Blog Carnival: Travel Myths Debunked
We have all been given a nugget of advice or a whisper of warning before heading out on our amazing journey of teaching, travel, and adventure. But how much of that is true? The only real way to know is to go and apply to teach English abroad and discover the truths and myths for yourself. Here within this Reach To Teach Blog Carnival entry you will delve into the minds of our Reach To Teach bloggers who will tell you about the myths they were told that turned out to be false.
Jamie Phillips
The Secret No One Tells You
Depending on who you ask, and what sort of answer you’re looking for, travel is either something to be afraid of, or it isn’t. For every assertion of, “I could never do that”, there is an equally vehement counter: “Oh but you could; it’s actually really easy.”… [but] It’s a fallacy to think that travel and fear are mutually exclusive.
I am blessed with itchy feet… and I follow them! A few years ago, I packed up, sold, and redistributed all of my non-essential belongings, crammed my life into a backpack and wandered aimlessly into the world. I have gone swimming with alligators in the Amazon, hitch hiked the Carretera Austral highway in Chile, ridden camels in the Australian outback, and spent the weekend in a Buddhist nunnery in Taiwan.
Mary-Ellen Dingley
Realism, Idealism, And Teaching Abroad
Mary Ellen has volunteered, studied and worked in South America, Eurasia and the Caribbean. She graduated from the George Washington University where she studied cultural anthropology and creative writing. She currently resides in New Orleans where she dances as often as possible, eats jambalaya and spies on other people’s puppies at the park.
Rebecca Thering
Teaching Abroad Is Not A Vacation
The teaching abroad myth I’ve encountered most often is that teaching abroad is a big trip filled with lots of traveling. I’m writing this month to burst that bubble and show that at its core, teaching abroad is simply a job outside of your home country. Life abroad consists of the daily grind, just like you’d have back home; it’s not a vacation!
I’m a Wisconsin-native currently teaching English at a rural elementary school in South Korea. My Spanish skills aren’t quite as useful here as they were when I lived in Madrid, which is where my Spanish nickname Rebe (Ray-bay) stuck. I have an itch to travel, craft, learn, and read – and to make the world a better place!
Jeff Woodcroft
Stop Re-Inventing The Wheel; Just Steal Your Neighbors Instead
No one is truly alone when they teach abroad. Large communities of teachers and expats surround any newcomer with open arms, so take advantage of it to beg, borrow, and steal what you can. It’s time we forget what we learned in school and start plagiarizing shamelessly.
Like most expats, Jeff has an unhealthy thirst for travel. When he realized big changes were necessary in his over-comfortable life in Canada, he called on this thirst and uprooted to Taipei, where he continues to tackle his most foreign obstacle yet: teaching children. Years ago Jeff realized that traveling inspires him to write, a fact for which he is continually apologetic to his friends and family.
Jessica Hill
Teach Abroad Myth Revealed
I didn’t take that advice, and neither should you. Click my page to find out why!
Jessica J. Hill has taught English in Thailand and China, and wandered around a good portion of the Asian continent. She’s now working on a master’s degree in English, and writing a book about her time abroad, titled, “The People We Meet.” She continues to travel and write about it on her blog, MissAdventure Travel, and she also sells TEFL certification courses and job recruitment at Teach English: ESL.
Maggie Attoe
China Myths Whilst Teaching Abroad
“You’re a traveler. You love it, you love everything about it and you will NOT, I repeat, will NOT get homesick or have extended culture shock”. I’m here to tell you that you may actually get home sickness or have culture shock. And guess what, it doesn’t mean you don’t like to travel or that this isn’t for you,.. it’s just a part of the process, it’s OK!”
Chris and Jenni
I Feel Just Like Myth Busters!
Our blog post this month is giving our true and from the heart view on Teaching Abroad. We have spent the last 9 months teaching and realizing everything is not what you expect when you start this adventure.
Tiffany Molyneux
The Legend Of The Skunk Ape: Myths About Teaching Abroad
Hello! My name is Tiffany Molyneux. I am a 29 year old from South Florida. I completed 6 years teaching in Florida, before moving to South Korea. I am in my second year teaching English in South Korea. I love God, people, and adventure.
And there you have it, may you leave this Carnival a wiser traveler with an arsenal of knowledge to help you swat away those false rumors and myths circling your travel plans in the style of man eating sharks. Protect yourself from the jaws of these rumors, become and enlightened and informed traveler.
One Response
Thanks for hosting, Dean! Great collection of posts this month; I’m pleased with the variety of myths that everyone chose to write about!