Meet Our Team

Favorite International Experience: Definitely ziplining over and then hiking up into the Pulhapanzak waterfall in Honduras with friends, and because I can’t choose just one, also tent camping in the Zambian bush for two months

Amanda’s Favorite International Dish: Arroz chino de pollo

Amanda’s Favorite Podcast or Person to Follow: JUMP with Traveling Jackie and also Not Lost

Travel Tip from Amanda: “Your shoes matter! Always go for usability and comfort over style. You would hate to find yourself with a change of schedule and climbing up the side of a mountain with opened-backed clogs (as spoken from experience).”

Favorite International Experience: Spending Christmas Eve swimming with wild dolphins and sea turtles in Mauritius

Christina’s Favorite International Dish: Thai mango sticky rice, Filipino turon, and French almond croissants

Christina’s Favorite Podcast or Person to Follow: The Sporkful (perfect podcast for foodies around the world) and the Banh Mi Podcast (thoughtful podcast in French that explores Asian identities)

Travel Tip from Christina: “Yes, it is cool to say you have been to many different countries, but there’s something so special about staying in a new country for a long time. Explore new places, but also savor becoming a local.”

Favorite International Experience: Snowboarding in the Tien Shan mountains in Kazakhstan

Timothy’s Favorite International Dish: Banitsa and Ayran

Timothy’s Favorite Podcast or Person to Follow: Pack Hacker (packing lists and travel gear)

Travel Tip from Timothy: “Don’t be afraid to explore off the beaten path. It’s great to see popular tourist sites but sometimes the best spots are hidden away where only the locals go.”

Favorite International Experience: Going to a cacao farm in Costa Rica and making chocolate

Kylie’s Favorite International Dish: Jamaican rice and peas, tostones, massaman curry

Kylie’s Favorite Podcast or Person to Follow: @authentic_traveling

Travel Tip from Kylie: “Make sure your luggage is easily identifiable in case it ever gets lost in transit! Get a suitcase/bag in a fun bright color, or tie a colorful ribbon to your luggage to make it easy to spot (or to describe to someone else).”

Favorite International Experience: Hiking Mount Sinai in Egypt with a Bedouin guide starting at midnight to reach the summit by sunrise

Claire’s Favorite International Dish: Colombian empanadas, French magret de canard with cherry sauce

Claire’s Favorite Podcast or Person to Follow: French with Panache podcast, @condimentclaire on Instagram and TikTok

Travel Tip from Claire: “If you like to write, take detailed journal entries of what you do, see, and experience on your travels. Years later, if all you have are photos to look back on, you’ll forget the small details, as well as your perspective and thoughts at that specific point in time. Photos and videos are great to have, but recording your take on the experience in a journal will also document your personal growth.”

Favorite International Experience: I had the opportunity to live abroad after graduating in London and experienced so much personal growth during this time. A highlight of my time in London was getting to tour Highclere castle where Downton Abbey was filmed!

Samantha’s Favorite International Dish: Salvadoran pupusas, Cantonese bao, and anything Lebanese!

Samantha’s Favorite Podcast or Person to Follow: With the Perry’s

Travel Tip from Samantha: “Savor every moment but try to build time into your itinerary to rest! I have found this helps me maintain endurance so that I can be the best version of myself when traveling to a new place. Also, pack as light as possible so you don’t have to worry about moving a lot of baggage from place to place.”

Favorite International Experience: Witnessing sunrise unfold on Easter Island with the moai carved figures in the foreground

David’s Favorite International Dish: Takoyaki

David’s Favorite Podcast or Person to Follow: The Atlas Obscura Podcast

Travel Tip from David: “Get lost from time to time! Explore cities and towns on foot without a specific plan or destination. Allow yourself the time to simply take in the sights, sounds, smells, and people along the way.”

Favorite International Experience: Spending Tuesdays with my great uncle in Galway, Ireland

Jessica’s Favorite International Dish: Pavlova with fresh fruit (from New Zealand)

Jessica’s Favorite Podcast or Person to Follow: @jessicanabongo | @sliceofpai | @the_shopkeepers | @girleatworld

Travel Tip from Jessica: “Learn about your location before you arrive-I love to read a book by a local author before traveling somewhere, and then searching out the places or food that is featured in the book. Same goes for watching a movie, listening to a podcast, something to start considering the local perspective and experience.”

Favorite International Experience: Standing as snow fell in Copenhagen at dusk and watching as the park filled with children and families – the experience of being in a living snow globe

Janice’s Favorite International Dish: Breaded tuna steak with mustard and sesame on orange sauce (I think this is the Italian translation: Trancio di tonno impanato con senape e sesamo su salsa all’arancia) and Frikadeller

Travel Tip from Janice: “If you are a little nervous about your upcoming experience, remember that it’s okay and normal. Use that feeling to move outside your comfort zone and as a reminder that you can meet a challenge and do difficult things.”

Favorite International Experience: Experiencing TradFest music festival in Dublin

Cody’s Favorite International Dish: Ceviche

Cody’s Favorite Podcast or Person to Follow: “I prefer to watch episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s shows or get a travel guide from Moon, Lonely Planet, or Rick Steves. There are plenty out there, just find the one that speaks to you and your interests!”

Travel Tip from Cody: “Don’t be afraid to try new foods. See what the locals are eating and try it. Don’t ask what it is until after the meal. Unless you have allergies, then always ask! Also be sure to utilize the information our Global Ambassadors have about going abroad. Don’t be nervous to contact them, they want to talk about their time away just like you will when you return.”

Favorite International Experience: Cross-cultural course comparing ancient Minoan (island of Crete) and Old Kingdom Egyptian art, architecture and society

Sarah’s Favorite International Dish: Cretan yogurt and honey

Sarah’s Favorite Podcast or Person to Follow: Perfect Travel Only and The New York Times 36 Hours

Travel Tip from Sarah: “Consider traveling solo at least once in your life. This experience can reveal aspects of yourself you might never discover otherwise.”

Favorite international experience: Studying and performing opera and art song for 3 weeks in Orvieto Italy! Another favorite was when my college choir was able to participate in a cross-cultural artistic exchange in Puerto Rico where we sang and a local school group performed a Bomba dance!

Eby’s Favorite international dish: Really any carb-heavy Italian food, but especially gnocchi, gelato, and a good strong cappuccino.

Eby’s Favorite podcast or person to follow: Rick Steves all the way! Or if you need some humor while you learn: Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father on Netflix

Eby’s Travel tip: Research public transportation ahead of time. It’s really essential to familiarize yourself with it before you arrive so that you’re not overwhelmed by looking at a map of the subway lines, buying a train ticket, or missing the last bus. It’s also super important to invest in comfortable shoes, because you will be walking a LOT!