Greenheart Reviews

I've been living in Colombia for the past five months or so and I really couldn't be happier with my life here. Greenheart Travel did an excellent job in all matters pre-departure relate; from the interview process to visa application, Sara Dorsey and the Greenheart team were nothing but helpful. Anytime I had a question, they would answer in detail within a matter of hours. As a result, I never once felt uneasy or uncertain about the application or pre-departure process and could focus on feeling excited instead!

I've been teaching with the Ministry of Education in a public high school in Pereira. While there are certainly challenges, it has overall been an immensely positive experience. I've formed great relationships with my students, have gone from knowing zero Spanish to being conversational, and have made quite a few friends. After five months, Pereira feels like home, which is why I've extended my contract until December 2016.

I love Colombia and feel incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to live and work here. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to live in a different country, to learn a language, or to try something new!

I’m currently about 2 months into my 3 month Teach in Italy experience and I’m having a wonderful time. I’ll try to give you a thorough breakdown of the program and ease some concerns you may have.

I’m 23 years old and I just graduated from college in May. I did not study education or Italian (same with many other volunteers in my group) - don’t let those things dissuade you from partaking in this program!

I believe that there are several factors more critical to your success as a teacher assistant here than formal training in education, such as having an enthusiastic, optimistic, and very flexible attitude.

The high school that I teach at is in the city of Turin and I live about 20 minutes away in the suburb of Collegno. My host parents both teach in the area so I either ride in with them or take Turin's fantastic public transportation.

I’ve worked with over 30 different classes in a variety of subjects (usually English, but I’ve also taught some art history, science, and physical education) and I usually run the hour-long lesson by myself, with the lead teacher there for support and translation help. I’ve always worked less than 18 hours a week, and the school day actually ends at 2 p.m. here, so I’ve enjoyed more free time than I have in years. There’s no dress code and I regularly show up in jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt.

My first lesson with any class is usually simply a conversation about me and life in America – some classes are eager to ask questions while in others I have to work the crowd a bit. So I’d say it’s good to be comfortable and confident talking to your classes, even when they’re being shy.

Other lessons have ranged from a comparison of the American and Italian education systems to a profile of my home state of Georgia to an analysis of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” lyrics. I’ve prepared a couple of Powerpoint presentations that I re-use often and showed my fair share of Youtube videos.

Some teachers use me more as a sidekick to read passages and assist with their existing lessonplans, while others want me to come in with my own thing. The most important thing is to communicate with them in advance and make sure you’re on the same page.

I’m the first American TA my school has hosted and it makes me a bit of a celeb :) Every time I walk down the hall I get hellos and smiles from most of the students, and just about every teacher wants me to help out with at least one lesson. I’ve gotten to go on fieldtrips to theaters and museums and even to the expo in Milan.

My host family is really nice and helpful, taking care of everything from meals and laundry to rides to the airport. One Italian stereotype that seems to hold true is that of the very helpful Italian mother – their hospitality is unparalleled and a level above anything you’d expect in America. We already spent a weekend at their mountain house in the Alps and they’re taking me on a vacation to Florence with them in a couple of weeks and covering all the costs.

Knowing Italian would definitely be helpful, but I spend most of my time at school or with my host family, and in both of those situations, I’m basically there to speak English (a big reason for families to host is for their kids to get better at English from being around you). Around town, I get by easily on basic Italian phrases and emphatic hand gestures.

On just about every weekend, I’ve been able to travel – in under two months I’ve hit Munich, Venice, the Alps, Cinque Terre, Barcelona, Bari, and London. Whether you go by train or plane, it’s pretty affordable and a lot of fun. I take most of these trips with fellow Greenheart volunteers who I never met before this, it’s a really fun group and we get along well.

Most of these trips have been Friday – Sunday, but I asked for Friday off for a couple of them and my school was totally fine with it. They’re happy to have me here, understand that I’m not getting paid for this, and want me to experience the beauty of Europe.
I am giving you a look at my personal experience, and not a guarantee that it’s a standardized one. I have spoken with other teachers who have various struggles that I have not faced, but I think one factor that holds true for any volunteer is the importance of that enthusiastic, optimistic, and very flexible attitude.

You’re going to encounter misunderstandings and confusion, you’re going to get frustrated at people’s broken English, and you’re going to miss your family and friends back home. But you’re also going to authentically experience one of the most remarkable and beautiful cultures in the world while positively impacting young people and travelling around Europe at a low cost. I say it’s a win :)

I would do this program again in a heartbeat. I encourage you to do your research, take some time to think and pray about it, and go for it if it’s right for you! Feel free to check out my blog at heymikea.wordpress.com for a fun take on my experience in Italy.

This was my first time traveling to Europe, let alone traveling alone for more than a week! I could not have had a better experience. The family I was matched up with was so amazing and so understanding. On one night I actually got sick, possible food poisoning (my body didn't react well to one of the new foods), and such an experience requires you to REALLY go out of your comfort zone to ask for help and thank goodness I did! That night I realized how much the family cared for me, making sure I was alright and doing so well making sure I was okay. There's nothing better than Greenheart's screening and matching program. I feel so lucky to have gone through this program and to have met my family. They took me to see castles, Bordeaux, Paris, and even introduced me to extended family (the mom's sister), just truly making me feel a part of it. I would definitely do it all again in a heartbeat!!!

Hello! I am a current sophomore at a university in the United States. I had a wonderful experience working with Greenheart! I was in France for a month with a kind family of three. I taught a 14 year old girl and spoke often with the parents. I advanced a lot in French and had a great cultural experience! I would strongly recommend going if you are interested in a language immersion, and a cultural-teaching experience. One thing: if possible, have prior experience with the language. If I didn't already know some French, this trip would have been very difficult and possibly isolating. However, it was great! I would strongly recommend this experience. There's nothing quite like it!

After about a week there and already having been away from home for a month, due to other opportunities, my French host family began to feel like a home away from home. One thing that isn't mentioned in the websites description of teaching abroad in a host family is that their families just want to do life with you. They are welcoming you into their home to not only grow in their knowledge of English but to personally learn from you about American culture and your life there. The family will also share their traditions, life styles and daily norms with you to help you become better accustomed. Sitting down to eat both lunch and dinner together is a rarity in the States, but in France it is a daily time to come together and enjoy one another's company. I think at the table is where I truly learned the most French and appreciation for my host family.

My experience in Paris was one I will never forget. I met some wonderful people who will remain in my mind and heart forever, and I saw some beautiful monuments in and around Paris. One of my favorite memories about camp was going to Sacre-Coeur the first day out in Paris. It was my first experience with the metro in Paris and the street life in Paris, so it was an eye opening opportunity in that respect. The church was pretty and the weather was sunny, so the day was perfect for sight-seeing (minus the heat and humidity). After seeing the gorgeous inside of the church, I got to experience more city life as one of the guides took me on an adventure to find a French SIM card for my phone. After finding my SIM card, I got a crepe and then called my mom from Sacre-Coeur while eating a crepe and it was amazing! I also bought some Starbucks with some new friends, and it was a great bonding experience.

Volunteering at SLWCS in Sri Lanka was in every way an amazing experience. The program is located in a small village of around 300 in a rural area about 5 hours from Kandy. The location is beautiful. You really have the opportunity to be immersed in the culture. The volunteer house is a very simple style of living, which is actually a beautiful thing to experience if you give it a chance. There is a cook who makes delicious local style meals each day.

The staff on the project was incredible. Not only did they teach me a lot about human - elephant conflict, they taught me a lot about the local life. They were friendly, caring and they had a great sense of humor.

The project itself is very data related for research purposes. There are usually two activities a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I think one of the most beautiful things is the fact that you never know what you may see day to day, as some days you may see a huge herd of elephants while another you may not see any.

I feel like I was able to see a lot of the country by traveling on the weekends. The project was flexible and I was able to see a lot of the island. I got a good balance of volunteering and personal travel.

I feel like everyone who comes on this program can have a completely different experience from the next, which is awesome. You can make this program what you like it to be. You can come as a couple, you can come alone, you can come with friends. You can see whatever you would like to see on the weekends. All while helping some wonderful people make a difference.

There's not a single bad thing I have to say about my time in Sri Lanka. It was a total life changing experience and a lot of what I learned I will always carry with me. All I can say is how grateful I am that I could have this experience.

If you are at all interested in this program, go. You will have a great time and you will be so glad that you went!

Kara and the team were extremely helpful during the EPIK application process. They were always available to answer questions via email and call, and made my life so much easier going through this process. I have nothing but amazing things to say about Greenheart!

The most meaningful part of my experience was to live a completely different lifestyle, and to look at the world in completely new ways. A way that was ecological, sustainable, relaxed, and fun. To meet new people and have new experiences.

Below is a link to a video I made of the place. If the video doesn't convey to you well, know that I absolutely loved my time in Ibiza and it has had a deep and lasting impact on my life - in terms of my outlook, how I live and just me on a personal level. Maybe it will do the same for you?

The program itself was really fun and it was great to meet all the volunteers from different countries.
That being said, I ran into many difficult problems during my stay.

To start, nobody picked me up at the airport. First time in Hanoi, all alone, I arrived at 11pm on a Friday and there was no one there to meet me. I tried calling my program supervisor but she didn't answer my calls or Facebook messages or emails until Sunday. I ended up taking a cab into the old quarter and staying in a hotel for two days on my own.

Problems I encountered with the housing:
-The program supervisor specifically told me it was a ten to fifteen minute walk from the city centre. It was an hour bus ride or 30 minute car ride...walking wasn't even an option.
-She also mentioned that the volunteer centre was close to the dormitory. Another lie that proved her lack of knowledge concerning the entire Greenheart program in Hanoi.
-She supplied me with the wrong kind of visa and failed to tell me that I would need a new one upon reentry into Vietnam, despite the fact that I told her I would be leaving the country (before she got me the visa of course). I ended up getting another visa, which I had to pay for myself, after a friend made an offhand remark about the different types and I checked my own.
-I was also told that I would get a room by myself or shared with one other person at most. At one point during my six week stay, I shared a bedroom with five other people, minimum of three two others.
-The house frequently ran out of water. There were many times that I arrived back at the CSDS at 5pm after volunteering and taking the hour long bus ride, only to find out that I couldn't even wash my hands. Forget a hot shower, with as many as 36 volunteers crammed into a house I showered in cold water almost every time.
-The nanny at the CSDS went through my private locked locker and took some of my items. She took my slippers, some of my unopened food and my coat hanger that I brought from home. Nothing expensive but the invasion of privacy was unbelievable; the other volunteers and I kept our passports in our personal lockers prior to that incident).
-She failed to check up on me once throughout my two month trip. I contacted her about four weeks in, after which she responded, but I would have expected her to be at least curious as to how my trip was going after the huge miscommunication about my arrival time at the airport.