Greenheart Travel

Tag: Greenheart Travel Scholarship Winner

The Dos and Don’ts of Being a High School Exchange Student in Ireland

By Madeleine Casteel, High School Abroad Ireland Fall Semester 2024

Being a high school exchange student in Ireland is an adventure filled with constant drizzle and warm conversations. It is a chance to step out of your comfort zone and create memories you’ll carry forever—but only if you play it right. Based on my experience, here are some dos and don’ts to make the most of it.

Do Say “Yes”
When someone invites you to join a Gaelic football match, take a weekend trip, or try black pudding for breakfast, say yes! These experiences, the spontaneous ones, are the ones that will stick with you long after you leave. I was hesitant at first because I like planning things all the way out, but pushing myself to participate opened doors to friendships and so many moments I would have never had otherwise.

Don’t Overcommit
That said, don’t feel pressured to do everything. Taking time for yourself isn’t “wasting” your experience—it’s keeping your battery charged. Some of my favorite days, and actually most of my days, were spent in my host home, drinking tea, journaling, and letting myself just be. Balance is key.

Do Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
Ireland is the perfect place to try new things in a low-pressure environment. Whether it’s striking up a conversation with someone in the shop uptown or volunteering to read aloud in class, lean into the unfamiliar. My shaky attempt at a speech in my American accent wasn’t perfect, but my debate team loved the effort, and I loved the support. Take advantage of the fact that your time is limited and you won’t see a lot of these people again! Use your free-will as much as you can.

Don’t Hold Grudges
Living in close quarters with new people can sometimes create tension. Let go of small annoyances and don’t waste your time holding onto petty drama. I learned that forgiving quickly keeps things positive and helps you make the most of your relationships.

Do Dress for the Weather
Irish weather is a character all on its own. You’ll need a solid raincoat and waterproof shoes. Forget umbrellas—they won’t survive the wind. People might tell you that the locals don’t wear raincoats but it’s completely untrue. If it’s raining, everyone has clothes for the weather. Being prepared meant I could enjoy Ireland rain or shine (but mostly rain).

Don’t Forget to Document the Journey
The days can blur together, so find a way to remember them. Journaling is a MUST and it’s a great habit to have when you get back home. A random, mundane memory about walking home in the rain or a joke about your host sibling will feel like finding gold when you look back later.

Do Connect with Other Exchange Students
Of course, getting to know locals is important, but don’t forget about the other exchange students around you. They’re going through the same ups and downs, and there’s something comforting about being able to laugh (or vent) with someone who really gets it. Those friendships can become some of the strongest bonds you’ll make.

The Bottom Line
Being an exchange student in Ireland is about more than the postcard-perfect views. It’s about all of the in-betweens and everyday choices you make. You decide what your study abroad will be. It’s not always easy, but trust me, it’s worth it!

February 24, 2025
Trains in Tokyo – A First Time Traveler’s impression

One of the fascinating parts of travel is transportation. Once you fly in to a country, how do you get around? Do you take public transportation? Subways? Ferries? Walk? Uber? How do you figure out where you are and how do you get where you want to go in a foreign country where you may not understand the language…or even the alphabet?! Here’s Greenheart First Time Traveler winner, Christopher, to tell us how he navigated to his Teen Summer Language classes on trains in Tokyo.

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I recently returned from a trip to Tokyo, Japan as part of the Greenheart Travel Teen Language camp. I had to travel for over 2 hours every day as part of my commute to the language school from my homestay. In my journey, I utilized the Tokyo public transportation system to efficiently take me from point A to point B. This is my experience and advice for using public transportation in Tokyo.

As the biggest city in the world, Tokyo has a complex network of transportation that can take you anywhere in the city. Many people who travel to Japan for the first time may find the trains intimidating, especially coming from somewhere like America where good public transportation is only really found in the biggest cities. The area I live in only has a small network of buses, so the Tokyo train system was a big change for me to adjust to. The Tokyo trains are much easier to navigate then you might think.

A difficult part of the Tokyo public transit system is finding out which trains go where and how to get to your destination. The Tokyo metropolitan area is home to nearly 40 million people and contains over 100 different rail lines operated by multiple different rail companies. Using a cell phone with internet connection, Google maps can route you through this complex rail system to get anywhere in Tokyo and the surrounding area easily. It tells you when each train is coming, the platform that it will arrive on, and whether the train is an express or local train. It also contains the bus schedules, to help you get to destinations that might not be right next to the train station. Public internet is also available in many places including train stations, in case you don’t have a sim card or pocket wi-fi.

The best way to pay for your travels is through an IC card, the most popular brands being Suica or Pasmo. You can either buy a physical card at a JR station or buy a digital version on your cell phone. The physical cards can be reloaded with money at the station or at convenience stores such as 7-eleven, and the digital cards can be reloaded with a credit card in the app. These cards make it simple to navigate through Tokyo, as all you need to do is tap it when you enter the station and tap it when you leave. They work on trains and buses, and sometimes may be cheaper than cash or buying a ticket.

Another thing that may intimidate travelers is the language of Japan, Japanese. In the train stations, the signs can be found in English, along with some having arrows on the floor leading you to your destination. The stations can be difficult to get through at rush hour, but as long as you watch out where you are going to avoid bumping into people, you should be fine.

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Thank you Christopher for sharing your transportation advice! To find out more about other Greenheart programs like Teen Summer Language Camps or High School Abroad programs, visit GreenheartTravel.org!

July 25, 2023
A First Time Traveler goes to Tokyo

Traveling is such an amazing thing, especially for a first time traveler! Here is a report from one of our First Time Traveler winners, Christopher, who spent a few weeks in Teen Summer Language Camp in Tokyo, Japan!

My trip to Tokyo, Japan

I recently returned from a trip to Tokyo, Japan as part of the Greenheart travel teen language camp. I enjoyed my time abroad and would like to share it with you.

I left in the early morning from the Orlando airport. I had an early flight to catch, so I was up and on the way to the airport at 3:30 a.m. I checked my bag, got through security, and had some time to get breakfast before I had to board my flight at 5:30. I got on the plane, and fell asleep for most of the flight. I landed in Minneapolis around 8:30 a.m. local time, and had to wait around for about an hour until my flight to Tokyo boarded. After a long thirteen-hour flight, I had finally landed in Tokyo.

I arrived in Japan some time before my program started, so I had some time to do sightseeing around Japan. I ended up seeing Mount Fuji and visiting Kyoto, and then on Sunday, my program began. I took the train from the hotel I was staying at to meet my homestay family. I got settled in to my accommodation, had dinner, and then went to bed. On the first night I was exhausted and fell asleep quickly. The room I stayed in had a futon, which is common in most of Japan. I woke up early the next morning, since the sun rises at 4:30 a.m. in Japan. I had breakfast, and then had to figure out how to make it to my school in downtown Tokyo. I had to take a bus to the train station, and then a train from Kawasaki to Shinjuku.

I arrived at my school and had orientation for the first day. In the orientation, we received our books and learned the school procedures. I only had 1 class that morning, and then I went to get lunch. The other students in the school and in my class I attended were mostly adults, which was a little disappointing as I only ended up connecting with a couple people close to my age. After I had gotten lunch, I headed back to my homestay and had some time before dinner to start my homework.

The rest of the week was mostly the same, I went to class, had lunch, and then did some shopping or exploring the local area before heading back to my homestay. On the weekend, I went to karate with the children in my homestay, and then went to see a movie in Kawasaki.

The second week was mostly the same routine as the first week. At the end of the week, I attended the graduation ceremony at the school since it was my last day. I had evening classes that day, so after the graduation ceremony I went to my last classes before I left Japan. That weekend, I explored downtown Tokyo with a friend I met at the school. I went to Tsukiji market and Harajuku. On my last day in Japan, I packed my things, cleaned my room, and was on the way to the airport. The flight home was uneventful, and I eventually landed in Orlando where my family was there to welcome me home at the baggage claim.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Japan. I got to experience an entirely different culture and learn a new language. Japan is a beautiful country and I would definitely go back.

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Thank you Christopher for sharing your experience! Learn more about Greenheart Travel’s Teen Summer Language program in Japan, and about the First Time Traveler scholarship program.

July 25, 2023
Meet the 2023 First Time Traveler Scholarship Winners!

Greenheart Travel wants to help make travel accessible to everyone because we truly believe that when you study, teach or volunteer abroad, you embark on a journey that will significantly impact your global perspective! Each year Greenheart Travel provides scholarship grants to individuals who are “first-time travelers” and who have the desire for travel and cultural immersion. Our First Time Traveler Scholarships are available for our adult and high school programs and offer additional support and resources. Here are the 2023 winners! Congratulations!

Stirling – Teach in a Homestay in South Korea

My name is Stirling, I am 19 years old, and I live in London. I am currently taking a year out of school to work, travel and learn new things before I go off to university. I previously studied physics, maths and art for A Level (the school exams we take at 18 years old) and I’m going to study engineering in university. In my gap year I have been learning how to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL course), volunteering in a local school as well as working in a kitchen to earn money. I have lots of hobbies and passions, some of the things I enjoy are listening to music, drawing, writing, fencing, learning new things and reading. I am really looking forward to travelling abroad, this will be the first time that I have travelled by myself and lived away from home.

Joseph – Teen Summer Language Camp Japan

I am an enthusiastic pursuer of knowledge who is always looking for new experiences. Even though I do not play many video games, I enjoy hanging around my school’s gaming club to chat with my friends. I occasionally partake in community service at my town’s discount food warehouse. Lastly though, I love combat sports and martial arts, and attend classes around 18 hours a week. I also like creative writing/world building, and reading about history–especially World War I era aviation.

Christopher – Teen Summer Language Camp Japan

I am active in the Boy Scouts of America and recently earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout. I am interested in computers and robotics. I enjoy playing musical instruments of all sorts, including the piano and guitar. I have recently begun taking tennis lessons. I also enjoy camping and the outdoors. I enjoy spending time with my family. I also enjoy going to places like Disney World and the gym with my friends. I like to go to the beach and to be outside.

Caleb – Teen Summer Language Camp – Spain

I enjoy many different things depending on how I’m feeling. I will paint when I’m feeling creative and mindful, I sketch when I’m feel like daydreaming, I play video games when I just want to relax, and I organize when I’m feeling a little too cluttered or need to clear my head. Art in all forms is a huge interest of mine, and I most enjoy the art of filmmaking, so I often find myself analyzing movies and tv shows to get a deeper understanding of the film’s message. The biggest things in my life that keep me happy are the people I surround myself with. I am a social creature, even if I don’t want to admit it at times, so I am at my happiest when the people around me are at their happiest.

Congratulations to our 2023 First Time Travelers! We look forward to sharing more about their travels in the coming months!

We encourage everyone to follow their travel aspirations and Travel for a Change!

Learn more about Greenheart Travel’s First Time Traveler Scholarship and take a look at all the places Greenheart Travel goes!

May 10, 2023
The Ups and Downs of an Exchange Year: My First Few Months in the Netherlands

Every year, Greenheart Travel awards scholarships for First Time Travelers who haven’t had the chance to go abroad before. Greenheart Travel knows the power of travel and we really believe that the world would be a better place if everyone had more chances to interact with people from different ways of life than their own.

Here is a report from Lauren, a First Time Traveler award winner, who is spending her exchange year in a Netherlands high school. Her experience is a reminder to keep an open mind and enjoy the moments.

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Beginning an exchange year

Choosing to go on an exchange year is a huge decision, and one that has both advantages and disadvantages. While you are leaving your family, friends, and basically your whole life behind for an entire year, you are also getting the opportunity to see a new country and really delve into a different culture. While applying and planning for my exchange year, I wasn’t able to really picture what it would be like and how I would feel while on my exchange. But now that I have lived abroad in the Netherlands for a few months, I am able to speak much more about this topic. For the past couple of weeks I have really started to reflect on the fact that I left my life in the United States behind for an entire year. It’s a crazy thing to think about.

New experiences and new friends

Traveling to a new continent for the first time was quite overwhelming and anxiety inducing, so it was very comforting to have the first week with other exchange students. We were all experiencing the same thing, and really feeling like we had no idea what was going on. Apart from being comforting, the orientation week was one of the best experiences of my life. I made so many new friends from around the world and it was truly amazing to hear about their different lives and cultures. I’ve kept in touch with a few of those I became closest with, and this is one of the things that I recommend doing most. It is extremely helpful to have someone who can relate to how you feel, especially when it comes to experiencing homesickness and culture shock. However, it is important to also remember that you are here to experience a new country and culture, so you should also focus on making friends that are actually from your host country. Those who I became friends with are people that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Handling homesickness

After orientation week, I hit a low. I was in a new country, in a new home, and with a new family. It was pretty overwhelming. I took it day by day and kept reminding myself that I was finally experiencing the thing I had dreamed about for so long. As I got settled into school, found a routine, and made new friends it became much better. It’s really important to remember that these feelings of homesickness and sadness are completely normal. It’s just part of being an exchange student.

A school day in the Netherlands

School in the Netherlands is very different from school in the United States. I usually start school at nine in the morning, but some days it is earlier or later. I wake up and get ready to ride my bike to the bus stop. I live in a small town in the north of the Netherlands, and lately it has been very foggy and cold in the mornings. Still, I enjoy it. From my town to school, it is about a twenty minute bus ride. Many kids, including myself, live in a different town than the one they go to school in. You can either bike, ride the bus, or ride the train to school. Riding the bus is actually something that I enjoy doing, as long as it isn’t too crowded and I get a seat. Once I get to school, I go to the classes that I have that day. Another way that Dutch school is different from American school is that you have different classes each day and, often, you have gap hours in between classes. During the gap hours my friends and I usually walk to a supermarket nearby to get some snacks. It’s a small thing, but it really is fun! After school I ride the bus back to my town and then bike to my house. I end school at a different time each day, which is typical for Dutch schools. Some days I’ll do my homework right when I get home, but other days it’s nice to just relax. Learning in a foreign language is a difficult thing to do and my brain needs a rest sometimes!

Extracurricular activities and excursions

Another thing that I recommend doing while on your exchange year is joining some sort of sport or activity after school. I joined the local soccer team in my town and it has been a really good way to make friends that live where I do, especially since I go to school in a different city. It’s really nice to have something to do after school and on the weekends. It definitely also helps me with my Dutch because I learn so many new words that I frequently hear at practices and games. I know many other exchange students who participate in sports or other activities and they all really enjoy it.

While I have only been on my exchange year in the Netherlands for about three months, I’ve still been able to do so much. I have made so many new friends, both Dutch and other exchange students, and I’ve been able to see many different parts of the country. I visited two other exchange students in their placement cities, Arnhem and Enschede. I really enjoyed visiting these cities, and they are probably not ones that I would have gone to if I were a tourist. I would say that that is an advantage of being an exchange student. You visit places in your chosen country that you wouldn’t normally go to as a tourist! I’ve also been able to visit Amsterdam twice, and I have been to Rotterdam and Leeuwarden! In addition to this, I have had the opportunity to visit different parts of Friesland, the province that I live in, with my host family. It has truly been amazing to see so many different parts of the Netherlands!

Being an exchange student is rewarding

Being an exchange student is a hard thing to do, but it is an experience that is extremely rewarding. Even though I am not even halfway done with my exchange year, I can already see some of these rewards. I’ve navigated some tough situations, made new friends from around the world that I’m already planning to visit, and gained more independence. Despite any feelings of homesickness, all the good parts of my exchange have made it worth it.

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Thanks Lauren for sharing!

Check out the High School in the Netherlands program and all the High School Abroad options for other parts of the world. And to read more about the First Time Traveler Awards click here.

December 1, 2022
Leaving Home – A First Time Traveler goes to High School in Argentina
Greenheart Travel knows the power of travel. That is why we’re committed to helping people who haven’t had the chance to immerse in a new culture, travel, or live abroad. Every year, Greenheart Travel offers First Time Traveler scholarships to help new travelers get out and meet others around the world. Recently Max won a First Time Traveler scholarship to attend Greenheart Travel’s High School Abroad in Argentina. Here is a little bit about his first independent travel experience!

Leaving Home – by Max K.

“Do you like it here in Argentina? Do you miss home?” These are the two questions I get asked daily as a foreign exchange student. My answers are always the same: yes and yes. In reality, the way I feel about spending my senior year of high school in Córdoba, Argentina is much more complex than a one-word response.

I’ll take a few steps back- my name is Max. I’m from a small town in Wisconsin and I chose to move abroad last spring after receiving the First Time Traveler Scholarship from Greenheart Travel. Before coming here, I had no clue what to expect. I was too caught up in applying for my visa, tying up loose ends, and writing packing lists to stop and think about the gravity of my situation; I would be leaving everything and everyone I knew behind. Before the unimaginable, it has become the reality I’ve come to know well.

Recently while hanging out with a friend from the next town over, he told me that he might be moving to another province. He seemed to be infatuated with the idea of living somewhere where nobody knew who he was – the ability to “reinvent” himself and do his own thing alone. I realized I had felt similarly before coming here. So, I told him exactly what I wish I had known before I decided to come here: Making a big move is hard. It’s much more complex than just skipping town and creating a new image for yourself. You will miss your family, your friends, the places you always visited, and the streets you walked more than you could ever imagine. When I came here, the culture shock (the scary word that Greenheart loves to use) of not recognizing anyone or anything knocked me off my feet.

I was faced with numerous preconceived notions about myself as an American. My lack of proficiency in Spanish was sometimes equated to blatant stupidity. Rather than “reinventing” who I am, I found myself fighting to rebuild the personality and confidence in who I was as a person that I had spent my whole life in the U.S. forging.

As I began to make friends here, I started to find myself again. I took the initiative to get to know the streets and places in my town. I participated in things that I would never have participated in when I lived in the U.S. I found myself going to the gym with another exchange student, going to soccer games with my host brothers, and spending the weekends at bailes or boliches with groups of friends. By putting forth the effort to make friends and try new things, I was able to regain some of that sense of self I had lost. I firmly believe that this is the most crucial step to having a successful exchange experience.

Now that I’m about three months into my time here, I certainly still miss home. But now rather than feeling lost, it’s as if I’ve made a second home here. Those same things that I missed from home, I’ve started to make connections with here.

Here are a few tips for dealing with leaving home as a foreign exchange student:
- Limit contact with home at first.
  - It sometimes felt hard to call home during my first month or so here. I found myself feeling agitated afterward and missing my family and friends even more than I had beforehand. Something that helped me was limiting the frequency with which I called my family at the start of my program. It allowed me to become fully adjusted to my new living situation. Now, I can call home more easily and with more frequency.
- Walk!
  - One of the best ways to get to know your new town is to start walking; At the beginning of my program, I felt a lack of independence because I didn’t know how to get places without being driven by a host parent. One day I decided to walk home after hanging out with friends – from that point onward I started walking everywhere. Now not only do I have a strong sense of direction in my new town, but I can come and go from my host family’s house with more independence.
- Try new things, take risks, and take care of yourself while doing so.
  - During your time as a foreign exchange student, you will have lots of new opportunities and meet lots of new people. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve done so many things I never would have even imagined doing in the U.S. I try to accept every invitation that comes my way- whether it be a rap battle in Rio Ceballos or a four-hour-long hike in Las Altas Cumbres. Taking risks and taking the initiative to make plans is an essential part of making valuable friendships during your time abroad. However, it’s important to keep in mind that not everyone has the best intentions, and your actions do carry consequences… even in another country. Take risks and enjoy yourself, but do so without endangering yourself or others.
- Embrace the chill days.
  - I’ve spent a lot of time talking about all of the opportunities you’ll have during your program, and while that may be true, downtime and chill days are inevitable (and great!). It’s normal to feel antsy when you have nothing to do, especially with the constant reminders of how limited your time is in your destination country. Days where I have nothing to do have become some of my favorites. They allow me to catch up on school work, go for a walk by myself, or just sit and watch a movie. It’s important to realize that although studying abroad may be an adventure, it still has its ups and its downs.
I still have quite a bit of time left on my program. Although I miss home, I know that it’ll still be there waiting for me when my time is up in Córdoba. I am excited to see where life takes me during the time I have left here, and even more excited to share those experiences with all the new people I’ve met during my time here.

Thank you Max for sharing your experience, insights, and advice!

For more information about Greenheart Travel’s First Time Traveler Scholarship, click here.
November 8, 2022
A First Time Traveler’s Impression of Japan and Greenheart’s Teen Language Camp

Every year, Greenheart Travel offers scholarships for First Time Travelers. Our goal is for more people to experience the joys of travel and the importance of cultural exchange. Here’s one of our First Time Travel Scholarship winners here to tell us about her adventures at Greenheart’s Teen Language Camp in Japan…. Take it away, Kai!

Without Any Expectations

I’m grateful to have experienced Japan in the way that I did: without any expectations. I truly believe that it’s the best way to go about many things in life. Before I left for Japan, a lot of my friends and family members asked me, “What do you think it will be like?” It was a question I wasn’t able to formulate a response to because I truly had no idea. I don’t think I was wrong to have gone about thinking, or rather not thinking, this way because, as a result, the environment I was in and the people I surrounded myself with never ceased to amaze me.

My Host Family

In the course of a month, I found that saying goodbye to my host family was my most difficult experience in Japan. Many people find it difficlt to adjust to new house rules, but with the assistance of our mobile translators and general interest in each other’s lives, my transition into my new home life was smooth and enjoyable. I found living with them, for the short time I did, to be very peaceful.

Langauge and Cultural Journey

My main purpose in having gone to Japan was to begin my language learning journey, and prepare me for college. I’m not completely sure what I want to study in college or do beyond that, but when asked, I tend to answer that I will study linguistics. The amount of Japanese I knew before arriving in Japan was close to none, but I think it only encouraged me to practice more after I arrived there. With the hours each week I spent studying at school along with my exposure out in the world, I felt like I had improved a lot in a very short time. To be quite frank, I had minimal insight as to what Japanese culture was like prior to going. But, beginning to learn the language only encouraged me to also want to delve into learning more about the culture and historical aspects of Japanese life. I guess they’re right when they say that when it rains it pours. I found myself never having days off because I was constantly out learning something new.

My school was very encouraging of this newfound interest, and offered a multitude of activities that introduced other students and me to the rich culture that Japan has to offer. Many of our lessons focused on the localized history of Fukuoka; however, my classmates and I also visited contemporary exhibits (think: Studio Ghibli and Hello Kitty) along with historical museums showcasing Fukuoka’s history and most interesting artifacts. On our many field trips, we also visited well-known temples like Shoufukuji Temple and practiced zazen with the charismatic and helpful guidance of a monk.

Working through Weather and Transportation Challenges

If I had to choose one thing I disliked about Japan, it would have to be the weather. Hot summer days are to be expected wherever you go, but humidity has never been something I’ve been accustomed to. My host mother pointed out that I had a daily habit of cursing the weather when I came home everyday. Even though I walk most places in the US, the added humidity definitely increased my endurance. Maybe the weather wasn’t such a bad thing, after all? Regardless of its benefits, the weather remained my worst enemy while I explored Fukuoka.

Fukuoka had a lot of sights to offer, and I found myself endlessly asking questions regarding direction and location while exploring. It’s very easy to make mistakes and get lost while abroad, and I quickly learned that the best investment you can provide for yourself is pocket WIFI. Many of my classmates went about this beforehand, and had little issues navigating their way around the city because they had a GPS on hand. I, unfortunately, did not. On my very first day of school, my host mother walked me to the train station and showed me which line to take to get to Hakata Station. I was on my own with only a station name and a general map of where my school was. After I arrived at Hakata Station, I began my disastrous trek to school by approaching a security officer for directions. When I asked him which direction I should head based on my map, he confidently told me to go west, so off I went.

For the next hour, I found myself wandering deeper into the city and being unable to read most of the street signs. It took everything in me not to freak out when I came to the realization that I was completely and utterly lost. However, with the help of a hotel worker, she pointed me in the right direction. It turns out I was supposed to leave Hakata from the east exit! The relief I felt when I arrived at school and was immediately welcomed by concerned teachers was overwhelming. For those of who are not well versed in the language of their respective language– and even for those who are– do yourself a favor and invest in a handy pocket WIFI tool or an international SIM card. It will save you a lot of trouble.

Overwhelmingly Positive Experience

My interactions with the residents of Fukuoka were overwhelmingly positive, and people were quite accommodating towards me even after misunderstandings. I became close with a couple local students my age, and talking with them expedited my language learning. My host family was very welcoming, and despite initially not knowing their language, we became good at talking by mixing bits of Japanese and English together. One thing, among many, that I was grateful for, were my host parents’ children. Their presence made my transition into a new lifestyle a million times more comfortable. Although they’re quite young, they were very intelligent and quickly realized that I couldn’t fully speak Japanese. This wasn’t a problem, and we communicated mostly through body language and signals to get ideas across. I loved them a lot, and enjoyed being able to both teach them a bit of English and learn from them.

When I came back, my friends and family asked me a similar question as the one prior to my trip, “Was Japan how you thought it would be?” I was again at a loss for how to answer, because I never wanted to place expectations on a place I’ve never experienced. However, now I can say with certainty that I had a lot of fun learning new things while I was there, and hope that everyone with an open mind gets a chance to travel abroad and experience it for themselves.

Thank you Kai for sharing your experience at the Teen Summer Langauge Camp in Japan! Readers can learn more about all Greenheart Travel’s Teen Language Programs on our website. In addition, follow us on social media for updates on when the First Time Traveler scholarship window opens again.

August 15, 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 Life of a Student in Spain

By: Amanda M.

Amanda is a First Time Traveler 2021 Scholarship winner. She is doing our High School Abroad program in Spain for an academic year.

Arriving in Spain

It all started on Sunday, September 19 when I embarked on the journey of my life. I was extremely terrified but excited at the same time to see what my future life in Spain would bring. I arrived in Málaga fo1r my orientation on September 20, 2021. I had gone over 18 hours in flights, and I was extremely jet lagged but extremely happy that I had finally arrived in Málaga. Soon after my arrival the program was constantly picking up more students from the airport. I was amazed to meet students from all over the world! It was so exciting to meet such amazing people and create such international connections when we’re all here to do the same thing. We all travelled from abroad to spend a year or semester in a country that is not our homeland to learn a language and experience a new culture. We were choosing to live our lives and grow into different people. As time went by I became a little homesick, and I knew that missing my family would be normal. However, I was excited to start the new journey in Spain!

Host Family Life

At first I was a bit timid with my host family. I was extremely grateful that they had given me this opportunity to stay in this beautiful town with such wonderful people. After a few months the culture shock slowly went away and I became more comfortable with my family. I have three host brothers which was a bit shocking at the beginning. In my family back home there are more girls than boys. It was an adjustment, but they are all very sweet and I consider them all like a second family to me. I also baked my mom’s chocolate cake for them, which I made with one of my host brothers.

Almost every Sunday we go to the campo where you can find a wide variety of fruit and vegetables grown there. We have big family lunches and stay there usually the whole afternoon. If it’s a bit cold we go inside where we are able to enjoy their warm and cozy fireplace.

During the holidays the whole family gathers together and we usually sing karaoke or play fun games. I got a little homesick around Christmas and New Years’ since I was missing my natural family. I was reminded that this is completely normal, and I was able to be grateful for the opportunity to celebrate this years’ holidays with my host family in Spain.

School Life

School was extremely hard at first because I was still adjusting to both a new home and city. Especially in the beginning I had to push through jet lag to go to school every day. Sometimes school is extremely hard, such as engaging in a classics course where I struggle to understand what the teacher is saying in Spanish. I’m in humanities so along with Latin and Greek I also have history and some other classes such as Philosophy, Lengua, Aleman Touristico, French, and Ampliación de Inglés. My school starts around 8:30 and ends around 3, it is a little shorter than in the U.S which makes it seem like the time goes by faster here, though!

Unfortunately the schools in Spain do not offer school-sponsored clubs. but you can enroll in activities out of school such as a hobby or a sport. Many students love playing sports like futbol (soccer!) on community teams.

Cultural Differences

One cultural difference I’ve noticed is transportation. At home I wouldn’t even think about going on a bus to the nearest city. Here, though, I can just take the bus and I arrive in a city without any issues. I was able to explore a lot of places such as Granada. While there I got to see their famous architecture and Christmas spirit for the Reyes Magos. I also visited Málaga; they have a rich and diverse culture. I was able to visit some really cool vintage stores there, and some other small cities. I can’t wait to explore more places!

Another difference is in food – it is absolutely divine! Along with the famous paella, Spain has another dish extremely popular here called migas. It is like a Tex-Mex breakfast dish. It is so popular here that there is even a festiva in December where people make huge batches of migas and people visit from all over the world to eat it. The best part is that it’s free!

When I visited Mijas (a small town outside of Marbella), we ate at an Argentinian restaurant and I was able to try a famous Argentinian burger which was extremely delicious. If you ever visit Nerja. you can also try the best ice cream I’ve ever had! The town has a stunning seaside view that is only made better when you get some ice cream. Unfortunately, I have not learned how to cook any Spanish food yet. However, I hope to learn before I leave!

Another thing that shocked me was learning that in Spain they eat dinner around 9 P.M.; in the U.S I would normally eat dinner around 5 or 6 in the afternoon. It’s definitely been an adjustment!

What I’m looking forward to the rest of my stay here!

I’m looking forward to getting to explore new places and become more fluent in my Spanish. I also plan to spend quality time with my friends and family before I leave. With the first few months I was still acclimating to all the changes in experiencing a new culture. Now is the prime time to truly dive deeper into the Spanish culture and language since I’ve worked through some of the harder parts of culture shock.

Over time, I began to make a lot of friends and I was able to do things more independently. Things are still hard sometimes but, I know that I can’t give up, because I’m here for a year and I want to make this experience worthwhile. I’ve already made a lot of lifelong friends, and I know that even when I leave I will remain in contact with them no matter what! I still have 4 months left with a lot to learn. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and hope you, too, take this journey since it’s a once in a lifetime chance!

If you’re interested in studying abroad in Spain for a Trimester, Semester, or Academic Year, check out our program page HERE. We also offer a teen summer language camp in Salamanca, Spain for those students who can’t accommodate a program during the school year. If you have other questions or comments about studying abroad in Spain, feel free to drop a comment below, too!

March 22, 2022