Cultural Embrace's Julie Dean Coordinates all the teach, intern, and volunteer placements in Asia. This month we're featuring the opportunity to teach in Thailand, and Julie provides her expert insight of the Thailand program details below. 

Q: Why is this placement so cool? What are the benefits?
A: Thailand is the "country of smiles" where the people are friendly and teachers find themselves quickly immersed in a beautiful culture. The benefits include: making a difference and gaining practical experience as a teacher, an intensive orientation with fun excursions in Bangkok, pre-negotiated salary and accommodation and negotiable return airfare for 10 month placements beginning in May. 

Q: Who would be ideal for this placement?
A: English speaking, college graduate with a passion for new cultures, kids and adventures. Teach positions open for any educational background to teach English and specifically for Science and Math degrees. 

Q: When is the start date, and when is the best time to apply?
A: May Start Dates:
• Feb 8: final application deadline
• May 9 - 15 orientation (must arrive to Thailand no later than May 8th)

October Start Dates:
• July 13: final application deadline
• Oct 14 - 20 orientation (must arrive to Thailand no later than Oct 13th) 

Q: What feedback have you head from participants and what can those interested in the program expect?
A: Our participants love being a special asset to the community where they are teaching. They experience a wonderful introduction to the culture and to teaching English during the orientation and then dive into a life changing experience at their school placements. Participants thrive on being both the teacher and the student during their adventure abroad!

This December we are focusing on our Super-Participant Kate Springer. Kate is currently working as a teacher in Chile. As if that isn’t enough for one girl to handle, this January, Kate will also be moving on to Guatemala to volunteer at an orphanage and blog about her experiences! 

Kate had several reasons for adding another chapter to her Latin American adventure through Cultural Embrace: “teaching in Latin America has made me want to spend more time in the South Western hemisphere. I have fallen in love with Chilean colloquialisms, food, music, and people and would like to explore another area of Latin America.” 

While originally worried about the language barrier and the culture shock of living with a host family during her time in Chile, Kate says that “these are no longer concerns. I have re-established myself into family life and can communicate, easily but not flawlessly, in Spanish. Now, rather than feeling afraid or nervous about anything, I simply dread the day I have to say goodbye to the community that I will certainly come to love.” 

Kate’s experience teaching in Chile also prepared her for working with children in Guatemala: “Armed with this learning experience, my creativity, and a good sense of humor, I hope to contribute an enthusiastic and creative personality to the volunteer community. I believe that no matter where you are, an open mind and an open heart are essential when working with children.” 

On a practical level, Kate sees volunteering in Guatemala as an opportunity to perfect her Spanish skills. However, Kate expects the real reward of this trip to be the opportunity to “forge relationships with the children, my host family, and colleagues, and to learn more about the world through the perspective of another culture.”

Cultural Embrace's President Emlyn Lee gives us the low down on the upcoming group trips to Guatemala. Read below to find out all the details and see why you should sign up for this "spring time sunshine and service trip"! ? 

Q: Emlyn, are Group Service Trips something new from Cultural Embrace? 

A: Over the years, we've customized all sorts of trips for groups. We design trips and cultural-immersion experiences for any unique group traveling abroad, such as short-term faculty lead study abroad, private groups, alternative spring breaks, healthcare and service-learning trips, youth leadership programs, environmental-conservation projects, fun family vacations, corporate team-building retreats, mission trips, alumni and associate groups. We obviously design our trips so the travelers will see and learn more about the fascinating and historical sites, but the 'sight-seeing' is secondary, and we try to design itineraries that will offer the travelers to integrate with the local community. One of the best ways to interact and connect with the local community is through service projects. There is no better way to build a relationship than to roll up your sleeves, and lend a hand (and heart) to help others. It is such a rewarding experience to the community, as well as yourself, and lifetime friendships and memories are formed. 

Q: Do you offer trips for individuals who want to join a travel group? 

A: Actually yes! We have several trips in 2010 that anyone can join. For example, the upcoming Guatemala Service trips have pre-arranged dates that individuals, couples, or groups may join. This is a great option for those that want to volunteer and meet other foreigners, while they embrace the Guatemalan culture and people. They are quick, economical, one-week trips, that coincide with Spring Break dates:(March 6-13); (March 13-20); (March 20-7); (March 27-April 3). We hope this offers a more meaningful and alternative travel experience for anyone wishing to volunteer in an at-need community and mix springtime sunshine with service. 

Q: That sounds fun! What is the cost of the trip and what is included? 

A: The trip fee is only $695! We prepare every logistical detail to ensure top quality, safe, and healthy travels. Our expert and knowledgeable staff support all the needs of the group, before, during and after your journey. Services include: airport pick-up and transfer, international and ground transportation, lodging with host families (hotel or apartment stay available for additional fee), meals, a CE staff trip leader, the best local partners for bi-lingual service, travel insurance, excursions, service and cultural activities, service projects, and social activities in Antigua Guatemala. 

Q: What types of volunteer and service projects will take place during the Guatemala Service Trip? 

A: Volunteer projects include: Teach, tutor, and play with children in low-income daycare community centers. Work with street children, handicap & disabled children, and troubled teens. Work in hospice, local hospital/health centers,pharmacies and nursing homes. Help build and maintain gardens and yards in at-need community centers. Contribute to building, fixing, and painting for at-need construction projects in schools and community centers. Groups may work together on one project or be divided into teams to work on different service projects- based on group size, skills, and Spanish language knowledge. 

Q: What are the social and cultural activities you mentioned in Guatemala? 

A: Most afternoons we provide bi-lingual guided activities or excursions, such as: cooking classes, salsa dance lessons, bike tours to local banana plantations, local soccer (futbol) games with local children, hike and visit to Volcano Pacaya, visit and boat ride to Lake Atitlan with a stop at a local market, and much more. We definitely try to 'maximize' your time abroad, especially since there is so many fascinating things to see and do; however, we also want to give you the option to relax, reflect, and rest. We have contacts with yoga studios, spas, and understand the need for 'leisure' time for you to chill.

Yesterday was one of those perfect ‘do nothing’ days, that we rarely allow ourselves to encounter in our busy lifestyle. I just returned back to Austin after being on the road promoting Cultural Embrace for most of the fall season. I was actually content with the chilly, dreary, rainy weather in Austin, as it gave me an excuse to stay wrapped up in blankets in bed or on my couch, sipping Green tea and hot cocoa, and catching up with the piles of mail, magazines, and books that I have neglected for three months--yes, even on a Saturday, UT home game night, before a holiday work week.

It was a perfect day. I read articles from Oprah magazine, salivated over Food & Wine’s holiday menus and recipes, dog-eared pages from various travel and industry trade magazines for further research, and admired the physique and tips from trainers of fitness and health magazines (while dipping my hand in the cookie jar…duh!) By early evening, I mustered the cold, wet weather to do some necessary errands. Actually, I would have preferred to stay put as a hermit crab, but I left my tube of Crest in the last hotel I stayed at, so toothpaste was definitely a necessity! Waiting in the checkout line, a little boy was with his mother, and pointing at the video “Up” advertised at the RedBox video rental stand. He was hopping up and down like a wind-up toy, repeatedly shouting “Mami, podemos ver el video ‘Up’”. His excitement was contagious, so I went over to the Redbox stand, and rented the movie.

Surprisngly, it was one of THE best movies that I have ever seen and touched me so much, that I want to write about it. Pixar does it again, with a beautiful, uplifting, witty story that addresses the spirit of adventure, love, dreams, friendships, child-elderly bond, animal welfare, relationships, and heroes. Not to give away the full story, but here's a quick summary of the storyline, and why you must watch it: 78-years old Carl Fredrickson ties thousands of balloons to his house to set off on a journey to fulfill his (and his departed wife, Ellie) lifelong dream to live by Paradise Falls in South America. After lift off, he discovers that an 8-years old boy, named Russell, who is trying to earn an ‘assisting the elderly’ badge to graduate from his Wilderness Troop was stowed away in his home. The two form an unique friendship and relationship as they embark in an adventure, while meeting jungle birds, talking dogs, and an evil villain.  

Which character do you think best resembles you? Or maybe you have a combination of them? Perhaps you are an Ellie that seeks adventure; or a Carl that is determined by love and honor to live out his and his late wife’s dream; or Russell, who lives life through care and assistance; or Dug who is loyal to a ‘master’ that he entrusts; or Kevin that is passionate for chocolate and family?

I believe there are "Up" character traits in each of us. While Pixar does an amazing job animating life and providing us entertainment (no matter what age you are), Cultural Embrace is here to be your helium tank. We will fill the balloons necessary for you to go on a safe and exhilarating journey. We will provide pre-departure and English-speaking local support, to take the weight off of your shoulders, and alleviate the stress and struggles to reach your dream, passion, and quest to reach the “Spirit of Adventure”.

Although I cherish my rare ‘do nothing’ days, it only took 1-1/2 hours watching this DVD to rejuvenate my spirit and energy. So, replicating Ellie’s closing of her scrapbook, “Thanks for the adventure. Now go have a new one.” Love, Emlyn

BE INSPIRED: Jena Ross Currently on Placement Teaching in China

This month, our spotlight is on Jena Ross, who is currently in Qingdao, China teaching English to adults at a college for one semester.  Jena's lifelong fascination with different people and their cultures spurred her on towards living and teaching abroad: "Over time, my curiosity for people and their various outlooks on life transformed into a love. . . When considering what to do following my graduation this May, I knew where I would be: abroad."

Jena recently graduated as a Psychology major from Point Loma Nazarene University, where she often tutored her fellow students in Sociology and Cultural Anthropology.  She also participated in a Jamaican Immersion volunteer trip, and spent a year studying abroad in Florence, Italy.  These experiences strengthened her love and desire for cultural immersion: "[Studying in Italy] was a gift to be able to interact with a culture for an extended period of time.  I was able to form meaningful relationships with Italian natives and gain a better understanding of Italy in general."  

In the future, Jena hopes to teach Anthropology, International Communications, or Art Education at a university, and sees Teaching in China as an opportunity that "would help propel me in whichever avenue I decide to choose. . .  my love for people, my life long yearning for cultural interaction, and my overall goals have strongly motivated my desire to teach in China."  

WHERE YOU CAN TEACH We offer paid teaching opportunities in: Mexico,Guatemala, Chile, China,Thailand and India We offer voluntary teaching opportunities in: Africa,Cambodia, China, India andLatin America We offer language exchange programs in: Brazil, Spain,Costa Rica, Argentina   and China