What inspired you to go abroad?
I have always loved learning about other cultures and people. Egypt, with its old culture, language, and people, has fascinated me for a long time. I also always loved to travel, and I travelled for years after being in Egypt, after finishing my studies in Great Britain, and after leaving Austria in 2004.
Why did you choose Teach & Thrive: Internship Experience in Egypt?
I was lucky I found it online, read the reviews, and applied. It is difficult to find appropriate internship programs, so I had to do a thorough internet search, which led me to Egypt and the Baladna program, which I instantly fell in love with. I would choose it again every time; it was fun and enriching.
What was your favorite part about Egypt?
The people, the food, and the language were my absolute favorite parts. But also the culture and the great food, I loved my weekends and the long conversations with the lovely people from Qsier, where I was embraced like a sister or a daughter.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, and I would not miss this memory.
Children learning
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Suzanna was fantastic, the way she cared for me, but also her knowledge about the country and the people. But also the people from there who enjoyed my company and the conversations we had in the office and in their homes. The times we worked together on different projects and the teamwork that they displayed.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
They were kind and spent the time to explain and chat about many different topics. I loved how they accepted me as a friend and introduced me to their way of life, the food, the children, and the way life works.
I also enjoyed seeing a different working environment where I could help and become part of their team.
What's one thing you wish you had done differently during your time abroad?
Stay even longer. I loved the time there so much that I would have stayed longer. And i eventually did, I moved to Jordan, then Syria and then to South America I never stopped travelling after going to Egyp.
Egypt is a special place and holds a special part of my heart due to its people, the language, and also the food and culture.
Project
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I would wake up, wr would head to the office, and one project was cleaning the area. So we would rally all people, explain how to pick up trash, and on the day, have a group discussion on what we learned about the environment.
We would work together with scientists, doctors, and politicians to get people to understand their impact on the environment.
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
I spend weekends swimming in the sea and eating great food. But I also spent a lot of time with Suzanna, who was the director of the program. We cooked, laughed, and also made small excursions where we spent time swimming, eating, and exploring the country.
I loved this time with the people, and I appreciated the great weather.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I stayed in a self-contained flat next to the director of the program. I could have time for myself, also sometimes just reading and writing in my journal to get a grasp on my day and my emotions.
I could also cook and just relax when i did it feel like javing company or when I needed to plan my next steps of my journey.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Get ready and learn Arabic to communicate with many different people. Also, be brave and just go out and talk to people. Most are really kind and interesting, and also interested in your life. You can't go wrong by just taking the plunge and doing something like a volunteering project.
Would you recommend Teach & Thrive: Internship Experience in Egypt? Why?
Absolutely. I loved it there, the life, the people, the food, and the projects. There is so much that can be done with very simple tricks and ideas. The projects were invigorating and really fun to participate in.
Also, the fact that you learn a lot about yourself, too, was just fun. There is so much to explore.
Children playing
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Getting to know different cultures and people. I have never stopped exploring other cultures.
I eventually became a development worker, working in East Africa, where I also experienced a coup d'etat and met my future husband, and now I have moved back to my home country to raise my kids here, but we still travel.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I have never stopped travelling after my time in Egypt. I went to Jordan and stayed in Syria for one year to work there before the Arab Spring. I then went to Colombia and South America to explore this part of the world, where I also studied for a while, and then returned to Geneva to work in development.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Slow and environmentally friendly travelling with a lot of opportunities to talk to different people.
I love meeting people and connecting with them on a more personal level by spending more time there and allowing for getting to know them more intimately. There is fun in staying longer in places.
