Learn Online While Traveling South East Asia

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I applied to Edumadic. All I knew was I had hit a brick wall after my second year in college and that I wanted to travel. Only seeing the Edumadic add on instagram once before I decided what could it hurt to apply! After some extended research on the legitimacy of the program I realized that this was exactly what I needed. I had traveled before but always with friends, I was always to hesitant to go alone. 

Sitting on the plane to Bali, all I could think about was have I made the right decision. That was the only time during the 12 weeks that I ever doubted that decision. Throughout those 12 weeks I snorkeled in the Gili islands, hiked up an active volcano in the night for sunrise, learned to surf, spent an entire day playing with rescued elephants in Thailand, drove a scooter along the coastline of Koh Lanta, and made life long friends in the process. 

Edumadic was one of the best decisions I could have ever made for myself. Not only am I confident traveling alone now but I finally found my passion in life. One of the most important things I learned over there was that you have to constantly push yourself out of your comfort zone to grow as an individual. For that I came home a better and more confident person that I always wished to become, all thanks to Edumadic!

When I first came across Edumadic I was living in a tiny flat in London doing a degree I wasn’t at all enjoying, squatting under some stairs as protection from the rain after having lost my keys down a questionable public toilet, waiting for a friend to come and let me in. It looked idyllic, suddenly there it was, all these beach sunsets, mountains and annoyingly happy looking people. I applied on a bit of a whim and then before I knew it I was accepted onto the program! Slipping a deferral form under my Drama department door and packing my bags.

I may have been tad nervous at the idea of hopping of to a strange country, with people I’d never met, to take a course I’d always thought about doing but never had time for, that had absolutely nothing to do with the degree I was enrolled on…

It was the best decision I could have made for myself at that time.

I’m now qualified to teach English all over the world thanks to Edumadic and their friendly nudge. It gave me the perfect safe and supportive learning environment while encouraging me to go off and have incredible adventures with some of the most inspiring and wonderful people I’ve ever met. It was an impulse I couldn’t be more glad I followed through with and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Long term travel is something that's always been on my radar, and I finally had the opportunity to make it a reality with Edumadic. The opportunity to combine it with online education was too good to turn down. The experience as a whole has taught me so much about living in different countries and helped me grow as a person alongside a group of inspiring people. Being able to share memorable experiences through our adventures was golden. The atmosphere was so friendly and everyone in the group had something to add, which often led to great conversation. The Edumadic team were always on hand which was a lifesaver on more than one occasion!

It was a hell of a ride and helped me gain some much needed perspective after graduating. Not to mention the friends and memories I made, which I will cherish for a long time to come.

When accepting the Edumadic offer, all I wanted was to be out of corporate life. I had no real idea of where I was going or what was in store. The locations were some I knew very little about, and most likely never would have traveled to if it weren’t as part of this Program. I had worked remotely before, so time management wasn’t an issue. The reason for not traveling until now was the fear of being an “ignorant American”. I soon learned that it’s not so bad to be ignorant of the world if you’re devoted to fixing it.

I fell in love with the cultures I was exposed to and found close friendships in every place we visited. Being surrounded by like-minded people from all over gave me a larger taste of the world, more than I could ever taste at home.

I long for the crazy adventures, late night talks, and cuddles shared between my newly found family. I am incredibly grateful for the people I met, for they have validated many things in my existence and helped me develop a greater sense of myself.

Edumadic for me was the leap I needed to move my ambitions and aspirations forward. Travelling is something that has always been a dream of mine and this was the perfect stepping stone to make that dream a reality.

My personal experience on this trip was mind-blowing and unforgettable. The opportunities for growth were endless. I was exposed to different cultures, inspiring travelers, beautiful sites, delectable food, and adventures galore all while keeping myself in check with studies and work. It couldn't have been more perfect!

It led to me being able to calmly walk out of my comfort zone when meeting people during solo travel. I yearn for the day I'm able to repeat another 3 month or more of travelling and repeating the same process again. There's nothing quite like it!

When I first applied to Edumadic, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I had only seen one post on instagram of an insanely photogenic beach and impulsively followed the link and filled out the application form without any further research until I was contacted for the first interview.

I had been considering taking my next semester fully online and maybe working or road-tripping the United States, but didn't really think about international travel just because I had never done anything that huge before; and honestly, it is crazy daunting to think of traveling internationally on your own for the first time. When I saw the opportunity that Edumadic offered, it really made sense- the ability to travel fairly independently, but also to have the knowledge and experience of guides who knew what they were doing.

The trip itself was more than I thought it would be-- I made lifelong friendships with people that helped me grow, we traveled to places that I never even knew existed and I finished my two year degree all in the span of three months.

The people organizing the trip were supportive and helpful, and being around other students really forced me to study and do my work despite the potentially distracting settings.

Overall my trip gave me more confidence and a better idea of what I want to do with my life!

From travelling model to travelling student was a big change in lifestyle but I'm so happy I took the leap. I joined the program to give myself time to learn, read, explore and figure out my next step in life. And I certainly did all of those things, from hammocks in India, cafés in Thailand, and Villas in Bali!

Throughout this trip I did things I would never have dreamt before. I've kayaked 3 kilometres round an island in the Arabian Sea and surfed in Bali, which is quite the feat if you consider I was scared of the sea when I first arrived! I've climbed active volcanoes in the middle of the night, driven a scooter through the mountains of northern Thailand for 4 hours, and fallen in love with Muay Thai. It's safe to say my comfort zone has been well and truly shattered!

As well as my fellow Edumads, I met lots of people who opened my eyes to the world that we live in and the opportunities available to me if I had the bravery and curiorisity to seek them out. These are the lessons that travel itself teaches you, that no university, book, or online course can.

Someone once said that travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer, that is definitely true of my Edumadic experience!

12 weeks, 3 homes, 9 cities visited, 53 online lessons from 8 different educational platforms, 5 songs learnt on guitar, 39 yoga sessions, and most importantly, 11 friends for a lifetime ❤.

Having followed the standard cycle of “study hard, get good grades, and repeat” all my life, and before entering the next round of “work hard, get promotions, and repeat” phase, I’m glad Edumadic has come in, twisted my lifeline, and showed me what more is out there. Yes, travelling and studying could co-exist; no, foreigners are not monsters; and hey, I can and I will do
the crazy things like cliff jumping, free diving, and windsurfing with my fellow Edumads!

“I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks”. - Twelfth Night, Shakespeare