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What Are the Benefits of Cultural Awareness?

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Top Picks

Europe

<h3>What inspired you to work for Anthro International?</h3>
<p>College education shouldn't leave people in a lifetime of debt without job prospects, so an organization that is both affordable and practical is incredible. I'd love to be a part of the next era of higher education that can make it easier for young people to get careers in social sciences without having to struggle with a lifetime of debt.</p>
<h3>Why do you do what you do?</h3>
<p>I am an instructor and guide for programs related to indigenous studies and/or women's history. Specifically, I help create course curriculum that excludes any classroom time so participants can get field experience and learn from local experts rather than receive classroom knowledge that doesn't apply in real-world settings.</p>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1757590923/images2/interviews/rcLnVpGg69zvdCwfCP65m9rib6qLezNHmVSKIJzd.jpg" alt="A group of smiling soccer players in black jerseys huddle together on a rainy day at an outdoor field, capturing a cheerful post-match selfie."><div class="caption"><p>Meeting the Seattle Reign FC football team at an exclusive training session in Seattle</p></div></div>
<h3>How do you use your education and international background in your current role?</h3>
<p>I have backgrounds in education, anthropology, history, and Native American studies and find the best way to prepare future anthropologists and other social scientists is through field experience that can prepare then for what they can expect from a career in social science research, including how to travel on a budget, write or edit video footage, and make meaningful connections with local experts.</p>
<h3>What advice would you give your pre-travel self?</h3>
<p>Honestly, looking back on it, I believe it was a waste of time and money going to a traditional 4-year college. Everything I learned about how to be a good social science researcher- including the ethics of the job- I learned from traveling. For those interested in pursuing careers in the social sciences, I would suggest spending a year or more traveling, meeting locals and fellow travelers, avoiding tourist traps, ignoring restaurants with menus printed in English, and never visiting anywhere you've heard of on social media. Ditch the brochures and explore the places the locals lead you to.</p>
<div class="awesome-image left-aligned wrap-mobile" ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1757590924/images2/interviews/NbUSvR4ogUcWdQK1TRmcvemmuhMG0ZaKtyblGWF9.png" alt="A man humorously squeezes onto a small tricycle on a gravel path under a sunny sky. Another tricycle rests nearby. The mood is playful and lighthearted."><div class="caption"><p>Very Serious work at a locally-owned apple orchard in Illinois</p></div></div>
<h3>Why should someone choose Anthro International over competitors?</h3>
<p><a href=https://www.goabroad.com/providers/anthro-international rel="" target="_self" class="link"><ins>Anthro International</ins></a> is an organization dedicated to inspiring ethical tourism by avoiding the places so overwhelmed by tourists that locals march through the streets in protest. We encourage tourism to places where our travel can be a force for good and focus on educating our travelers on the practical lessons of how to monetize their passion for learning and travel. We don't award college degrees; we give you the real-world training on how to become a social science researcher without a lifetime of debt.</p>
<h3>What is your organization's mission, and how do you continue to work toward it?</h3>
<p>Anthro International approaches everything we do from the standpoint of what responsibility we have to our posterity seven generations in the future (roughly 140 years). By the year 2165, none of our current staff will be alive anymore, but our hope is that what we do today will make the world of that year a better place by revolutionizing the tourism industry of the future, and pressuring US universities to create more affordable education programs so that everyone who wants to go to college can without financial barriers.</p>
<h3>What do you hope participants take away from your programs?</h3>
<p>Each of our programs is designed to provide participants with field experience- whether from the saddle of a horseback expedition in Patagonia or a dive certification from our program in Hawaii. We don't provide classroom education; we provide field experience you can actually put on a resume that won't break your bank account.</p>
<h3>How do you help support participants?</h3>
<p>Throughout our programs, we connect participants with local guides and team instructors who help participants learn how to journal about their experiences, develop their skills in either writing or videography, and then show them how to edit their work to find ways to monetize their passion for travel. Not only do we provide a better version of a college education, but we also teach participants how to monetize that knowledge.</p>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1757591161/images2/interviews/KvKDcmFxkPHVWfgUxqOkPJSY0rnCa1aAjKRK4Mz0.png" alt="A person drinking something with a straw with his other hand in the pocket."><div class="caption"><p>Stopping for smoothies at a roadside fruit stand on Maui</p></div></div>
<h3>Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?</h3>
<p>Mark Twain once said the greatest enemy to prejudice is travel, and we believe it. Travel has the power to revolutionize our points of view, but it can also be damaging. Over tourism in places like Venice and Barcelona doesn't just anger locals, it often drives them from cities their families have lived in for generations, while resorts in places like Hawaii and Jamaica provide a sterilized and stereotyped version of local culture mass-produced to make it more marketable to cruise ship travelers. Ethical travel is the heart of Anthro International's core message of connecting travelers with real locations, avoiding over-visited locales, and educating travelers on the local cultures and history of the places we visit.</p>
<h3>How do you help support participants?</h3>
<p>Throughout our programs, we connect participants with local guides and team instructors who help participants learn how to journal about their experiences, develop their skills in either writing or videography, and then show them how to edit their work to find ways to monetize their passion for travel. Not only do we provide a better version of a college education, but we also teach participants how to monetize that knowledge.</p>
<div class="awesome-image right-aligned wrap-mobile" ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1757591418/images2/interviews/hR6qmuv12nFMFb73biKOmcLR6fJ186Z9dAXY8brg.jpg" alt="Stone steps of an ancient pyramid rise steeply under a cloudy sky, with a small sign in front on a grassy path, conveying historical majesty."><div class="caption"><p>Exploring the ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico</p></div></div>
<h3>Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?</h3>
<p>Mark Twain once said the greatest enemy to prejudice is travel, and we believe it. Travel has the power to revolutionize our points of view, but it can also be damaging. Over tourism in places like Venice and Barcelona doesn't just anger locals, it often drives them from cities their families have lived in for generations, while resorts in places like Hawaii and Jamaica provide a sterilized and stereotyped version of local culture mass-produced to make it more marketable to cruise ship travelers. Ethical travel is the heart of Anthro International's core message of connecting travelers with real locations, avoiding over-visited locales, and educating travelers on the local cultures and history of the places we visit.</p>
<h3>What does meaningful travel mean to you?</h3>
<p>Meaningful travel means avoiding the tourist traps and the social media hotspots. In a non-English speaking country, never eat at restaurants with menus printed in English. In unfamiliar places, find out what the locals do for fun. When choosing hotels, stay at locally owned places and never buy souvenirs from anywhere near the main tourist locations. Meaningful tourism means supporting the communities you are a guest in, not destroying their cities.</p>
<h3>What issues do you see in the world of international education that don’t line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial &amp; educational relationships between providers and the communities in which they are located?</h3>
<p>More often than not, higher education across the world has become like learning how to ride a bicycle in a classroom over 4 years, costing thousands of dollars, without ever touching a bicycle, then awarding participants with a meaningless piece of paper that says you know how to ride a bike- but no one will hire you at a bike shop without that piece of paper. Anthro International intends to change that by creating short, intensive programs that ditch the classroom and give participants real experience, so you can show you know how to do something without the worthless piece of paper, and for a fraction of the cost.</p>


Joseph C. Wilson

Get to know the people behind Anthro International! Check out this GoAbroad Staff Interview with Joseph C. Wilson.

Joseph C. Wilson | Anthro International Staff Interview

Anthro International Staff Interview with Joseph C. Wilson

Sophia Schmieder

Get to know the people behind FUBiS! Check out this GoAbroad Staff Interview with Sophia Schmieder.

Sophia Schmieder | FUBiS Staff Interview

FUBiS Staff Interview with Sophia Schmieder

<h3>What inspired you to work for Sweet Escapes?</h3>
<p>I was inspired to join Sweet Escapes because travel has always been a central part of my life. After years of exploring different destinations and cultures, I wanted to help others experience the same excitement, growth, and connection that travel has given me. Sweet Escapes’ focus on authentic, meaningful adventures perfectly matched my values, making it the ideal place to combine my passion with my professional skills.</p>
<h3>Describe a typical day at work.</h3>
<p>A typical day involves connecting with travel partners, responding to customer enquiries, and crafting tailored itineraries that match each traveller’s needs. I review bookings across all our platforms, ensure our listings are optimised, and work closely with the team to plan upcoming tours and experiences. Every day is different, but it’s always focused on making sure our guests have an unforgettable journey from the moment they enquire to the day they return home.</p>
<div class="awesome-image centered " ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1757590460/images2/interviews/6bwIHH1ygac344lzpumjTpfjl9SaqPmgCaFpd7oA.jpg" alt="A couple smiling on a sunny beach, with ocean waves and rocky shore in the background. The sky is partly cloudy, conveying a relaxed and cheerful mood."><div class="caption"><p>Hobie Beach</p></div></div>
<h3>Why do you do what you do?</h3>
<p>My why is simple — travel changes people. It inspires curiosity, builds connections, and creates memories that last a lifetime. I work at Sweet Escapes to help others experience the same joy and transformation that exploring new places has given me. Every trip we design is a chance to make someone’s world a little bigger and brighter.</p>
<h3>What is your favorite part of your job?</h3>
<p>My favorite part of the job is hearing from travellers after their trip. There’s something special about the excitement in their voices, the sparkle in their photos, and the way they describe the moments that stood out to them. Sometimes it’s a breathtaking view, sometimes it’s a conversation with a local, and sometimes it’s an unexpected adventure they didn’t see coming. Knowing that our planning, attention to detail, and passion for travel played a part in creating those memories is incredibly rewarding. It reminds me why I do what I do — because every trip we design isn’t just an itinerary, it’s an opportunity to create stories our guests will cherish for a lifetime.</p>
<div class="awesome-image left-aligned wrap-mobile" ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1757590461/images2/interviews/Mu8cxw9H7iPmpzcDul5N3lizOkwGLTh2HUqbYlVm.jpg" alt="Woman smiling in black sunglasses and coat, standing on a sunny street with a blue sky. Urban background with people and cars conveys a lively atmosphere."><div class="caption"><p>Cape Town</p></div></div>
<h3>How do you use your education and international background in your current role?</h3>
<p>I use my marketing background to create engaging campaigns and optimise our presence across global booking platforms, ensuring Sweet Escapes reaches the right travellers. My social sciences studies help me understand cultural nuances and connect with people from all walks of life. Combined with my own travel experience and previous work in voluntourism, I’m able to design and promote trips that are both authentic and deeply rewarding for our guests.</p>
<h3>What challenges do you often face, and how do you overcome them?</h3>
<p>One challenge I often face is balancing the unique expectations of travellers with the realities of logistics, availability, and seasonal factors. I overcome this by staying flexible, maintaining clear communication, and using my industry network to find creative solutions. Another challenge is keeping our tours visible in a competitive online market, which I address by continually refining our listings, leveraging my marketing skills, and building strong relationships with booking partners.</p>
<h3>What are some current projects you are working on?</h3>
<p>Right now, I’m focused on a full overhaul of the Sweet Escapes website to improve usability and showcase our experiences more effectively. I’m also revitalizing our social media presence to better engage travellers and updating all our package details and pricing to reflect the latest offerings for the coming year.</p>
<h3>What advice would you give your pre-travel self?</h3>
<p>I’d tell my pre-travel self to be open to every experience, even the ones that seem small at the time. Some of the best memories come from unexpected moments, and not everything has to go exactly to plan for the trip to be amazing. Pack lighter, plan smarter, and always leave room in the itinerary for spontaneity. The best experiences often happen between the scheduled ones.</p>
<div class="awesome-image right-aligned wrap-mobile" ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1757590462/images2/interviews/lPeE64gpFA6C5lD7Ahl0LPmIzgnsdWkYol7PoaY2.jpg" alt="A person poses in front of a weathered yellow frame labeled "><div class="caption"><p>Cape Recife Lighthouse</p></div></div>
<h3>What makes Sweet Escapes special?</h3>
<p>Sweet Escapes is special because we design travel experiences with genuine care and personal attention. Every itinerary is created by people who have lived, travelled, and explored the destinations we offer, ensuring authenticity and insider knowledge. We combine professional expertise with a passion for creating unforgettable moments, so our guests don’t just visit a place — they truly experience it. Our focus on quality, flexibility, and meaningful connections makes every Sweet Escapes trip unique.</p>
<h3>Why should someone choose Sweet Escapes over competitors?</h3>
<p>Travellers should choose <a href=https://www.goabroad.com/providers/sweetescapes rel="" target="_self" class="link"><ins>Sweet Escapes</ins></a> because we offer more than just tours — we create personalised, memorable experiences designed around real connections with people, places, and cultures. Our team has first-hand knowledge of every destination we sell, so guests benefit from insider tips and carefully curated activities they won’t find in generic packages. We’re flexible, responsive, and committed to making every trip seamless from the moment of enquiry to the final day of travel. With Sweet Escapes, you’re not just booking a holiday — you’re investing in an experience you’ll remember for years.</p>
<h3>What hopes do you have for the future of Sweet Escapes?</h3>
<p>My hope for Sweet Escapes is to continue expanding our range of unique travel experiences while staying true to our focus on authenticity and personal connection. I want us to inspire more people from around the world to explore Southern Africa, not just as tourists, but as curious travellers who leave with a deeper understanding of its cultures, landscapes, and people. In the future, I see Sweet Escapes growing our network of local partners, embracing sustainable practices, and becoming the go-to choice for travellers seeking meaningful, unforgettable adventures.</p>
<div class="awesome-image left-aligned wrap-mobile" ><img src="https://images.goabroad.com/image/upload/v1757590463/images2/interviews/WbS24jSaRaPrRfLvBdXz6EhAFzsuoDEBSLu07KTX.png" alt="Smiling person in a striped sweater sits in front of a computer with a nature-themed desktop. Certificates hang on the wall, creating a cozy, professional atmosphere."><div class="caption"><p>Melissa Mitchell</p></div></div>
<h3>What is your organization's mission, and how do you continue to work toward it?</h3>
<p>Sweet Escapes’ mission is to create authentic, memorable travel experiences that connect people with the culture, nature, and spirit of Southern Africa. We work toward this by personally curating every itinerary, partnering with trusted local providers, and ensuring every trip is crafted with attention to detail and respect for the communities we visit. Our team constantly travels, researches, and builds relationships on the ground so we can offer guests genuine experiences that go beyond the typical tourist trail.</p>
<h3>What do you hope participants take away from your programs?</h3>
<p>I hope participants leave our programs with more than just great memories — I want them to gain a deeper appreciation for the places they’ve visited, the cultures they’ve experienced, and the people they’ve met. I want them to feel confident, inspired, and empowered to keep exploring, whether that’s through travel, new career opportunities like teaching, or personal growth. Most of all, I hope they carry home stories, skills, and friendships that will stay with them long after the program ends.</p>
<h3>Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?</h3>
<p>Traveling abroad opens your mind in ways nothing else can. It pushes you out of your comfort zone, challenges assumptions, and gives you a firsthand understanding of how others live, think, and celebrate life. Experiencing new cultures builds empathy, respect, and adaptability — qualities that stay with you long after the trip is over. It’s not just about seeing new places; it’s about connecting with people and gaining a richer, more balanced perspective of the world.</p>
<h3>What does meaningful travel mean to you?</h3>
<p>To me, meaningful travel is about more than ticking destinations off a list — it’s about connection, understanding, and impact. It means immersing yourself in a place, engaging with its people, respecting its culture, and leaving it better than you found it. It’s travel that enriches both the traveller and the community, creating memories and relationships that last long after the trip ends.</p>


Melissa Mitchell

Get to know the people behind SweetEscapes! Check out this GoAbroad Staff Interview with Melissa Mitchell.

Melissa Mitchell | SweetEscapes Staff Interview

SweetEscapes Staff Interview with Melissa Mitchell

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