Hi everyone! Well, my take of how I got my job at i-to-i is a bit different from everyone else’s! I started university at 18 thinking that my degree in Tourism and Marketing Management would propel me into the big wide world of designer clothes and flashy cars being the superficial person I used to be! As I went into my second year, I study a module called ‘Sustainability and Impacts of tourism’ which opened my eyes to the other side of the travel industry. I started to realise that maybe there was more than just going on holiday and lying on beach for two weeks! On my third year I chose the module ‘Tourism in Less Developed Countries’ which developed my initial interest in volunteering. These modules both encouraged me to read more into this area of travel and I have to say this was one of the turning points of my self-indulgent life.

After graduating I spent a couple of months travelling the USA, which is where my love for backpacking began! At this point I never had the courage at this point to go beyond the ‘western bubble’ and although I knew there were some amazing places I wanted to visit such as Brazil, Peru, Kenya, South Africa, Thailand and India - to name a few! - I didn’t have the courage to do it. I came back to the UK and ending up working for an airline and spent the next two years trying to figure out what my next move was going to be and I why I wasn’t happy!

Whilst trawling through a number of job advertisements I stumbled across an advertisement for a job at i-to-i and applied! This was the opportunity I had been looking for and my passion for responsible travel must’ve shone through as I got the job as an advisor!

I have now worked here for over a year now and have recently just joined the customer support and product team. One of my favourite parts of the role has to be dealing volunteers feedback when they come back from their travels- hearing that someone has had an incredible life changing experience just makes it all worthwhile!

One bit of advice I can give to anyone out there is just go for it!! I spent so many years dreaming of going somewhere new and then talking myself out of going – I wasted so much time!!! Last November I went out to Thailand and I have to say it was one of the best travel experiences I’ve had so far in my life! The in country team in Thailand helped us settle in, get used to the culture shock and give us advice on travelling in the country without getting into too much trouble! I honestly don’t think I would’ve had the same experience without their guidance.

My first time volunteering will always stay with me. Spending time with a local family, getting to experience how they live and giving back to them and their local community is one of the most rewarding things you can ever do.

So on that note I’m going to be spending the next two weeks organising my next trip, starting from………………..NOW!

• elephants
• job
• tourism degree
• Thailand