I am the Social Studies chair for my school and I am passionate about teaching students to look outside their immediate community and become global citizens. My experiences with GEEO have been life changing and have enabled me to let my students learn about the world in a positive and familial way. Through pictures, artifacts, music, and literature I have been able to bring the world a little closer for my students. GEEO has been instrumental in this endeavor- I simply can't say enough positive things about this amazing organization!
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I have done 5 trips with GEEO and each one has been extraordinary. It is a wonderful opportunity to travel with other teachers, to link with educators in different cultures, and has definitely made me a better teacher. I had never done a "tour" before- I preferred to do my own independent travel but this has completely changed my perspective. On a practical level the tours are fairly reasonable and all GEEO trips are tax deductible which is a huge bonus for those who receive a teacher's salary. Be transformed and go!
I traveled with GEEO to Uzbekistan and it was a completely stress-free process from beginning to end. All the details were handled with utmost care, and the trip itself was really amazing due to the high quality of the guide and the care that went into crafting the itinerary. GEEO bringing together educators also makes all the difference in terms of who your fellow travelers are.
I have been on not one...not two...but FIVE GEEO trips since 2008. And I'm not crazy. It's just a really great experience. Peru/Inca Trail, Tunisia, Panama, Southern Africa and India/Nepal. The great thing about GEEO is that they're constantly tweaking and reevaluating their tours to make sure that they are well-suited for teachers and a great learning experience. You get the best of both worlds: off-the-beaten-path travel, while still feeling safe, comfortable and well-informed. Our tour guides have always been phenomenal and I know the GEEO makes sure they hire the guides with the best ratings. I was most impressed in India this past summer, where I noticed that we got to experience the hectic, vibrant culture of the country, while still feeling comfortable in hotels and with AC on our transportation. At the same time, the GEEO staff prepared by being honest and candid about less-comfortable experiences such as the overnight train ride...but we were all so well-prepared that it was no sweat! I also have to say that teachers are excellent travel companions. We're curious and open-minded. We can tolerate bumps in the road. We have realistic expectations. We ask lots of questions and are eager to share our experiences with our students. If you're hesitant about traveling in a group, don't worry about GEEO...you'll find great travel buddies. Traveling with this organization is a great deal. You won't regret it. Next summer...I'm thinking Thailand and probably more!!
I am a geography teacher in Texas. Recently, I participated in the Turkey trip. It was an outstanding trip, we were busy with long days, which were full of enrichment activities. Our guide was truly outstanding, not only with his knowledge of the area, but very friendly and accomodating. I would highly recommend this trip.
I was a fortunate recipiant of a Fulbright Scholarship to Japan in 2008. The Teaching East Asia Program at CU Boulder recomended GEEO. My China GEEO tour, last summer, was a great learning experience. I plan to take more GEEO tours because it has enabled me to continue my lust for travel and my extreme interest in Asian cultures.
