Travel Grad is a gamechanger

Finishing university is daunting, but is much less so thanks to the support offered by TravelGrad. If you're eager to travel then this is the perfect opportunity. The job is rewarding, and balanced enough that you get to explore Thailand and immerse yourself in the culture.

It was always a dream of mine to work abroad, but it didn't feel like a tangible reality until the ease of TravelGrad's organisation and communication came to play. The logistics of moving abroad, which can obviously be very complicated, are made as simple as possible by the organisation.

When you move out here, you'll meet a tonne of like minded people at the orientation for working. Rest assured that as daunting as it is moving to a new country, there are many others in the exact same position. You'll soon develop connections with ambitious like minded individuals as yourself.

The job itself is vastly rewarding. Because Thailand embodies a culture of relaxation and positivity, the kids are very excitable and friendly, and you can guarantee that you'll be working with a smile on your face the majority of the time. You are genuinely contributing something meaningful to life with the work you are doing; a blessing not to be underappreciated.

Thailand is a beautiful country. Since I've moved out here, I've swam with fish and bioluminescent plankton off a coral reef, eaten some of the best food of my life, immersed myself in the culture and its festivities through Loy Khratong and Khon Kaen's annual silk festival. I've seen the most beautiful locations of my entire life down south, exploring the islands. You will feel grounded and present in the Buddhist temples, even if you are not a religious/spiritual person. I've also pushed myself out of my comfort zone and started Muay Thai. Rest assured that you have the work life balance to savour this country fully. Something I couldn't even do working back home in the UK.

If there's anything constructive I'd offer, is before you come out, save as much money as possible. Save more than you even think is necessary. You're going to be overexcited by the new country, and my only regret is that I ran into financial problems from not having saved accordingly. But this is such a minor issue that I barely think about it now. Just make sure money isn't an issue for you inbetween moving jobs/graduating and starting teaching at your respective school.

And as a final note, listen to the advice TravelGrad give you before moving out. They'll work it all out for you, asking for preferences, giving you a timeline for VISA applications (and relevant vital documents). Be on top of your game and be in constant communication with everyone involved to make your life easier. TravelGrad already do the hard work of making your life easy, so give it back to them!