Greenheart Travel

Category: Inspiration for Travel

6 Reasons Why Traveling Abroad is Important for Young People

In high school and college it is likely that you will receive some kind of encouragement to travel, study or work abroad. It may seem like you have a lot going on so you don’t seriously consider these opportunities or maybe you write them off since you plan on traveling later in life. I would encourage traveling at any age, but the earlier you can learn the lessons travel teaches the better.

When you are young, you are still finding yourself and preparing for your school and career. The skills and experience you gain from traveling abroad can give you life-long personal benefits as well as a leg up in the professional world.

In high school and college you have the luxury of having flexibility since you can study anywhere in the world and have relatively long study breaks. It is a prime time to take advantage of your freedom and youth.

Top 6 reasons to travel abroad while you are young:

1. You’ll Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

As young people most of us have a pretty established comfort zone. At home with mom and dad, in a community that has known you for probably a good part of your life. You have your established, friends, activities, hangouts and possibly jobs. We become comfortable in these daily roles and the idea of breaking out them can be scary and uncomfortable.

The problem is, you learn the most in uncomfortable, unfamiliar situations. In our daily routines, you know how to act and respond to people and your surroundings. Being in a new place, with different people, who hold different values and go about life differently (or not so differently you may find) strips all that familiarity away.

It can be scary, but once you figure out that you can connect with people despite differences, and you can navigate foreign environments, you become a smarter, more competent individual. Embrace the discomfort. Search for it, because it is helping you grow.

Greenheart Travel participant, Danny Scott, with host family in Costa Rica.

2. Traveling Builds Confidence

As you conquer the obstacles of figuring out how to use public transit in a foreign country, or asking for simple things in a grocery store, you are building a confidence and ability to adapt in foreign situations. I remember moving to a country where I spoke little to none of the language.

When I returned home, I moved across the country to a state where I had no family, friends or connections. The prospect of that move may have intimidated me before living abroad, but then I thought to myself, ‘Well, if I can do it abroad in a completely foreign system, I will be just fine in a place where I at least share the language.’

You realize that you CAN do things, despite the obstacles and suddenly the obstacles seem less obstructive and more like welcomed challenges.

Greenheart Travel TEFL student taking in the city of Leon, Nicaragua.

3. You Will Develop Cultural Sensitivity

Being culturally sensitive is key in our globalizing world. It is not enough to say “people from X country are like this.” It is important to look for underlying values that may explain a certain behavior in order to practice cultural sensitivity. A good example is when I was in Spain (especially in the south), where they take a 2-3 hour siesta and lunch in the middle of their work day.

Many people view this cultural norm as the people just being lazy when it really has a lot more to do with the fact that historically Spaniards value family face time. Eating together as a family is more important to them than maximizing work time by scarfing a sandwich down at their desks.

Being aware of cultural values and norms is not only fascinating, but can help us understand international issues and conflicts, or even relate to the cultural norms of a foreign business partner. It is an important skill to be able to shift perspectives and see where someone else is coming from.

Cultural sensitivity will help you with your communication on both business and personal levels.

Greenheart Travel high school student in Spain.

4. You Can Adapt to Globalization

Whether you like it or not, with the internet and social media, we are globalizing quickly. It is not unlikely that you would end up with a job that has you travel for business or take part in conference calls with international business partners. In our globalizing world it is important to be culturally sensitive and it can’t hurt to know a foreign language.

In the business world, having lived abroad can give you a competitive edge. Use the confidence and cultural sensitivity that traveling helps you develop and help it make you successful.

Get work experience teaching English or completing an internship in Thailand.

5. Be Immersed in a Second (or Third) Language

Before I lived abroad I never truly understood the beauty of becoming fluent or even proficient in another language. In the United States we don’t need to know another language, or many would argue that. Once you travel abroad you realize that especially in Europe, almost everyone you meet speaks at least two languages somewhat proficiently.

We in the States have a bit of a disadvantage since geographically we cannot country-hop as easily as Europeans can. This is why traveling, especially for us, is even more important. I would argue that in the globalizing world it really can only benefit you to speak another language. Not to mention, it opens up a whole new world of people you can now connect with and understand that you would never have gotten the chance to get to know had you never learned their language.

Living abroad is really the best way to learn a new language since you are forced to challenge and practice your skills on a daily basis.

Greenheart Travel students perfect their French language schools at our language camp in France.

6. Infinite Opportunities to Network

I have studied and worked abroad and made some incredibly valuable connections. If you are interested in working internationally or even just having a couch to stay on in a country that you love, never underestimate the value of networking wherever you go.

One thing I have learned in my time abroad is that people are generally very friendly and love to talk about their home and culture. This is not always the case, but more than often it is. Making friendships abroad can make this big world seem a little smaller and help you feel more connected wherever you go.

The best advice I can give is to meet as many people on your travels as you can. It will definitely make your time abroad more enjoyable since the locals know best! Plus you never know when these connections will come in handy in the future whether visiting each other for fun or otherwise.

Do you agree or have you traveled abroad as a young person? Share your experience in the comments below!

March 20, 2023
8 Fall Celebrations from Around the World

When traveling, you’re going to encounter new festivals, events, and holidays, whether you’re teaching in China or studying abroad in Ireland. Although many countries celebrate versions of Halloween, there are also totally different fall traditions that you’ll get to experience.

We would like to kindly remind travelers that many celebrations have deep spiritual significance. As an outsider observing or partaking in these traditions, it is important to be respectful both to the historic meanings as well as the locals celebrating them. You are first and foremost a guest in someone else’s culture.

With that said, here are some fall celebrations from around the world.

1. Yulan Festival: China

The Yulan Festival roughly translates to the Hungry Ghost festival in English. It is believed that on this fifteenth day of the seventh month on the lunar calendar, spirits roam the earth for food and money. This celebrated by burning paper offerings and leaving food outside. Grasshoppers in dragonflies are believed to be a reincarnation of humans who have passed away. Another superstition is to avoid taking pictures during the event or your image will contain a spooky figure.

2. Loi Krathong & Yi Peng: Thailand

These two festivals fall on the same day in November, but these are two separate events. Yi Peng, or the “Festival of Lights” entails sending a paper lantern into the sky, symbolically releasing any bad luck from the previous year.

Rewind to a bit earlier and you’ll experience Loi Krathong. During this event, people decorate leaf-made boats with colorful flowers and float them down the river, along with a little prayer for good fortune. There’s also a parade, dance shows, and firecrackers.

If you’re going to be in Chaing Mai for the celebrations, be prepared for the intense crowd. After all, each one of those floating lights you see in pictures is being released by an individual.

3. Oktoberfest & Feast of St. Martin: Germany

Ironically, authentic Oktoberfest begins in September. Originally, the 16-day celebration started as a royal wedding party in Munich. Now, over six million people make their way to attend the food and beer tents while sometimes dressed in traditional clothing. There are different activities scheduled throughout the duration, so research the schedule if you are making a special visit just for the event.

If you’re attending high school abroad in Germany, you will probably experience the Feast of St. Martin on November 11th. Though this holiday is celebrated in many European countries, in Germany this Christian-rooted holiday is celebrated by singing in the street while holding paper lanterns, followed by a dinner of suckling pig.

Picture from the Kawasaki Halloween Parade Facebook page

4. Kawasaki Halloween Parade: Japan

The Kawasaki Halloween Parade is truly a showcase of creepy creativity. This newer tradition spans 1.5 km (about 1 mile) where participants dress up in elaborate costumes. However, this isn’t something you can simply attend. There is a maximum of 2,500 people allowed and tickets run out fast! Participants have to register months in advance.

5. Samhain: Ireland

Samhain, an ancient Celtic tradition, is said to be the root of what is considered Halloween today. There are bonfires, festivities, and perhaps what is most notable is a fruitcake called Barmbrack that acts as a fortune-telling game. The loaf contains tokens that signify a meaning, such as wealth or marriage.

6. Día de Muertos: Central America

In Mexico and some Central American countries, Día de Muertos is a day honoring family members who have died. This is a lively celebration full of bright colors and food. Ofrendas (offerings) are decorated with marigolds, skulls, and things the loved one enjoyed.

7. Bon Om Touk: Cambodia

You might hear this three day holiday referred to as the “Cambodian Water Festival.” This non-religious holiday is meant to celebrate all the benefits of water as a resource, specifically at the end of the rainy season. Boats are raced in the river and free concerts are given in the streets.

8. Ognissanti: Italy

This celebration, similar to Día de Muertos, celebrates those who have passed away. This is a national holiday where school, stores, and government offices are closed. Cemeteries are beautifully decorated with flowers and red candles. Families feast together over a large meal and have an extra place set at the dinner table in hopes the spirit of a loved one will come home.

Which ones did we miss? Leave a comment down below!

November 20, 2020
Winter Holidays & Traditions Around the World

Are you abroad this holiday season? While being away from family this time of year can have travelers feeling a bit homesick, it’s certainly a huge treat to be able to experience different traditions in an authentic way.

We cannot even begin to describe every holiday tradition around the world, so we’ll have to settle on just a few.

Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year and is acknowledged by many people all over the world. The Pagan holiday, Yule, is celebrated this day and many of its traditions have been incorporated into other winter holidays.

Some people visit Stonehenge in the UK to see how the sun’s light shines through the perfectly lined up stones. After all, that’s part of the reason why it’s considered one of the world’s most mysterious structures.

St. Nicholas Day

December 6th is St. Nicholas Day throughout Europe, a day that celebrates the Christian saint on the day of his death. He was known for his kindness and generosity towards children. If he reminds you of Sants Claus it is because Saint Nicholas was the inspiration. So, technically Santa is real.

Krampus

Have yourself a spooky little Krampus! While St Nicholas rewards good children with presents, Krampus the demon creature kidnaps bad children in Austria and Germany. This is what nightmares are made of.

A Greenheart Traveler’s lucky pigs from her High School Abroad in Austria

Marzipan Glückschwein

Austria also has many cute traditions, like pigs! Around New Year’s Eve, you’ll find an abundance of candy pigs (Marzipan Glückschwein) that symbolize good luck. The meaning comes from medieval times when locals got lucky if they were able to breed a lot of pigs. Variations are also celebrated in Germany.

Lunar New Year

Many Asian countries celebrate the Lunar New Year, which is also called the Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival depending on location. The date changes depending on the moon cycle, but is usually in January. You might see people giving each other red envelopes which contain money, and you’ll definitely see fireworks.

In Japan, one of the most common Lunar New Year treats is mochi. Mochi is a sweet and sticky rice treat that looks like a dumpling. When homemade, it is pounded together in a large mortar, but many people opt for store-bought.

Tết, the Vietnamese name for the Lunar New Year, is celebrated by honoring ancestors. There is usually an alter with bánh chưng as an offering. Bánh chưng consists of pork and bean-filled rice that have been packaged in lá dong into a square shape.

Befana

La Befana, AKA the Christmas Witch, delivers presents to children in Italy on Epiphany Eve (January 5^th). Families leave wine out for her visit, and she will use her broom to sweep the floors before she leaves.

A Greenheart Traveler as Lucia while attending high school in Sweden

St. Lucia Day

On December 13^th in Sweden, children wear white gowns, red sashes, and wreath crowns. There is one designated “Lucia” who gets to wear candles in her wreath, while the rest of the people hold theirs. They sing songs for adults, usually school pageants.

Have you celebrated the Holidays abroad? Share what it was like in the comments!

November 25, 2019
The 2019 Video Contest Finalists

Thank you to everyone who entered our 2019 Video Contest! We loved seeing your adventures abroad and unique perspective on what it means to “Travel for a Change.”

You can click to watch the top five finalists below!

1st Place: “Bangkok Beauty” by Carolina Azcuña

2nd Place: “Being Abroad” A Retrospect” by Kyle Reed

3rd Place: “The Kiwi Thrill” by Graham Green

Honorable Mentions:

“I T A L Y” by Ian Taraszewski

“Work and Travel Australia” by Alyssa Dooms

September 16, 2019
Greenheart Travel is Up for THREE GoAbroad.com Innovation Awards!
The prestigious GoAbroad Innovation Awards Academy will vote to determine the winner for each of these awards. The winners will then be announced at the GoAbroad Reception during the NAFSA Annual Conference in Washington D.C later in May.

Innovative New Program – Teach English/TEFL – Greenheart Travel’s Teach English in Costa Rica Program

We are excited to be assisting the Costa Rican Government’s “Skills for Life” initiative, which provides intensive English education and life skills training to local Costa Rican communities. The goal of the program is to empower and improve the employability of at-risk young adults to gain employment at local businesses where a basic to intermediate level of English is required.

Learning English is a gateway to careers and jobs beyond what some of these students might have access to without this education. This program aims to make a big impact in each community where teachers are placed, as well as in each student’s life.

In order to receive classes, students must qualify for government assistance based on their current income and employment status and must be able to dedicate 30 hours per week to attend English classes. We help train volunteer teachers with ways to encourage consistent attendance from their students.

Read more from Greenheart Travel Teach in Costa Rica alumni Marybeth Ward:

This program is so important to the students we teach. These students are receiving an opportunity to learn English that they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. Every day, I watch students become more confident and inquisitive. I watch students surprise me with their knowledge and abilities. Every day has its challenges, but watching my students succeed and flourish makes me so grateful that I decided to come to Costa Rica.

Innovation in Cultural Immersion – Greenheart Travel Atlas

Over the past year, Greenheart Travel has been providing our travelers with the Greenheart Travel Atlas, a unique resource for cultural immersion. The Atlas’s 40-page guidebook and 5 accompanying interactive videos include goals and exercises for before, during, and after a person’s time abroad. The three main topics we want our travelers to focus on, and that are covered in the Atlas, are Personal & Professional Development, Cultural Understanding, and Environmental Awareness. We understand that everyone deals with goal setting, culture shock, homesickness, cultural immersion – and just travel in general – in their own way, so we created the Atlas to cover a range of strategies and challenges for when someone is abroad.

Since the time we launched the Atlas one year ago, we have seen numerous benefits to providing our travelers with this resource. While many find the “Immersing Myself Challenge” to be considerably helpful after moving abroad, others find the “Processing My Re-Entry Feelings Exercise” a comfort after moving back home. Despite the fact that a 40-page guidebook may seem daunting to travelers, we were extremely overjoyed at how many people found comfort and navigation through the Greenheart Travel Atlas during their many stages of life abroad.

Our overall goal with the Atlas is to provide our travelers with tools to create a more intentional cultural immersion experience and give them the resources to make their travel experience unique and unforgettable.

Greenheart Travel Atlas Activities Include:
- Steps to set personal goals for your time abroad prior to your departure.
- Tips for navigating culture shock and homesickness at the start of your adventure.
- Exercises for successful cultural immersion, environmental awareness, and reflection during your time in another country.
- Prompts for journaling and blogging during your experience.
- Support and guidance for reverse culture shock when you return home.
- Reviews for your personal achievements and tips for incorporating your experience in everyday life after you return.
Innovation in Philanthropy – Greenheart Odyssey

At the heart of our mission is the Greenheart Odyssey, a series of five leadership programs providing need-based and merit-based scholarships for youth in Chicago and around the globe. We walk alongside our participants from middle school to adulthood, empowering the next generation of change-makers in all six inhabited continents. As their final

project, these bright young minds come together to address an urgent global issue on a local scale on the Greenheart Alumni Council.

There are 5 Programs that Make Up the Greenheart Odyssey (All of Which are Scholarship Funded)
1. Camp Greenheart welcomes Chicago youth to have a true summer camp experience filled with team building, confidence boosting, and creativity-inspiring activities—free of any financial burden. This experience is further enriched with environmental and social awareness education that empowers campers to become leaders in their communities. Campers return with a deeper appreciation for their natural surroundings and concern for the well-being of their self, others, and the world.
2. Greenheart Quest broadens under-resourced Chicago youth’s perspectives through eco-volunteer work and cultural immersion ar our volunteer project in Puerto Rico. They return home with a desire to learn about new cultures, a framework for international leadership, and an inspired vision to serve communities.
3. Jr. Greenheart Global Leader’s Conference – Jr. Leaders spend five days in Chicago exploring global leadership. They engage in service, public speaking workshops, cultural exchange, and one-on-one engagement with innovative leaders.
4. Greenheart Global Leader’s Conference – Adult Global Leaders spend a week in Washington, D.C. learning how to be advocates for cultural exchange and community development. Business, social justice, and sustainability workshops culminate in a Department of State visit and panelist opportunity.
5. Greenheart Global Alumni Council – Council members are empowered by the unique opportunity to come together in-person at the Purpose Summit: Berlin and in online spaces. They develop initiatives that have an international impact.
Stay tuned for the winners being announced during the NAFSA Annual Conference in Washington D.C!
May 22, 2019
Why Travel Makes You the Best Version of Yourself

Traveling isn’t always easy. Worth it, yes. Easy, no. When I arrived, I was exhausted. The jet lag mixed with the tiniest differences that shouldn’t have tired me, but did, physically and mentally wore me out. A small part of me would whisper ‘what’s wrong with you’ when I spent an hour watching Modern Family instead of being out in the city drinking sangria. So why do it? I actually got asked this question in a variety of ways and sometimes it was hard to come up with a reason. I couldn’t always put in words why I had to do it, but deep down I knew I had to do it.

The days were filled with new and exciting events- from the big picture, observing cultural love languages to the smallest things, like why are all of the light switches different here? But that doesn’t mean that the days didn’t have their stressors. A day in the city where every little social interaction could go horribly wrong or make you feel horribly stupid was, well, stressful. So, duh, right? Well yes, but the thing that I got from it is (and no I’m not going to say laugh at yourself although, true.) is that it is good to be scared. It’s good to be afraid. Because in these situations was when I got out of my comfort zone. I put a new (both cultural and personal) lens to my own behavior. Getting out of your comfort zone while in a new location and when you don’t really have much of a choice makes it a whole lot easier when you’re back home. I realized I had to just bite the bullet with so many little things because I was traveling solo. I had no choice to just opt out of doing some things. I couldn’t just not try my awful broken Spanish to ask a lady to get to the nearest metro stop. I couldn’t just not wash my clothes because the European machines were different than the ones back home (how exactly does one work a drier that opens from the top and has a trapdoor!?). It got to be exciting too, mostly because it’s so freeing to not be held back by fear. That freedom mixed well with the humor in how awful some of the situations turned out because it opened me up to the ~whimsical~ anything can happen mindset.

My point here is that traveling can make you a better version of yourself. You wake up, not defeated by another monotonous too early alarm (youch, it’s Tuesday again?), and want to go out to try something new. A new store, restaurant, sport- the thing itself doesn’t really matter. It’s that you want to do something new. And while doing this, I was so afraid of falling into the uneducated, arrogant, and selfish American stereotype that I did everything in my power to avoid it. So, there I was, out, trying new things. I performed a balancing act of being young, stupid, and carefree all while analyzing every little action I did. In the States, I jaywalk all the time. In Spain, I felt the need to go to the crosswalk and usually waited for the passenger symbol for my time to cross so that I wasn’t that American. I tried to say yes to every opportunity that came my way. I changed the way I talked to people my age; this was especially evident when I tried explaining the culture of cigarette smoking to one of my host brothers. I packed cuter outfits. So, when out in the world, being a better you is just fun.

Traveling is real life. To me, one of the biggest beauties of traveling is that you can be completely removed from a situation and then return with a renewed mindset. For me, I can have a hard time incorporating my time away into my time at home. In Spain, I usually had the day free to go see the city- museums, parks, coffee shops, and the like and then return back to the flat for English lessons. Back at school, my days are filled with studying, naps, working out, and going to the grocery. When a switch is completely flipped, I struggle to not view a certain time away as surreal. I keep telling myself that yes, that actually happened. I try to work on bringing what I learned about myself and other people and that inexplicable travel groove I was in into my time at home.

It’s easy for people for people to slip into this alternate persona when traveling. I fully support the notion, but we need to try to not slip right out when the plane lands to get back home. I don’t know why this matters so much to me- the idea that people have mundane, real-life selves and then exotic, travel selves. I think it matters to me because what some people can do with this-this idea of traveling, is what I do with the future. It really is too easy of a trap to fall into. The “I’ll be more adventurous when I’m away and trying to pay bills” quickly translates to “I’ll be much happier when I’m not stressed with school and have a paying job with a loving family.” And that’s what I want to get away from. I think one of the reasons I love to travel and explore is because every minute is like hey this is your life.

I know that everyone has a different experience abroad. I was incredibly lucky during my time as a language assistant in Spain. I had a more than wonderful host family with a strong support system back home. I just wanted to share some thoughts about my journey in hopes that you’re a little better off because of it.

February 20, 2019
Couples of Greenheart Travel: Embracing the World & Falling in Love
February 14th is one of our favorite days here at Greenheart Travel, mostly because of our annual Valentine’s Day blog post! Since 2014, we’ve featured couples who have either met on one of our programs or decided to travel together. There have been life-changing moments, marriages, and even babies! In their own words, read about these travelers’ inspirational stories that will leave you thinking #couplegoals.

Andrea & Tanner

“Far doth roam”

Tanner and I live a life of constant adventure that we built together from scratch. We’ve lived abroad for over five years and visited over 50 countries in that time. Our life is anything but typical, but we come from a comfortable rural background where the world was small and predictable like a classic coming-of-age movie.

We were high school sweethearts in the same little rural Wisconsin town. We fell in love at Friday night football games and danced together at prom. Our lives were a quintessential American small town story. The rest of the world was unreal and unreachable to us; places learned about in textbooks, but never visited. After graduation I decided to flee Midwestern life and attend college in Washington, DC. But my sweetheart needed to stay in Wisconsin. I’ll never forget our first tear-stained goodbye at the airport. Tanner and I became a long-distance couple.

Four years later, with freshly-printed degrees, we vowed to never be apart again. Having both studied language, we wanted to apply to teach English in Korea. To our dismay, they only guaranteed couples be placed together if those couples are married. With the pain of separation still fresh in our hearts, we reverted back to our small town ways: Tanner and I married young. But it could hardly be called settling down.

We cried together when our joint-application was accepted and we were placed together in Jeju. Clean passports in hand we left our cozy small town life for a new country, only our third after our honeymoon in Canada.

Korea will always remind me of our early marriage. We learned so much about this new country, the world, and each other.

In March we will celebrate six years of marriage. We’ve since moved from Korea to Poland where Tanner will soon graduate from medical school and I continue to teach English. Tanner and I have built an amazing life together centered around love, travel, and each other. Our world has gotten a whole lot bigger since high school. But it was a small town decision that led to this worldwide adventure.

Ayla & Lynn

I went to Australia in March through Greenheart Travel. My goals going into it was to have fun, be happy, and experience lots. And that I did! But the best part about my year was finding a person to share those special moments, and hard times with. 1 month into my trip I met her. Never in a million years did I go into this expecting to come out in a relationship- let alone with a girl. But honestly, the moment I saw her I knew she was the one. I got a feeling like I’ve never felt before. I knew I had to get to know her. We ended up talking, but since I was working an hour away from Melbourne we didn’t get to see each other very often. One of those few nights, I worked up the courage to finally kiss her, and we’ve pretty much been together since! A couple weeks later we flew to a farm where we spent the next 4 months doing everything together- Working, cooking, cleaning, shopping…. anything you could imagine, we did it together. If that isn’t a test of how well you work together I don’t know what is. I flew home a couple days before Christmas while she stayed in Australia. I thought it would be hard, and it is, but not as hard as I imagined. We care for each other too much that we make it work. On the week of Valentine’s Day, she will be flying to Canada so we will be reunited after 8 weeks apart.

Alexia & Nathaniel

We both had a craving to explore the world. Anything other than what we knew. We felt that at the moment, Montreal wasn’t offering what we wanted and there had to be somewhere that did. Australia had always seemed so foreign and so distant for us that it was almost an impossibility to even consider it. Oddly enough, that’s what intrigued us the most. The idea of putting ourselves in an uncomfortable situation and see how we react, both as individuals and as a couple. There is no doubt in our minds that it’s been a rollercoaster so far, the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations of living abroad as a young couple. However, we can both honestly say that doing this, taking the step we took and moving abroad for one year to travel foreign territory together has made our bond stronger. Stronger than it’s ever been, and down the line stronger than it could ever be.

We’re both so happy we decided to do this. We know what we’re made of, and we’re doing it together, side by side.

Follows their travels on Instagram: Alexia Nathaniel Lex & Nat

Audrey and Rodrigo

Audrey and Rodrigo at an Ultimate frisbee tournament in Barranquilla

I came to Barranquilla, Colombia in 2017 with Greenheart Travel, full of romantic ideas about what my time here would be like. The experience was indeed sensational, life-changing, and unforgettable, and that is in large part thanks to the person I met 6 months into my 1-year contract. I had recently joined an Ultimate Frisbee team and was playing one weekend on the beach when a couple of guys joined in. One spoke to me in Spanish, and I was so flustered that I couldn’t find the words to respond. Once home, I found him on Facebook, we started talking, and a week later we met up for a surf lesson. I’m currently beginning my third year in this charming city and I live with that frisbee-playing stranger, who also turned out to be a loving boyfriend with a thirst for travel and adventure that rivals my own. Thanks, Greenheart, for all the love!

Alexis & Ashley

I went Thailand for many reasons: become a better teacher, explore more of the world, learn a new culture, discover more about myself, and to help people. However, I did not go to Thailand looking for a girlfriend. I went to Thailand by myself and first went to visit a friend in Bangkok before starting the TESOL course in Chiang Mai. Alexis and I met on September 24th for our first day of orientation, however we barely spoke. She traveled to Thailand with two of her sisters, Phoebe and Tiffany, and I quickly became friends with them.

Three days later, everything changed. On that day of orientation we meditated and went to Doi Suthep where a monk blessed the two of us together. From then on out we were inseparable. By the end of that week I was dubbed the “fourth sister” and after knowing the three of them for exactly a week, we all four got matching Thailand tattoos! We spent roughly 20 hours a day together and stayed awake talking in the lobby until 3 am or later. Our mindset was to spend as much time together as possible because my placement was in Bangkok and hers was in Sukhothai – only an 8-hour bus ride away from each other. Saying goodbye to them was very hard, especially Lex, while I kept my feelings for her swallowed in my throat. It took only five days before I would hop on a plane to go visit her in Sukhothai because we already missed each other so much. After spending five days together just the two of us my feelings grew stronger. Two weeks later she came to visit me in Bangkok with Phoebe. On November 22, 2017 I finally confessed my feelings to her and after two months of knowing each other, we decided to give us a try.

Although we were an 8-hour bus ride away from each other, we saw each other about every other weekend. It was scary at first to be so far away from each other, but we made it work. Each goodbye would get a little harder as my feelings grew, but I knew I would see her again. Together we celebrated our birthdays, overcame culture shock, and enjoyed Christmas night and New Years all in another country. Since I signed a year contract with my school, but she signed one semester we would not get to finish at the same time. Eventually, we would have to face our longest distance yet.

It’s officially been a little over a year now and we’re still head over heels in love with each other. She visited my hometown in April, I visited hers in May, and then we spent 7 months without seeing each other. In that time I finished teaching and traveling abroad while she was in the states, we FaceTimed for Thanksgiving, and she completed Air Force Basic Training in December. I was lucky enough to attend her graduation in Texas after 7 months apart and we’ve been together ever since. We have been staying with her family in New Hampshire, and recently we were able to visit my hometown in Illinois together.

Alexis and I would’ve never met in the states with the 18-hour drive between us, but thanks to Greenheart we met all the way on the other side of the world. This feels a lot like fate!

Here’s to our first Valentine’s Day spent together!

Hugo & Lisa

I came to Colombia in 2016 with the Greenheart Travel program. I requested to be anywhere except Bogota but ended up being placed in Bogota anyway. I guess it was meant to be since I met my now boyfriend co-teaching at the school I was placed at. We became good friends the 10 months I worked there and spent time together outside of work. When my contract finished I actually left Colombia with the intention of traveling and not coming back. After a month of traveling Ecuador, it didn’t feel quite right so I decided to find another job and go back to Colombia. We started officially dated when I came back and have been together 2 years now.

Matthew & Maria

It was 2013 and my wife Maria and I held down 5 part-time jobs to afford a 1-bedroom apartment in Chicago. We weren’t from there and I was anxious to move back home to Columbus, OH where life is a bit cheaper. However, my wife wasn’t ready to settle down in one place yet and wanted an adventure. She researched the best places to teach English overseas and landed on South Korea. I knew practically nothing about South Korea, but my wife knew how to sell it: the program’s benefits and relative closeness would allow us to visit New Zealand, a lifelong dream of mine. With that, we applied to EPIK and accepted positions in Daegu.

We converted our last $1000 to our name into Korean won and flew to South Korea. Once we got there, we realized how lucky we were to be doing this together. Working overseas is a lot to take in! Our apartment was functional but quirky, and we needed to adjust our expectations quickly. Maria had another Native English Teacher at her school, but I did not. I was completely alone.

Through it all, we leaned on each other as we tackled one new adventure after another.

The best part? We made it to New Zealand! If it hadn’t been for Maria’s idea to teach English overseas, it probably would’ve been decades before we could visit. Instead, we visited Hobbiton at the ripe old age of 26. Additionally, Maria had always wanted to teach English overseas and wasn’t sure when or how that would happen. Together, we were helping each other achieve life goals.

Today, we’re entering our 30’s and enjoying the new adventures of parenthood and house ownership. Our two years in South Korea helped cement our communication and reliance on each other. You can read more about our adventure in South Korea in my debut book The Waygook Book: A Foreigner’s Guide to South Korea available on Amazon.

To see the previous years’ collection of couples who put the heart in Greenheart Travel, check out our annual posts:
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
February 14, 2019
6 Ways I Conquer My Travel Anxiety

Let’s be real, travel is not all rainbows and butterflies. Getting on a plane and flying across the world to a place super unfamiliar can be scary. But that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? Otherwise, we’d just stay in our own houses all day every day. Anxiety can make you feel like staying in your apartment forever, but with the right attitude and planning you can be a successful world traveler, even with anxiety. Whether you’re traveling solo in SE Asia for 3 weeks, moving abroad permanently, or simply visiting a new city in your home country, here are my tips on how I handle my anxiety when traveling.

1. Break time down into chunks to conquer.

Take each day one at a time. Break things down into chunks so that it’s easier to “carpe that diem”. When I was in Bangkok last year I got really overwhelmed on day 1 of traveling solo for three weeks. I took out my notebook and outlined each day I was going to be there and what I’d be doing each day. The first day it felt so good to come home to my hotel and cross that day off my list – I did it! After around 4 days I didn’t need to cross days off my list any longer, but breaking my experience down into smaller chunks of time made it seem less overwhelming. If you need to break it down into even smaller chunks that’s do-able too. Sometimes even just going out to dinner (which can be hard when traveling solo) is a good chunk to conquer and check off your list!

When I moved abroad to South Korea I got there and immediately wanted to turn around, get on a plane, and fly back home. I was supposed to be there for a WHOLE YEAR which was super overwhelming. Therefore, I told myself that I would give it a month. If I was still not happy I would go home. Breaking it down meant I only had to conquer one month. By the end of that month I wanted to stay longer and I did end up staying the entire year, but at first the idea of staying there an entire year was terrifying. Again, it’s all about breaking it down into time chunks you feel are conquerable at the time.

Living in South Korea!

2. Unpack and make your room your own space.

My rule – if you’re staying anywhere longer than 2 nights, unpack all your stuff. Put your toothbrush on the sink. Line your shoes up by the door. Living out of a suitcase can just add to the feeling of general “mess” and anxiety. Having a clean room and your stuff neatly put away can help you feel more relaxed and at home in your new space while traveling. The sooner I make my room feel like home the better I feel. I also usually bring my own pillowcase from home that is freshly washed with my detergent even when staying in a hotel. This small reminder of home makes me sleep better and feel more at home.

For those moving abroad for a long duration, consider bringing mementos and things that remind you of home like a certain candle, scent spray, or even some of your favorite laundry detergent.

My apartment in Korea with a few personal touches.

3. Find your “spot”.

One of my biggest anxieties is walking into a new coffee shop, restaurant, etc. that I am unfamiliar with. When you don’t know the language this only increases the anxiety. Using point #1 in this blog, break this down into chunks. First, just simply walk by the coffee shop and check it out. Next time, go in and order a coffee to go. Next time, order a coffee, sit down, and read a book.

Once you have a spot you are familiar with and comfortable in it makes it easier to get out of the house and go try new spots too.

When I lived in South Korea I lived in a small town and went to the same restaurant almost everyday after school to pick up dinner. The first time I walked in was terrifying, but by the time I left Korea the people there knew me and knew my order!

4. Do your research and plan ahead. But also, let it go.

When you have an understanding of the city, subway, etc. beforehand it makes situations way easier to navigate if you get slightly confused or lost. I usually watch YouTube videos about any train stations I’m traveling through or read blogs about it. Therefore, when I get there I don’t have to have anxiety about what to do, where to buy tickets, how to board the train, etc. This blog is really good for this and here is an example from a trip I took recently. Greenheart Travel also has a lot of blogs about traveling basics, like SIM cards, navigating an international airport, and lots more.

That being said, don’t over plan. I find it best to have a rough outline of what I want to do and see in each city, but if things don’t go to plan that’s OK. When you over plan each day it’s easy to get anxious and overwhelmed when things don’t go exactly to plan. Things are going to go wrong. Be prepared to be able to “go with the flow”. Take a deep breath. Part of traveling is that things will go wrong and not to plan, and that’s OK.

5. WWAP = Walk with a Purpose.

The best advice I got when I studied abroad at age 19 was to “WWAP”. Walking with a purpose basically means to fake it til you make it. Even if you have no idea where you are, walk as if you do. Confidence make you less of a target to thieves or people who might take advantage of you but it can also instill real confidence too. I was once asked for directions in Paris because I was walking around acting as if I knew where I was going. Talk about a confidence booster and anxiety crusher!

6. SMILE!

Whenever I’m feeling really anxious and overwhelmed I remind myself to take 3 minutes to relax, look around, take in the surroundings, and smile. Remind yourself that YOU’VE GOT THIS. How cool is it that you traveled to this place and did it!?

Thats me! In Myanmar traveling by MYSELF!

Have any tips for how you handle anxiety when traveling? Leave them in the comments below!

February 13, 2019
How Greenheart Travel Staff Members Spent New Year’s Eve Abroad

It’s no secret that at Greenheart Travel, we travel. A lot. So with 2019 approaching, we’ve decided to reminisce on some of the places we’ve spent New Year’s Eve. Let’s take a trip down memory lane.

“For two years, I lived in Zafra, a small town in rural western Spain. In Zafra, like in every small Spanish town, life revolves around town plaza, where bars and restaurants surround a fifteenth-century church. On Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve), the whole town gathers in the plaza a few minutes before midnight holding bags of grapes. As the clock in the church tower strikes midnight, everyone pops a grape in their mouth for each toll of the bell – 12 grapes in about a minute. By the end, everyone’s looking like a chipmunk and laughing hysterically; it’s a great kickoff to a night of celebration in the plaza!”

-Savannah McDermott, Teach & Work Abroad Program Manager

“I spent a new years eve celebrating in downtown London! Everyone gathers around the London Eye and Big Ben and they light off fireworks from the Eye at midnight. I also celebrated a NYE in Seoul, Korea. In Seoul, everyone gathers around a temple that rings a huge bell at midnight. The bell is really old and it’s been a tradition for a really long time.”

-Sara Thacker, Associate Director of Marketing

“While I was in college, I volunteered in Panama during my winter breaks, so I spent several New Year Eve’s there. One of them was spent at a friend’s beach house, where we had lots of room to partake in one of the most exciting traditions – burning a “stuffed man” at midnight. Our hosts made a life-sized stuffed man to light on fire at midnight with the intention of having the bad energy/evil of the previous year removed before the New Year. Other guests also walked around with suitcases in their hands if they wanted to travel in the upcoming year.”

-Allison Yates, High School & Short-Term Programs Manager

“I spent my first New Year’s Eve outside of the US when I was a freshman in college. My family took a trip to visit our extended family in the Dominican Republic and stayed for two weeks in a small town on the coast. I was used to my parents throwing large and fancy parties to ring in the new year – with sparkly dresses, champagne toasts, party hats, and boisterous countdowns. So when we heard the evening plan for a traditional Dominican New Year’s Eve consisting of a large but laid back family meal, a walk on the beach, music, and dancing I wasn’t sure how special the night would feel. No confetti or high heels or shrimp cocktail? Of course, as many new traveler stories go, it ended up being an amazing night spent getting to know my family better, learning how to fry plantains, developing my love for Latin music, and taking a late night stroll on the beach to watch a few distant fireworks shoot off. I came out on the other side with one grainy photo of myself on the beach, but a love for trying new traditions, an appreciation for another culture, and desire to spend more of my time in warm, welcoming countries.”

– Kate Powers, Outreach Coordinator

“I celebrated NY 2017 traveling through Panama with one of my closest friends. We arrived at a beautiful seaside, open air restaurant on December 31, 2016 and left in the early hours of January 1, 2017. There was tasty food, great company, amazing music, and a plethora of fireworks. In the middle of the celebrations, we met this great couple, who we ended up chatting with all night. One of them was from Colombia and the other from Turkey, but they were living in Chicago-same as me! We’ve met up again in Chicago, but I greatly doubt that I would have met them if it wasn’t for our fortuitous NYE in Panama. I wouldn’t say that night was a typical Panamanian New Year, but it was a great example of our small & amazing world.”

– Hope Pavich, Director of High School and Short-Term Programs

How have you spent New Year’s Eve? Tell us in the comments!

December 20, 2018
Myths About Traveling That Keep People From Their Wanderlust
The perception is that travelers all have trust funds, or caught a lucky break, or are just simply irresponsible and don’t care about the future.

These ignorant comments got me thinking. Some people seem to legitimately believe that traveling is out of the realm of possibility for them. For those who want to travel but think that they never could afford it, or are simply too afraid about the idea of moving to another country, here are the four main “Travel Myths” and the solutions to all of them.

Myth 1: Traveling is SUPER expensive

BUSTED: Life is expensive, it’s just a matter of where you want to spend your time and money.

It cracks me up when I hear from my friends who live in New York, or LA telling me how they wish they had the money to do what I did. I saved 5k working my butt off for 6 months to get over here and I’m still working while I’m here to continue to fund my adventure. Meanwhile, my friend in New York is probably paying over $2,000 a month to rent for an apartment in the city. It’s all about priorities and what you want to spend your money on. If you like living above your means, paycheck to paycheck, then traveling probably isn’t too realistic. But if your desires are more about life experience and less about material things, you’ll find it’s very easy to save money and get your journey started.

The startup cost for traveling (i.e. flights) are usually the most expensive part. There are people who spend more on a two-week all-inclusive vacation then I’ve spent in the six months that I’ve been here in Australia. It’s all about priorities and what’s important to you.

When you do begin your journey, here are a couple of easy resources everyone can use to save money whenever possible:
- Flights: Skyscanner is a great resource for comparing rates and finding the cheapest flights (helpful tip, if you’re flying anywhere in Oceania, Jetstar will match any deal you find and beat it by at least 10%)
- Crashing for Free: Couch Surfing is a free app for iPhone and Android. Couch Surfing allows people from all over the world to find nice hospitable places to sleep for anywhere from a night, to a week or longer. I’ve had great experiences with this app and I’ve yet to meet anyone who’s had a bad experience.
- Crashing for Cheap: there are tons of apps and websites out there, personally, I prefer Hostelworld, but it’s about preference. Hostels are a great way to start off in a new city, there are lots of like-minded fun people, but I wouldn’t recommend staying more than a week.
- Cheap Trips: I’m a HUGE Groupon fan, and everybody’s favorite “I don’t need it, but I can’t afford not to buy it” app is available in quite a few countries now. If you’re looking for a cheap excursion for a few days, this is a great place to start.
There are just a few examples, but there are so many more apps and websites out there that can assist in making your bigger purchases a little more affordable. The point being if you want to make it happen, don’t let cost be the thing that holds you back. Everything costs money, where do you want to spend yours?

Myth 2: I have student loans (or any kind of debt really)

BUSTED: You can actually improve your credit score while traveling, and knock down your loan payments.

When I was in college my girlfriend was always traveling abroad or across the country. I was extremely conservative with my money and I thought she was insane. What she ended up teaching me in our time together was a lesson I still carry to this day and is part of the reason I was inspired to travel in the first place. She said, “I’ll take happy and broke over miserable and broke every time.” Debt sucks, but it won’t go away simply because you stress over it.

Keep the currency in mind when choosing your destination. Basic living needs are much more affordable depending on where you go. People are often surprised to learn that you can actually save money while traveling. Which leads us to the next myth.

Myth 3: All these people are traveling without working

BUSTED: Most of the people traveling work just like everyone else. That’s why we have a work/travel visa.

I work 40 hours a week, but in my free time, I get to spend it in another awesome country. The thing that makes people want to pack up and go in the first place is not the fear of work, but rather the fear of the mundane, outside of work. If I hate what I’m doing, and I’m doing it in a city I don’t like that much, simply to pay the bills, that’s a lose-lose. I work, and I work hard, and in my free time, I get to explore.

In this age of social media, we take all the best aspects of our lives and put them on display to create this sort of augmented reality. You see the most exciting aspects of a traveler’s journey. The truth is I don’t go hiking or sight-seeing every day of the week, but when I do have free time, that’s how I spend it. So next time you see your friend who’s overseas posting some crazy pictures that make their friends jealous, remember you are only seeing highlights.

Myth 4: Travelers are just a different breed, I would never have the courage to up and leave

BUSTED: Getting here is the scary part, but once you’ve taken that step it changes your life.

People seem to think that everyone who is out traveling the world is either a recent college graduate or just someone who was going nowhere in life, but that’s not true. We all have a story, and most of them don’t start with, “I wasn’t doing anything with my life so I just packed a bag and left”.

When you travel you meet people from all walks of life and almost every story begins with how nervous people were to go. We all knew we wanted to travel and go somewhere new and try to “find ourselves” but like everyone else, there was always something else holding us back. Maybe it wasn’t enough money saved, or being away from our family and friends, financial obligations, etc. The point is you don’t have to be extremely brave to go off and take an adventure, what you need is just a few simple things. A destination, a time frame to make it happen, and most importantly, a ticket.

I remember I had quit my job and moved back home with my family to save for the six months leading up to my expected departure date. As I sat in my kitchen one night staring at my computer screen looking at flights, I kept thinking of all the reasons why I was crazy for doing this. I was bombarding myself with self-doubt and second-guessing, but finally using all the courage I could muster, I took the biggest leap of faith in my adult life. I clicked “book trip”, and just like that it wasn’t a hypothetical anymore, it was happening.

If you’re considering traveling I implore you to do some research, read tons of travel blogs, and once you decide where you want to go, lock it in. There will never be a perfect time to leave, there’s only the time you decide to make it happen.
December 6, 2018