Explore every episode of the podcast A Teacher Who Travels

In this episode, Mrs A experienced a trip, that let’s just say…pretty much everything that could go wrong logistically, did. Missed flights, missing visas, lost cell phones and a lost passport. This meant 3 days of a trip to New Zealand were gone, and an unintentional extended stay in Australia.

In this episode, Mrs A explores the underground river cave systems created by Rio Camuy, and revisits El Yunque rainforest to see how she is recovering from Hurricane Maria and more recently Hurricane Fiona.

In this episode Mrs. A describes how mangroves helped create the island of Puerto Rico (no cap) and the out of this planet experience of swimming in a bioluminescent bay (think of swimming on Pandora) Both 10 out of 10 experiences!

In this episode, Mrs. A introduces her travelers to the wonders and history of Puerto Rico's unofficial national dish, Mofongo. She dives into the delights of Puerto Rican rice and beans, relishes the refreshingly fruity frozen Limber, and chuckles over a cheesy cup of hot chocolate while reminiscing about setting off the fire alarm in the hotel.

She's baaaaack! After an 18 month hiatus, Mrs. A has returned both to student traveling and podcasting about it! After a quick life update that includes the fact that she retired in June 2022, Mrs. A brings new travelers to Puerto Rico in her first post pandemic trip with students!

In this episode, Mrs. A recounts her summer trip to Luquillo, where her family group did a walking tour of old San Juan and hit up some Instagram famous spots, did a night hike in the rainforest, and experienced some authentic Puerto Rican cuisine and hospitality.
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In this final episode of the series, Mrs. A talks with Jordan, who
traveled to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, and Julia who visited Costa Rica, about how their trips impacted them.
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Mrs. A reconnects with Dani, who traveled to the Galápagos Islands in 2017 and how travel as a student changed her perspective.
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In the 5th episode of this series, Mrs. A catches up with Chelsea, who traveled to Costa Rica in 2016 as a sophomore.
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On this instalment of the Travel Talks series, Mrs. A conducts her first group interview with Jarrod, Steph, and Kaitlyn, and discuss how their trip to Costa Rica in 2018 impacted them.
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In the third interview of this series, Mrs. A reconnects with Roisin, who was on her very first international student trip back in 2012, the one that started it all! They reminisce about Costa Rica and how European travel was a way of life for Roisin already, and how going to Costa Rica changed her perspectives.
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In the second installment of the Travel Talks series, Mrs. A has a great conversation with former traveler Kylie, who went with her to Australia and New Zealand in 2019.
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This is the first episode in a series where former travelers talk about the impact their international trip had on them while in high school. Mrs. A reconnects with Ashley, who traveled to Costa Rica in 2014.
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This episode is the beginning of a series devoted to exploring the long term impacts international travel has on travelers. Mrs. A will be interviewing former travelers from each country she has visited, to see how their experience has influenced their current lives. This episode sets the stage for this upcoming series.
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In this episode Mrs. A shares summer travel plans to Puerto Rico and a Cranes for Peace project, where the Japan travelers will make 1000 paper cranes before September 21 International Day of Peace.
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In this episode, Mrs. A travels down to south central Pennsylvania to fulfill a promise she made to herself back in 2004. She gets to see, hear, and learn about the Brood X Periodical Cicada (and eat some, too!)
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In this episode, Mrs. A answers listener questions about what Geishas are (and are not) and why Japanese culture is so full of cutesy child like things, which is called Kawaii.
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In this short episode, Mrs. A ponders the history behind Cinco de Mayo, a holiday more widely celebrated in the US than in Mexico, and gives some tips on how to have a great celebration of Mexican culture.
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In this episode, Mrs. A learns about Matcha tea, the trendy beverage that dates back to 1191. She talks about its origins, how to prepare it, and the etiquette of the tea ceremony.
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In this episode, Mrs. A dives into all things sushi! The history, different types, why it’s so darn pretty, and sushi eating etiquette.
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In Episode 52, Mrs. A researches the difference between shrines and temples, and stumbles into the fascinating religion of Shintoism. Contrasting it with Buddhism, she finally starts to grasp all of the belief in luck and fortune.
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In this episode, Mrs. A previews the sites of the Tokyo portion of the trip, and learns about how Japan was closed to the rest of the world for 250 years, the Edo Period, and how in the 1860's it opened up its borders to the modern world. It all comes together by looking at the history of the Imperial Palace and Sesoji Temple. She also previews Harajuku (shopping anyone?) and the eclectic Electric Town.
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In this milestone episode (50!) Mrs. A previews Days 6 and 7 of the Japan trip, learning about the ancient mountain town of Takayama with its unique Gassho thatched roof farmhouses and colorful monkey baby good luck amulets, followed by a trip to the coast to Kanazawa and a visit to the Kanazawa Castle and Garden of the Six Sublimes, Kenroku-en. And yes, it’s got cherry trees.--
Science Teacher Oakmont Regional High School.
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In episode 49, Mrs. A researches the history of the Golden Pavilion, the difference between a shogun and a samurai, how to get lucky in love at the Pure Water Temple, and just how important manga is in Japanese culture while researching the International
Manga Museum, all of which are part of the Kyoto leg of the upcoming Japan trip.
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Mrs. A chats with Juan Carlos Zuñiga from EPI, about leatherback sea turtles on the Pacuare Reserve in Costa Rica and the positive effect of engaging local communities in conservation science. Pura vida! It makes her want to jump on the next plane to Costa Rica and become a conservation scientist.
For questions or ideas for future topics, contact me on twitter.com/ateacherwhotrav, and follow me on Instagram @a_teacher_who_travels

In this episode, Mrs. A begins her research on Japan, learning about the hip and modern Osaka Canal street with its ancient hidden temple where her first opportunity for good fortune awaits. She then takes the fast train to Kyoto to climb a mountain to the Shrine of the God of Rice, and has three more chances to change her luck.
For questions or ideas for future topics, contact me on twitter.com/ateacherwhotrav, and follow me on Instagram @a_teacher_who_travels

In this episode, Mrs. A chats with Martin Navaraez, a field guide with Ecology Project International (EPI) based on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos. He talks about research students participate in regarding invasive species on the islands and how the endemic giant tortoises are both victims of and partially responsible for the spread of non native plants on the islands.
For questions or ideas for future topics, contact me on twitter.com/ateacherwhotrav, and follow me on Instagram @a_teacher_who_travels

In Episode 45, Mrs. A chats with Alexei Desmarais of EPI about student research in Yellowstone, the difference between a bison and a buffalo, and what is up with that super volcano?
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In this episode Mrs. A discusses getting new travelers signed up for trips, and gives an update on the COVID 19 vaccine. What it does, what it doesn’t do, and when can we stop wearing these masks?!
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In this short episode, Mrs. A bids goodbye to 2020 (good riddance!) and lays out her goals for the new year, which focuses on preparing for her Japan trip this summer! Happy 2021!
For questions or ideas for future topics, contact me on twitter.com/ateacherwhotrav, and follow me on Instagram @a_teacher_who_travels

Excited about getting ready to travel again? In this episode Mrs. A rounds up over 50 gift ideas for any sort of travel. You’ll be sure to find something for your favorite traveler or yourself!
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Mrs. A chats with her friend Haley from Ecology Project International in Missoula Missouri, about why field based science trios for students are so important and how EPI has been operating during the Pandemic.
For questions or ideas for future topics, contact me on twitter.com/ateacherwhotrav, and follow me on Instagram @a_teacher_who_travels

Mrs. A reflects on a very special trip she took in 2018 to Mexico, when she participated in conservation science with several teachers from across the USA through Ecology Project International. (And she got to live out her fantasy of being Jacques Cousteau)
For questions or ideas for future topics, contact me on twitter.com/ateacherwhotrav, and follow me on Instagram @a_teacher_who_travels

As preparations are being made to distribute the Covid 19 vaccine, Mrs. A reports on some research done in 2020 on the future of student travel. Do young people feel safe venturing out into the world again? What is their motivation for doing so? What are they saying they want from international travel in a post Covid world?
For questions or ideas for future topics, contact me on twitter.com/ateacherwhotrav, and follow me on Instagram @a_teacher_who_travels

In this episode, Mrs. A reminds herself of all the things to be grateful for, despite a worldwide pandemic that prevents travel right now, and the hope of returning to travel in 2021. She wishes you a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.
For questions or ideas for future topics, contact me on twitter.com/ateacherwhotrav, and follow me on Instagram @a_teacher_who_travels

In the final podcast of this series, Mrs. A returns to Australia to dive into the legend of the bloodthirsty bunyip (stay out of that billabong!), the terrifying drop-bear (do you have a fork in your hair?) and Frederick Federici, the ghost of the Princess Theater.
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In this episode, Mrs. A recounts 3 scary legends of Costa Rican folklore. La Llorona, the Crying Lady, El Cadejo, the cursed black dog, and La Segua, the beautiful she-demon. Don’t go wandering in the dark. You have been warned.
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In this episode, Mrs. A tells the tales of two places in Central Massachusetts that are said to be haunted. The Woods of Wachusett in Princeton, and the SK Pierce Mansion in Gardner. Are you brave enough to go visit them? Do you dare?
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In this episode, Mrs. A reports on the state of travel during a pandemic, specifically what it's like to travel by plane and train, and the rise of traveling by RV.
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In today's episode, Mrs. A chats with a fellow traveling teacher, Jackie, about her unique experience traveling to Cuba with Witness for Peace in January 2020. They discuss the importance of how travel helps dispel stereotypes and changes perspectives.
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Before Mrs. A heads home from her trip, she practices her bartering skills at the largest indigenous artisan market in South America and learns about Ecuadorian textiles, music, and paintings from the villagers from the Andes.
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In this episode, Mrs. A chats with a colleague who travels with food allergies, and she shares her tips and experiences on traveling internationally while dealing with language barriers and unknown ingredients.
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In this episode, Mrs. A reads excerpts from her travel journal about Puerto Ayora in San Cristobal and a very special student she calls Tortuga Boy. She visits the statue of Charles Darwin and swims in Darwin's Bay before heading back to Quito
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In this episode, Mrs. A visits the Darwin Research Center on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos, pays her respects to Lonesome George, once known as the rarest organism on the planet, and meets Diego, the tortoise who single handedly saved his species from extinction
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In Episode 28 Mrs. A finally gets to see tortoises at the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center on Isabela Island, and learns why some have dome shaped shells and others have the saddle back shape! Then she takes a nature walk along the lagoons,marveling at the diversity of life there, including the unique trees like the Cactus Prickly Pear and the twisted scalesta trees, and wildlife including Darwin's famous finches and wild flamingos. Let's check it out!
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In Episode 27, Mrs. A at last reaches the Galapagos! Passing Cotopaxi volcano on the way, she lands on Baltra Island and does a water crossing to Isabela Island, meeting some exciting endemic animals along the way, and learns the etiquette of popcorn.
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In this episode, Mrs. A reviews her visit to Ecuador by visiting the Dancing Virgin of Quito, running on the rooftop of the Santo Domingo Church, and standing on both the northern and southern hemisphere at the same time at the Intiñan Museum.
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In Episode 25, Mrs. A gives some tips on traveling to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, and some advice on dealing with altitude sickness
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In this Episode, Mrs. A gives an update on her 2020 scheduled trips, talks about her own experience with COVID 19, and has some suggestions for homebound hodophiles.
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In this episode Mrs. A discusses the COVID 19 virus, how to prevent it, and its impacts on her Belize trip.
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