What inspired you to work for TravelBud?
Ever since I started working with TravelBud as an applicant myself, I felt a connection with the culture and values of TravelBud. When the opportunity to work at TravelBud came up after my own experience abroad in Korea, I knew I had to go for it!
The work that TravelBud does, allows opportunities for meaningful travel and minimizes the natural fears that stops people from taking the leap abroad. I was so excited to help others have the same experiences that I was lucky enough to have!
This is a coworker and I on a fun field trip while teaching in South Korea.
Why do you do what you do?
I have a passion for education and meaningful travel and this combines them both. I enjoyed my time in the classroom, but my true passion lies in facilitating and curating programs that connect people from around the world.
Feeling the joy of applicants when they take their first steps toward making their teaching abroad dreams a reality, is why I do this. It never gets old, even when it's for the 1,000th time!
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
One of our goals at TravelBud is to allow new teachers access to our staff that have already taught abroad. My experience in South Korea, although many years ago now, is still an important part that helps me connect with prospective teachers and to continually improve the TravelBud programs to encompass the many parts of a successful teach abroad placement.
Myself and my best friend on holiday in Cambodia during my time in South Korea
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I think I would tell myself to be less afraid of making mistakes. There will be mistakes along the way, but that's how you learn and grow. I tried too hard to be perfect and I came across shy in the process. I would tell myself to really dive all the way into it from the start and not take so long to get comfortable on the false premise of perfection.
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
TravelBud offers a truly holistic approach to teaching abroad. I always say that baking a chocolate cake involves flour and cocoa, but it needs that one teaspoon of baking powder to make sure it rises. Similarly, TravelBud has looked at the full recipe required for more than just teaching abroad. It's about teaching abroad successfully.
Our accessibility makes us stand out against competitors. We are available and approachable in the first key stages of research from an expert level, as opposed to charging application fees before even speaking with someone.
What is TravelBud's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission is centered around English teachers helping others do the same. We want to foster a community rooted in shared experiences. Our aim is to encapsulate all the characteristics of a friend in your teach abroad journey with support, trust, empathy, loyalty.
Our staff is exceptional. They understand all the emotions that come with moving across the world while still being highly professional. We continue to build the culture at TravelBud and continue to improve and assess our processes and inclusions to match the needs of our teachers.
How does it look? In this picture, I am wearing a traditional Korean Hanbok.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope at the end of their lives they are grateful of all the people they've met and all the places they've been. I hope they feel supported, prepared, and set up for success.
I hope they make life-long friends and make memories that last them a lifetime. I hope this is a springboard to a lifetime of travel.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Travelling could be a university level subject. I feel like those who are well traveled are more equipped for this life. Becoming culturally conscious is a skill that is highly transferable and essential in a global sense, regardless of your chosen profession. It offers cultural exchange between locals and the participants, as well as cross-cultural exchange with fellow expats.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
Learning a new language from the perspective of becoming an English teacher allows a level of empathy that would otherwise be difficult to achieve. If you've been on the other side of the table, you can draw from your experience of learning a new language and all the trials and triumphs of doing so.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel is about traveling in a way that transcends tourism. It is not only about must-see sights and picturesque views, it is about engaging with locals and peeling back the layers of any given culture. It is about getting to the root of a community and leaving a positive, lasting impact on the people you engage with.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
I hope that international education becomes more accessible. Accessibility from the perspective of finances. I hope that all those who wish to travel get to do so and not merely those who can afford it. My hope is that accessibility extends to marginalized groups who fear traveling abroad due to a lack of inclusion.
