Staff Interview with Pascalle Buitendijk

What inspired you to work for your organization?

I have always been curious about the famous 'surf lifestyle,' and I couldn't imagine a better way to experience it than to work for a surf camp! Besides the curiosity about the surf lifestyle, I always wanted to travel to and explore Australia. To combine these two aspects was a win-win!

Why do you do what you do?

I do what I do because I require a lot of freedom within my job in order to reach my full potential. I have found I deliver the best quality of work, and enjoy working most, when I receive the freedom to figure out how to do certain tasks without having someone to look over my shoulder all the time.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is the variety between my days. One day I would be organizing photoshoots for marketing purposes and other days I optimize our listings for the travel agencies we work with.

How do you use your education and international background in your current role?

I often work with travel agencies from the Netherlands which requires the ability to write and read in Dutch. Being able to do this enables me to write and check articles and advertising in my native language and ensure only listings of a certain quality will be published.

What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?

I would tell myself to just dive in head first, and to not fear what is about to come. It can be quite scary to move across the world by yourself. But soon after moving here I realized there are always going to be people willing to lend you a helping hand. It will always work out in the end, always!

What makes your organization special?

The organizational culture is one I have never encountered before. It almost feels like a family where everyone is willing to help each other out where needed. I feel like the way all staff members interact with one another (and the guests staying with us for the surf camps) is one of a kind and makes Australian Surf Tours special.

What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?

I hope Australian Surf Tours will continue growing, the list of happy guests will keep getting larger and larger and the waves will always be pumping!

What do you hope participants take away from your programs?

I hope participants will have grown as humans, learned about the surf-culture and lifestyle and experienced freedom and fun while developing a new skill for life: surfing!

What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?

Go for it! Going abroad is an experience very few will regret afterwards. It's a great opportunity to grow, develop new skills and learn about new cultures and countries. Those are attributes that no one will ever be able to take away from you!

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

A meaningful travel to me is one that allowed you to grow, develop, and discover without being bound to a certain country. To me, travel is all about finding yourself.