because I was traveling solo. I had no choice to just opt out of doing some things. I couldn’t just not try my awful broken Spanish to ask a lady to get to the nearest metro stop. I couldn’t just not wash my clothes because the European machines were different than the ones back home (how exactly does one work a drier that opens from the top and has a trapdoor!?). It got to be exciting too, mostly because it’s so freeing to not be held back by fear. That freedom mixed well with the humor in how awful some of the situations turned out because it opened me up to the ~whimsical~ anything can happen mindset.

    My point here is that traveling can make you a better version of yourself. You wake up, not defeated by another monotonous too early alarm (youch, it’s Tuesday again?), and want to go out to try something new. A new store, restaurant, sport- the thing itself doesn’t really matter. It’s that you want to do something new. And while doing this, I was so afraid of falling into the uneducated, arrogant, and selfish American stereotype that I did everything in my power to avoid it. So, there I was, out, trying new things. I performed a balancing act of being young, stupid, and carefree all while analyzing every little action I did. In the States, I jaywalk all the time. In Spain, I felt the need to go to the crosswalk and usually waited for the passenger symbol for my time to cross so that I wasn’t that American. I tried to say yes to every opportunity that came my way. I changed the way I talked to people my age; this was especially evident when I tried explaining the culture of cigarette smoking to one of my host brothers. I packed cuter outfits. So, when out in the world, being a better you is just fun.

    Traveling is real life. To me, one of the biggest beauties of traveling is that you can be completely removed from a situation and then return with a renewed mindset. For me, I can have a hard time incorporating my time away into my time at home. In Spain, I usually had the day free to go see the city- museums, parks, coffee shops, and the like and then return back to the flat for English lessons. Back at school, my days are filled with studying, naps, working out, and going to the grocery. When a switch is completely flipped, I struggle to not view a certain time away as surreal. I keep telling myself that yes, that actually happened. I try to work on bringing what I learned about myself and other people and that inexplicable travel groove I was in into my time at home.

    It’s easy for people for people to slip into this alternate persona when traveling. I fully support the notion, but we need to try to not slip right out when the plane lands to get back home. I don’t know why this matters so much to me- the idea that people have mundane, real-life selves and then exotic, travel selves. I think it matters to me because what some people can do with this-this idea of traveling, is what I do with the future. It really is too easy of a trap to fall into. The “I’ll be more adventurous when I’m away and trying to pay bills” quickly translates to “I’ll be much happier when I’m not stressed with school and have a paying job with a loving family.” And that’s what I want to get away from. I think one of the reasons I love to travel and explore is because every minute is like hey this is your life.

    I know that everyone has a different experience abroad. I was incredibly lucky during my time as a language assistant in Spain. I had a more than wonderful host family with a strong support system back home. I just wanted to share some thoughts about my journey in hopes that you’re a little better off because of it.

  • What I Realized While Living with a Host Family

    What I Realized While Living with a Host Family

    Around the time I was thinking about traveling to Spain, I never thought that staying with a host family would have such a huge impact on my trip. Yes, solo travel may sound great, but having a family was something I needed. Before, I could never imagine myself living in someone else’s home, but the time shared with my family contained the most treasured moments that truly a photo couldn’t capture. Although, there’s no specific guidebook on how you should meet people, or in this case live in someone’s house, here are some of the things that I learned while living with a host family.

    Find confidence in yourself.

    This helps when you are entering their home and daily routine. You should believe that you are brilliant and courageous enough to be far from home and living with people whom you’ve only known for a few video chats or even messages. Moreover, you should know that living with other people in general is a very hard thing to do, but for you to come into a strangers house and adapt to their set of rules, that truly deserves a round of applause.

    Christmas dinner with my host family. Of course, I ate everything!

    Be open to everything, because that’s what you are here for.

    There are things that you’ve never thought about trying, and this is the time to change that. Regardless if it’s the host family’s hobbies, language, or food; you should step out of your comfort zone to try these once in a lifetime things. For example, I think the most trouble I had was not trying to speak the language fully. I tried all the food and activities, but the thing I couldn’t bring myself to do is try the Spanish language. This is one of my biggest regrets. So try everything!

    Family trip to Albanchez

    Regardless of how private you’d like to keep yourself, you should be open with your host family.

    Something one of the cousins told me was, “Well you’re here aren’t you? You’re family.”  Not that you have to tell everybody your business, but there are times you should confide in your host family, such as when you are feeling uncomfortable or down. This is where you may have to release some of the things you harbor. 

    And of course there are many different experiences that I can’t speak for, but here are some of the things that I had to deal with in order to have the most pleasant experience. It’s always great to have a family where you are.

    Nini Vo is a Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient from Texas. Learn more about Greenheart Travel’s scholarship opportunities to help you travel for a change!

     

  • Choosing Experiences Over Things: A First Time Traveler’s Perspective

    Choosing Experiences Over Things: A First Time Traveler’s Perspective

    I’m an 18-year-old girl from Houston, Texas. I always had a dream to learn about everything and everyone. I realized that I couldn’t do that just sitting in a room and reading about it, but setting out for an adventure to learn. Everyone can tell you it’s crazy and impossible, but they aren’t curious enough to try it. I know that money won’t fly out of the sky so of course, the planning of reaching this goal was already a journey in itself.

    When I was 15 years old there was this book that I came across called, “The Alchemist.” Although it shortly became my favorite book, I read it not understanding very much and only getting out of it this vague message, follow your dreams. I then picked up the book again when I was 17 and still missed the fact that the setting was in Spain. I turned 18 and I wanted to set out and travel the world. When I was picking on the first place I wanted to travel, I just automatically chose Spain, not knowing much about the place; I guess I was just destined to pick this place because it just felt like I should be there.

    The book that inspired me to choose my first destination.

    I know it’s such an odd explanation of why I chose Spain but I also heard about it many times as “the place you should put on your travel bucket list.” I didn’t know much about Spain, just  big cities like Madrid and Barcelona. I picked it just really knowing about the soccer culture, and I wanted to find out more.

    The way I was able to pay for this trip was by saving all the money that I worked in part-time jobs. I started saving in 8th grade not knowing what for, but then I decided that it was for travel. When I came across this program and the opportunity to travel, I knew that I was going to invest in something that would stay with me forever. I always opt to spend money on experiences rather than material things, so saving was a little easier for me.

    I know it’s hard to just save money, because life gets in the way. I always kept in my mind that I had a dream to go to all these places and the money wasn’t going to be magically handed to me. I had to sacrifice eating out, buying a coffee and just spending money on the little things that didn’t matter. I opt for thrifted clothes and home cooked meals rather than expensive jewelry and take out meals. And of the course helping out my family was a must, but I always put money aside for my goal.

    The two that allowed me to see more of the world!

    I see this experience being one that holds a lot of growth. Growth in my experiences, growth for my knowledge as well as the family’s, growth in general because I know that living with a host family, I surely will have to get out of my comfort zone. I see this trip being one with many exchanges in culture, laughter, and love. Regards if there are many things we do differently, I know that everything can be fixed through communication and empathy.

    I also see this being only the beginning of my travels and I know that this one is going to a great experience. Whether good or bad, I believe that every experience is a learning one and as long as I go on with that attitude what could go wrong? Of course, I understand that every day may not be a crazy adventure, but it’s still going to different and I should be present for all of it.

    Nini Vo, from Texas, is a Greenheart Travel First Time Traveler Scholarship recipient. Learn more about Greenheart Travel’s scholarship opportunities to help you travel for a change!