Greenheart Reviews

My time in Sri Lanka didn't exactly meet my expectations; it surpassed them. This trip, including my experiences with Greenheart Travel and the Sri Lankan Wildlife Conservation Society (who you will be working with in Sri Lanka), have been nothing but genuine and true.

As I have traveled and stayed in Southeast Asia before, I must say that this experience is not suited for first timers. If I hadn't experienced culture shock before, I would have guessed that my trip would've been a lot different.

This is what you can expect from this trip. Bottom line:
-Expect to be dirty for the entirety of your trip. Showering (only cold water) will provide some cleanliness, but for the most part you'll always be dirty and sweaty.
-Expect to experience what it is truly like to live like a local. In a third world country. This means little to no wifi, electricity, or hot water. No electronics to keep you entertained, no air conditioning, and yes, bugs. You will eat like a local (vegan diet), see everyday life and routines, traditions, customs, and values.
-Expect to be close to nature/in nature for the entirety of your trip. Where you'll be staying is about 5 hours to the closest city, and is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, rice fields, mountains, and stunning sunsets. About as rural as it gets. To some this may be an entire new concept, but let me say with the most sincerity that it is of the upmost rewarding.
-Expect to see TONS of wildlife. From birds, reptiles, elephants, water buffalo, squirrels, deer, and more. Everywhere. You will properly observe them, become familiar with them, and respect them in all that they do.
-Expect to receive hands-on experience studying and doing research for the Sri Lankan Wildlife Conservation Society on a daily basis. Everyday, you will be out in the field studying elephant migrations, dung content, and conflict resolutions. This hands-on experience will teach you more about Sri Lanka and it's wildlife than you could ever learn in a classroom, book, or video.
-Expect to gain an entire new perspective about the world around you, what really matters, culture, simplicity, and most of all, yourself. Living the way that locals do, hearing their stories, and witnessing everyday life in this country will give you a newfound perspective on things you may never imagined thus far.

Now returned from Sri Lanka, I have changed. For the better? Maybe. I haven't quit put a pin on it yet...But definitely not for the worse. I am noticing aspects of myself that are still being digested. But my friends at Greenheart Travel are doing a great job with staying connected and making sure that I am doing great. And I must say that I am :)

I am extremely grateful for this experience, and would recommend it to anyone ready to open their eyes to the world.

This is a great program if you want to explore various parts of Paris and French culture while learning the language. The whole experience is packed with activities from day one, so there is never much time to feel bored or homesick. One experience that was particularly memorable was seeing the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day (July 14th). Alongside seeing all the big attractions like the Notre Dame and Versailles, we also saw a variety of attractions such as a famous cemetery and old neighbourhoods which you wouldn't typically think of when you think Paris. Don't be scared off by the sample itinerary posted on the website, as there are never full activity days at the residence and the only group activities are fun nightly games. I went with a friend, and while it made the entire experience significantly more fun and enjoyable, it didn't stop us from making good friends and socializing with everyone. However, if you're unused to being abroad and away from home, I would recommend bringing a friend to make the entire experience even more memorable. There were a variety of cultures present, but most of the kids were American and Spanish. Although there were occasional language and cultural barriers, we all spent the trip sharing various things about our own countries which made for an interesting mix. There was also another camp going on at the same time as ours, and we sometimes had activities with them. The guides were fun and flexible, they accompanied us everywhere whilst still giving us free time everywhere we went, and even allowed us to go out for dinner. Some of them only spoke little English, which sometimes made communication difficult, but also made for a great opportunity to practice French. They were also not Parisian, which sometimes made navigation through the city difficult, but we survived the whole trip without any major mishaps. The food at the residence was very good. While it was cantine-style and nothing fancy, there was a variety of meals throughout the trip, with lots of local cheeses and fish. Keeping an open mind is important. The French classes were also good. We had proper professors who came in to teach us every morning, and my teacher used the time to teach little things and review concepts we'd gotten wrong as a class on our placement tests. This was very helpful and effective, as 2 weeks isn't really enough time to fully cover any major new concepts. We also spent the time writing and putting on a skit which was a lot of fun.

One thing to note that doesn't seem to be clear is that we were not actually in France with Greenheart themselves, but with a French agency titled CEI (Centre d'Exchanges Internationaux). This did not pose a problem in any way, as the two agencies are partnered, but was merely confusing when it came to details such as airport pickup.

I have wanted to travel for as long as I can remember. I imagined myself learning Spanish in Spain, sitting beach side in Fiji, climbing Mt. Everest.... but that was all. Just imagining. I never actually thought traveling was attainable for someone like me: a responsible adult with school loans to pay, a full time job, and a five year plan. Only people with no responsibilities can take the time to travel. Oh man was I wrong! You really are your biggest obstacle. Once you believe you can realize your dreams, it becomes 100% possible to accomplish them. And it's just a plus at how easy Greenheart made the process for me. My program specialist, Megan, was awesome. I'm sure that in the beginning I was a huge pain with all the questions I had. I was upfront from the beginning and let her know my reservations about the program and how I was hesitant. She was so awesome in reassuring me and taking the time to answer all my questions (and I asked a TON of questions). One of my biggest concerns was that I didn't think I would make the application deadline for the dates I wanted to leave. They need an eight week heads up, but Megan assured me they could sometimes work with a six week notice, and they did. Greenheart took care of everything on their side and connected me with a family very quickly. Everything fell into place so quickly, that all I had to do was take care of things on my side. I saved up enough money to cover my bills and school loans for the 2 months I would be gone, I notified my bank of the trip, got a travel credit card, and quit my job (one of the hardest things I have ever done). It was so hard to walk away from a great job, a job that allowed me to stay on track with the 5 year plan I had in mind. However, I was determined to finally do something HUGE for myself. I wanted to live a dream I have always wanted. AND I HAVE ZERO REGRETS! I absolutely loved my time in Spain. My host family was awesome. They had 4 very bright kids that I spent an hour each with Monday-Thursday. I had three day weekends and traveled all over Spain in the two months I was there. I went to Sevilla, Barcelona, San Sebastian, Malaga, Segovia, and Toledo. When my two months came to an end, I had a hard time coping. I absolutely did not want to leave. If you can financially manage the three month stay, then do it. Two months was barely enough time, and one month is no time at all. I loved every moment of my time in Spain. I learned not only about the Spanish culture and way of life, but I learned about myself. I've only been home for three weeks, and I'm already trying to plan another trip abroad.... to anywhere! If you are a first time traveler, like I was, Greenheart is the perfect program. They offer a lot of support and make the preparation for the trip very easy. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am so grateful for the time I had there and I wish I could do it all over again. Don't hesitate to make this experience happen for yourself!

I could not be more happy with my decision to teach English in Colombia. From the moment I started the application process, Greenheart and Volunteers Colombia have made me feel like I am an important part of something so much bigger than myself. I highly recommend SENA, disorganized though it may be, every day teaching is a blast. Not to mention, Colombia is the most beautiful country in the world, visually and in its spirit. Plenty of three-day weekends give you more than enough time to explore this magical country. If you are looking to experience a whole new world, please consider this program!

My month abroad in Brazil was undeniably one of the most enriching and transformative experiences of my life. I chose to do the program without really knowing what to expect; I just knew that I wanted to learn Portuguese and experience Brazilian culture through the eyes of a local family.

Since my host family was quite large, I was able to experience the contrasting realities of three generations, spanning from the ages of 22-85, each with different values, jobs, hobbies, perspectives, and approaches to life...Needless to say, I learned a lot, as each member of the family was eager to share their unique tastes, activities, and favourite places with me!

One of my favourite experiences was visiting a public rural elementary school in the outskirts of São Paulo. Since one of the members of my host family worked as a school teacher, she offered to take me one day as a guest. It was an incredibly moving and eye opening experience for me, as many of the children had never seen a foreigner before. It was charming to be asked so many questions about life in Canada, to share words in English, and to connect with these kids who grew up in an entirely different world than my own.

For me, there's nothing more fulfilling than expanding my own understanding of the world through experiencing the diversity of cultures, languages, social classes, lifestyles, values, and people. Teaching English in a Homestay in Brazil gave me this opportunity. What's more, I finished the program with lifelong friendships, a library of aventures and stories, and memories I will cherish for the rest of my life.

I participated in the Greenheart Travel (GHT) - Teach in Thailand program in the spring of 2015. The TESOL certification course, via XploreAsia, takes place in one of two locations- Hua Hin, a town on the beach closer to Bangkok, or Chiang Mai, the ancient cultural capital of the north, a city surrounded by mountains & national parks. I chose Chiang Mai.

GHT, is the recruiter, basically the company that finds, selects, & prepares candidates for the move to Thailand, to participate in the TESOL course and then go on to get placed to teach in a Thai school. So they screen applicants & assist with the application process which is extremely straight forward, no loopholes or fine print, providing all necessary program information, details, and support prior to departure, happily answering any and every question you may have, making you feel as comfortable and prepared as you possibly can be for an experience such as this. They were incredible.

Sara, the Teach Abroad Programs Senior Manager for GHT, is the one you work with during the application & pre-departure process, and is AMAZING. GHT is a reputable organization with a strong mission statement that they really get behind well, and that's more than I can say for other companies I looked into for a similar experience; GHT was the way to go.

After arriving in Thailand, the TESOL course is actually administered via a partner organization called XploreAsia, FYI, but they are amazing too. So GHT is the recruiter for XA's course, and then XA places you in a school. XA is wonderful, they know how Thailand works, they prepare you for teaching and Thai culture as much as possible, show you a great time in the city you're in during the course, and get you set up with a legitimate school & teaching agency. They are there as support if you need it once you're placed, as well as GHT! Once you arrive, GHT is more in the background, as their job is primarily to get you here and set up successfully, but you still get updates (e-mails & such) every now & then checking to make sure things are well, and updating you on the latest with their organization.

My time-frame for changing my life forever in Thailand:

November 2014 - Began Application Process with GHT.
December 2014 - Got accepted with GHT for TESOL/Teach English in Thailand program.
March 2015 - Moved to Thailand. Began TESOL course in Chiang Mai.
Currently - I am living in Isan (northeastern Thailand), teaching English at a local elementary & secondary school in a small elephant village in the middle of a bunch of sugar cane & rice fields. Every day is an adventure.

Make the leap, change your life, & change the lives of others. Do your best to come over with minimal expectations for what this experience holds, as they will get shattered; but come with an open mind, and I promise you will not be disappointed.

One of my favorite quotes: "There's no certainty, only opportunity."

I had a pretty unique experience tutoring English during my stay in France. (TL;DR at the bottom)

I was transferred between 3 families. The my first family, the host father and I had difficulty communicating. He didn't speak much English (which is what I was supposed to help him with.) And I didn't speak much French. So that made things difficult, however, I still felt like he wanted me to know what to do without him telling me. During half way of my stay, he suffered from a back injury, and wasn't able to continue. I got transferred to my second family with little difficulty, as it was the best for both of us. But I will tell you one thing. I really, REALLY missed his cooking.

I got transferred to my second family, but only stayed with them for a weekend so that I could transfer to my 3rd family, which is the colleague of the host mother, but in those 2 days, I formed a nice bond with everyone.

The 3rd family was where I spent the remaining 6 weeks in France. The family spoke English pretty well with the youngest son Simon,17, speaking the best, followed by the host mother, Camille; the older brother Remy, 19; then Pierre, the host father.

I didn't give formal English lessons as I did with my first family. Actually, the only thing I did was talk with them like normal, and corrected them when needed. If they came across a word that they were not familiar with, such as broom or mop, they would write it down. in a notebook they had. At dinner time, everyone ate at the same time. Whenever the father didn't understand something, either the host mother or Simon would translate. This would be necessary as sometimes we would talk about complex subjects. At some point they heard on the news about the shooting of Walter Scott, and a week before, I was talking about the racial issues of America, and police brutality, and my perspective of it, as I am a black male. So we got into some complex subjects where translating is needed.

Speaking of racial issues, France has virtually none. I can tell immediately that I was treated like a normal human being, rather than a perceived threat back at home, despite me being the only black person in town... both towns. When going to the stores, I did not get followed around. One day I was walking to the pastry shop, an elderly woman crossed the street in front of me and we ended up going in the same direction. I was about 15 ft. behind her. I was behind her for a good 5 minutes and NOT ONCE did she look back behind her. She saw me when she crossed the street, so she knew I was there, but I wasn't a threat. I was a person. Another day I was sitting on a ledge, and a woman put her opened purse RIGHT BESIDE ME and TURNED HER BACK. I could have easily taken something out of there, but of course, I didn't. Its just that a situation like that is unheard of in the US.

Most of the time I stayed at home, as I had school work and a freelance project to do, but I did have the freedom to go explore the town. I would have explored much more had I not any work to do. But I was given the freedom to explore the town and was also given a bike.

I went to some amazing places in France. I did go to Paris, Bordeaux, Dune de Pyla, St. Emilion, and Chateau de Blaye with my first family. My third family took me to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, some other middle aged sites (whose names escapes me at the moment), and even a pre-historic cave with cave paintings dating back to 30000 BC.

This venture was also very cheap compared to studying abroad. I take classes online, and my school has a study abroad program. However it was only 1 month in France for around $3500 and that didn't include the food expenses. With Greenheart Travel, I got to stay longer, and food and board was taken care of.

Overall, the experience was an amazing one. I think that it is very important to remember though that when you're traveling abroad, you're going to be staying with people. And people do have their flaws. I've heard of some experiences not being as good as mine. It does happen. But what also happens is that you can meet with some amazing people as I have. Keep in mind that your safety is important, and to keep Greenheart Travel in the loop, as well as the coordinator in your host country. You're not stuck there, and you can change if you absolutely need to.

TL;DR Amazing experience. First family didn't work out, 2nd and 3rd family became my new family and I immediately felt welcomed. I've been to beautiful places I never thought I would go, or even knew existed. Being black isn't a problem in France. Cheaper than study abroad option at my university. Worth it and considering doing it again.

It has always been my dream to travel to Europe, and I was searching for a program that allowed me to immerse myself in a foreign culture. 3 months was a decent amount of time to enjoy a taste of Italy. I had gelato at least 3 times a week and got to eat amazing Italian food every day. During the 3 months I was there, I visited Torino, Venice, Florence, Rome, Milan, Bologna, Modena, and the Cinque Terre, and met amazing people along the way. I was able to pick up the language fairly easily because I knew French, and the people in Piedmont speak a dialect called Piedmontese which sounds similar to Italian and French.

I was placed in Cuneo, about an hour away from Torino. Most volunteers were placed in Torino since its a large city. Cuneo was a small and beautiful city. I was really happy with my placement because the high school I taught at was an Instituto Technico Commerciale. The curriculum focused on business and economics, which I enjoyed teaching in addition to English grammar and vocabulary. The teaching commitment was only 15-18 hours per week, and the school was pretty flexible with my schedule giving me plenty of time to travel. I was pretty fortunate because my school allowed me to go on 2 school trips with the 4th and 5th year students. I went to Rome, Salzburg, Prague, and Munich. I also went to Paris and Barcelona with some of the other volunteers in the program.

I had my own floor when I stayed with my first host family, and I stayed with them for the first 2 months. They were super nice and helpful, and I grew really close to them. We travelled together throughout Italy, and my host brother is coming to visit me in California this summer. During the last month, I was with my second host family. My second most mom taught me how to make authentic Italian food from scratch. My host sisters in my second family were very kind, and I had a really beautiful view of the alps from my backyard.

Overall, it was a great experience and I highly recommend it for people who want to travel and experience the culture. My advice for people who are seriously interested in doing this program in the future is to keep an open mind. Every experience is different.

To say the least, this trip was life changing for me. my day to day life was not the most difficult of all people, mainly because my classes in school were not challenging, but also because I made the most of my 3 months by practically getting out every day and experiencing australia. A typical weekday would be either going to Crossfit for a workout, going to the Victor Harbor footy club training with some guy friends from school, or just hanging out with someone at either their house or mine after school ended. Weekends involved lots of surfing and bodyboarding, going to different festivals and celebrations in the city, or going to beach parties through my youth group from a church I got involved in. As well as difficulties go, I can't say I had any. Not once did I feel homesick or regret my decision. Two of my favorite highlights of the trip would have to be cliff jumping with one of my good friends who I made on the trip, and when a few Friends threw me and Anna (the other American exchange student) a going away party on my last Saturday there.

Greenheart Travel was great to work with.

They answered any questions we may have had as well as prompted our son for what to expect with regards to his travels and his stay in Australia.

He absolutely loved the experience and is already talking about going back next summer.