TravelBud

My experience teaching in Panama has been amazing and very eye-opening. I instantly felt comfortable and at home with the team because of their friendliness and hospitality. They were very hands on and supportive; and will be with you every step of the way. The kids are so great and energetic; and they bring much energy and excitement, it is hard not to see your impact and influence on them and the community. Of course, there is always help from our supervisors if ever needed! I never felt alone or overwhelmed. The accommodations and community were great! The staff and everyone I met were friendly and always willing to help. My supervisor always encouraged me to travel and experience as much as the Culture as possible. He gave great suggestions and helped me navigate the country. The food was amazing! Every meal got better and better. I could not feel any less at home.
*Also, it is beach weather (humid and rain as well) so do not need much cover!! I packed way too much .

Saskia was an amazing contact. She has been with me constantly along the way. I also felt supported by her.

When choosing a programme to work overseas, you require a lot of guidance. TravelBud gives you so much more. Along with pre-departure support, you receive guidance, administrative support and a great TESOL/TEFL course. Above all of that, you work closely with your individual agent. I found that my agent, Lucy, was an exceptional guide. She gave me emotional support and provided me with the tools to ensure that I would be comfortable upon arrival in Thailand by always being ready to communicate and answer any questions that I might have had. The agency and Lucy often shared their personal stories and travel experiences. At times, I find myself referring back to their advice and stories, to get me through whatever challenge stands before me.

Travel Bud was extremely helpful with all our pre-departure planning. They made sure we were constantly up to date and in the loop with what was happening and what we needed to do. They assist you in getting all your relevant documentation together. You are made to feel at ease knowing you have everything you need.

It is almost always very scary going on adventures like these, and I can confidently say that Travel Bud really make you feel a lot calmer and less nervous while leading up to your departure. They are always available to help you when needed and answer any questions you have (even when you have very many - sorry Lucy! ;))

Travel Bud is also great with communication. They always check up to make sure you are okay and checking if they are able to help in any way.

I would (and already have) highly recommend Travel Bud to anyone.

Using a travel agency to start working overseas comes with many benefits. When working with TravelBud, not only do you get administrative support, a great Tesol course and you get to make connections pre-departure, but you also get emotional and honest communicative support. My agent, Lucy, communicated well and was always ready to answer any questions or guide me through any difficulties. I recommend using TravelBud because you will be working with individuals who have experience in what you are about to embark on. There were many times leading up to my departure where the agency and Lucy would share stories about their adventures and give their advice. Now, in Thailand, I often refer back to those stories and little gems in order to get me through whatever challenge I can overcome.

I only did the orientation week as I already had teaching qualifications. In the orientation week, they tried to squeeze lots of information in about culture, history, language, expectations in school which was helpful. Even though we were asked about our priorities for placement, it was not clear how it actually worked, how it was decided who goes where. For me, it worked out well, but for some, it was completely the opposite.
In general, I found the program quite expensive for mainly getting only some advice on life in Thailand and getting a placement, we had to pay everything on top of that (accommodation, food, etc.). It's nice to have all this information in one place, and get prepared for the life in Thailand, but I feel that we've just been passed from agent to agent, and that inflated the costs. Apart from that, I'm happy that I met like-minded people at the orientation week, and we were always kept busy with programs. However, I don't find it essential for teaching, as most of the time, you'll only get the answer: "it depends on which school, which region".