Alumni Interview with Georgia Knapp

What inspired you to travel abroad?

I spent part of my childhood abroad thanks to my parents' jobs. I always knew that one day I would want to live outside the US again and make my own way as an adult. As a child, I lived in Europe and Central America, so as an adult I wanted to live in Asia and/or Africa. I wanted to go abroad on my own to experience new cultures, push myself beyond my comfort zone, as well as see and experience countries and continents I hadn't before. In all honesty, I think answering what "inspired" me to move abroad is difficult because I never saw my life as not being lived outside of my native country.

Why did you choose TEFLPros?

After graduating with my Masters I knew I still needed a TEFL certificate in order to teach abroad. I did not have the money to spend on a two-to-four week in-country course, but I also didn't want to just get any run-of-the-mill online degree either. A friend of mine recommended TEFL Pros because she knew one of the organizers and had been there during the two years when the course was being created. As I looked into TEFL Pros, I liked that it was the best of both worlds: the intensive, dedicated training I'd receive from an in-class course, but with the convenience of being online and remote.

What was your favorite part about your host country/city?

I really loved how much there was to do in Thailand. From Bangkok, you could easily hop on a short bus, taxi, or plane ride and either be in the mountains or a pristine beach. Bangkok is also a major airline hub for Asia, so it was easy to fly to different countries, which was very important to me. I also liked the more laid back culture and how everything will eventually work out, even if it seems very chaotic at the time. I especially loved Thailand's culture of delicious street food.

What made your experience In Thailand extraordinary?

There were many experiences that made my time abroad extraordinary. First and foremost would be the people that I met: both locals and fellow expats. It was great to be able to build such a solid, stable community so far away from home. The travel experiences I had to places like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Japan also made my time there extraordinary. I enjoyed the different cultures I was able to experience, the delicious food, the beautiful scenery, and everything else that comes with delving into a culture that is not your own.

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

“The local staff were always there to answer my questions about finding work in Thailand.” They were able to give me good tips on how to apply for jobs, what to talk about during interviews, and they were even able to give some personal recommendations for schools to apply to. The local staff even went above and beyond and helped guide me with other issues such as finding a doctor in the country and recommending neat places to visit. “It was a great comfort to know that I could contact them with any questions or concerns I had.”

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

There are two things I wish I would have done differently. The first is to stay for a longer period of time. I was in Thailand for just under two years, and then I left to pursue another career opportunity. I enjoyed my time in Asia and started to really feel at home at the end of my first year there. I wish I could have had another year, or even two, in order to see more of the country and the surrounding areas. The other thing I wish I had done was studying the local language. It is very easy to get around Thailand without a knowledge of Thai, but I think it would have been an interesting study and a useful skill to have.

Describe a typical day in your life Thailand.

I got a job teaching at a private all-boys school. My typical day started at 6am with me waking for work, taking a 45-minute train ride across the city, and arriving in time to teach my 8am class. I taught until about 4pm and then typically met a friend for a coffee or Happy Hour drink. At home, I would rest for a bit, and then I did some more work before meeting a friend for dinner. If I was not teaching, then I would typically find something new to do in Bangkok and try that out. Nearly every day in Thailand was spent on the Skytrain and eating street food.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoyed exploring Bangkok and taking trips around the country. I enjoyed exploring many of Thailand's beautiful temples as well as taking advantage of some of the natural parks. I especially loved visiting Thailand's beautiful beaches. In my free time I also enjoyed runs around Bangkok's Lumphini Park as well as cooling off in one of their deluxe movie theaters. When I had extended periods of time off I tried to travel outside of Thailand. I was able to visit Malaysia, Laos, Japan, Vietnam, India, and Indonesia.

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

I was in a small high-rise apartment. I loved everything about this apartment, but my favorite thing about it was the view. I lived on the 20th floor and I had a view of both the city and part of the river that snakes through Bangkok. I liked this because it was the perfect blend of city-life and a natural feel. I especially loved seeing boats buzz up and down the river. I also liked how much the city lit-up at night as well as the spectacular sunset I could see almost every day. I loved the location of this apartment, it was quiet, yet easily accessible to the Skytrain and every area of Bangkok.

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

You need to put your best effort into the teaching lessons you will create because they will help you immensely upon graduation. When I took the course, I submitted my final portfolio, but had to make revisions in order to pass the course. I thought this was a nice personal touch by the organizers because it not only showed me that someone was actually taking the time to look at my work, but they were really putting thought and effort into how I could create the best portfolio possible. At the time this felt like a lot of work, but I was so grateful for it. It prepared me for when I started looking for a job and for when I started teaching.

Would you recommend your program/provider to others? Why?

Absolutely! I thought the course did a thorough job at preparing people for the classroom. The lessons are long, but engaging. They are informative without feeling tedious and the exercises really make you think about what it will be like to create and execute lesson plans. I would also recommend this course because of being able to do it remotely, which I think is very beneficial for newbie teachers and newbie expats. At the same time, the remote online option is also ideal for experienced teachers and expats because it gives them the chance to gain this new skill while being able to remain wherever they are currently living.

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

The unique experiences you will have and how that will shape you into a more outgoing, open minded person. Because I grew up in an expat family, travel has always been just a natural way of life. I think traveling and living abroad has helped shape me into the tolerant, confident, curious, and creative person that I am. Traveling abroad is a privilege and not one that everyone is able to afford, but I think having a TEFL certificate and being able to work and support yourself while living abroad is a great step to making international travel a bit more accessible.

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

I am actually not home yet, so this, again, is a hard question to answer. However, whenever I go home to visit my family and friends I find that my time abroad has helped shape me into a more confident and well-rounded person. I think it has also shaped me into a more patient person because I am much more likely to let minor hiccups and faux pas roll off my back. As a writer and a teacher, my time abroad has also given me more tools and best practices to help me be better in my career.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

I think meaningful travel means focusing on an experience and a place rather than just trying to "be" somewhere for the sake of "being" somewhere. For example, when people travel to Thailand they sometimes feel like they must go to all the major things Thailand is known for such as floating markets, raucous party streets, and elephant habitats. However, it is possible to learn even more about Thailand just by going to the outskirts of Bangkok and walking around the streets. You can even learn a lot by hanging out in some of the crowded malls or spending a week on one of the islands. I think meaningful travel is basically whatever someone makes of their trip, and does not need a single definition.