Greenheart Travel

Category: Teach Abroad Programs

What to expect during your first month Teaching Abroad
Greenheart Travel recently heard from Lucy-Louise, a teacher abroad in Thailand. She writes with some good advice for what to expect during your first few weeks in a new country teaching English.

What to Expect during your First Month Teaching Abroad

After weeks, months, or even years planning your Teach Abroad trip, most of us English as a Second Language teachers will go to our host countries with various expectations. Whether that’s the progress your students will make under your tutelage, the friends you will make whilst away, the language you will learn, or the trips you will go on while you are away! Regardless of what your expectations are, your time as a teacher abroad will be much more than you anticipated.

Greenheart Travel Teach abroad “day in the life”

With that in mind, here are four things that you may not have considered but should expect from those memorable first four weeks:
1. You will have adjustments to make! Starting a new job, moving to a new place, and being immersed in an entirely new culture are exciting novelties. But they do not come without a few challenges. However, don’t let this put you off! Make some adjustments and the rewards will make the challenges all the more worthwhile. One of the most immediate of these challenges is, of course, the language barrier, but others may be the hours you’ll be working (most teachers start around 7:30 a.m.!), or adjusting your lesson plans to fit your students’ abilities. To overcome these challenges, be patient, come prepared, and be willing to adapt. By the end of your first four weeks, these challenges will seem like vague worries whilst the accomplishments you’ve made will give you new confidence to tackle each day.
2. There will be a bond with your students. When you first start teaching, your students are strangers to you and you to them. In my first week I struggled with names and wondered how I would ever get to know my very young students (who were only three years old!) if I couldn’t understand them. However, when you see your students everyday you build a strong connection to them, you do come to know each student individually, and learn how to communicate with them. I recommend trying to spend a little bit of one-on-one time with each student if you can!
3. Appreciate a new normal AND your unique experience. After a month, things will start to feel normal. You’ll have your morning coffee spot, you’ll know which classrooms you’re meant to be in, and you’ll know how much time you’ve got after work to meet friends. Whilst the feeling of normality is a great sign that you’re comfortable and thriving, try not to let a mundane attitude stop you from recognising how unique and privileged what you’re doing is!
4. You will pick up the language. It would be misleading to suggest that you will be fluent after only four weeks, however, you will probably pick up a few unusual words! Fairly quickly, I learnt phrases like ‘look’, ‘listen’, ‘this one’, ‘that one’, and ‘sit down’! Capitalise on this and try to learn some basics and practice-practice-practice when you’re out. It’s very rewarding, builds confidence, and the more you learn the more you’ll understand the culture.
After your first four weeks, you will have overcome a range of challenges, made some unforgettable memories, and made new friends and connections that will shape your experience aboard. Enjoy and embrace it all!

Thanks Lucy-Louise for sharing your advice for Teaching Abroad!

Does anyone have suggestions for new teachers abroad? Drop us a note if so. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re interested in Teaching Abroad, visit our website. We have awesome destinations still open for 2022 start dates. It’s time to travel for a change!
July 6, 2022
New Adventures in Thailand – a First Time Traveler’s 1st weeks Abroad

Skylar is one of our First Time Traveler Scholarship winners. She’s arrived in Thailand for her Teach Abroad program and writes to us about her first few weeks there.

Settling down in Thailand

Under Thailand’s Test-and-Go COVID policy, as soon as my COVID test came back negative, I was able to walk around Bangkok as I desired (I still would have to take an at home test on the fifth day). However, I have to admit, I did not take full advantage of this. While I know of friends who explored Bangkok well, I spent my first few days severely jetlagged by my +11 hour time difference. Instead, I chose to spend most of my days lounging by the pool, getting Thai massages, and eating all of the fresh mango, and dragon fruit I could get my hands on. This ended up working out, because my next week of orientation would consist of Muay Thai boxing, cooking classes, an excursion to a Thailand National Park, multiple trips to the beach, and hiking up a local mountain to watch the sunrise: aka, I was EXHAUSTED by the end of it.

On to Hua Hin and Orientation

At the beginning of the last week of March, I made my way to Bangkok’s airport to be picked up by a large coach bus with the rest of my group to make our way to Hua Hin. The drive went smoothly, and before long we were at our accommodation. I took in the view of my apartment, and felt ready to take my week on!

Orientation was A LOT of sitting through classes, although, I did learn some useful cultural tidbits. One thing that came in handy later in the week as we took a night to attend the movies, is that there is a montage dedicated to the Monarchy of Thailand, and you have to stand to pay your respects, even being a foreigner. We also learned about the West’s influence on Thailand, largely due to Thailand never being colonized by another country. However, without a doubt, my favorite parts of the week were some of the excursions we took.

Learning The Thai Culture

Have you ever heard of Muay Thai? It is Thailand’s version of boxing, and involves a mixture of martial arts and combat to invoke serious damage. Although I didn’t get in the ring myself, the punching bag definitely felt my wrath. It was so much to train with local Muay Thai trainers, and it even inspired me to want to look into Muay Thai gyms in my placement city to learn proper self defense, while also blowing off steam.

We also took some time to attend a cooking class where we made Papaya salad, one of my favorite dishes since being here. Papaya salad (called Som Tum) includes papaya, long beans, tomatoes, peanuts, garlic, dried shrimp, and fish sauce all mashed with a pestle to combine. Traditionally, it includes chilies as well, but my palette has not yet adjusted to the level of spiciness here! I’m working on it!

Most nights were filled with walking to the beach, or attending many of the night markets around the city. I had a chance to try crickets, mango sticky rice, coconut pancakes, fresh coconut juice, butterfly pea juice, fish cakes, and fresh spring rolls. The food here is too flavorful to not try everything, and with portion sizes being relatively small, it is easy to do just that!

My favorite thing I’ve done in Thailand thus far I did the first weekend in Hua Hin. It involved going to The Phraya Nakhon Cave. This cave was quite a hike, over and back down a set of mountain steps, across a beach, and then steps up again, before descending down steps into another cave. It also was slightly misting the whole time, making the rock steps a little slippery. But the magnificence of walking through the cave entrance into the large cave itself– which had a temple inside –was something I will never forget. The awe I had could never be put into words.

New Adventures are Still on the Way

Although my orientation week is over, and I am now in my city where my school placement is, I know that new adventures are still on their way. As I am beginning to adjust slowly to Thai Culture, build a support group, and find what I define as ‘home’, I feel myself settling in. But with all of the things I’ve done, and all I have to look forward to, it is hard not to be excited about each and every day.

by Skylar S – Teach Abroad Thailand

Thank you Skylar for sharing your experiences so far in beautiful Thailand! Teaching Abroad is a fun way to learn about another culture, and to immerse yourself in it. You can see all the countries Greenheart Travel offers for Teaching Abroad here and for Working Abroad here.

April 13, 2022
Navigating Airports and Airplanes from a First Time Traveler

It’s a whole new thing out there these days for travelers in our *hopefully* post pandemic world. Skylar, one of our First Time Travel Scholarship winners from last year, wrote to us about her recent airport experiences as she made her way from Boston to her Teach Abroad location in Thailand.

Navigating Airports and Flights on my way to Thailand

After a somber goodbye, and many tears outside of the Boston Logan airport, I soon became eager to begin my journey to Bangkok, Thailand. Although I was not looking forward to my 14-hour flight from Boston to Seoul, South Korea, and then immediately after another 6 hours from Seoul to Bangkok, the excitement of this new adventure kept me optimistic for what was to come.

Boston, Massachusetts to Seoul, South Korea

The check-in to board my flight went very smoothly thanks to the simple idea I had a few days prior of purchasing an expandable folder to keep all of my travel documents safe and secure in one place. I felt more calm knowing that everything was in one place and that when the time came to present the same documents to customs in Thailand, it would be hassle free.

I made my way to the gate where boarding had just begun. Having never flown the airline Korean Air before, I didn’t realize how luxurious it would be! We were given a pillow, blanket, headphones, a toothbrush & toothpaste, and slippers (so you don’t have to wear your shoes all the flight but aren’t barefoot either). Another surprise I had waiting for me was that I had the whole row to myself–ample space to spread out and lay down. Before long, we were up in the air and the first meal was being served: a Korean dish called Japchae, which are cold stir fried noodles with vegetables. I have always been hesitant over airline food but this meal (and all of my meals to come!) proved me wrong.

Fourteen hours passed slowly by the minute but fast by the hour. I spent most of my time watching Netflix, and taking bursts of naps. I highly recommend having more things to do than you think you need, in case something isn’t holding your attention for long. As back-up, I had podcasts, playlists, and books on my Kindle just in case. Somewhere halfway through we were served a ham and cheese croissant and fruits, and then about an hour before we landed, another meal again! I didn’t even need to dig into the snacks I had brought for my flights. (This has ended up being comforting to have some of my favorite western snacks with me on nights when I just miss being home!) Landing went smoothly and before I knew it, I was walking around the Seoul-Incheon Airport in South Korea!

My Brief Layover in Seoul

Unfortunately, due to the time of my flight being later in the night, most of the Seoul airport shops and restaurants were closed. It was still a lot of fun walking around, and seeing all of the different advertisements and shop fronts. One thing I found intriguing was that the Dunkin Donuts, which I’m very familiar with having lived in Massachusetts, sold hot dogs! The airport also had cute robots that moved around–you could put your heavy luggage on, and it would follow you to your terminal. Everything was going smoothly, but jet-lag was just beginning to catch up with me.

Seoul, South Korea to Bangkok, Thailand

The first thing I noticed about my flight to Thailand was that the airline safety video usually said by flight attendants before flights, was performed by a K-pop group onscreen! That was an entertaining surprise. We were also served a meal right away on this flight and even given ice cream at the end of it. As for this flight, I slept most of the way through. I woke up as we were landing!

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok Thailand

I was nervous to navigate this airport on my own, especially due to not knowing the Thai language and the complexity that COVID measures had added. Immediately after we got off our flight, we were directed to sit in rows of big plastic chairs where officials were coming through to check our appropriate quarantine paperwork. Once they approved it, there was another line where someone checked our paperwork again, this time documenting it into a system on their phone. Once all of the COVID stuff was out of the way, I made my way through customs and then obtained my luggage. Finding my pickup for my hotel was very easy due to many workers there who spoke English. I was at my hotel and in bed about two hours or so after my flight had landed.

To sum this all up, I was terrified that I would have the wrong paperwork, or the whole process of getting through the airport would be confusing and that I would be all alone–but it went smoothly, and I imagine it would be hard for it not to go smoothly. The process was a well-oiled machine, and I never was confused as to what would happen next! Any important signs also had English translations, and every worker I encountered knew rudimentary English if I needed any other help.

With COVID restrictions further being lifted, and my fear of navigating airports and flights where English isn’t the first language being defeated, I’m already planning a vacation or two while I’m here in Thailand for the next 6 months! Anyone want to join me en route to Bali?

Post by Skylar S. – 3/2022

Thank you Skylar for sharing your experience! We’re looking forward to hearing more from you Teach Abroad in Thailand time!

If you’re a Greenheart Travel participant or alumni and want to tell us about your post-pandemic travel, contact us. We love dispatches from around the world.

To learn more about Teach Abroad programs, visit Greenheart Travel.

Safe travels everyone.

March 29, 2022
The Leap of Faith: Adapting to Life in Another Country

The Leap of Faith: Adapting to Life in Another Country

by Vinicius Storck – Teach in Colombia

When I first heard the news of my acceptance to Greenheart’s Teach in Colombia program, I was excited to be getting the chance to work abroad. I had a desire to see more of the world, and to have the kind of experiences only possible through intercultural exchange, so I was eager to finally chase that dream.

It was only a few days before departure that the reality of what this meant dawned on me–and anxiety started to flood my mind. I was actually going to be moving to a whole new country, living in a city I didn’t know, speaking a language I had hardly used outside of school!

How would I deal with so many changes in my day-to-day life? What about Colombia’s reputation for being unsafe? Would I be able to make friends and connections in such a different culture?

Luckily, there are things you can do to ease the transition to a whole new life. Many people have been in those shoes before; if they were able to get through it, so can me or you. If you’re willing to make this leap too, and prepare yourself for it, you’ll grow so much through your experiences abroad!

Center of Cali

Learn About the Country You’re Traveling To

Doing some research beforehand did wonders to put me at ease. During the past twenty years the Colombian government has worked hard to tackle issues of crime, violence, and drug trafficking, and as a result most urban centers are pretty safe to be in. You should still take the same precautions you’d take when traveling to any other tourist hotspot: things like being vigilant if you need to take your phone out, avoiding poorly lit areas at night, and watching your bags when out and about. Colombians even have an expression for these self-protective measures: no dar papaya.

Odds are you’ll be able to rest even easier if you’re staying in one of the small rural towns of the Valle del Cauca department. I felt safer in Sevilla, my placement city, then I did in Boston or New York.

It also helps to look up interesting places to visit before you go. Colombia is an enchanting country, rich in history, biodiversity, and culture; and imagining all the places I could see lessened any fears I had left. Personally, I was smitten when I found out about the Lost City, ancient indigenous ruins hidden deep in Colombia’s forests, and which can only be reached through a three-day hike. It gave me something to look forward to at the end of the program, and turned anxiety into anticipation.

Canastao

Take Things One Step at a Time

Once I arrived in Cali, it proved useful to take things slowly, one day at a time. At the hotel where I spent my first week in the country, I would practice Spanish using mobile apps (Duolingo and Lingodeer) and watch TV to provide more immersion into the language. During that time most of my daily interactions were limited to ordering food and explaining directions to cabs. The program coordinators inside Colombia also provided enormous support in those first few days: they helped me open a bank account, figure out transportation to my placement city, and provided me with local contacts to assist in the search for housing.

Teaching entire classrooms was a new experience for me too, but taking baby steps also helped in that area. For the week in Cali, I just focused on learning as much as possible during orientation. In Sevilla, I concentrated first on understanding the way my co-teacher taught English to her students, and then on coming up with lesson plans or activities that could best support it.

People in Colombia are very welcoming, so neighbors and coworkers often introduced me to new people or informed me of special events happening around town. Eventually I reached a point where I could shop for my own groceries, have conversations with other teachers at my school in Spanish, make some friends, and even direct a couple of classes of my own.

Sevilla

Have Fun!

Once I had become more comfortable with getting by in Sevilla, it was really time to experience full-on cultural immersion. I find that if you keep your mind open, and are always willing to try new things, then you’ll absolutely love your time abroad.

For example, whenever eating out I’d look for genuine local food, whether it’d be the arepa or the coffee that are famous for being Colombian staples; or dishes unique to Sevilla, like the canastao and the plato montañero. These last two were common plates made by the settlers of this mountainous region, hefty enough to support their vigorous lifestyle.

When possible, I’d also go to special events held for schoolteachers, from chess competitions to a hands-on workshop on planting coffee. And even though I have no rhythm, I just had to try dancing when heading back to Cali, the capital of Salsa! I did make sure to visit the Lost City too before I left, and it was just as gorgeous as I expected it to be.

Parque del Café (Coffee Park)

Life is a Highway

Sometimes life can be like driving a car in the night. We might not be able to see what the entire highway looks like, but our headlights illuminate the next few hundred meters in front of us, and that’s more than enough for us to navigate safely to our destination.

It’s my belief that traveling abroad is like this too. Even if things seem overwhelming at first, and we can’t tell what the whole path ahead of us will look like, we can gather the knowledge and skills to deal with each obstacle as they arise. And before we know it, we’ll have gone so far and seen so much!

So if you’re aching to travel somewhere new, and are still hesitant about the challenges that may come, I encourage you to take a leap of faith. You have what it takes to make the most of this journey!

Lost City

***

Thank you Vinicius for sharing your story! If you are interested in taking your own leap of faith, visit GreenheartTravel.org for a big menu of travel options. Hope to see you out there!

February 15, 2022
Greenheart Travel Alumni Opportunities
Congratulations, you’re a Greenheart Travel alumni!

Your adventure doesn’t stop here! We can’t wait for you to continue your journey with Greenheart Travel. Now that you’re a part of our alumni family, you have many opportunities to continue your personal and professional development.

The Greenheart Club

The Greenheart Club is our exclusive online community where civic innovators and volunteers can network, gain access to professional development tools, and measure their community impact. Customize your profile, share stories, receive badges and learn from others around the globe, all while logging your volunteer hours. You are required to have a Greenheart Club account to apply for the Odyssey Programs and Greenheart Grants.

Apply for a Greenheart Global Impact Grant (GIG) or Teach-Pair-Share Grant

A Greenheart Global Impact Grant (GIG) is a financial award of up to $1000 given to exemplary members of the Greenheart Club. It provides alumni with the opportunity to create, improve, or maintain a community-focused project abroad or at home. Find more information on the Greenheart Club.

Greenheart’s Teach-Pair-Share grant provides up to $1000 for Greenheart English Teachers to partner with a teacher from their host community on a project that benefits their students and school. For example, the grant can be used to fund a language-immersion event, launch an afterschool program, or build an educational garden. Apply here.

Become a Greenheart Travel Ambassador

The Greenheart Travel Ambassador role is a unique volunteer opportunity for alumni who want to share their international experience, encourage others to travel abroad on a cultural exchange program, and grow their personal network.

By participating as a Greenheart Travel Ambassador, you will:
- Earn internship-like experience customizable to your interests
- Develop advanced marketing, mentoring, and leadership skills
- Expand your personal and professional networks
- Connect with other highly accomplished alumni
- Make connections and work directly with Greenheart Travel staff
- Gain access to professional development resources and special events
What does a Greenheart Travel Ambassador do?

Well, that depends on you! Are you a writer? Get published on our blog! An education major? Present with us in schools! Into marketing? Contribute to our social media and recruiting efforts!

These are just a few of the ways our Ambassadors are involved:
- Mentor new Greenheart Travel participants
- Host a Greenheart Travel meetup in your area
- Give a stellar presentation and inspire your peers
- Join us at a fair or conference to promote travel for a change
We’re happy to answer your questions! Learn more or apply today by emailing travelalumni@greenheart.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

Apply for a Greenheart Odyssey Scholarship Program

At the heart of our mission is the Greenheart Odyssey, a series of five leadership programs providing full-ride scholarships (flights included!) to chosen alumni. All alumni can apply through their Greenheart Club portal following completion of their program abroad.

Junior Greenheart Global Leader’s Conference (Under 18)

Jr. Leaders spend five days in Chicago exploring global leadership. They engage in service, public speaking workshops, cultural exchange, and one-on-one engagement with innovative leaders.

Greenheart Global Leader’s Conference (18+)

Adult Global Leaders spend a week in Washington, D.C. learning how to be advocates for cultural exchange and community development. Business, social justice, and sustainability workshops culminate in a Department of State visit and panelist opportunity.

Greenheart Global Alumni Council

Six all-star alumni are chosen to be Greenheart board members for the year. Council members are empowered by the unique opportunity to come together in-person at the Purpose Summit in Berlin, Germany and in online spaces. They develop initiatives that have an international impact.

Become a Local Coordinator in the USA

Join our team of local coordinators throughout the USA, placing and supporting our high school exchange students and their host families. This is a part-time contract position that is open to alumni 26 years or older, with the opportunity for domestic and international travel to annual conferences.

Fill out an inquiry form here: https://greenheartexchange.org/partner/become-a-local-coordinator/apply/

Host a High School Exchange Student in the USA

Located in the United States? You and your family can open your home to a high school exchange student from another country. You can host a student anywhere from a few weeks to an entire academic year. Volunteer host families provide our young ambassadors a wide range of landscapes, climates, activities, and lifestyles.

Fill out an inquiry form here: https://greenheartexchange.org/host/host-an-exchange-student/apply/
June 30, 2021
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.

June 23, 2021
Best Free Apps To Have When You’re Living Abroad
There are so many different apps available to assist you in your travels, but many of them are geared towards short-term vacationers to help put together an itinerary or find the cheapest flight. While those apps will be useful when you have some time to plan a vacation, you’ll want to add a few apps to your phone that will make your day-to-day life a little easier. Below are a few of our favorite (free!) apps:

General

Maps
- Downloaded Google Maps
- Maps.me
- City Maps 2Go
Even if you do decide to get a data plan for your phone while you’re abroad, it’s still a good idea to limit your use of it as much as possible. Downloading maps before you leave home or a wifi hotspot helps you not get lost and save some data! Everyone has their preference, but these are the three most used map apps.

Communication
- Whatsapp
- Facebook Messenger
- Kakao Talk
- Line
Another way to save on your phone plan is to find out which free messaging app is popular in your host country. WhatsApp is the most common in general, Kakao is most popular in Korea and Line is prevalent in Thailand and Japan.

Learning the Local Language
- Duolingo
- Memrise
Duolingo and Memrise are the two most popular language learning apps. They are free and structured so that you only have to study for 10 minutes a day. They offer a wide range of languages but aren’t 100% inclusive so you may need to seek out a language-specific app for some countries, like Thailand.

Language On the Fly
- TripLingo
- Scan & Translate
- Google Translate
Duolingo is good for the continuation of learning a language, but sometimes you need quick translation or an easy way to lookup a word/phrase. TripLingo is truly amazing. With over 100 destinations available, the app offers basic phrases and slang terms to help you sound more like a native. There is also a live translator option that actually works well, a dictionary and a culture guide for each destination. Google Translate is a good guide if you’re stuck on a certain word, but gets messy (i.e. wrong) when you start asking for full sentences. Scan&Translate allows you to take a picture of text and translate it which comes in handy when the local language doesn’t use the Roman alphabet.

For the Classroom
- Kahoot
- FluentU
- Words With Friends
- Heads Up
Phones are generally not allowed in the classroom, but you know the kids have them anyway and are trying to sneak glances when your back is turned, so why not turn a negative into a positive? Kahoot is an app where students use their phones to answer questions in a quiz that you made which can either be taken in teams or individually. FluentU is normally used as a language learning app (like Duolingo) but they have a ton of authentic English-speaking video clips to supplement your lessons. Games that are traditionally not educational like Words with Friends and Heads Up can still be used as a fun way to incorporate English in your classroom.

VPN
- NordVPN ($40/year)
- PureVPN ($40/year)
- Safer VPN ($6/month)
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an app on your phone (or software on your computer) that protects your device with less secure networks, like public wifi, by encrypting the connection and using a different IP address. VPN’s are not free, but they’re on this list for their usefulness – travelers benefit from a VPN mostly for streaming services that are unavailable outside of their home countries, like Netflix for example. The VPN is most useful for those living in China where most apps are blocked (Facebook, Instagram, Gmail, Google) but Netflix and Spotify aren’t always available in other countries and they’re nice to have, too.

Transportation
- Uber
- Moovit
Uber isn’t always available in every country, but most places will have their own version of Uber to make up for it. Moovit works on desktop and has an app to help you find the fastest way from Point A – Point B with whatever public transit is available. There is a wide range of countries and cities available with Moovit so it’s great to use when you’re traveling for vacation too!

Miscellaneous
- Money – XE Currency
  - Easy way to convert multiple currencies
- Safety – Smart Traveler (US Citizens)
  - Sign up for the STEP program before you leave home and stay up to date with safety in your host country with this app
- Food – Happy Cow
  - Use this app to find vegetarian-friendly restaurants or dishes in your area
Country-Specific Apps

Korea
- Kakao Talk
- Kakao Metro
- Kakao Bus
- Kakao Taxi
- Kakao Maps
Kakao everything!

Thailand
- Learn Thai, Thai Pod 101
  - Language learning apps specifically for Thai that offer short, manageable lessons
- Grabcab
  - Especially on the islands or Bangkok, this app really gives you an idea of what you should actually be paying even if you don’t use it to hail a cab
- Next Station
  - Map of the all the Bangkok public train stops including the BTS, MRT and Airport line
- Food Panda
  - Food delivery app similar to Seamless that can be used in big cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai
Europe
- Flixbus
  - Find bus routes, schedules and buy tickets around Europe
- CityMapper
  - Navigation tool that displays public transit info, such as cost and live departure times of buses and trains. It will even tell you the best section of the train to find a seat! CityMapper mostly has European cities, but there are a few other destinations like Seoul, Istanbul and Hong Kong.
- Trenitalia
  - Mobile ticketing for Italy
China
- WeChat
  - Similar to Kakao, WeChat is a savior in China. You use it to text, as a social media platform, to order food for delivery and even to pay your bills or a cab fare!
- VPN
  - Everyone has their preferred VPN, but if you want to continue using your favorite social media platforms, you’ll need to shell out the money each year for a VPN on your phone and laptop
New Zealand
- Grabaseat
  - Find super cheap domestic flights
- First Table
  - Discounts for participating restaurants
- Grabone
  - Similar to Groupon
Have you used an app that was a life-saver during your time abroad? Comment the name below!
April 25, 2021
7 Ways to Travel Abroad After You Graduate This Spring
Skip the anxiety-ridden job search after graduation. The rat race. The climbing of the corporate ladder. That cubicle lit with fluorescent light. All of those things will be waiting for you when you come back (if you still want them!).

Instead, it’s time for an adventure. It’s time to take everything you know, and turn it upside down. It’s time for you to find your “people.” To do things you never imagined you could or would do. To stop just liking amazing Instagram photos of places around the globe and actually travel and see these places for yourself.

Because, at what other point in your life are you going to be without a mortgage? Without a career in motion? Without a serious relationship, pets, marriage, kids? Without so much STUFF that you can’t leave behind?

Because hesitation = regret. The time is NOW. The world is waiting with open arms.

The best part of traveling after graduation? You’ll come back more YOU. More focused. More world-wise. More prepared to succeed in whichever path you choose. And that, is a beautiful thing.

But how?

Whether you’re graduating from college this spring or have decided to “graduate” from corporate life and move abroad, here are some ideas to get you started:

Teach English in Thailand

Our most popular program for a reason! With a commitment of only 3-4 months, this is a great way to explore and travel after graduation in a unique culture with beautiful destinations to explore. Our fall start dates are typically over 100 people each, so you’ll have lots of opportunities to make new travel friends to explore Asia with. If you’re looking for a short term way to see the world after graduation, this is your program! Check out our hashtag #greenhearttravel to see why this program is so popular!

SUMMER PROGRAM TOO! Spend 6 weeks in Thailand this summer! In addition to our traditional semester contracts, we also offer several short-term summer positions with slightly different program details. If you only have the summer off, this is a perfect way to get abroad for that time!

The Basics:
- Contract length: 6-week summer program or 1 semester (3-4 months) with the option to extend
- Start dates: Monthly
  - Pro tip: our biggest start date of the year is always in September!
- Deadline to apply: At least 2 months prior to your desired program start date
Teach English in Italy

Learn to love all things Italy on this unique immersion program, as you live with your Italian host family, teach English in the local schools, and explore Italy on the weekends!

You can experience Italian culture by volunteer teaching at a local public school in the Piedmont region as you live with your new Italian host family. Your accommodation with the family, 2-3 delicious meals a day, and medical insurance will be provided as part of the program, so all you have to worry about is enjoying all that Italy has to offer. Check out what your day to day might be like through the eyes of Instagrams from our Italy teachers.

The Basics:
- Contract length: 3 months
- Dates: September – December 2020
- Deadline to apply: May 15, 2020
Get TEFL Certified and work in Prague, Czech Republic

Europe more your style? This is a 4-week TEFL certification course that allows teachers the opportunity to obtain a legal work permit and work in a bustling European city! The TEFL course in Prague is the perfect program for anyone looking to live and work in Europe legally and gain experience with different ages and English levels; from pre-schools to business English, Prague has a large and growing teaching market!

The Basics:
- Contract length: 4-week course and job assistance following graduation
- Start dates: Monthly
- Deadline to apply: At least 6 weeks prior to your desired program start date
Business and Marketing Internship in Thailand

What better way to strengthen your post-graduate resume than immersing yourself in the “Land of Smiles” while building valuable skills in a multicultural company! Work with cultural exchange programs or local animal rescue in this unique internship opportunity and gain experience in marketing, writing, program management, and social media. Space is limited and filled on a rolling basis so apply early! Read more about the 5 Things You Will Experience on Your Internship in Thailand.

The Basics:
- Internship length: Choose between 8 weeks or 12 weeks
- Start dates: Monthly
- Deadline to apply: At least 8 weeks before your desired start date.
Teach English in a Homestay

Want to spend 1-3 months getting to know a country in a truly authentic way? What better way than to live with a host family! You’ll tutor your family in English for 15 hours per week, while the other time is meant for you to create connections and explore. Will your new Italian host nonna teach you how to make fresh pasta? We can’t guarantee it, but it’s been a common perk in the past! We have programs in France, Italy, South Korea, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, China, and Russia.

The Basics:
- Contract length: 1, 2, or 3-month options
- Start dates: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month
- Deadline to apply: At least 8 weeks before your desired program start date
Work Abroad in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, or Argentina.

This is the quintessential “gap year” program, except you can choose to do it for a short period, or a full year. You will work in either Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, or Argentina with the option to move around the country, try different jobs and meet other backpackers! Jobs are usually in hostels, pubs, on farms, at amusement parks, and in factories. So, the focus of this program is less on career building, and more about experiencing another culture and funding your travels. See what kind of jobs our past traveler tried during her time in Australia!

The Basics:
- Contract length: 3 – 12 months
- Start dates: Monthly
- Deadline to apply: At least 8 weeks prior to your desired program start date
Teach English in Vietnam

Vietnam is a Southeast Asian teaching destination that offers placements in both public and private schools! July is the perfect time to arrive to get TESOL certified and begin working. We have paid teaching placements in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other locations around the country. Vietnam is the ideal destination to explore during time off!

Enjoy high salaries, a low cost of living, and the chance to explore this beautiful country full of fascinating history and culture.
- Contract length: 4, 6, 12 month contracts
- Start Dates: Throughout the year
- Deadline to apply: At least 2 months prior to your desired program start date
February 5, 2020
5 Reasons You Should Get TEFL Certified This Spring
Teaching English overseas allows travelers to get paid to explore the world. Knowing how to speak English as a second language can provide that extra bump in university applications, lead to future job opportunities, or it might just be a goal to become bilingual. No matter the reason, the awesome thing is that as an English teacher, you have the ability to help them gain this valuable skill!

Why You Should get TEFL Certified

While it is relatively straight-forward, with minimal eligibility requirements to apply for many English teaching positions, it shouldn’t downplay the fact that you are preparing for a paying teaching job that takes at least 4 years of university study to be an educator in a classroom the United States.

Not all teach abroad programs will require a TEFL certification, even if you don’t have a teaching license. Don’t use this as an excuse not to be prepared. Even if you are not required to obtain a TEFL certification, you should, and here’s why.

Although part of your motivation for going abroad should be for fun and personal growth (and there’s nothing wrong with that), you will still be stepping foot into a classroom, with 30-40 pairs of eyes gleaming up at you, and that can be intimidating.

What’s not going to be featured on those inspiring Instagram photos or travel blogs you are following are the additional challenges of:
- misbehaving students
- low-to-no language abilities
- 50 whole minutes to fill of classroom instruction and lesson planning
If you have zero hours of training for this job, it will become glaringly apparent very fast.

To get you motivated to take the important step in preparing for your teaching position, we’ve listed a few more reasons why you should consider getting your TEFL certification.

Students taking a TEFL certification course in Prague.

1. Respect for Your Future Students

When you get wrapped up in the excitement of moving abroad, it’s easy to forget the reason there is such a huge demand for native English teachers worldwide. As an educator in your school, you will have the ability to have a real impact on your students’ lives. You’re being given the amazing opportunity to support yourself while living abroad. Pay back the favor by making sure you’re properly qualified and prepared to improve your students’ English level.

2. Set Yourself Up for Success

Just like you wouldn’t apply for a job you don’t feel prepared to step into, you shouldn’t apply for a teaching job without the proper training.

3. Eliminate Unnecessary Stress

Moving abroad and getting acclimated to a new culture is stressful enough. Don’t create even more stress for yourself by frantically scrambling to learn how to create lessons every Sunday. Teaching is HARD. You earned that day off!

4. You’ll be prepared when your classroom turns into chaos.

Getting a TEFL certification isn’t just about learning how to plan lessons and teach English, it is also a chance to learn tips for classroom management.

5. Make the most of your travels and get TEFL Certified while abroad.

Taking a TEFL course while traveling is a chance to live and experience life in a new country. It’s also a great way to learn about the culture where you plan to teach English and help you bridge the cultural gap in the classroom. You’ll not only be learning how to teach English, you’ll also learn how your students will learn and how you should behave as a foreigner at your school.

The extra training that a quality TEFL certification provides you is paramount to your success in the classroom, but it also opens up a world of opportunities, literally. Having a TEFL certification allows you access to teaching jobs in most countries around the globe, especially if your course offers alumni lifetime job placement services, (like Greenheart Travel’s programs), to help you find a job independent of a structured program.

Most first-time English teachers will stay abroad for a couple years, even if they had only planned for one semester. A TEFL certification will give you the freedom to stay abroad, teach in different countries and be able to give all your students the quality teacher that they deserve.

Have a few questions about how you can get started or which program might be the best fit for your travel goals?
January 6, 2020
Why You Should Apply Early to Your Travel Program

Congrats on making the decision to go abroad! You’ve picked your program and the start date that works best for you, but our website says the deadline to apply is in a couple of months, so there’s no rush. You’ll just start your application around that time.

Waiting to apply is a bad idea.

The earlier you apply to go abroad, the easier your life will be. Trust us, we’ve seen the last minute scramble hundreds of times and it’s not ideal. Let’s break down exactly what we mean, shall we?

Paperwork

This may be the most important reason to apply early. There are several documents you’ll need to get, so the sooner you start the process the more time you’ll have to work on them. Some things, like obtaining a passport or visa, require a lengthy timeframe and rely on external factors. There are some things you just can’t do at the last minute, and paperwork is one of them.

Placement Preferences

For some programs, signing up early means getting your host family or school placement earlier than others. The earlier you apply, the bigger the pool of available host families we have to match you with to make sure it’s the best fit possible. So if you really want to be placed in Torino, while teaching abroad in Italy, you better get going before someone snags your spot! You will also have more time to communicate and get to know the family before you arrive. (Please note, we cannot guarantee anything when it comes to placements).

Fundraise & Budget

If you plan on fundraising, you need time to do it. If you want to save up for this program, you need time to do it. Funding your travels is another one of those things that you can’t do last minute.

All of our programs offer a “build your own” payment plan. We’ll provide the link to pay off your program fee balance and you can make as many payments as you want towards your program until the final due date which is usually 6 weeks before you leave for your program. If you can commit to paying off a certain amount each month, applying early makes it easier to save, budget, and afford that program!

Discounts

Speaking of budgeting and money, we offer discounts for those you apply early to some of our programs. For example, high school abroad applicants get $300 off a trimester duration and $500 off the semester/academic year if documents are submitted by a certain date. This seems like a no-brainer if you know you’re going to be applying anyway. Unless you hate saving money.

Space is Limited

Each program has a certain number of spots, and once those are taken, we can’t make exceptions. For example, our July TESOL course in South Korea was so popular, it filled up way before the deadline. Fortunately, we were able to add another one in August, but if you were set on July you would have been out of luck.

Plan for the Future

It’s one thing to decide you want to go abroad, but that decision is just an idea until you have a confirmed plan of action. Think of how nice it will be to have an answer when people ask what you’re doing after graduation. “I’m going to be teaching in Thailand in June with Greenheart Travel” sounds way more impressive than, “I don’t have a job yet. I”m thinking about teaching English abroad.”

Communication

We get A LOT of phone calls near popular program start dates. We’ll prepare you ahead of time as much as possible, but travelers still tend to have some lingering questions before departure. While we try to give every single person as much attention as possible, those who start the application process late have less time to organize all of their program details. Do you know what’s nice? Having all your questions answered well in advance so that you don’t have to call at 9:00 pm on a Sunday to ask about where to exchange money at the airport the day before you leave.

Set Yourself Up For Success

Mentally and emotionally prepare for your time abroad – read blog posts, learn about the country, set goals. Basically, the more time to have to plan, the better prepared you will be. Greenheart Travel provides all of our travelers with their own copy of the Greenheart Travel Atlas. This interactive guide is full of activities to complete before you leave on your program like setting goals, reflecting on your motivations, and challenging stereotypes and assumptions about your upcoming host country. Having time to complete these thoughtfully will allow you to be sure you’re ready for the challenges ahead like culture shock.

TL;DR

Last minute applications are a lose-lose. Apply early!

October 28, 2019