Olivia Thompson

Program: Teach in Spain

Last Seen in America: Pausing for a photo with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in Madison, Wisconsin.

Where in Spain?: Madrid

Bio: As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison double majoring in Spanish and Medical Microbiology and Immunology my plan was always to go to medical school right after I graduated- to return books while renting out others, to graduate a senior only to become a freshman again- but when I studied abroad in Granada, Spain during the Summer of 2012 my plan changed. My experience abroad ignited the adventurer in me and encouraged me to venture out again, this time not only to learn, but to teach as well.

Fallon Wagner

Program: Teach in Spain The Basics

Where in Spain?: Madrid

Bio: World Traveler. Cheese and charcuterie enthusiast. Thrill-Seeker.

Travis Mott

Program: Teach in Spain with 4-Week Immersion

Last Seen in America: Swimming in the Guafalupe River deep in the heart of Texas.

Where in Spain?: Alca de Henares

Bio: Beware of those who call you a child or tell you to snap out of your fantasy world. They are the people who do not deal well with life. They have forgotten how to dream. They never learned to let go, free fall and see what sunnier place fate had in mind for them.

Melisa Smith

Program: Teach in Spain

Bio: I consider myself extremely creative, adventurous, and contemplative. I am obsessed with taking and editing pictures. I love taking pictures from different angles, accents, and using candid photos to express the essence of a moment. I also am at this amazing point in my life where I am completely living in the moment.

I want people to know that you can take a leap outside the norms of society and learn so much about yourself and other cultures. If you want to travel and see the world, you CAN do it and make it work. Two common reactions I receive when telling people I’m teaching abroad for a year is either, “I wish that was me!” or “You are so brave and crazy for going alone! I could NEVER do that.” Brave makes me laugh. I have been given the opportunity to see so much and learn so much! Traveling and experiencing something new, at this point in my life, is what I crave. I want my readers to grow with me as I have the experience of a lifetime. Show full bio.

Aaron Dembowski

Program: Teach in Spain

Last Seen in America: Rooting on the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field

Where in Spain?: Casariche, Sevilla

Bio: Born and raised in the beautiful city of Chicago, Illinois I am a recent graduate of DePaul University where I studied Education with a concentration in Spanish. After returning from studying in Madrid, Spain in 2010, I contracted the travel bug and vowed to return to Spain within 5 years. Three years later, I can proudly say that Andalucía will be my new home.

I love visiting new and exciting places vastly different from home and plan on traversing Spain as much as possible in search of those hidden gems. I am eager to teach and impart my cultural wisdom on these young lives, in hopes to expand their own cultural awareness and acceptance all the while increasing my own as well. I am about to embark on an experience of a lifetime and intend to document my up and downs, my successes and failures and everything in between. Show full bio.

Ashley Wildman

Program: Teach in Spain with a 4-week immersion

Last Seen in America: Crawling up rocks, floating down rivers, and soaking up the summer sun in beautiful central Oregon.

Where in Spain?: Mancha Real, Jaén

Bio: I am a recent and proud Gonzaga University graduate yet I know that my educational journey is not yet over, and in fact never will be. I am excited for a new chapter abroad and to further my understanding and practice of the Spanish language. I am about to embark on an experience of a lifetime and intend to document my up and downs, my successes and failures and everything in between.

I look forward to all the great people I will meet, the experiences I will have, and the memories I will make along the way. Show full bio.

Melissa Babier

Program: Teach in Spain, 2-week immersion

Last Seen in America: Nose in the books studying for grad school in Illinois

Where in Spain?: Madrid, Madrid

Bio:A 26-year-old female ready to step away from deep-dish pizza and the unpredictability of Chicago weather to embark on a journey of a lifetime!

I was born, raised, and am currently living in the suburbs of Chicago while working toward my MA in English Education. Only until recently have I truly understood the saying: you only live once. Life is too short to not explore and question the world around us, and I am ready more than ever to leave the comforts of my home to learn and live a new culture while discovering a new me. Always ready to add laughter and random dance parties to any situation, I hope to document all of my experiences with a touch of humor, nerdiness, and complimentary fanny pack in tow. Show full bio.

Amanda Calderon

Program: Teach in Spain, Year Long

Last Seen in America: Palm Coast, Florida

Where in Spain?: Madrid, Spain

Bio:“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open” (Jawaharlal Nehru ).

I am a recent college graduate from Palm Coast, Florida not wishing to settle down anytime soon. I have a passion for traveling and all things adventurous—it brings happiness to my life, which is all I truly seek. Going against my parents’ wishes, I decided to apply and embark on yet again, another journey abroad. Life is too short to be sedentary and the world is too beautiful to not be seen. As a writer and photography enthusiast I hope to document my journey and inspire other young adults to follow their passions and seek a life filled with adventure. Show full bio.

Megan Coffroth

Blog Name: Nuevas Aventuras

Program: Teach in Spain

Katelan McCurdy

Blog Name: La Rubita Perdida

Program: Teach in Spain

Dev'n Goodman

Blog Name: To Teach and To Learn

Program: Teach in Spain

Last Seen in America: Texas, teaching English to 8th grade future world leaders.

Where in Spain?: Baeza, Jaen

Bio: All those quotes featuring travel clichés are right. Every. Single. One. Which is why instead of spending summer vacation squeezing my travel in between teaching summer school and professional development I quit my job to travel. Thank goodness I found a way to combine both my loves: teaching and travel. Join me as I teach and learn from my students, experiences and adventures.

Madelyne Adams

Blog Name: The Accidental Adventurer

Program: Teach in Spain