Tons of travellers look for ways to get a wonderful and “authentic” experience. Sometimes, this means a pricey luxurious package with fancy hotels, sightseeing and gourmet chefs cooking local food. Well, this isn’t in everybody’s budget, plus the best kind of travel often requires contact with ordinary local people, who usually don’t hang out in luxury hotels in their home cities.
Read on to learn more about why working where you travel is the best way to see the world.
Meet Different Kinds of People
When you’re a tourist abroad, you tend to only meet fellow tourists. It could be that you bump into friendly people in the hotel or hostel lobby, and you’d each like some company while seeing the sights. You’re more likely to see tourists throughout the day because you’re a tourist yourself, and they likely frequent the same restaurants, museums and historic sites you do.
If you live in the exotic place in which you’re travelling, you’re likely to meet a much broader cross-section of locals. Hopefully, you’ll make some great, long-term friendships! But meeting people is always the best way to learn about that region’s culture. Whereas tourists seek out “authenticity,” when you’re regularly hanging out with locals, authenticity is something you will simply have.
Moreover, “culture” is usually a broad term for many subcultures, and spending time with locals shows you the cultures from specific regions. You can click here to read more about all the considerations to take before deciding to live and work in a faraway country like South Korea.
All the Benefits of Teaching ESL
One job people from Western countries often take is teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). So long as you’re a fluent English speaker, you can pass on this skill to people and change their life forever.
Learning English is a common path taken to get better access to higher-paying jobs and to help them assimilate in Western countries. Giving this gift is a privilege.
How to Make Your Trip Smooth
Can you just pick up and move to the other side of the world and begin working there? It’s not easy, and you’ll want experienced help. There are travel recruitment companies who exist to facilitate your travel and work experience abroad.
It’s important to connect with a company that has the resources to handle your visa work quickly. They’ll also book and pay for your flights, find you a suitable place to live in a safe and convenient neighbourhood, check in on you periodically to make sure are on your feet, and of course, give you pedagogical training and other supports you need to thrive in the classroom.
From capital cities like Seoul to Incheon or Daegu, the travel company you connect with should have locations in schools throughout that country. It’s a good sign that they’re established and reputable.
If you’re looking for a travel experience that is deeply rewarding, exotic and one that actually pays you to be there, you can’t do better than teaching ESL abroad.