What inspired you to travel abroad?
What inspired me to go abroad was a chance to travel alone and experience personal growth. I also really wanted to travel somewhere where I could be immersed in the culture and try their amazing food.
Why did you choose Travel For Teens?
I chose Travel For Teens because it provides a variety of different programs for every age group and it allows you to travel with other teens your age, which lead to long-lasting friendships. I chose the Australia and New Zealand Service trip because at first I really wanted to travel to Australia and learn more about it, but when we got there, I fell in love with New Zealand.
Bondi Beach in Australia
What was your favorite part about New Zealand and Australia?
I loved the scenery in New Zealand and how you were always surrounded my mountains and green forests, even though it was winter. I also really loved the outback in Australia because you were more or less disconnected from cities and technology, which allows you to enjoy the fresh air and the many different creatures that live there.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
What made it extraordinary were the people that I met and instantly became close friends with. When you travel with people your age who are also some of your closest friends, you make the best memories because they push you out of your comfort zone and make you do amazing and unforgettable things.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The staff that was traveling with us provided us with the information about the place where we were staying. They kept our families in the know about what was happening and what activities we were doing with daily emails. They also took many pictures throughout the entire trip so that we could look back at all the amazing memories we made.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
Something that I would have done differently was to get out of my comfort zone more and not be shy with meeting the locals. I also would have loved to do some of the activities that I wasn't able to do but heard a lot of good things about.
Heading to Milford Sound
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day started early with a quick breakfast and then off to do some sort of activity. During lunch, we were able to split off from the big groups into little ones and explore the area we were staying in and choose where we wanted to have lunch. After, we would do another activity and during dinner we went to some amazing places with amazing and delicious food. After dinner we would head back to the hotel and have a quick group meeting about what was happening the next day and then we would head to our rooms.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I really enjoyed exploring the places we were staying in, like Queenstown, New Zealand. It's a small town with amazing views and a lot to do. During one of the first days there, we split into smaller groups and went exploring. My group found this scary house that we went to and it was a very unforgettable experience.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
We stayed at a few hostels and hotels. One of the things I really liked about that was that we were able to choose who we stayed with in a room. Another thing was the hostels. One of them provided homemade pancakes that we had to get up early for but they were worth it.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
I would recommend taking advantage of getting to know the people in the group before you go off on the trip. You are provided with emails of everyone who will be going with you on the trip. I really regretted not getting to know them more before we met face-to-face, because it does help a lot seeing as everyone is a stranger, so it’s good to know at least someone.
Whale watching
Would you recommend Travel For Teens to others? Why?
I would definitely recommend Travel For Teens because they provide you with all the information that you need and it’s a good opportunity to discover yourself and what you want to do. The program really helped me with becoming more independent and with self-growth and becoming more responsible.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
It helps you learn more about yourself because it puts you in different situations which challenge you and your character. This lets you know what things you are good at and which ones you can improve on.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
It made me more curious about other cultures and what amazing experiences and memories they hold. It also awakened a curiosity and craving for foreign foods.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me means amazing experiences and long-lasting friendships. It means immersing yourself in the culture and experiencing it as a local and not a tourist.
