The Cultural Exchange Project

This program was sold as teaching at a summer camp in a location of your choice. In reality, it was not a summer camp. We were dropped into the middle of an active school year, which we only discovered upon arrival. I was placed as a substitute teacher splitting time between two schools in Bangkok, leaving me with no way to establish a community. It was an incredibly lonely experience. While the established XploreAsia teachers at one school were kind and friendly, those at the second school were exclusive and unfriendly, which only added to my isolation. The teaching environment was also very difficult: • Lack of classroom support: With only one or two exceptions, the full-time Thai teachers talked over my lessons. Because of this, the students did not respect me or follow directions. • Poor resources: The sub plans left for me were bare-bones or incomplete. The supply closet was nearly empty, and the few materials available were either broken or missing essential pieces. Beyond the classroom, the logistics and safety support were severely lacking: • Compensation and visa issues: Because of the visa we were advised to get, our employment wasn't even legal. We were paid under the table in cash and had to pick up our pay at obscure locations. • Accommodation failures: XploreAsia offered no help in finding housing, leaving me to arrange my own accommodation. When I arrived at the hotel/apartment I booked, no one was there, leaving me stranded in the middle of Bangkok with nowhere to stay. • Lack of follow-through: Despite the situation, there was very little follow-through from the organization to ensure I was safe. When I tried to voice my concerns about my workplace, they offered very little help. While I did enjoy orientation week and getting to know the other 3 teachers doing the summer program, we were split up and lived very far apart. The classes we had to take at Xplore were a mixed bag. Some of the classes, like the Thai language class, were super helpful. The teaching classes, however, felt like a waste of time. The people in my summer cohort (a total of 4 including me) were all experienced teachers and we had to take teaching classes. Overall, I would not recommend this summer program. The experience was misleading, lonely, and deeply disappointing.

My experience with The Cultural Exchange Project has been outstanding from start to finish. The initial contact was excellent — the team was responsive, clear about how the program worked, and made a strong first impression right away. Throughout the placement process, from paperwork to visa guidance to pre-departure prep, the support was thorough and reassuring at every step. Once my placement was confirmed, I stayed very satisfied thanks to regular, helpful check-ins that kept me in the loop. And whenever I had questions or concerns, they were answered the same day, fully and clearly. I'd recommend CEP to anyone considering teaching abroad. Especially the short-term teaching program in Thailand, where teachers can teach for 8 weeks and get back to the US before school begins.

I’m so grateful for this opportunity. It was nerve-racking at first, but I’m so glad that I went for it. I met so many amazing people and my host family was amazing! I saw so many beautiful views and monuments during my time in Spain, as well as other countries I traveled to while out there. I highly recommend this to everybody who is willing to take the leap.

I know English well and I can teach any one English language to the fullest , am a good cheer giver and I have a high school certificate, degree in bachelors of commerce, i have communication skills, and friendly

Thank you! The course required an effort on my part, as I'm not the biggest fan of online work. It had many practical topics that I felt were good to reacquaint myself with, and the units on lesson planning were especially helpful. Most of all, I liked the reflections and practical assignments that allowed me to share my ideas. I’m a classroom teacher and I’d recommend this course to anyone interested in teaching English as a second language.

I could not be more grateful for my experience abroad. I have learned so much about myself and the world through this journey. My favorite part has been getting to know my host family and their culture. I feel so lucky to have met them and to know that I have developed a meaningful friendship that will last me a lifetime. I highly recommend a travel abroad experience to anyone who is considering it– mine has truly changed my life!

The fact that I got to try out the course first was a big reason I jumped in. I needed to see if it worked and what the course was like and not worry about if I wasted my money. It is a great TEFL course and I'm ready for the next step.

My goals for this program are honestly just to relax and make the most of this experience, to utilise it as a chance to grow as a person. I was able to do a weekend trip with my host family to Naples at the end of July :) It was really nice being a part of the family while traveling. My host father likes to play The Clash and AC/DC while cooking. That gets everyone in the house excited for dinner and family time. Very different from my own home. Being in Sardinia, I am spending a lot of time at the beach. The beaches are phenomenal, wild yet so serene. I feel very at peace here! I definitely recommend purchasing and bringing alone a guidebook to wherever you will be visiting. I know you can Google places, but sometimes the WiFi service isn’t good. Having a reliable guidebook has come in handy. I’ve enjoyed this program because I get to travel. I have been to Golfo Aranci, Porto Rotondo and Palau, which are just north of where I am staying in Olbia. I’ve also been to the Tomb of Giants and Castello di Pedres archaeological sites, and I am hoping to go to Asinara Island, home to the Sardinian albino donkeys! It’s a great program.

I came in to the program with the goal of better understanding the German culture, but now my goal is to also do a few more trips around Germany over the weekends. This program is perfect for that. To that end, I recently visited Cologne with one of the girls I tutor and we had a great time. It was my first big train ride in Germany so it was nice to go together and chat on the way. She was also very interested in American music and so we listened to music on my phone all the way to Cologne. It was a great way to bridge the cultures. If I were going to tell others one thing to do if they come to Germany to tutor, bring hiking gear. There are so many opportunities to get out and enjoy the country. I just didn’t think about it before I came. A place not to miss are Rudensheim near the Rhein. Beautiful.

I came with the goals of observing and adapting to a new culture, improving my Spanish closer to fluency, and learning to be more independent as I travel alone. I have definitely made progress on all three of these goals. Girona is a stunning city with gorgeous streets and sights to stroll through. More than that, though, were the kindness of the locals; while there, I spoke with numerous vendors who were so patient with my Spanish and kindly shared a bit of their perspective and life with myself. It was fulfilling to be able to communicate with these people in Spanish, and meaningfully, not just small talk. Truly a life-changing experience. P.S Don't forget menstrual products and board games.

I've been home for 4 wks today, but I think of my trip everyday. I experienced so many wonderful things and saw so many cities that made the trip like a dream come true. My Italian family, made me part of their family and took excellent care of me. I fell in love with the family and know that I have made a connection with the family forever. I, in turn, was able to do some things for them, that I know they will never forget. Such as, treating them to their first, complete Thanksgiving feast before I left. I also painted them a picture while I was there and gifted it with personalization for them. I also have to thank my Italy connection, GeoVisions, because she they were so helpful to me navigating the first couple of weeks and kept in touch the whole time to make sure everything was going well. GeoVisions, like the family, was awesome. I'm ready to go back next year already!

I decided to teach last summer with GeoVisions Foundation in Thailand because one of my goals was to experience a new culture and immerse myself into it. I feel I have really accomplished that during my time here in Thailand teaching. I’ve developed a routine and a way of living here. I’ve had such a great time exploring Thailand but even better, getting to know the people that live here. I have developed friends and a “family” here and I couldn’t be more thankful for them. I’ve been able to travel around a bit despite covid. I am sad I am not able to travel around more because of covid but I am making the most of everything. If I had to recommend something to put on the packing list, it would be dark socks. I’ll be you don’t hear that everyday. In Thailand, you have to take off your shoes in some places but it’s polite to wear socks. Dock socks are great for that.

Well, I came to teach in Thailand during Covid, so many things are not open and there are many restrictions. But I would say come here with no expectations. Expect nothing just let everything be and don't be afraid to jump in the mix. This could be worth learning the language, making friends and meeting people, or taking on new activities. I decided to head to Thailand to teach because I thought I could learn how to not hold on to so much stress and to de-clutter my life. It is a very chill experience. I can honestly say it worked. GeoVisions really placed me in a great spot. I recommend them for sure. You can’t go wrong with those guys.

My time as an au pair in Germany has been good! If you’re okay with not saving money and are in it just to experience another place, this might be for you. Unfortunately the au pair health insurance I was given in Germany doesn’t cover everything and I was never fully reimbursed, so be careful and know ahead of time. I wouldn’t recommend Geovisisons, however. I felt extremely alone in the au pair process, and frankly I could have done it for free online. Geovisions is extremely expensive, and using them has not given me any added benefits or safety that my other au pair friends who used a free website have.

I really enjoyed my teaching experience in Madrid. I was placed in family with 5 teenagers, 3 of which were triplets. The family provided me with a private room and bath. My family was very busy and the parents worked long hours. The kids had tons of homework from their school so scheduling lessons was sometimes hard. One of the family's goals were for the triplets to pass the Cambridge English Language exam. All of my lessons were tailored to prepare for the exam which had an oral section, a listening section and a written section.With the older 2 siblings I helped one with her high school English homework and with other, we analyzed popular songs. When I requested practice materials for the test the family complied. They gave me access to a computer and printer so that I could print practice exams. In the end 2 or the 3 triplets took the exam and one of them passed and the other got a very high mark. The significance of this test is that many doors will open for the kids with this high level of English proficiency. I am very proud of them and what we accomplished together. The mom and I spoke everyday about all sorts of issues and we became friends. It's been a year since I was in Madrid and we've stayed in contact. The family also helped me sign up for a Spanish class and to plan a trip to Zaragoza where I was able to see the Holy Week processions.

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It's great to be on a program where you get paid and become so close to your host family. I have everything I need. My advice: Hop on the train, leave the guide books at home and just get lost for a few minutes. Metro stops are close enough that it's hard to get completely lost. Also, book some weekend tours to get out of Madrid and see other cities - they're all great! I would recommend bringing a floppy hat and some sunglasses -- you'll need them! The funniest thing that has happened to me is the kids got nosey and barged into the bathroom while I was showering...there's no curtain, so we all got an eyeful. The parents were annoyed with the kids and explained why they shouldn't go in the bathroom when someone else is using it. It was an all-around pretty amusing experience. If you go with the flow you'll have so much more fun.

Signing up to volunteer to teach English to a family in Italy was the best decision I've ever made in my life, no joke. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. It was everything I wanted out of this experience! I also could not have been placed with a better family! They we're AMAZING people and we still keep in touch! The family was extremely welcoming and I felt at home immediately! I am welcome back at any time! I am actually in the process of planning a trip back, hopefully permanently! I made so many friends! They were all more than happy to show me around their city, and introduce me to their friends and families as well! I keep in contact with many of them, and they are begging me to come back! Anytime I travel I always get suggestions of things to do from locals. I prefer this over touristy suggestions on the internet! It's a completely different and unique way to experience a city! I also suggest walking to most places at first, it helps you memorize landmarks and with becoming familiar with a city. By the end of my trip I was giving directions to people who needed help! It did take me about a week or so to get completely familiar with the European train systems, but the family was just a call away if I had any questions and were incredibly helpful. (If you are already familiar with New York train systems then this might be easier for you to figure out). After I became comfortable with the train system in Italy I was able to use other European train systems without any problems. Google Maps was also a huge help in telling me exactly which train I needed to be on. I would also like to add that I am a solo female traveler and had no issues with safety. I flew, took busses, and trains to other countries by myself, and I would do this a million times over! Traveling solo as a female was a very freeing and empowering feeling. You can learn a lot about yourself, you realize you can do absolutely anything you want to do. I encourage more woman to try more experiences like this, and not let fear hold you back from creating some amazing memories and building confidence! Thank you GeoVisions for providing opportunities like this and pairing me with an amazing family who will be part of my life forever!

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Just be open to the experience and all it has to offer. There are days of frustration, nervousness, anxiety but those days don’t outweigh the absolutely amazing days. Give yourself time to adjust and once you do you’ll have an amazing time and learn so many different things. I’ve been here for two months and I already can see how much I’ve grown as a person. I do a lot of things that I’d never do back home and it’s all thanks to rolling with the punches and being open to all the possibilities of living abroad. I’ve been to a few places since I got here in March. Pisa, Lucca, Bologna and I want to visit Venice and Milan very soon. Traveling by train is very easy to do in Italy, just always remember to validate your ticket before boarding the train, it’s very important if you don’t it can result in a fine. Outside of most train stations, there are tourist centers where they provide you with a map and a quick overview of the city that’s extremely helpful because it shows you the main points of the city etc. While traveling try to eat in the not so tourist areas, they are usually not as crowded and the food is amazing. Every time I walk around Florence I discover something new. Italy has so much history. There are always new things to see. I also took language courses which helped me learn more about the country. Learning the language and its history was very important to me. I just try to make the most of everyday. Back home I’d spend my days off having lazy days etc. I try very hard not to do that here because I know that the time goes by quicker than you think. So anytime I have a free day or an afternoon. I’m out exploring, traveling doing something. I want to make the most of this experience so I try to minimize my lazy days unless I really need one.

I decided to become an Au Pair after completing my first semester of nursing school. I was at a time in my life where I did not know exactly what I wanted to do, while everyone around me seemed to know exactly what they were doing. I was in a rut and I needed to shake things up a bit. That's when I found out about GeoVisions Au Pair program. Although the most common (and preferred) Au Pair stay is around 6 months-1 year, I only stayed for 3 months. I left the US in September and returned in December, and let me tell you, I would not trade my experience in France for anything! I have always been pretty timid, so traveling to the south of France (Sommières to be exact) by myself was definitely a challenge that I am happy to say I overcame. As soon as I arrived in Sommières I was immediately greeted by my host family at the airport with open arms. After a few days of settling in, my host father showed me the ropes of what I was expected to do and even helped me learn how to drive a "stick shift" car. The workload (even though I really shouldn't even be calling it work) included waking up with the kids in the morning, making them breakfast and bringing them to school. When they were off at school I had the whole day to do whatever I wanted until I had to pick them up around 16:30. After school I played with them, helped them with homework, and sometimes made dinner and put them to bed. Then, I had the weekends to do whatever I wanted as well. The family was always very involved and I was always able to reach them. They were so kind and generous and they had a lovely home. They took the kids and I to Aix-en-Provence and Barcelona, Spain, and to a few other places during my stay. They always paid for food, they always paid for gas for the car, and they were just the best host family I could have ever asked for! I also made many new friends through the Au Pair program. During my first month, AFJ (the other organization I was working with) held a meeting with all the new Au Pair's in Nice for a weekend. There we got to explore the city and meet other Au Pair's near us. All the other Au Pair's were very kind and they were from all over the world. I have never experienced so much culture in my life it was truly outstanding. As for the south of France, I am itching to go back and I've only been home for 5 months! Sommières is a beautiful little village about 40 minutes away from Montpellier. The town center is charming and rustic and the surrounding villages are the same! I don't know what else I can possibly say about the trip, but it was an experience of a lifetime and I will definitely be returning in the future.

My GeoVisions trip to France was one of the best experiences of my life. My host family was extremely warm, inclusive and supportive. I loved spending time with the family and helping them learn English. It provided the perfect opportunity for me to practice my French and experience the country. My family provided with me with a bike, and I took many day trips riding along the Saone river to the closest city, Tournus where I shopped at the weekly market and ate chocolate croissants. The people in Tournus and my village of Simandre were very friendly and helpful. I toured the local area and explored the many cultural sites of interest. My family generously included me in extended family events and took me to other cultural areas of interest. I had plenty of time to roam the gorgeous countryside enjoying the fields of wheat and sunflowers. My family's home was super nice and I had a lovely room to myself. They had just built a pool which we all enjoyed. I am very thankful to GeoVisions for helping me have this enriching journey.