Nancy has always recognized the value of traveling with her students. As a language teacher, she’s seen the impact that immersing her students in the culture of the language they’re learning can have. But while leading a tour with a different company, she had a very negative experience, which had an instantaneous impact on her. “Not only did I stop traveling, I didn’t go back to Spain—and I’d probably been to Spain 18 times before that. I love Spain, and I just couldn’t go back.” It took two former students to help her overcome her fear.

“Two of my graduates moved to Spain and teach for the Spanish government. They asked me to come and visit, and I decided it was time.” When she told her current students about her trip, they pleaded with her to take them abroad—and that was when she picked up an EF catalog.

“I was like, ‘I’m going to do it.’ And talk about the planets aligning. [My Tour Consultant] Ally picked up the phone and she was a powerhouse of positivity. She told me, ‘We can make it work. We can do this. You had a terrible experience but that will never happen again.’ I had to do this trip, and it was amazing.”