What inspired you to work for Beyond Travels?
I was formerly an intern with Beyond Travels. I spent three months in the Amazon region of Ecuador, living with a host family and learning about the local agroforestry system from Indigenous farmers.
The experience was challenging but incredibly rewarding, and ultimately influenced much of my academic and professional trajectory.
Years later, I reconnected with the organization, which led to me working here. I am inspired by the opportunity to learn from the communities we partner with, who share so much of their traditions and knowledge, and by getting to live and work in an environment that constantly pushes me to grow.
I also really appreciate connecting with our interns and supporting their adjustment and immersion processes, as I can remember what the experience was like for myself many years ago.
At Cotopaxi volcano glacier.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I would tell my pre-travel self not to be afraid to take risks.
Leaving on a solo adventure can seem daunting, especially as a young person. Growing up in the U.S., we don’t have such a strong culture of independent travel for youth. As a student, I got inspired by other travelers on social media and developed a goal to go on a backpacking trip to Asia after graduating from university.
Ultimately, by first completing my internship with Beyond Travels, a more organized and guided experience, I gained the confidence and independence to take the backpacking trip after graduation.
I have since traveled to over 17 countries with friends and as a solo female traveler. I might never have done this without my initial experience interning abroad.
Why should someone choose Beyond Travels over competitors?
We are a small organization run by a few dedicated staff members. Because of this, our programs are generally quite customizable and personalized. We develop your internship focus and projects through a collaborative approach with partners and based on our understanding of your goals established in the interview and pre-departure process.
Our programs were also developed through deep personal connections, first in Ecuador and now in our expanded locations.
If you participate in a Beyond Travels program, you become part of a network of community members and resources that support your learning journey and are backed by genuine personal connections. This is something our larger competitors cannot offer.
Visiting a community in the Amazon by canoe.
What is Beyond Travels' mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission is to create immersive travel experiences that support farmers and local communities by honoring traditional knowledge and diversifying livelihoods. I work toward this mission by training interns to be culturally sensitive and contribute positively to their host communities.
For many interns, it can be their first experience spending prolonged time in a different cultural setting, and they may need some guidance. We approach cultural sensitivity with in-depth training during orientation, as well as weekly check-ins with interns and host communities.
We make meaningful contributions to partner organizations by working closely with partners and interns to align learning objectives with organizational needs. The results are internship activities that support both interns’ professional development goals and the partner organization’s daily needs and objectives.
How do you help support participants?
I support participants as a mentor and as a liaison to their host community. As part of Beyond Travel's team, our longstanding relationships with partners enable participants to enter their immersion experience with community trust and support.
I support participants during the pre-departure process by providing information, setting expectations, and answering questions via video calls or email. As the onsite supervisor for our Amazon programs, I guide orientation and training to set participants up for success.
Throughout their experience, I provide continued mentorship through weekly check-ins and joining them on program excursions to maximize learning opportunities.
At the Great Wall of China on my post-grad backpacking trip.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope participants leave with stronger confidence and the ability to adapt to unfamiliar environments with ease. Our programs build cross-cultural adaptation skills by placing participants in a supportive environment while also pushing them outside their comfort zones.
Even small things, like learning how to navigate the bus system in a foreign country, can translate into major confidence boosts and valuable skills that can be applied in future experiences abroad and back home.
I also hope participants leave with a deeper appreciation of the communities that steward our planet’s land and produce our food, as well as better tools to engage with different cultures in a thoughtful manner.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
In Cajas National Park in southern Ecuador.
Experiencing new cultures helps us to become better citizens of the world, as it teaches empathy, respect for different ways of living, and appreciation for diversity.
Travel has pushed me to consider other perspectives, societal norms, and beliefs that differ from those I was raised with. It has also repeatedly shown me that people are kind, willing to help, and that the world is not as scary a place as it may seem.
I believe if more people worldwide had the privilege to travel, it would create less fear, more understanding, and a more peaceful global society.
However, it's important to remember that we can also travel locally and within our own nations, and this can still broaden our perspectives.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel is about slowing down. Although it’s an amazing privilege to travel and see different parts of the world, my most memorable travel experiences have always been about the quality of time I spent rather than the quantity of destinations I visited.
By slowing down and allowing more time to connect with local people, I have developed more meaningful connections and a deeper understanding of each place I visit.
I also personally love documenting my travel experiences through journaling, photography, and other creative expressions. While in the moment you may think you’ll remember every detail, you’ll be surprised one day by what you forget with time! Documenting my travels also allows me to process and reflect on my experiences more deeply.
