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Have you heard the news? We’re growing! Everyone at Team TravelBud is thrilled to welcome Aubrey Krzynski on board as our newest Support Co-Ordinator! After teaching English in Thailand through TravelBud, Aubrey has returned home and is now applying her experience and expertise by assisting TravelBud teachers as they begin their pre-departure process. We’ve asked her a few questions to get to know her better, and gain insight from her own pedagogical prowess!
Where did you grow up, what did you study and where are you now?
I grew up in Wisconsin, United States! I went to school about an hour outside of the city I grew up in and studied Sociology, German and Human Service Foundations. Turns out I couldn’t stay away from home too long and am back in Wisconsin (for now…!).
When and where did you teach English abroad?
I taught in Songkhla, a town in the very south of Thailand, from December 2020 to July 2021.
Tell us a funny story about your time teaching abroad.
During the April school break, I went to Khao Sok National Park and stayed in a jungle bungalow with my partner. In the bungalow, there was a sign warning to always keep your doors locked because monkeys liked to come in and steal toiletries and cause havoc. My partner took this sign VERY seriously and to my annoyance, locked the door every (and I mean EVERY) time we stepped outside. So naturally, I gave him a lot of crap.
Fast forward to our last morning, I was woken up at 5.30 AM by my partner hitting me and saying, “monkey”. Confused and half-asleep, I sat up with him and looked in the direction he was. There, a few feet away, sat a monkey staring back at us. Before we could even process, the monkey darted out. We jumped out of bed to check if anything was taken, but luckily the monkey was just rifling and unpacking our toiletry bag. Turns out I was the last one in the night before and may have forgotten to lock the door…oops! Still trying to live that one down!
What is the best piece of advice you’d like to give to anyone heading abroad to teach English any time soon?
I’m a picture-holic, so some picture-related advice would be along with taking pictures of the spectacular, stop and take pictures of the ordinary, too. Once you settle into your city/town, you’ll start to fall into a routine, your new normal.
Things in town start to become parts of your everyday life and I encourage you, at some point before you leave, to take pictures of the ordinary. Your walk to school, the cart where you get your fruit, the bartender at the bar you go to on Fridays, etc. Your future self will thank you, because not only will you get to look back on the “everyday” memories, but you’ll also be able to share with friends and family what your everyday experience was truly like.
What was your best classroom management strategy?
Keep moving! Walk around the classroom as you’re teaching. You’ll be able to stop students from chatting without saying a word just by moving close to them.
What book or movie have you recently seen/watched? Would you recommend it?
I just finished reading “Verity” by Colleen Hoover and I would HIGHLY recommend it for fiction fans. Who knew a romantic thriller novel existed- and it would be SO GOOD?? Next up to read on my list is “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides- very excited for that one!
If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go?
As winter is creeping into Wisconsin, I’d be happy going anywhere warm! I’d love to head back to Southeast Asia and backpack Vietnam or the Philippines.
If you had to choose two types of food to eat for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Noodles and cookies. And I would be content.
Gotta admit, you’ve got good taste there! Would you rather go through life without music or books?
Right away in my head, I was like, “without music- no question!”, but then as I was typing that, I thought about concerts I’d miss out on, artists that I’d never hear again, karaoke I’d never be able to sing again (probably preferred by friends who have to hear my karaoke)… But I think I’ll stick with my gut, as hard as it would be, I choose without music.
If you had to choose a fictional character to go on holiday with, who would you choose?
Thor (from the Marvel movies, #ChrisHemsworth 
)– he seems like he’d be a good time and easy-going enough to travel with.
A standup choice! I have an Uncle Thor, but I think you’ll want to stick to the Chris Hemsworth version… Lastly, tell us your favourite dad joke!
“I’ll call you later.” “Don’t call me later, call me Dad.”
Well, Dad, we may just call you later too! Thanks for giving us a bit of insight into your time teaching abroad, and for your hard work in making sure our teachers have an incredible experience as well!
Ready to start planning your very own Teach Abroad experience? Check out the many programs we offer here! Our expert Enrollment Consultants will help you find the best fit for your teach abroad goals, and our Support Team will guide you along every step of the way!
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