Greenheart Reviews

It's helpful to have a company guide you through the intense application process. My Green Heart recruiter provided many detailed instructions on how to apply for certain documents and reminded me of the due dates for everything along the way.

This is the second program I have done with Greenheart Travel. About 2 years ago I taught English in Thailand and I have been in Colombia teaching English for about 2 months now. Greenheart was beyond helpful in preparing me for both trips. Deciding to move abroad was a big decision for me so I really appreciated how helpful Sara and the Greenheart team were in making me more comfortable throughout this whole process. There was never a question or concern that went unanswered.

I am teaching English at Sena in Cartagena and my experience so far has been incredible. The best part of it all is my students and how much fun I'm having teaching them. Everyone at our school has been so warm and welcoming and has made us feel at home since we arrived here in Cartagena. My favorite part about living in other countries is when they finally start to feel like home because that's when you truly start to feel like a part of the community that you are living in. Colombia has officially began to feel like home and I'm really looking forward to what lies ahead these next 8 months. Through greenheart I have become more confident in my travels, I have met amazing people that I will have in my life forever, I have learned so much about myself and the world that we live in, and I have had the chance to be a teacher and a student both inside and outside of the classroom. Not only is Greenheart so helpful with all of the logistics but they continue to follow your journey throughout your whole experience which is pretty awesome :)

GreenHeart is a fantastic company!! They were recommended to me by another travel friend and it was a good recommendation. They were super informative and thorough in their application process so I knew I was working with a professional company.

Prior to my departure, they were super helpful and preparing me as well as answering ALL my questions. I don't know how Sara does it, but I would receive an email response within an hour every time.

They even met us personally at our orientation and gave us free shirts. :) I feel like I have an actual relationship with my recruiters and I still communicate with them even though I'm settled and working.

If you're considering Greenheart-- do it. You won't be disappointed. I've talked with others who came through different recruiters and it seems that Greenheart was by far the best choice.

I knew I wanted to teach English in South Korea, so I found a few different recruiters and emailed them all. Greenheart was one of them and the ONLY one that got back to me in a timely manner. This continued throughout my entire application process. Sara, the girl over the program for South Korea, was always so on top of things and replied to every email (no matter how silly the questions) within minutes, maybe an hour or two TOPS. She was very helpful and informative and sweet.

There was no way for her to help with my placement - this is just the nature of the EPIK program that I applied for through Greenheart. No recruiters would be able to guarantee a placement, as they fill up very fast and requirements change per area.

So I signed up for this internship hoping to just get school credit, travel abroad for a bit over winter break, and be able to put a noteworthy experience on my resume. Although I did end up accomplishing all of those things, what I took away from this experience was something that I could have never imagined.
Prior to your departure, the Greenheart Travel staff will help you out every single step of the way: from booking different flight options, to hosting an orientation, to answering any and every question you may have no matter how crazy it may seem. If you have any pre-travel anxiety or nerves, you can count on Greenheart to take care of you.
Thailand is a very hard place to describe solely with words. It's beautiful, breathtaking, and overwhelming all at the same time. Your time here will be spent between registering all of the experiences and opportunities put in front of you, eating delicious Thai food, getting to know the surrounding culture, and attributing your work and effort towards your internship. Although the internship duties aren't as extensive as you may initially want, your time here in Thailand will be thoroughly well spent. As an NGO coordinator, I received the opportunity to work with Rescue Paws, a company that strives to facilitate the lives of stray animals throughout Thailand. My duties included feeding strays, travelling to different temples to feed and administer vaccinations to some amazing dogs, helping out at the Rescue Paws Clinic, and assisting in the expansion and awareness for said organization. Being able to intern with Rescue Paws was unbelievable. I got to work with animals, know that I was making a lasting difference in their lives, and while travelling to various temples, I was able to further the historic beauty and everyday life of Thai culture.
Not only does this internship allow you to experience a completely different culture, it allows you to experience a completely different side of yourself that you've never known before. My time in Thailand gave me the opportunity to see life and culture through a new lens, gain new perspective, discover more about what I liked/disliked, and so much more.
If you are searching for an experience to learn about yourself, gain new perspectives, and do some good in the world- all while adding a great involvement to your resume... then this is the program for you.

This program was perfect for me because I have always wanted to live in Italy, but close enough to visit France. Prior to this homestay I studied French and Italian,so I was lucky to have background knowledge of the language. During this program I ended up living in a small town (about 45 minutes southwest of Turin) that speaks Piemontese, a combination of French and Italian.
In this particular region many people speak this dialect, so it is quite a bit different than Italian. But, that being said Italians really do speak with their hands, so it has not been difficult for me to communicate. Another critical language aspect is that when you use the English textbook in Italy you will be speaking British English, not American English. For example, students in Italy are taught "Have you got a pencil?", Whereas in American English we say, "Do you have a pencil?" So at times I felt a bit awkward being an American speaking British English, but not a big deal.
I taught 18 classes with different ages (14-19) and skill levels (1-5 yrs of english). Some were quite eager to learn and others not so much. Teaching is not so hard, it is just engaging 18 different classes who are all teenagers.But living in Italy makes the struggles of teaching worth it.
My host family has been exceptional! They really are the warmest, inviting, culture. You will always have friends and family around and spend many hours at the dining room table. Italians really love quality,and freshness when it comes to food! This region is known for many appetizers, so having 10 different dishes before the main meal is normal! If you love wine this is definitely the region for you! So my family has been very accommodating and loving. My host dad is a ski instructor on the weekend and took me to ski for the first time in the alps! My host parents also took me to Alba, a region where many wine connoisseurs go to learn about wine! I also have gone shopping in Turin with my host sister. I was fortunate enough to stay with one family the entire 3 months and I'm very grateful! I truly feel like I have been adopted into an Italian family and will remain friends forever.

In high school I traveled to Spain and lived with a host family for 4 months. This was such an amazing experience and it really changed my life. I had to learn how to be very independent and live somewhere I did not know anyone and barely spoke the language. Studying abroad broadened my perspective and allowed me to experience a whole new culture. I loved my host family, they were so friendly and really helped me learn Spanish and adapt to Spanish life. They also took me traveling with them around Spain, which was incredible. I still speak to them today and would love to go back and visit soon. This program really helped me become a better student and has inspired me to travel more and experience even more cultures. I totally recommend it to all high school students!

Fantastic program. Colombia itself is a hugely diverse country with plenty to explore, and the program is extremely fulfilling. Greenheart did an amazing job of preparing its participants. I met volunteers who came through several different organizations, but the Greenheart participants were consistently the most satisfied and most informed. There was plenty of available information, responses were instantaneous, and the whole preparation process was as painless as it could be. Once in Colombia, Greenheart continued to stay in touch with their volunteers (even though technically their job was done!). Although I was in a new country with completely new people, I felt very well taken care of by both Greenheart and their partner organizations within Colombia.

I'll be honest and say that the work I did as an intern wasn't super impactful on my career or professional development, but my experience as a foreigner certainly was.

My first week in Thailand I remember calling home and telling my best friend about how hard my bed was, how difficult it was to barter, and how loudly I screamed when a frog latched onto my bare foot. By the end of my internship my phone had been off for two weeks, I had a suitcase full of Thai goodies, and even braved tarantulas to see the beauty of one of Thailand's famous caves. In short; I grew the confidence to let go of the American norms I was so comfortable with and that's something a recruiter will want to talk about during an interview and your friends will notice when you get home.

As for the program itself, you won't be thrown into a foreign country without a parachute. There's an orientation week that includes a thai language course, a history lesson, and trips to feed elephants, practice muay thai, and visit a temple. It's a hectic week but it helps you bond with the other interns and shows you the hotspots of your new home.

GH does a great job at prepping you before you leave, your advisor has actually gone through the program herself so she's super helpful! XA will be your family in Thailand, they're all super sweet and tell you how to make the most of your time in Thailand after your 9-5.

PS: There will be AC and a working toilet at home and at work.

I was a junior when I first came came along Greenheart, I was immediately enthralled with the idea to go live in a foreign country and witness their customs and traditions.
I was in France for 5 months and I got back in the end of January of 2015. I loved my exchange to France! I met the most amazing family and had the most amazing friends. I got to really see what life was like in France.
The only advice I have is to be careful with what form of money you bring to France, as a lot of times Traveller checks don't work and neither do visas (because they don't have a chip) be safe and take a debit card!
I had no difficulty with homesickness as I felt really comfortable with my host family. It's a good idea to really stick to the calling of parents once or twice a week.
The only issue I had was with my school. The amount of people who told me in France that the French were very exclusive was incredible. Io can admit that I had Zero friends at school but It didn't really affect me because I had a ton of friends outside of school.
I feel like since I have been back, I have had more homesickness to going back to France than I have ever had while I was in France.