Teaching and Traveling - The Beginning
When I began traveling internationally (as a solo traveler) in 2015, I had no idea where the journey would take me. It was my 9th year as a teacher, and I felt like I was wasting my time during my winter, spring and summer breaks. I needed something in my life to give it a purpose. In September 2015, I took my first international trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was a life-changing experience, and I was hooked. My photos from my trip quickly made their way into my Canada presentation which I shared with my students.
Shortly after my trip to Vancouver, I took another trip to Victoria, British Columbia. Then I went to Montreal, Quebec. My Canada presentation was coming along nicely and was now over 200 slides. Next came Stockholm, Sweden, and Paris, France. Then Santiago, Valparaiso, and Vina Del Mar, Chile, as well as the Atacama Desert. Following two more European trips, my country count was now over 15. I was taking great pictures for my Global Studies class and learning a lot as well.
Following a trip to Tromsø, Norway, I decided to look into starting a travel website. It took over a year, but I was able to create static pages featuring all the destinations that I visited. These pages came in handy during my after school Travel Club where my students would plan their own vacations.
I began “live blogging” updating my pages as I traveled. Even though my top viewers were my parents and grandmother, I still felt like my travels now had a purpose. I am now two years into my journey here on buzzinaroundtheworld.com. Lately, I began thinking about what I have to offer than your typical travel blogger doesn’t. One night it hit me! I plan my entire trip around the content of my class. Over the next few months, I am going to blog about how my travels are specifically targeted towards my teaching, how they make me a better teacher, and create a better learning environment for my students.
Teaching and Traveling - Some Previews
Chile - The Atacama Desert
One of the driest places in the world, Chile’s Atacama Desert is perfect for teaching how a Rain Shadow Desert works. The Atacama is so dry, that some places have never received an inch of rain. During my visit, I traveled into the Atacama’s Death Valley and then up into the Andes to learn about the geography and climate of this unique desert.
Monaco - The World's Most Crowded Country
At a total area just under one square mile, Monaco is the densest country in the world, with over 48,000 people per square mile. Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and France, Monaco is the second smallest country in the world behind the Vatican City. It was amazing to be able to walk the entire length of the country in just over an hour.
Japan - Dealing with Limited Space
Japan has a problem with population density as well. With a population of over 125 million and only 27% of its land being livable, Japan has had to adapt. Today, Japanese cities are some of the most modern in the world using technology to use their space as efficiently as possible. Add to this one of the world’s best high-speed rail systems, efficiently designed micro-apartments, and the use of space below and above ground, and Japan becomes the model for living in a crowded country.
Australia - Honoring Aboriginal Culture
One of the most cultural places in Australia is Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock) in the Red Centre of the Northern Territory. Returned to the traditional Aboriginal Owners in 1985, Uluru is not only one of the beautiful places in the world, but also a great place to learn about how Australia’s Aboriginal People were able to live in this unforgiving climate and terrain for thousands of years.
Taiwan - The Home of Chiang Kai Shek and China's Nationalists
Following his defeat by Mao Zedong, Chaing Kai Shek and his Nationalist followers moved their government to Taiwan in 1950. Taiwan, known as the Republic of China, has been able to remain independent despite not being a member of the United Nations.
Iceland - Standing in "Two Continents"
Iceland, the land of fire and ice, is full of geothermal activity. It is also one of the only places in the world where it is possible to stand on two different continents. There is a location inside a shopping mall where visitors can straddle the exact spot where the Eurasian Plate meets the North American Plate. Add that to glaciers, beautiful waterfalls, geothermal energy, and legends of trolls, and teaching about Iceland becomes a Global Studies Teacher’s Dream.
Coming Soon - Teaching and Traveling
Be sure to check back weekly as I will be posting a different “Teaching and Traveling” page each Sunday evening. These pages will highlight everything from how I plan my trip to why I chose specific sites to visit.
