Ben's Teaching English Abroad Trip
Donation protected
Hi all! It's Ben!
After graduating this past December, I took a job as a Choral Long Term Substitute at a Middle School outside of Philly. I love it, but it's not a forever job! The person on maternity leave needs her job back.
I've been heavily weighing my options for the Fall. While I've been overwhelmed with making job search spreadsheets, applying to jobs within the US, and teaching middle schoolers how to make sounds with their mouths, I've had a new thought; I really want to explore the world.
At 22 with no job commitments, living commitments, having recently graduated college, and a great sense of adventure, now is the time for me to go abroad. I already have a teaching degree, I have a passion for educating others, and I want to experience other cultures. This fall I will be moving to teach English abroad in Madrid, Spain! Madrid is a metropolitan community and very welcoming to the trans community. I found a wonderful program that provides a supportive and safe environment, but there is also a cost to participate.
The program is called CIEE. It runs from August/September 2023-June 2024.
Here's the lowdown:
The program fee is $2350
The airfare is between $500-1200
The Visa process is just shy of $300
You are expected to have around $3000 in savings for the first few months while you are waiting to be paid
I will receive a 1000 EUR stipend every month to pay for rent, utilities cell phone, internet, and groceries.
I can't wait to go on this adventure, but I won't be able to do it without your help. I am reaching out to you to ask for your help to support me on my next adventure and the opportunity to inspire, educate, support, and advocate for students. Many of you who know me know how important advocating for others is to me. I have shared my journey of being a trans man in any place that will listen, and do everything I can to help my students feel heard, seen, and validated. I want them to know that the sky is the limit. It is not lost on me how privileged I am to even be able to ask my community for help or to have a supportive community that can help me. I am keeping that at the forefront of my mind as I think about what an incredible cultural exchange this can be for not only me but my students in Spain. As a Music Educator, I have so many unique things to bring to the plate, just as my students will bring so many new things to my plate!
Thank you for reading!
Ben
After graduating this past December, I took a job as a Choral Long Term Substitute at a Middle School outside of Philly. I love it, but it's not a forever job! The person on maternity leave needs her job back.
I've been heavily weighing my options for the Fall. While I've been overwhelmed with making job search spreadsheets, applying to jobs within the US, and teaching middle schoolers how to make sounds with their mouths, I've had a new thought; I really want to explore the world.
At 22 with no job commitments, living commitments, having recently graduated college, and a great sense of adventure, now is the time for me to go abroad. I already have a teaching degree, I have a passion for educating others, and I want to experience other cultures. This fall I will be moving to teach English abroad in Madrid, Spain! Madrid is a metropolitan community and very welcoming to the trans community. I found a wonderful program that provides a supportive and safe environment, but there is also a cost to participate.
The program is called CIEE. It runs from August/September 2023-June 2024.
Here's the lowdown:
The program fee is $2350
The airfare is between $500-1200
The Visa process is just shy of $300
You are expected to have around $3000 in savings for the first few months while you are waiting to be paid
I will receive a 1000 EUR stipend every month to pay for rent, utilities cell phone, internet, and groceries.
I can't wait to go on this adventure, but I won't be able to do it without your help. I am reaching out to you to ask for your help to support me on my next adventure and the opportunity to inspire, educate, support, and advocate for students. Many of you who know me know how important advocating for others is to me. I have shared my journey of being a trans man in any place that will listen, and do everything I can to help my students feel heard, seen, and validated. I want them to know that the sky is the limit. It is not lost on me how privileged I am to even be able to ask my community for help or to have a supportive community that can help me. I am keeping that at the forefront of my mind as I think about what an incredible cultural exchange this can be for not only me but my students in Spain. As a Music Educator, I have so many unique things to bring to the plate, just as my students will bring so many new things to my plate!
Thank you for reading!
Ben
Organizer
Ben Herstig
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA