What inspired you to work for Nacel Educational Travel?
Travel truly transformed my life—it broadened my perspective, helped me learn new languages, and allowed me to connect with people from all over the world.
One of the most meaningful outcomes of studying abroad was meeting my husband while learning Spanish in Guatemala. These unforgettable experiences shaped who I am today. That’s why I chose to work in this field: so I can help other students create their own life-changing memories and gain the confidence, skills, and cultural awareness that only international experiences can offer.
At our summer camp in Paris
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
My international background strongly influences the way I work. I previously led a small school where we taught Dutch as a mother tongue, and that experience taught me how essential language learning is for children. But I also saw that learning a language in a classroom is not the same as living it.
That realization inspired me to make a change. Today, in my role, I draw on both my education and my own time abroad to help students experience learning in a way that is immersive, meaningful, and unforgettable.
What are some current projects you are working on?
Right now, I’m focusing on expanding our summer camp options and introducing even more immersive programs to our offer, including private teacher experiences and new cultural learning formats.
Creating meaningful opportunities for students to grow, explore, and learn makes my work incredibly rewarding. I truly love what I do, and it’s why I come to work with a smile every single day, feeling motivated and inspired to keep improving our programs.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Attending an travel event in Rome
I would tell myself not to worry too much about speaking perfectly or knowing exactly what to expect.
Travel is about learning, growing, and embracing new cultures. Mistakes, challenges, and surprises are all part of the experience—and they are what make you stronger, more confident, and more connected to the world.
What makes Nacel Educational Travel special?
What makes our organization special is our commitment to creating meaningful, personal, and life-changing international learning experiences.
Unlike large, standardized travel or education providers, we take a boutique approach. This means every student receives individual guidance, careful program matching, and ongoing support before, during, and after their experience abroad.
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all education—every learner is unique, and so should their journey be. Our team is truly international and multilingual. We speak English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch, and we have lived, studied, or worked abroad ourselves. This firsthand experience allows us to relate to students, understand their expectations or worries, and support them with empathy and expertise.
We know what a powerful and transformative moment studying abroad can be, and we are proud to help students take that step—whether for one week, one semester, or several years.
Why should someone choose Nacel Educational Travel over competitors?
Choose us because we offer personalized support, not generic placement. Our multilingual team has studied abroad and truly understands the journey.
With trusted partners and our own accredited schools, we ensure high-quality education, safety, and real cultural immersion—creating meaningful, life-changing experiences.
What is Nacel Educational Travel’s mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission is to help students become confident global citizens through language learning and cultural immersion.
We work toward this by offering high-quality programs, partnering with trusted schools and host families, and providing personalized support to ensure every experience is safe, meaningful, and transformative.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
We hope students come home with better language skills, more confidence, and a genuine feel for another culture. Also, we want them to grow more independent, understand the world around them, and create friendships that last.
We aim to help every student grow into someone open-minded, curious, and ready to take part in a connected world.
Traveling to Guatemala
How do you help support participants?
Nacel supports students from the moment they consider a program until they return home, ensuring they feel safe, guided, and encouraged. We start with honest advice, helping them choose destinations, programs, and stays to avoid surprises and give families peace of mind.
Preparation involves guiding students through documents, travel details, school requirements, and cultural expectations, so they're ready before traveling. Parents also receive practical info.
Upon arrival, local coordinators welcome students, assist with settling in, and stay in touch, understanding local culture, schools, and families to provide ongoing support. Host families and schools create safe environments, routines, and aid adaptation, with teachers focusing on academics.
We have clear procedures and experienced staff to handle issues like travel delays, placement concerns, or personal matters swiftly to ensure student safety. Our goal is for students to return with improved language skills, independence, new friends, and a broader worldview.
Our comprehensive support promotes confidence, learning, exploration, and enjoyment abroad, making Nacel a trusted partner for safe, meaningful international experiences.
If you could participate in one of Nacel Educational Travel’s programs, where would you go and what would you do?
If I could join one of our programs, I would choose a Private Teacher Homestay in France. I speak French well because I learned it through immersion and from working in the mountains, but I never learned to write it properly.
Living with a teacher would give me the quiet focus I need to work on my written French each day. I’d like a mix of grammar, structured writing practice, and real-life exercises that help me write with more confidence. Staying with a local family would add something extra, because I’d still enjoy the everyday French conversations that helped me learn the language in the first place.
This mix of personal teaching and daily immersion feels perfect for improving the one part of my French that still needs work.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Traveling abroad gives people a chance to step out of their usual routine and see how others live. It makes you notice new ways of thinking, speaking, and solving problems. When you meet people from a different culture, you start to understand their habits and values instead of judging them from a distance.
Learning this way builds patience and empathy. It becomes easier to handle new situations, adapt to change, and feel comfortable in unfamiliar places. Many people also discover more about themselves when they are far from home. They gain confidence, learn to trust their own decisions, and see what they are capable of.
Our Nacel Team
Travel also helps with language learning. Hearing and using a language every day makes progress faster and more natural. It’s something you can’t fully get from a classroom.
There is also the personal side: new friendships, new foods, new places, and small moments that stay with you for years. These experiences open your mind and stay useful long after the trip is over.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel is when a trip changes the way I see things. It’s less about checking places off a list and more about slowing down, meeting people, and understanding how they live. I like trips where I learn something new, whether it’s a language, a habit, or a small detail about daily life in another place.
It also means feeling present. Sharing a meal with a host family, talking with locals, or taking time to notice how a town wakes up in the morning. These moments stay with me longer than any big attraction.
Meaningful travel leaves me with something to carry home, like a new skill, a broader view, or a story that still feels warm months later. It’s travel that helps me grow, not just travel that fills a passport.
