Alumni Interview with Ericksammy Morales-Arroyo

What inspired you to travel abroad?

Lived in the US as undocumented, always felt like a bird in a cage. Once in the airplane way back to my native country, Mexico, I didn't know where in life I was heading to. I applied for jobs in Mexico, but not really something I wanted to do or live paycheck to paycheck, and started teaching English to my neighbours, and realized this was something I enjoyed doing. Moreover, I wanted to travel the world and do something new. In a meditation course in Mexico, I met people that inspired me to teach English abroad. Months later, here I am! I never expected that one day I'll end up in Vietnam or Cambodia.

Why did you choose Teacher’s Friend Vietnam?

I did talk to three different organizations, and just the fact that I was not a native speaker and had no degree, I was shut down immediately, with no opportunity or chance at all. I came across Teacher's Friend Vietnam and set up an interview with Georgie Snape. She was very honest from the beginning about getting paid less due to the fact that I am not a native speaker and no degree at all. She gave me a sense of opportunity, that despite the fact that I wasn't a native speaker, there were ways for me to teach English abroad. She then directed me to the coordinator of the AVSE-TESOL program in Vietnam-Cambodia, who gladly accepted me into the TESOL program, with a job guarantee in Cambodia.

What was your favorite part about Vietnam?

I wanted to be surprised by everything, and I decided to stop watching videos of other people living in Vietnam. Up to this day, I miss Vietnam, especially GoVap District. My favorite part about Vietnam, Go Vap, is its people. These are the most honest people I've ever met. They are very welcoming and always go a step further to please you. I was offered fruit by the security guy who I used to see every day on my way to school, always smiling at you. I was given a red hat by a local, which I still use. I was speechless when this happened. Maybe she was worried by the fact that Vietnam is hot and sunny every day, I was not protecting my face. I think of it, and a smile draws in my face. The food is so delicious and cheap. But most important, Vietnam is full of lovely people. That is what I take with me from Vietnam.

What made your experience abroad extraordinary?

The country itself did all the work to make this experience extraordinary. Flying in three different airplanes, meeting different people and making friends with one or two, something you didn't plan, and friendship is still there. Definitely meeting Georgie in person was one of them. Moreover, she helped to make the transition easier, she was there for me from the beginning and still now, I can still contact her and she'll help me with doubts I may have. The locals were so welcoming and very honest, always smiling to you. Overall, what made my experience abroad extraordinary was all the great folks I met along the way.

How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?

TFV: Georgie was there from the beginning, as soon as I landed at the airport. With questions of how much dollars I should change, and feedback about my performance and lesson plans, and always beyond. Georgie Snapes definitely goes above and beyond. AVSE-TESOL: Very supportive, especially with this situation going on with the coronavirus, very supportive. I couldn't have landed in a better TESOL program. Furthermore, If one needed to know where to buy a cable or computer or how to obtain a sim card, or even with translations, the staff from AVSE-TESOL was there for us. They even offer you help to land you a job.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?

Nothing. I wouldn't have done anything differently. Life keeps reminding me that life doesn't happen as we planned. I met great people along the way, and every single experience was meant to be, even meeting George in person. The whole world is going through something critical at this very moment, Covid19, for that reason I am jobless at this very moment, but it is giving me an opportunity to grow as a person and waiting for the world to heal and life will follow its course. There is no one single thing I wish I would have done differently during my time abroad. Everything was meant to be.

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.

Well, my journey just started, I just completed my TESOL course, and now we have the Covid19 going on. Before we entered into lockdown, we used to have breakfast in the early morning. Vietnamese people are up very early, 5am to 6am. There is already movement in the streets. The best part of eating in Vietnam is eating on the sidewalk. I laugh at the word "sidewalk," they are not made to walk on them. They are meant to park motorcycles, vendors set their business and restaurants set out the tables and chairs for people to eat. After breakfast, we'll head to school, until 4:30pm or 5pm. Then I'll head to the gym and eat afterward. Sometimes my classmates and I would cook and eat outside, talking, laughing, or even dancing. On Fridays, we had the chance to rent a karaoke hotel for four hours, one of the best experiences.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?

Among the things I enjoyed doing during my free time abroad was having long walks admiring everything Vietnam had to offer. From its architecture, smells, funerals, way of doing things. You'll never see in another part of the world one person carrying anything you can think of, from the whole family to a washing machine to a big bonsai on the back of a motorcycle, beauty at its best. We also used to gather together and rent a room for karaoke night, for dancing and singing, great times. Furthermore, we used to go to pools to swim in and dine out, or just walk at night. There are so many lights at night in the streets of Vietnam, that walking at night became a great activity to do before going to bed.

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?

I was at a house with eight rooms. Every room had a bed, AC, a wardrobe, a desk, and a chair — to do your work in — own bathroom and shower, and pretty lights. We all had a common kitchen, and shared a refrigerator. There were four refrigerators, which you would share with another classmate. Some rooms had balconies, some didn't, it was a matter of luck. The house comes with wifi included, so in your free time, you can definitely watch a movie on Netflix, or call your loved ones through a video chat. The Internet is pretty good and reliable, never had a problem with it.

What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?

You can plan as much as you want, but you'll never know what life has waiting for you. If you are going to take on this adventure, take it with its pleasant and unpleasant things. This is a four-week program, you'll be shocked by all different minds. What's more, your mind will be challenged in a short period of time. You'll hate it but you'll love it in the end, very rewarding. AVSE-TESOL has all the tools to help you succeed as an English teacher. They'll work with you and give you all the tools you need to prepare for your lesson plans, to simple things like getting a line or how money works. Shout out to Mary and Miranda for all the help and support.

Would you recommend Teacher’s Friend Vietnam to others? Why?

Starting off with Georgie Snape, from Teacher’s Friend Vietnam, she'll give you peace of mind to every question you might have before embarking on this adventure. She'll hand out a kit with things you have to do prior to coming to Vietnam, and will always look to the best of your interests. For example, I thought I had to buy a ticket back to Mexico to prove that I exited the country. She helped me save hundreds of dollars by buying a bus ticket for $10 USD. TFV will be with you from the beginning to the end of the program and beyond.

What do you feel is the biggest benefit of traveling abroad?

You get out of your comfort zone. One gets to tolerate what is different and learn to accept it, for instance, smells you aren't used to,  the way people behave, which one might consider rude, they don't. Another benefit is you get to be alone, and get a period of me-time and grow from within. Moreover, you get to meet great people along the way, either at the hotel, at the airport, inside the airplane, locals from the host country, you name it. You never know who you are going to meet next. Also, one learns other ways of living. For instance, ways of using the restroom. Toilets come with a hose for you to use, I would like to install one of those hoses into my own bathroom back at home. New customs such as taking off your shoes to enter the house, a business. Karaoke nights every night, it is normal, people even invite you to sing. The way they hand out things to you, with one hand, with two hands. Most important, learn to adapt to change. Unconsciously, one emerges in a new environment, adopting and accepting new ways of everything we are accustomed to, they become part of you. In the end, you get to see another perspective of life, the world.

Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?

Living abroad gave me time to face some unforeseen obstacles. The first one being food, food didn't look that appetizing, or I didn't know what was in it, due to lack of ability to speak the language and ask. In the end, I ended up loving Vietnamese food. Now I am more open to try new food despite the fact of how it looks or smells. Also, I think I can tolerate things, events that I can't understand at the moment. At first, you see everything so different, you go through culture shock, but as time goes by, you realize that we aren't so different after all. One thing that surprised me was that I became more connected with my family, due to the fact that they were worried about me. It became a ritual to contact them every day, despite the fact of the tremendous difference of time zone. There was also time to send out a message, It got me closer to my family being far away, in the other half of the world. Teaching English at WWIS made me realize how much I have been blessed my whole life. Students at the school have nothing more than a whiteboard to learn. While they are learning they are hearing all the noise from outside, plus they have no AC, it is hot. Nonetheless, I found brilliant students, focused ones, and willing to learn. For this reason, more than ever I am aware that I am blessed and have more than I ask for.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

I am taking with me all those faces I came across, from locals to classmates, to roommates, to students, to teachers, every single one shaped me to what I am now. Meaningful travel means to give back to the community where you end up, not just take from them, but to give back as well. Instead of bragging about what countries you have visited and how many monuments have you take pictures with, instead, give back and grow along with them. One time, I had the chance to go back to the same school where I did one of my teaching practices, and I decided to visit the class I taught days before. As soon as they saw me, they welcomed me and the class became a pandemonium, they were happy to see me as I was happy to see them. They made an impact on me, and I think I made an impact on them as well. That is what meaningful travel means to me.