Name: Emily
Pronoun(s): She/her
Hometowns: Houston, TX (born), Northwest Suburbs of Chicago (grew up)
Nationality: US American
Current location: Strasbourg, France
Occupation: “Micro Entrepreneur” (in Education)
Meet Emily
Hi! I’m Emily. I’m a dog person who adopted and loves a cat, a passionate singer who has never sought to make a cent off of it, and a homebody who has found myself an ocean across from where I grew up. I’m most comfortable with stability, yet I’ve followed a path that can be very bumpy at times.
My life is filled with paradoxes, but figuring things out is half the fun. When I started university, I wanted to be a doctor “to work in a job where I could help people.” A study abroad experience in London and affinity for French classes redirected my path, but I maintained that I still wanted to work in an area where I felt like I could make a difference.
After graduating, I spent two years teaching US History in the Bronx with Teach for America while concurrently working towards my master’s degree. After all that, I wanted to take a year to have a slower pace of life in a city I loved. This brought me to Paris, where I worked as an English Teaching Assistant under TAPIF.
One year in France has turned into four-plus, and I don’t have plans to leave any time soon
After my year in Paris, I moved to Strasbourg to work as a maitre de langue at the University of Strasbourg Faculty of Law.
Currently, I work under the “micro entrepreneur” status. Basically, this means that I legally freelance full time. I have two jobs at the moment: teaching part time at the law school, and working for an education consulting company in the United States. I’m still not sure what trajectory my life is going to take, but it has been quite an adventure figuring it all out.
On Education
Did you attend college? If so, where, and how did you choose that school/those schools?
Yes, I completed my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the United States. My BA in French and History is from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI (nope, not Saint Lawrence or Sarah Lawrence), and my MS in Teaching is from Fordham University in NYC. I chose LU because I could get a rigorous liberal arts education while still participating in top notch music programs, and I was placed at Fordham as a TFA Corps member.
If you studied abroad, would you recommend the experience?
I studied abroad twice, and would recommend it without hesitation. I went to London through my school’s Lawrence University London Center program during the fall trimester of Sophomore year, and then went to Paris for a semester with IES during the fall of my Senior year. Being a way for a part of the school year was an excellent way to experience life abroad while also maintaining a strong connection to campus.
What makes travel uniquely “educational”?
This is a bit cliché, but when you travel, you learn things that couldn’t possibly be taught inside of a classroom. The life skills you gain while traveling (constant vigilance in busy areas, interpreting a map to find your hostel, money management, budgeting, etc.) are best learned through experience. Additionally, embracing new cultures is a fantastic way to have new experiences while also combatting any preconceived notions about others.
Professional Background
How long have you been in your current position?
I am going into my 7th year in the education field (teachers measure their years concurrently with the school calendar :P). My exact jobs have changed, but I feel very tied to this domain.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The thing that I enjoy most about my job is that I feel like I’m making a positive impact on different student populations. Whether on the ground as a teacher or behind my computer in a research/consulting capacity, I feel lucky to have multiple access points into the field of education.
Did you ever feel unsure of your career path?
All the time. I still do. I used to think I was ready to leave the classroom, but when that option became possible, I knew I’d miss it too much and jumped on the opportunity to teach six groups this semester when approached by my colleagues at the law school. Who knows what will happen next.
On Lifestyle
How would you describe your travel style?
“Bougie on a budget.”
Essentially, I like to enjoy some nice things without breaking the bank
I have tried every type of accommodation from luxury hotels to sleeping in a tent. I’ve learned that my preference is a solo room in a vibrant, central hostel if traveling alone, or splitting a centrally-located but affordable hotel/B&B room with another person if traveling with a friend or my partner.
For me, being central is key, because I walk everywhere when I travel. Being on foot is great because it’s free and you stumble across things you’d never find using other forms of transportation. I like cheap, quick breakfasts and lunches, and then enjoying a nice sit-down dinner at a local restaurant.
Why do you enjoy traveling?
I enjoy traveling for so many reasons! I love that travel really becomes what you make of it, and people with different vantage points can visit the same city and come out with widely different experiences. There are just so many ways to travel, from going with a pre-set tour, to solo traveling and making spontaneous plans by the hour.
This truly makes it accessible to such a wide range of personalities
I also love trying local foods and drinks, and always make an effort to enjoy local options when I travel.
Do you speak a second language? More than one other language?
Oui, je parle français.
Which has been your favorite country/city to live in?
This one was a toughie! In a non-permanent capacity, I’m going to have to say Paris, France. My lifestyle there couldn’t possibly be maintained (I was earning a Teaching Assistant’s salary and living in eight-square meters), but I got everything out of that year that I needed. I saw it as an opportunity to let loose and enjoy life after a very challenging couple of years. Thinking more long-term, Strasbourg has been my favorite (hence why I’m still here!). It’s a beautiful city with a fascinating culture and history, and I’m starting to put down some roots.
On travel as a privilege
There’s one reality of travel that I never overlook- privilege. Even the least expensive trips bear some expense, and my networks and connections have been a huge asset when it comes to saving on lodging, local tips, etc.
I’m lucky that I have a flexible schedule and can travel without forsaking much pay
I’m thankful that my partner can afford a car, and I can afford tolls and gas. I’m happy to have friends all over the world who would take me into their homes, knowing that I would be eager to do the same. Travel can be beautiful, enlightening, scary, joyful, challenging, or a million other things, but it is always a privilege. I won’t ever let myself take that for granted and I hope you won’t, either.
One last question
What advice would you give to a young person who knows they want to travel but aren’t sure where that fits in with the rest of their lives?
Travel doesn’t have to be about blowing tens of thousands of dollars on first class plane tickets and 5-star hotels. It can be as simple as showing a visiting friend your hometown and seeing it through their eyes. There are always ways to fit travel in. To me, travel is more about the experience than the location.
Editor’s note: This interview has been lightly edited for concision and clarity.
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Thank you for reading Fearless Friday No. 13 Emily!
If you connected with Emily’s story, she invites you to connect with her on Instagram:
IG: @emily_sparks12
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