Teach English in a Public School in Italy for 3 Months

Many others in the Business field back in college were eager to jump into a career path that has a pretty clear and quickly-ascending ladder to climb. But behind the upscale city apartments, corporate vacations, and happy hours were tired eyes, drained from 60 hour work weeks in a gray work environment. I knew for sure that money was not my motivator; I figured out that corporate life wasn't for me.

I started thinking about where I really want to go. I love adventures, and I love meeting new people. I also fell in love with the Italian language in college, but started so late that I felt hopeless to ever become conversational. I thought back on two Study Abroad programs that I did in college and how much I loved meeting new people and exploring new cultures.

So I looked into programs abroad, and the information felt both overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time. Some programs had a lot of information, others had very little. Some programs cost a lot of money, others cost very little. I had doubts for many, but one program stood out to me – Greenheart Travel.

I had too many hesitations. I started a job, but after a year and a half, I couldn't stop coming back to the idea of traveling especially through the Greenheart program. Three months felt perfect for me – not too short that I feel I can't adjust and learn the culture, but not too long that I felt nervous to take the leap. Greenheart was also one of the only programs I could find in Italy that fit my needs.

What really did it for me though was Greenheart's Facebook page. I could see other teachers chatting on the page. That gave me comfort that the program was legit. I felt good knowing I could get more details than just what a webpage can show – there is so much value in peoples' personal experiences.

I was looking for a program that was social and where I could meet other young people. Seeing the photos from the orientation in Turin, I knew that this was it for me.

Greenheart provides you with all of the pre-departure information. Savannah was great, and was there to answer any questions. She also did a pre-departure webinar to give more information on our life in the program.

Greenheart pairs up with WEP to get you a host school and a host family. They send you the school name, location, what grades you will be teaching, your School Coordinator, and their contact information. They also send you your host family’s address, the names of the family members, their ages, their occupations, their hobbies, and their contact information. Having a host family means your accommodation and meals are taken care of.

WEP and Greenheart organize a 3-day orientation when you arrive in Turin so you can learn the city and meet other people on the program. This includes accommodation and meals, as well as some programming like a city tour.

You are responsible for your flights, as well as for reaching out to your host school and family for more specific information (not required but highly recommended!) Any travel that you want to do is on your own.

What is your favorite travel memory?

I'd answer differently if asked on a different day, but today a story from Thailand comes to mind.My boyfriend and I were at Khao Sok National Park, a beautiful jungle reserve in the south. We hired a guide with a longtail boat to take us out on the lake for a day. It was a beautiful day, so he asked if we wouldn't mind if he brought his family along. We went to his house, picked up his wife and little girl, and spent an amazing day on the water with this lovely Thai family. We were having such a nice time that our guide extended the excursion to show us some of his favorite spots on the lake, including a beautiful swimming spot between some ivy-covered cairns. It was one of my happiest days in Thailand.

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

It's always surprised me how little you hear about Portugal. I've visited several times and come home every time thinking it was the best trip I ever took. Lisbon, Evora, and Oporto are fabulous cities, and Monseraz is one of the most stunning towns I've ever seen. It's an incredibly beautiful country with great food, friendly people who generally speak good English, and it's cheap and accessible. I think Spain just overshadows it.

I think Barcelona is really overrated. It's super touristy and the people aren't very friendly. Maybe my love of the rest of Spain makes me biased, but I just don't find it as appealing as Madrid or Sevilla or San Sebastian.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I think the most important thing is to have a knowledgeable and responsive staff. Everyone here has traveled extensively and most have lived abroad, so we all intimately understand the processes and challenges that all of our participants face. Because of that experience, we're quick to respond and eager to help every step of the way.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

Having participated in a few study and teach abroad programs myself, I'm constantly amazed at the level of support that my Greenheart Travel colleagues provide. The program managers here are friendly, responsive, and so helpful. Because it's a non-profit, we aren't desperate to sell our programs --our focus is working with each participant to make their individual experience a great one.

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of your current team

I just started working at Greenheart Travel after 5 years of teaching in Spain and Thailand. At this job I get to work with like-minded people who have endless fantastic travel stories and are constantly thinking about that next trip. They're all so enthusiastic about their participants because they love traveling abroad and want to help others make it happen. It's a wonderful team.