I’m back with another Style Showcase to share with you today, so I hope you enjoy! These friends are all very talented and all have something unique to share. 

The post Style Showcase 18 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Wrigley loves to play and has a lot of energy.

Dalton is young and loved to spar with his brother at Sweetbeau Horses.

Hmmmm, maybe it would be a good idea to put them together!  They’d have so much fun!

… Uh, not so much.

PHOTO JOURNAL OF MY FOLLY.

You may wonder why I have Missy MIss and Mo in there…  Well, it wasn’t the best idea but it was the only way I could do this because there wasn’t another open pasture.  I had hoped to put Missy Miss and Mo in the upper pasture which is connected, but just realized that the recent rains has finally ruined the gate connection.  The post has moved far enough away that it can no longer close safely.  So there’s that.  Sigh.  Just another thing…  I truly hate clay/sand soil.

Here we see Dalton with his butt to Wrigley – and Wrigley eating Dalton’s breakfast. Missy Miss has turned her hind end to this drama. Mo is protecting Missy Miss. (Mo dislikes Dalton.)

Here Dalton is posturing and Wrigley is paying no attention.

Dalton sees me and comes over for help. “Get him OUT OF HERE, please.”

“He’s eating MY food!”

I tell Dalton to play with Wrigley and have some fun. Dalton doesn’t want to play with Wrigley. Now Missy Miss has turned around to watch. Mo stands behind her.

Wrigley and Dalton posture together, and they all run to the upper pasture (where I cannot close the gate). Here Dalton is begging me to get rid of Wrigley in his space.

Wrigley storms off and pouts on the far side of the pasture. I put hay in the feeders, hoping everyone will calm down and eat. Here you see Mo, Missy Miss and Wrigley at the far end.

But strong and confident Dalton runs back over to the first feeder with Mo (who really doesn’t like Dalton but he likes Dalton better than Wrigley…) and they all eat together.

Here you can see Dalton’s expression. He is upset that I didn’t remove Wrigley. Look at him scold me!

Wrigley cannot believe that everyone went to Dalton’s camp. He is very upset.

Then the threesome move off to the far side of the pasture, leaving Wrigley alone. He wasn’t invited.

Wrigley, humbled and crushed, begs me to put him back with Finn and Beautiful Girl. I did.

Wrigley back with his homie, Finn.

The post I thought it would be a good idea to put the young boys (Dalton and Wrigley) together!…Uh, not so much… appeared first on Horse and Man.

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Don’t miss out on all the great things happening in Asheville this weekend. Explore new art exhibits, attend a live show and enjoy the local flavors of Asheville independent restaurant scene. If you love comedy, beer, wellness, or outdoor adventure, then you’re sure to find something fun to do.

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Updated: 02/24/20 | February 24th, 2020

I remember when I started planning my first trip around the world. I had no idea what I was doing.

When I decided to quit my job and travel the world, I walked into a bookstore and bought Lonely Planet’s Southeast Asia on Shoestring. Buying that guidebook was my first step toward long-term travel. It made the trip seem more real, more tangilbe. It made it all seem possible.

While helpful, the book didn’t exactly prepare me for planning a trip around the world. Back then, there weren’t really travel blogs, guides, sharing economy websites, and apps like there are today. I was excited and determined — but I was lost. I just had to figure it out as I went, hoping I didn’t miss anything important.

Trip planning can be a daunting task. Where do you begin? What’s step one? What’s step two? What’s step three?

It’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially when you haven’t done something like this before — and especially considering just how much information there is out there these days. Blogs, social media, and guidebooks have never been more plentiful. There’s a firehose of information out there which can sometimes make the task of planning a trip even more challenging and overwhelming.

After a decade of traveling the world, I’ve planned countless trips and vacations for myself, friends, family, and even group tours. In the beginning, it was trial by fire and I learned a lot of lessons the hard way. However, that helped me develop an efficient checklist that ensures I don’t miss anything important during the trip planning process.

After all, I don’t want to get to my next destination and then realize I forgot something. And neither do you!

There is a lot of information on this website (and even more information packed into my book), but one question that comes up frequently is, “Matt, how do I put this all together? How do I plan a trip?”

In a continuing effort to help you get out the door and into the world, I’ve created this step-by-step guide on how to plan a trip. It works for any kind of trip and no matter how long you’re going for! Just follow this checklist and you’ll be off in no time!

If you want to jump ahead, simply click on any of the links above.

How to Plan Your Next Trip

Step 1: Decide Where You Want To Go

Defining where you want to go sets a goal to work toward. A lot of people talk vaguely about travel. They never say where they are going, just that they are going. Picking a destination is immensely important, as it gives you a definite goal.

It’s a lot easier to mentally get behind “I am going to Paris in the summer” than “I’m going to Europe” or “I’m going somewhere.” Not only will your trip become more concrete for you and easier to commit to, but it will make planning easier as well…because you know what to work towards. Get specific with your plans. Get detailed. The more focused and concrete your goal, the easier it will be to actually reach it.

Resources for picking your travel destination:

• 200+ In-Depth Destination Guides
• Five Destinations Under $30 Per Day
• 10 Destinations to Visit When You’re a Budget Traveler

Step 2: Decide the Length of Your Trip

How much does it cost to travel? That depends!

Without knowing how long you’re going away for, I can’t answer that question. And it’s a question you need to answer so you can start planning!

In order to figure out how much you need to save you’ll need to know how long your trip will be.

Are you going away for a week? A month? A year?

The length of your trip is a huge factor in determining how much money you need. Spend some time mulling that over until you have your answer.

For example, after you say “I’m going to Paris this summer,” add “for X days.” That way you can start to narrow down just how much money you’re going to need to save. “I am going to Paris for 10 days” is a trip that you can plan for. It’s an attainable goal.

Want to learn how I travel the world for free? GET MY FREE GUIDE

Step 3: Will you Travel Solo or Go With Someone?

One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is whether you’re going to go alone or travel with someone. Both are great options — but they are decidely different choices too.

Traveling solo will give you the freedom to go anywhere you want. No compromising. You just go wherever the wind takes you! However, it means you have to do all the planning yourself — which can seem daunting if you’re new to trip planning.

Traveling with someone means you have someone to help plan the trip with you. It will make researching your itinerary faster and you’ll have someone to spend time with on the road. However, it also means you’ll need to compromise sometimes. Perhaps on meals or activities or accommodation. It will just depend on you and the person you travel with.

At the end of the day, there is no wrong answer.

Personally, I love the freedom of solo travel. But I’ve had some incredible trips with friends too. Chances are you’ll get to do both over the years. But for now, what is this trip going to be? Solo or with someone?
 

Step 4: Research Your Costs

So you know where you’re going and how long you’ll be there, but to really nail down how much money you need, your next task is to research the costs in your destination at the style of travel you want.

Do you want to backpack, or would you rather stay in luxury hotels?

How much are hostels, hotels, restaurants, and attractions?

Knowing will allow you to estimate how much money you’ll need for your trip. Here is how to research costs:

1. Buy a guidebook.
2. You can begin with my travel guide section.
3. Ask on community websites like our forum and Facebook group or Lonely Planet.
4. Google prices for specific things you want to do.

You don’t need to do more than that. There’s so much information on the web that if you go down the rabbit hole of overplanning, you’ll get lost and confused by the firehose of information. Stick to those four things and you’ll be set!

In our example, if you are going to Paris for 10 days and need $75 USD a day (not including your flight), you know you need to save $750 USD (though round up to $800 USD since it’s good to have extra) for your trip.

If you were to travel around the world for a year, you’d need $50 USD a day.

Here are some other insightful posts that will help you better estimate your costs:

Step 5: Start Saving Money

Before you can start saving money, you need to know how much you have and how much you’re spending. Start to write down all your current expenses so you can determine where you are spending money — and how you can cut back.

People bleed a lot of money every day through small purchases: a coffee here, a snack there. It all of that adds up. In order to make changes to your spending habits, you first need to understand them. Making a list will do just that. It will also put your financial needs into a better perspective.

For example, if you need $2,000 USD for the trip you’re taking in eight months, that means you only have to save $8.33 USD per day. Couldn’t you find a way to save $8 USD per day? Heck, your daily coffee is most of that!

If you’re struggling to save money, here are 22 ways to cut your expenses and save money for travel. This will help you get started and on the road to saving money in no time!
 

Step 6: Get a Travels Rewards Credit Card

While you’re working to save money, get a travel credit card so you can earn sign-up bonuses to redeem miles and points for free flights and hotel stays. Collecting points and miles from travel credit cards is how I get tons of free flights, free hotle stays, and free travel perks every singel year — and without any extra spending too!

These days, most cards have welcome offers of up to 50,000 points when you meet their minimum spending requirement. That’s enough miles for a free flight almost anywhere in the world!

If you want a free flight, sign up for the cards that help with that. If you want free hotel rooms, get a hotel card. Either way, sign up for a travel credit card and start earning points today. As long as you can pay off your monthly balance, you’ll get free travel credit.

You don’t need to sign up for very many cards either; pick one or two and focus on those. Do this the moment you decide you want to travel. Don’t wait — waiting equals lost miles, which means less free travel.

Collecting points and miles (which is called “travel hacking”) is what all the experts do to cut their costs and travel longer. It’s what has kept my costs down and me on the road for so many years.

I am always doing this so I can travel for as cheap as possible.

For more information on travel hacking and travel credit cards, check out these posts:

• How to Pick the Best Travel Credit Card
• How I Earn 1 Million Frequent Flier Miles Every Year
• The Best Travel Credit Cards in 2020
• The Ultimate Guide to Travel Hacking

Step 7: Switch to No-Fee ATM Cards

Once you’re abroad, you;re going to need money. While many countries will accept credit cards, in the majority of countries cash is still king. That means you’ll need to use ATMs to withdraw the local currency. And that also means you’re going to get dinged by ATM fees.

If you’re just away for a week or two, paying a few dollars in ATM fees isn’t the end of the world. But if you’re away for a longer period, those fees will add up and chew into your travel budget — a budget you’ve worked hard to grow. Don’t give banks any of your hard-earned money.

How? By using a no-fee ATM card.

I use Charles Schwab, but there are lots of other banks (don’t forget to check your local banks) that don’t charge ATM fees. Additionally, you can join a bank in the Global ATM Alliance.

By using a no-fee ATM card you can avoid those pesky ATM fees, leaving you more money for what it was intended for: travel

Here’s exactly how you can avoid ATM fees while traveling.
 

Step 8: Stay Focused and Inspired

While you get closer to your goal, make sure that you keep feeding your desire to travel. Travel planning can be exhausting and overwhelming — especially if you don’t have support from your friends and family. It can often get discouraging and feel out of reach at times.

Luckily, there are tons of ways to stay focused and keep your spirits high thanks to the amazing community we have on this website. Here are some inspiring travel stories to help keep you inspired to travel:

• Why It’s Never the Perfect Time to Travel
• 13 Travel Books that Will Give You Serious
• How Michael Saved $14k in Six Months
• Why a 50-Year-Old Couple Sold It All to Travel the World
• How to Change the “I’m Too Poor to Travel” Mindset and Say Yes to Travel
• 8 Ways to Stay Motivated to Travel

Wanderlust

Additionally, be sure to join our online travel group The Nomadic Network. Not only will you find support (and tons of tips) online, but we also host regular in-person events all around the world. These are a great way to get inspired, meet other awesome travelers in your area, and get travel advice.
 

Step 9: Check for Last-Minute Deals

Okay, you’re inspired, prepared, and on your way to saving money for your trip. But before you go buy that flight or book that hotel, check for deals you might have missed. You may dream of Paris but maybe there are great deals to Berlin right now. Or maybe you can get a seven-day cruise for 70% off, a package deal to Hawaii for the price of your flight to Paris, or 50% off sailing trips around Greece.

These days, there is always a deal to be found — especially if you’re flexible with your dates and/or destinations. Some deal websites worth checking out are:

• Scott’s Cheap Flights
• The Flight Deal
• Holiday Pirates

Step 10: Book Your Flight

After you’ve used your travel credit card and received your sign-up bonus, use your miles to book your flight. It is harder to use miles these days due to less availability, so make sure to book early to ensure you get your desired flight.

Fortunately, there are still many ways to avoid being the person on the flight who paid the most for their ticket. My favorite sites for finding cheap airfare are:

• Momondo – A great platform for finding really cheap flights.
• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is one of the best websites for searching multiple destinations at the same time.
• Google Flights – Like Skyscanner, Google Flights is great for open searches to multiple destinations.
• Kiwi – Kiwi is great for finding lesser-known routes or smaller carriers.
• AirTreks – AirTreks focuses exclusively on multi-destination RTW tickets.

For the best deals, book your flight about two-three months in advance. Here are two articles on how to score a cheap flight:

• How to Find Cheap Flights
• Booking Flights: Everything You Need to Know

Step 11: Book Your Accommodation

If you’re traveling for under two weeks and have a set schedule, feel free to book accommodation for the duration of your trip if it will give you peace of mind (or if you’re visiting during the high season).

For trips longer than two weeks (or if you are going to be traveling long-term) just book your first few days. That will ensure you have a place to go on arrival. Once there, you can get insider advice from your hotel/hostel staff as well as other travelers. You can then use that info to plan your next steps.

While you can book more than your first few nights, you might end up wanting to change your plans once you land. I prefer having flexibility, which is why I always just book my first few nights and go from there.

Here are my go-to sites when it comes to finding the best deals on accommodation:

• Hostelworld – Hostelworld has the largest selection of hostels and is my go-to site for finding affordable hostels online.
• Agoda – Agoda has the best results if you’re heading to Asia and the widest selection of properties in the region.
• Booking.com – Booking.com is the best overall platform for finding budget hotels and guesthouses. They have the biggest inventory and best deals.
• Airbnb – The go-to site for private rooms and apartments owned by locals.

If you plan on staying in a lot of hotels during your trip, sign up for a hotel credit card before you depart. Cards like Marriott’s Bonvoy Boundless offer a huge welcome bonus, 6x the points on hotel stays, and a free hotel stay every year. Whenever I stay in a hotel, it’s because I’ve earned it with free points!

If you’re on a tight budget or you want to connect with more locals furing your tarvels, consider joining paltforms like Couchsurfing or Be Welcome. These communities allow travelers to stay with locals for free as sort of cultural exchange.

Long-term travelers can also try housesitting or WWOOFing as well as they both offer free accommodation (in exchange for either pet sitting or farm work respectively).
 

Step 12: Plan Your Activities

To make sure you have budgeted properly, outline the major activities you want to enjoy during your trip and how much they cost. Make any last-minute adjustments to your savings so you can ensure you have enough money. This will also help you figure out if you need any reservations for your chosen tours or activities.

Search online for discounts as well. While some countries offer cheaper prices in person, others give discounts to those who book early/online. Research which is which for your itinerary so you can save money.

For shorter trips, you can also book your activities in advance to ensure you get tickets. For longer trips, book as you go.

Additionally, before you leave home, have a rough idea of what activities are priorities for you. That way, if you run out of time or money, you can focus on your top activities so you don’t miss out. Also, make sure to double-check that there are no holidays or other obstacles that will prevent you from certain activities as well.
 

Step 13: Sell Your Stuff

If you are going on a long-term trip (six months or more), sell your stuff in order to earn extra money for your trip. Start doing this about 60 days before you leave. Some sites to use are:

• Gumtree – An online classified site with a focus in the UK and Australia.
• Amazon – The biggest online store in the world.
• Craigslist – Online global classifieds that have both local and global reach.
• eBay – Another global online classified site.
• Facebook Marketplace – Great for finding people near you (so you don’t need to ship your items).

If you aren’t going to be gone that long, skip this step. If you are going away long-term but want to keep your stuff, move it to a friend’s house or keep it in storage. A good storage company in the US is Public Storage. It’s one of the most affordable options out there.
 

Step 14: Automate Your Bills

Get rid of your mail, go paperless, and set up online bill payment for your recurring bills to ensure you won’t miss any while overseas. If you are still going to get paper mail, use a service like Earth Class Mail, which will collect and scan your mail for you. (If you are going on a two-week trip, you don’t really need to worry about this, so you can skip this step, too.)

If you have the option (and don’t want to pay for a mail service), you can also have all your mail sent to a friend or family member.

Additionally, you’ll want to make sure you cancel any phone plans you have or switch your plan to one that is more travel-friendly. T-Mobile is great for travelers going on trips under 3 months. For any trips longer than that, you’ll want to cancel your plan and just buy SIM cards abroad. That will be much cheaper!
 

Step 15: Tell Your Card Companies You’re Traveling

No matter how long you’ll be gone, it’s a good idea to let your credit card companies know you will be overseas; that way any transactions that you make aren’t flagged as fraudulent and your card is less likely to be blocked. There’s nothing worse than having to sit on the phone with your credit card company instead of enjoying your vacation.

Also, make sure you have multiple credit card and debit cards with you. That way, should one card get flagged, lost, or stolen you won’t be left high and dry. I’ve lost cards, had them stolen, and had them flagged many times over the years. Without a backup, I would have been stranded — so plan ahead and bring some backup cards just in case!
 

Step 16: Pack!

Time to pack for your trip! It can be tempting to want to bring everything with you “just in case” but when it comes to travel, less is more. You don’t need 5 sweaters or 8 pairs of shoes. You can get by with less, I promise. it’s actually quite liberating once you get used to it!

I travel with a 40L REI bag and then a smaller day bag.

Unless you’re heading to multiple climates and need bulky winter hear, you don’t need a massive 70L bag stuffed to the top. Here’s my suggested packing list to help you take just the right amount of stuff and avoid overpacking (here’s a list for female travelers as well).

While what you pack will depend on where you are going, remember that you don’t need to pack everything you own. You can buy things you need on the road. You can do laundry overseas. At the end of the day, you have to carry everything you bring. So bring less!

There are a few extra tiems you might want to pack beyond your everyday clothes, though. Some things I like to bring with me are:

• First aid kit
• Reuseable water bottle
• LifeStraw or SteriPen water filter
• Packing cubes (to stay organized)
• Travel lock (for hostel lockers)
• Travel adapter
• Quick-dry towel

Additionally, make sure you bring any prescriptions with you so you have enough for the duration of your trip. If that’s not feasible, bring a doctors note and prescription with you so you can fill it abroad.<
 

Step 17: Buy Travel Insurance

While a lot of people think, “I’m healthy, I don’t need travel insurance. I won’t get sick,” travel insurance is much more than just medical protection. It covers you when your camera breaks, your flight is canceled, a family member dies and you have to come home, or if something gets stolen.

Yes, it’s an added expense. But it’s always better to be safe than sorry. I never leave home without it because I’ve seen first-hand just what can happen on the road.

I never thought I would pop my eardrum while I was scuba diving in Thailand or break my camera in Italy.

I didn’t know I would get stabbed in Colombia.

My friend never thought he would break his leg hiking.

Another friend didn’t expect her father would die and she would have to fly back home.

Unfortunately, bad things can happen when you’re traveling. True, these events are few and far between. But they can cost tens of thousnds of dollars to handle on your own. If you’re not prepared to pay out of pocket, buy travel insurance.

To help you figure out the best plan for you and your trip, here’s my ultimate guide to picking a good insurance company. It will show you how to pick a good plan that covers you for when you get sick, your flights get canceled, if you get injured, something gets stolen, or your trip is delayed.

My favorite company is World Nomads and I use them for all my trips. If you’re older than 70, check out Insure my Trip as they are the best provider for older travelers.

For more information on travel insurance, you can check out these posts:

• What Does Travel Insurance Actually Cover?
• Is Travel Insurance Worth It?
• World Nomads Insurance Review
• Do You Need Medical Evacuation Insurance?
• The 7 Best Travel Insurance Companies in 2020

Step 18: Enjoy Your Trip

And now, everything comes together. It’s time to go on your trip and have fun! Head to the airport, board your plane (don’t forget your passport!), and enjoy the fruits of your labor. You’ve earned this!

If you’re feeling nervous, don’t worry — that’s perfectly normal. You’re about to embark on an amazing adventure — and that’s a huge change. Feeling anxious or nervous or unsure is something every traveler experiences. But you’ve made it this far. Trust your planning, follow your instincts, and you’ll have the trip of a lifetime. I guarantee it.

***

By using this post as a guideline for your trip planning, you can better organize and prepare for your trip. You’ll check all the boxes, not miss anything, and have plenty of money for your vacation. It can be as simple as booking a flight and packing or as complex as rearranging your entire life to go backpack the world forever.

But, no matter how long your trip may be, this list will help you stay organized and motivated as you plan your trip and to step onto that plane and out into the world.

P.S. – Yes, I did leave out visas and vaccinations, because needing those isn’t as universal as the other stuff on this list, but don’t forget to check if you need those, too!

Want to have this information at your fingertips? Download this post as a PDF

The post 18 Easy Steps for Planning Your Next Trip appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Weddings are such beautiful and special events. There’s just something so sweet about a wedding, so I wanted to share a wonderful family event that happened in December. December 14th, 2019 was the wedding of Mark’s youngest daughter, McKenzie, who married her long time beau, Patrick. They’ve been together since they were 15, truly childhood sweethearts. They are a beautiful couple and we are so happy to celebrate their wedding and the beginning of their married life together. We wish them every bit of happiness in their future as a couple.

The post Family Wedding: Patrick and McKenzie appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Stop by Home Style Saturday today for lots of fun inspiration!

The post Home Style Saturday 179 appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Posted: 2/22/2020 | February 22nd, 2020

Teaching overseas is one of a great way to earn money while you travel, stay in one place longer, and get to deeply experience another culture. I spent years teaching in Thailand and Taiwan and they were some of the most impactful experiences of my traveling. Living in a foreign culture, trying to get by day to day, and learning to create a life for yourself is a surefire way to become a more confident you and give you a deeper understanding of yourself.

I get a lot of emails from people about teaching overseas and one of the most asked about destinations is Spain! While we’ve written about the destination before, I wanted to add in another perspective from someone who just did it last year.

Natasha is a local Austinite who graduated from school and moved to Spain for a year. Here she is explaining how she did it and how you can too!

Tell us about yourself!
Natasha: I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but my family moved to India when I was two months old. After a year, we moved to Australia, where I grew up until I was 9. Then we moved to Vancouver where I stayed until I was 15.

I consider myself to be from Australia, Canada, and the US in almost equal parts, and ethnically I am Indian and Pakistani. I double-majored in international relations and Latin American studies at UT-Austin.

In my free time, I make YouTube videos about travel and I am devoted to health and fitness. I also cook and practice yoga.

You recently spent some time teaching in Spain. Tell us how you got started doing that. Was it easy to figure out the process and find a job?
I studied abroad in Madrid in college. While I was there, I met some people who were English-language assistants and kept in touch with them after I returned home. I knew I wanted to take a gap year and travel after graduation, so I reached out to them and they told me about different programs I could apply for.

I looked into a few, but the government program “Auxiliares de Conversación” was free and had good reviews, so I chose to apply to that one. It allows foreigners to visit and work as teaching assistants. You’ll be paired with a teacher and help the students learn English.

The application is quite daunting. It required an essay, two letters of recommendation, a lot of legal paperwork, and other forms. The essay I wrote was about a page long, essentially a letter of intent explaining why I was interested in the program and the qualities that make me fit for the position.

The program also requires an official college transcript as well, but it accepts applicants from diverse educational backgrounds. so as long as you show keen interest, have good letters of recommendation, and have decent grades you should be fine!

I didn’t decide to join this program until the beginning of March, but I would suggest starting the process as soon as it is available in January. That will give you more time to jump through all the bureaucratic hoops. After receiving your acceptance, I suggest booking your visa appointment immediately, as these fill up fast!

Did you have any prior teaching experience? Is experience necessary?
I didn’t have any teaching experience, and the Auxiliar de Conversación program doesn’t require you to. As long as you have (or are completing) your bachelor’s degree and are a native English speaker, you are eligible.

What was an average day like?
You are only required to work 12-16 hours a week with this program, so a workday is typically about four hours. Since we’re English-language assistants, we are paired with an English teacher and don’t have to create a curriculum for the whole class.

On an average day as an auxiliar, the teacher I worked with would mostly have me walk around and assist students with the activities she had assigned them to do. Since I was an assistant and not the main teacher, my job mostly consisted of providing help like that.

The teacher for the younger grades would have me work one-on-one with students that were falling behind or had special needs, to give them more attention, but we usually worked on the same activities as the other students. For about 10-15 minutes of the class, I would sometimes give a presentation or play vocabulary games, such as Bingo or Hangman.

I was never required to teach an entire lesson, but I would occasionally have to manage small groups of students. This allowed them to participate more since they would not be as shy to speak English (and it’s easier to control a few students than a whole class).

Regarding the actual teaching, it was the easiest and smoothest part of my time in Spain. As long as you can keep the students interested and engaged you won’t have any issues.

Did you have any unexpected challenges?
Many! I lived about an hour’s walk from my school, which was inconvenient and isolating. It took me a while to figure out the bus system, so adapting to my location was the first challenge.

However, the biggest challenge I faced was having to come back to the US for a month, because I didn’t have a visa. I was informed that I didn’t need a visa prior to entering Spain, but upon arrival, I would need to get my NIE (Número de Identidad de Extranjero) and I would be set.

Well, when I arrived, I was the only applicant without a visa. I went to eight different foreign consulates, and no one knew if I had to leave Spain to get a visa. Ultimately I had to fly back to the US, score an almost-impossible-to-get appointment with the Spanish consulate, and get my visa. The bureaucratic system is slow and very tedious, so try to talk to former auxiliares if you can (there are lots of Facebook groups for this).

What is one thing you wish you knew before you started teaching?
I wish I knew that one person’s experience could be very different from the next. I had an amazing overall experience; however, parts of my life didn’t go as I expected.

I went in expecting to make great connections with my colleagues more than anyone else, but the environment at the school I worked at wasn’t very welcoming. A lot of teachers at my school didn’t live in the community (they commuted from pueblos as far as an hour away). This made it hard to form close friendships. Moreover, my school was comprised of teachers who were still completing their exams, so every year the teachers changed schools. That meant that the sense of community was not very strong.

Fortunately, I became friends with other auxiliares in my area and was welcomed warmly into their community. I became friends with teachers at other schools, took trips with them, and received lots of help with life in general in Spain.

What kind of salary can auxiliares expect?
Auxiliares earn a “scholarship” rather than a salary. I was paid 1,000 EUR/month ($1,100 USD) during my contract. I would say that one should expect around 700-1,000 EUR per month ($770-1,100 USD) (or about 15 EUR/hour ($16.50 USD). Auxiliares in Madrid received the same “scholarship” as I did, but the cost of living in that region is much higher.

If you are paid 700 EUR, you usually work 12 hours a week instead of 16, and you can definitely try and teach private English lessons to earn more.

What are your top three tips for someone interested in teaching in Spain?
1. Arrive with at enough to live off of for at least three months. I was fortunate to live in a city with decent prices for accommodation. I had two roommates and spent around 250 EUR/month ($275 USD) on rent. Groceries, rent, and transportation were my main expenses, around 650 EUR ($715 USD) for all of those (plus some miscellaneous things). This left me with just a bit of money to use for travel.

In the Valencia region, the government was three months late to start paying us and always late by at least a few days to a week after the first paycheck. Since it’s not a lot of money, you’ll want to have a lot of savings. That way, if you’re paid late, you will have enough money to get by.

2. Research where you want to work. I chose Madrid as my first choice and Andalucía as my second. I would have also liked to live in Barcelona, but that wasn’t an option. I applied late to the program and existing auxiliares have priority for where they are stationed. As a new applicant (and a late one), I was sent to Valencia.

When choosing regions, be aware that a region does not necessarily mean you will end up in the city it’s named for. By that I mean, the “Madrid” region does not only mean the city of Madrid but rather the entire region around the city. Regions are like states, and so you could end up living two hours (or more) from the capital of the region.

You should also take into account the language spoken in the region. Where I lived, people spoke Valenciano just as much (if not more) than Spanish, and school was conducted in valenciano (a dialect of Catalan). Luckily, Valenciano has similarities to Spanish.

However, if you’re placed in the Basque Country (northern Spain), they speak Euskara, which has no similarities to Spanish. So if your goal is to practice or learn Spanish, make sure you choose to live in a region that speaks it.

Weather is another aspect to consider. While in the summer it is warm almost everywhere, winters can be quite cold (more so in the north). If you’re not a fan of cold weather, consider living closer to the south and the sea.

There are auxiliar Facebook groups and blogs that have plenty of information and anecdotes about different regions, which can help you make your decision.

3. Learn some Spanish. Understand that you could be placed in a pueblo very far from a big city, so brush up on your Spanish a little. It isn’t mandatory to teach English, but it will really come in handy if you’re in a smaller location and want to connect more with the locals (and your colleagues).
 

Want to Learn More About Teaching Abroad?

Here are some helpful posts about teaching English overseas to help you learn more:

• The 9 Best Places to Teach English Overseas
• Can You Teach English Without a TEFL?
• How Emily Taught English to Fund her RTW Adventure
• How Oneika Gets Teaching Jobs Around the World

For more teaching tips and advice you can follow Natasha on Instagram and YouTube.

P.S. – Want to meet other travelers in real life? This year we launched The Nomadic Network, a platform created to help travelers connect, learn, and get inspired in real life! Here are our upcoming events if you want to take part: Seattle (2/17), Austin (2/18), Fort Lauderdale (2/19), Portland (2/19), San Francisco (2/20), Los Angeles (2/23), Detroit (2/24), Boston (2/24), Dublin (2/24), San Diego (2/24), London (2/25), Chicago (2/25), and NYC (3/10).

Ready to Teach Overseas? Get My Comprehensive Guide

This digital guide will put you ahead of your competition, help you land a high-paying job with a reputable company, and give you first-hand knowledge from real teachers! Get started today with this downloadable PDF (for your computer, e-reader, or mobile device) with the book PLUS 12 interviews about life as a teacher, plus job advice from one of the industry’s top recruiters!

The post How to Find a Job Teaching in Spain appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Happy Friday! We are wrapping up the week and still working on the bathroom. Poor Mark has a case of shingles and we had no idea until it was well along. Who knew that shingles can mimic sciatica, that’s what he thought he was dealing with. He’s been on meds this week, so hopefully will be on the mend soon, but the bathroom is taking a backseat now. 

I’m headed out of town to a small travel conference in Thomasville, GA, so I’ll share a lot of that when I return. Also, I’m starting to run out of new shares for Feature Friday so for now I’m going to reshare some oldies but goodies from the past. Enjoy! 

I loved this article from Traditional Home, highlighting a newly built home in Atlanta.  This Atlanta interior designer worked with her architect to produce a beautiful new home, that looks old.  She wanted the house to appear as if it has been here forever and used architectural items in the house to achieve the look.

The post Feature Friday: Designer Decorating with What You Love appeared first on Southern Hospitality.

Posted: 02/20/2020 | February 20th, 2020

Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes our regular column on solo female travel. It’s an important topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an expert to share her advice for other women travelers to help cover the topics important and specific to them! In this month’s article, she explores the double standards that come with solo female travel.

I rushed to the gate at Julius Nyerere Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. As the agent checked my passport, he looked around me and, perplexed, asked if I was alone.

I’d just finished up four months of solo traveling up from South Africa, one of the best and most enriching solo trips of my life, and replied that yes, I was alone.

“Your husband lets you do that?” he asked incredulously.

I get it. In Tanzania, it’s unthinkable for a woman, especially in her late twenties like I was, to travel alone. I gently let him know that nobody “lets” me do anything, and that I’m unmarried.

While I take pleasure in shifting paradigms when possible, I still wonder what it would be like if I were a man. How would I be perceived when I solo travel or write about it? How would people treat me differently?

1. They wouldn’t ask me whether or not my husband “lets me” travel alone.

From Tanzania to the Philippines, I’ve been asked where my boyfriend or husband is. I bet almost nobody would ask me if my girlfriend lets me travel alone if I were a man.

I wouldn’t have to question whether or not I should lie about being single. I wouldn’t debate wearing a decoy wedding band. My safety wouldn’t be tied up in my singleness.

2. They wouldn’t question whether a boyfriend or daddy pays for my trips.

Is it so strange to believe that a woman can fund her own lifestyle? Why is there such a pervasive myth that women who travel solo are being bankrolled by someone?

When I travel, I pay for it, and when I travel with my partner, we split it 50/50.

I bet I wouldn’t have to state that if I were a man, though.

3. People might ask when I’m planning to settle down, but they wouldn’t do it with such frequency and entitlement to the answer

Maybe settling down with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and a dog named Spike used to be the norm, but we have more mobility these days, and the internet, and too many people anyway. So why is it so darn important to people that I eventually settle down?

I think in a way it’s saying, “Hey, this was the only option I gave myself, and now you have to follow suit.” For those who conform to expectations, it’s uncomfortable when others deviate from the norm, especially women.

But I’m not worried about it. If and when I choose, I’ll do it, and if I don’t, that’s OK too. I’m approaching this more like a man, OK?

Also, get out of my ovaries.

4. I’d be called adventurous and an explorer rather than irresponsible and stupid.

If I traveled solo as a man, even if something unfortunate happened to me, I’d be called an explorer and lover of life.

Yet as a woman, I’ve been called stupid, warned I’d be “found dead and cannibalized,” and accused of leading other women to their death (just look at the comments on this video, the worst of which I actually deleted).

5. I wouldn’t be warned I’d “get raped” if I traveled alone.

If I were a man, I’d only have a 6.6% chance of being told I’d “get raped” if I travel alone, versus nearly 70% as a woman.

This is problematic on so many levels, it deserves its own post.

6. I’d be able to wear what I want.

In some places, I can’t wear what I want. I understand that modesty is built into the culture in many places around the world, and I respect it and assimilate when in those countries.

But that doesn’t mean I have to pretend that I enjoy wearing long sleeves and pants in 90-degree weather with 90% humidity while the boys get to wear shorts and tank tops.

7. I wouldn’t have had to wonder what the hell to do when cornered in an elevator in Santiago by two big men, saying salacious things to me in Spanish.

When I traveled through Patagonia with a male friend, nobody harassed me, assuming I wasn’t available. Yet when we parted ways so that I could solo travel — something that was important to me to do — the catcalls started pouring in.

Sadly, I’ve been catcalled in almost every country that I’ve been to, even the ones you’d least expect (yet not at all in southern and eastern Africa — points for Africa!). It ranges from “ciao bella” to being chased down the sidewalk.

It is not a compliment, it’s an assertion of power, and it’s exhausting.

In Santiago, it crossed the line into terrifying when two huge guys got into an elevator with me, hovered over me, and harassed me. It was the perfect place, because who could help me in there?

Would that have happened to a man?

(On the positive side, if I were a man, locals might not be as concerned with taking care of me as many are. People might also not trust me outright the way they do. Right or wrong, women tend to be perceived as more peaceful and gentle and in need of protection.)

8. Nobody would have assaulted me in public in Nepal.

In Pokhara, Nepal, after a random power cut, the sun was setting and I realized I needed water to drink to get through the evening. Though I prefer not to walk alone when it gets dark, I had to do so in that instance.

I heard myself scream before realizing that a local male had grabbed my breast. I whirled around and saw nothing but the back of his head as he ran away like the coward he is.

Everyone nearby just pretended like they hadn’t seen anything, of course.

9. But maybe the police would have taken me more seriously.

I wonder, if I’d been a man demanding the police take notice, would they have listened to me? Would the officer still have rolled his eyes and acted like I was ruining his night by demanding an escort back to my guesthouse?

I can only wonder if it would have been different.

10. Insulting my ass would not be the topic of discussion on a post about road trips.

When women share about something like travel on social media, why is body shaming still a thing?

Why, on a post about road trips of all things, does someone feel the need to inform me that my ass is flat? Does that happen to guys too? I think not.

11. I wouldn’t have had an internet stalker demand a naked selfie from me for months on all of my social platforms.

If being a solo female traveler is tough at times, try writing about it. Have any of my male peers ever been harassed for months on end, on every platform, by a stalker demanding a naked selfie?

Unfortunately, women are targeted online way more than men. According to the BBC, one in three teenage girls have been sexually harassed online.

Why can’t we just share our travel pictures in peace?

12. I wouldn’t get a flood of comments from fragile males on posts like this.

It always happens, but I’m curious: Why should any egalitarian male, who has the ability to see things from someone else’s perspective, ever take this personally? Why does pointing out issues in our society automatically equate to blaming men?

Louder, for the ones in the back: it doesn’t.

***

Obviously, there are drawbacks for male solo travelers too — and benefits that only women who travel solo get to enjoy. There can be an implied trust factor between women that transcends cultures, and time and time again, people have been generous towards me in ways that I didn’t expect.

In the end, I still love and champion solo female travel and believe that every woman should do it. I’m just sick of all the double standards and think it’s high time to call them out.

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world for over eight years, covering every continent (except for Antarctica, but it’s on her list). There’s almost nothing she won’t try and almost nowhere she won’t explore. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.

The post Let’s Talk About the Double Standard in Travel appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Hopes for a second Cheltenham Gold Cup win and a stab at the Grand National for Native River have been dashed after it was announced this morning (19 February) that the popular Colin Tizzard-trained gelding has picked up an injury.

The 2018 Gold Cup hero was a 10/1 chance in this year’s Festival renewal, which takes place on Friday, 13 March, but the 10-year-old will now be out for the rest of the 2019/20 season after he sustained “a little tear” in at the back of his knee.

Colin’s son and assistant trainer Joe Tizzard described it as “really disappointing” but “not a major injury” and said the team is hopeful the horse will be back in action next season.

The extent of Native River’s injury was revealed in a scan by vets after he showed some soreness during his work yesterday.

His regular jockey Richard Johnson, who has been on the sidelines while nursing a broken arm, said on social media: “Gutted to hear that Native River is out for the rest of the season. But he’s in good hands and hopefully back for more again next season.”

Continues below…

Day four at the Cheltenham Festival: Native River is the Gold Cup hero, lady jockeys on form and outsiders triumph

Check out all the action from the final day of the Cheltenham Festival (Friday, 16 March)

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Horse & Hound shares the latest advice on treating tendon injuries, which can potentially end a horse’s athletic career

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Up-and-coming rider Jonjo O’Neill Jnr deputised for the champion jockey aboard Native River on his last run, in the Grade Two Denman Chase at Newbury on 8 February. The pair went off as favourite and were victorious by 2 3/4 lengths, beating the Paul Nicholls-trained Secret Investor.

The chestnut son of Indian River has won 13 races from 26 runs under Rules, which included triumphs in the 2016 Hennessy Gold Cup and the Welsh National in the same year.

Don’t miss our Cheltenham Festival preview (5 March issue) and report (19 March issue) in Horse & Hound magazine.

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