Teach English Abroad Blog

Your Guide to Portugal’s Hidden Surf Town Hello! I recently had the opportunity to spend a long weekend in Ericeira, Portugal. This charming town isn’t typically one of the main... keep reading

Madrid Dairies Entry 1: It’s been a little while since my last blog, but I’m back with some big news—I MADE IT TO SPAIN!! WOOHOO!! I still can’t believe I’m... keep reading

Just when you think you’ve planned enough, there’s always something that unexpectedly comes up. This is a three-part blog – here’s the second thing that caught me by surprise with my move to Spain that can help you prepare for yours.

Since we don't start teaching until October 1st and my mom is semi-retired, she came to visit for a week and a half before life gets hectic! She had such... keep reading

Let's state the obvious: packing to move abroad for a year can be very overwhelming! At the end of the day, trust the fact that whatever you bring and whatever... keep reading

An introduction to me, myself, and I, as a CIEE blogger!

So much has happened since my last blog, and I can’t wait to catch you up! I applied for my visa at the BLS office in Chicago, and after eight... keep reading

What makes a country more than just a place on a map or on a TikTok post? In Volume 2, a group of thoughtful Thai students — Chanisa Kumnerdruang, Amarnkarn Yenwatthana, Wachiravit Kobsantie, Gam, Sarunporn Saen-gundee, Pimchanok Jampathong, Thiraphat Huaisai, Chotiua Pilahom, and Sukollawat Inkham — boldly push back against tired stereotypes. With clarity and heart, they shine a light on the Thailand that is often overlooked: one of modern cities, strong values, mutual respect, family, gratitude, and inner peace. They challenge foreign misrepresentations, reminding us that true understanding comes not from filtered images and social media influencers, but from listening to the real voices of proud students and citizens.

What do you want the world to know about Thailand? Volume 1 offers a moving portrait of Thailand through the voices of eight Thai high school students: Panyawee R., Nattakorn Auykhiphan, Noey, Benyapa Polyiam, Chalisa Rodto, Doungkamon Chimtabtim, Chanidapa Charoen, and Napapron Attapan. Together, they reveal a Thailand deeply rooted in compassion, spirituality, artistic expression, and pride in tradition. From the open-hearted acceptance of LGBTQ+ people to the reverence for karma. These young voices speak of a nation that values harmony, family, humility, and cultural richness. Their stories remind us that to know Thailand, one must look beyond instagram and into the hearts of its people.

How you say goodbye to Madrid is in many ways how you say hello. You walk the streets, you drink in plazas, and you realize you did something right to wind up here.

During my time living abroad in Madrid, I visited 14 countries and 24 cities. (Check out this post for my recap of all the places I visited). So, I have... keep reading

During my semester in Madrid, I looked forward to and loved when friends from the States came in to town. Having a visitor stay with you is a great excuse... keep reading

I am so grateful to have had the chance to travel during my year living abroad. I solo traveled to a lot of places, which taught me a lot about... keep reading

I thought a degree from a top university would be my golden ticket, until no one wanted to hire me. After graduating from UCLA and applying to over 100 jobs with no success, I realized the U.S. job market wasn’t built for recent college grads like me. That’s when I decided to take a leap and teach abroad with CIEE’s Teach in Thailand program. From rejection emails to global educator in a Thai classroom, I found purpose, fulfillment, and adventure in a place I never expected. In this blog post, I share why teaching abroad changed my life, how much it cost, and how you can do it too.

Trust me, age definitely ain’t nothin’ but a number. Go after what you want no matter how many candles are on your birthday cake.