Program Reviews

One of the biggest concerns someone might have about getting into this program is what the family will be like that you are set up with. I was really quite surprised at how perfect of a match my family was with our style and things we liked to do. We were both laid back and loved to travel and keep active. My family was a husband and wife where the husband was retired and the wife still worked. The student was just the husband as his wife actually was already fluent in English. Both were very active and we would travel somewhere every weekend and they loved sharing places with me. One of my favorite travels with them was when they took me to Spain to go canyoning. I was actually not familiar with it and it's when you literally jump off different areas of a canyon into flowing rivers. It was so much fun!

During the work week, the husband and I would take the dog for walks or go on bike rides and then I would come back to do lesson planning, do the lessons and that would then flow into appertifs before dinner and a long dinner where we would all just converse to get to know each other more or about current events, it was great! I did not turn on a single TV once the entire time I was there.

The lesson planning was what I found most challenging and tried to get creative. I found that games really helped enforce the lessons and were the most fun part of the lessons so I always tried to end the lesson with that.

My participating in the program was probably in a little more unconventional as I'm in the middle of a career break and changing careers. I'm not moving into any teaching profession but I thought this was be an incredibly unique way to really dive into another culture as travel is such a large passion of mine. I've done quite a bit of international travel so I also did not experience any culture shocks other than not finding all my ingredients in the grocery store to make dinner with :)

I still keep in touch with the family and I'm sure I will visit them again sometime in the future as I consider them wonderful friends and my french family.

I really enjoyed going to Japan with the Greenheart Travel program. I've always wanted to go to Japan ever since I started getting into anime as well as learning the Japanese language at my school. Through the Greenheart Travel program, I was able to experience new things that I wouldn't have the opportunity to experience. I met many new people from all over world, not just the United States, but from Turkey, Taiwan, China, Australia, etc. We still keep in touch till today!

The highlight of my trip to Japan was being able to learn the Japanese language a lot more than I did in my school's Japanese class. For example, my teacher at my school told me to use "Anata" as "you", but when I said it to my teacher in Japan, she said that it was an informal use of "you" and that there are others ways of saying you in different sentences. I wouldn't have learned this in my school in Hawaii. Being able to learn a language where its the primary language of the country is a totally different experience than learning it at home.

Another highlight of my trip to Japan was being able to go to different places to truly understand the culture, the people, and it's history. I was able to explore different places that I normally wouldn't have visited. Such as an onsen, shrines, temples, and other places of interests. I also became very comfortable using public transportation whereas at home, I never even caught the bus.

Overall, I truly enjoyed my time and experience in Japan. I would recommend this program for anyone interested in learning a country's culture and it's language.

I'm currently teaching with a British agency in Thailand. I started with Greenheart in the US. They have a Thai partner that they basically passed me off to when I arrived here. That partner did my TESOL training and got me the job with my current agency. So I've had 3 different groups overseeing my trip at the various stages. I think I made the best decision by going with Greenheart to get me started. They have have professional staff and a great support group on social media to help answer any questions. They are also culturally aware and chose a Thai partner that shares that awareness. With my current agency I met a lot of other teachers that are here for the wrong reasons and completely unprepared. Greenheart's Thai partner provided us with Thai language, culture, history lessons, and more, all with great staff. Additionally, the group I was with was filled with pretty great people.

I do think that there was some misinformation upfront about some details (like what you should bring, for example), but it was nothing serious and can be attributed to 1) the Thai way of life which involves misinformation or last minute information and 2) English teachers are in high demand so all of these entities are struggling to keep up with the workload so details can get compromised. Fortunately, there is a great support system online where you can ask virtually anything and someone will offer insight. I definitely recommend Greenheart over the others.

Moving to the other side of the globe can be both daunting and extremely stressful. Greenheart took all that stress away and made the entire process easy so that instead of worrying about the nitty gritty details of getting my visa and preparing all the forms and documents needed for my life in Thailand, I was able to focus more on mentally preparing myself for the journey. Sara was great, she always answered my emails the day of and had answers for both the big and small questions. Also, the Facebook community was incredibly useful and answered all the questions I had from what immunizations to get to what kind of bag to pack. Greenheart made the transition truly smooth and easy. Although it is a little pricey, it is absolutely worth it to go with a reputable company that makes the process stress free! I would 100% go Greenheart again and recommend it HIGHLY to anyone thinking of making the jump abroad! just do it!!!

My homestay experience in China was the experience of a lifetime. Although my stay was only for a month, it offered me actual first-hand experience and a wonderful glimpse into the lives of Beijingers. I was able to delve into Chinese culture, customs, and cuisine. Blogging and taking photography as I traveled, I was able to document some of the best moments of living in Beijing, China. What was great about Greenheart was that they were with me every step of the way. Greenheart Representatives Megan and Jill were diligent about making sure my stay was going smoothly and that I made the most out of the experience.

I liked teaching in a homestay through Greenheart because they were able to provide me with a secure network through their partner companies and I felt safe at all times. I also was able to have constant support while abroad: no question that I had was left unanswered. China is Greenheart's least popular destination, but I do encourage travelers to go, even if it's just for the experience. It was very affordable to stay, I had amazing host family experiences and overall I am happy that I made the choice to go. The kids I tutored were just a joy.

My tutoring hours were very reasonable and I was able to explore an array of tourist attractions on my own time such as the Great Wall of China, Summer Palace, the Beijing Zoo, the Temple of Heaven and different cities in Beijing. It was all so worth it.

I encourage you to plan ahead, pack your bags, and just go! You will not regret this experience of a lifetime.

I am a 54 yr. old Seattle-area resident on a career break from the IT industry, seeking a more sustainable way of life. Through Google, I was brought to Greenheart Travel and Casita Verde, in Ibiza, Spain. I am new to the permaculture lifestyle, which is why I would also recommend it to others who are new to eco-exchange programs.

I didn't know what to expect on my 3-week visit, but was open to the adventure of going to a new country where I didn't even know the language. From the moment I was greeted at the airport by Casita Verde founder Chris Dews, my visit became a trans-formative experience.

Chris' vision is a conscious connection to the earth, and the sustainability of its health. His love for the island of Ibiza becomes infectious to all who meet him. And each week he leads a 3-hour tour of Casita Verde where he shares his passion for sustainability and permaculture techniques. He advocates cooperating and collaborating with others on the island, such as resort operators, in order to bring about incremental changes in the way we interact with the earth and its limited resources.

At the same time, you are learning about new ways of eating sustainable diets. You are meeting and working with a group of around 6-12 international volunteers, most of whom are in the 25-35 age range, but also some like me who are older. Singles or couples are welcome. And because you are all working together to make Casita Verde function as a living, breathing organism, you find that the friendships you forge are some of the best you have made.

You find yourself in educational discussions about important environmental issues impacting the world today. And you learn from others in a collaborative setting about what it means to live sustainably, and to do so with others. And you are living with an open mind as you meet others from around the world bringing their own culture with them.

Through your affiliation as a volunteer at Greenheart’s Casita Verde eco-experiental center, even if you have practically no Spanish or Catalan speaking ability, you will feel welcome at local markets, music jams, and breathtaking sunset gatherings at local beaches.

All this sets the stage for a magical, life-changing experience.

If you take into consideration that, barely a month after returning home after my three-month homestay in Rome, I've already let the program managers know that I'm reapplying to tutor in another family next January, it's pretty obvious that my review is going to be positive!

The Greenheart Team matched me with a warm and welcoming family on the outskirts of Rome. The WEP rep called regularly and met me for coffee a couple of times throughout the stay. In order to integrate more fully into local life, I asked for and was given the opportunity to collaborate with other ESL teachers in two very different high schools. Being centrally located in Rome allowed me to hop a train on the week-end to explore surrounding provinces, such as Campania, Abruzzo and Umbria.

Rome took a little getting used to, but after the third week, I was hooked, and by the end of the stay, I couldn't bear to leave.

I only have one regret: our neighborhood. It was too far from the city center to be able to take advantage of Rome in the evening and a bit too dodgy for coming home by bus after dark. Rome offers many cultural events in the evening that I was unable to take advantage of.

Deciding to go with this program was the best decision I made once I decided I had my heart set on teaching abroad.
I was in regular contact with the correspondents of the organisation and even met up for coffee with them. I felt fully supported and completely safe throughout my sty, which was a massive comfort as a first-timer!
I cannot thank Greenheart enough for putting me with such a wonderful family. It truly was the time of my life. Apart from spending time at home with them, they took me on a skiing trip, weekends away to different areas of the country and really did treat me like family. Watching them progress in English was also one of the most rewarding things I've ever done and by the end of my stay, I was more attached to them than I care to admit!
One of the most unforgettable moments was the trip to La Giettaz Ski resort. These pro-skiiers had infinite patience with me as I frequented the beginners slopes, being out-stripped by toddlers on snowboards, until they'd trained me up enough to go further up the mountain.
The bonds formed and memories made on this program really are priceless. I was so pleased that I could help them with their English, though we really did help each other as my French escalated to new levels!
I honestly can't recommend it enough. It's safe and secure, and the best choice possible.

If you are considering an internship in Thailand through Greenheart Travel, stop what you are doing and APPLY NOW. My experience has been truly wonderful. I love working for XploreAsia and I am so grateful to Greenheart for helping me through the process of preparing to live on the other side of the world! The staff at both companies are some of the friendliest and most positive individuals I have had the pleasure to know and to work with.

Before I came on this internship, I had never been abroad for longer than two weeks at a time, and I have to admit the thought of living in a third world country (about which I knew almost nothing) for 3 months was a bit daunting. I was anxious about getting my VISA and everything in on time, as I applied so close to the deadline, but I felt very reassured by Kara and the rest of the Greenheart staff that they would make sure everything went as smoothly as possible. They were very informative and quick to respond to any questions I had!

I am now working as a Programs Intern at XA and I am really enjoying life here in Hua Hin. This is my LIFE now, not a vacation, though at times I am having so much fun that it feels like some kind of adult summer camp! The work is very similar to jobs I have held back home - spreadsheets, formatting, emails, coordinating events, conducting surveys, etc. - but in my free time I get to meet new people from all over the world, explore a new country, eat delicious exotic food, and learn about a completely different culture!

My experience in Thailand has been amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone with a sense of adventure who is looking for a great opportunity to travel, meet new people, broaden their perspectives, and build their resume at the same time.

Currently, I'm two months into this program. Greenheart Travel was always responsive and helpful during the application process and during the months leading up to the departure. After arrival, WEP staff is available to assist with any problems, but I haven't had any. My host family, the teachers, and my students have all been very nice and welcoming and I will miss them when I leave. Also, weekend travel opportunities are plentiful if you like.... but I would recommend spending some weekends with your host family, meeting their friends and seeing how they live.