What inspired you to work for TravelBud?
My passion for education and travel inspired me to work for TravelBud. After I returned from teaching in Thailand for a year, I fell into my role at TravelBud and have been working for the company for over eight years now. It has allowed me to work remotely, travel the world and help others experience the amazing adventure that is teaching English abroad.
Whilst traveling in Cambodia I visited the Angkor Wat park and a monkey climbed up my skirt to inspect what was in my bag
Describe a typical day at work.
Every day is different and there's always something interesting happening. I work with so many different people from all over the world and I am constantly learning about new cultures and experiences.
I generally start my day by answering emails, have calls and meetings with soon to be teachers and partners from around the world throughout the day. Then I focus on the general behind the scenes operations of running TravelBud.
Why do you do what you do?
I love being a small or big part of helping someone step outside of their comfort zone. Teaching English abroad was such a life changing event in my life, I always get so excited when someone else is about to embark on a similar journey. It really opens your heart and mind to so many different aspects of life.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Working on new and creative ways to support and assist soon to be teachers as they prepare to depart for their teaching destination is the best part of my job. There are so many awesome ways to help teachers prepare for all the different aspects of the journey. There is also such an incredible network of people in the travel abroad industry to connect with and learn from.
I was dressed up in traditional Thai attire at my school in Lop Buri for the Loi Kratong celebration
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I would tell myself to always practice patience with myself and others whilst embarking on any travel abroad experience. Often things like homesickness, language barriers, or cultural misconceptions can cause frustration with oneself or others, and just easing up and being more patient, or reminding yourself to be more patient can make your whole experience that much easier.
What makes your organization special?
TravelBud consists of a group of likeminded individuals who have all traveled across the globe and taught English abroad before. The fact that we are all so passionate about travel and we've all actually experienced a teaching English abroad program or spent time teaching English abroad makes our company the best place to work or to work with. The amount of stories we've all shared and all the laughs we've had makes our place of work simply awesome.
Why should someone choose TravelBud over competitors?
Each individual that works for TravelBud has been through the ups and downs, the rollercoaster of emotions and situations which one often finds yourself experiencing whilst traveling or teaching abroad.
We are an incredibly empathetic, well-versed and knowledgeable group of people. We can guide anyone through the process pre and post departure.
Stopped by a beautiful old church during a walking tour of Old Town in Zanzibar
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
We understand from direct experience that working and traveling abroad is a challenging, fulfilling and deeply rewarding personal experience. We are committed to walking you through the process and making sure you’re as best prepared to experience your own life-changing adventure.
We value approachability and compassion which help build a more understanding and accepting world across varied cultures and backgrounds. We value youthful energy, dynamism and adventure; so while we’re grateful for the experiences and growth we’ve had, we always want to improve and learn.
We value honesty, authenticity and a personal touch, arming our program participants with the information they need to become more prepared, responsible and empowered humans who walk away with new skills, experiences and a broader worldview.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
We hope that all participants will experience great personal growth, have an enriching experience and gain knowledge about the world which we live in. There is so much to take away from a teach English abroad program and keeping an open mind whilst traveling and being open to new experiences is so incredibly important.
All the surfboards we traveled with during a trip to the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Traveling abroad and experiencing new cultures opens your mind and heart to so many different things. Most importantly it helps you look inwards when looking outwards. The time you spend traveling abroad teaches you that you can overcome challenges which you never thought you could, and opens you up to an independence which only traveling abroad can give you.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means stepping outside of your comfort zone, being open to experiences which you never thought you would be open to and making connections and forming relationships with individuals from all walks of life. Traveling sustainably and being respectful of everything and everyone around you is always key.
