Name: Jash
Pronoun(s): She/Her
Nationality: American
Hometown: Hamden, CT
Current location: Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Occupation: Nomadic Teacher, Blogger
Meet Jash
Hey, it’s me. Jash. Hey. Hi. Hello.
I have a piece of paper that says I completed a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, but I don’t use that much. I can’t stop moving to new countries. I may have a slight addiction. So far I’ve lived and taught in Italy, Senegal, South Korea & now I’m on the BEAUTIFUL tropical island of Haiti.
Traveling and teaching has become my life since finishing undergrad. Slow traveling the world and experiencing other cultures is what I live for. I’ve worked in five countries on four continents and I’m not done yet. I live life by the seat of my pants and follow opportunities. It hasn’t failed me yet & I’m enjoying every second of it.
I finally decided to take that leap of faith and launch Joyriding With Jash in 2020. I show the REAL of life abroad, good, bad, and ugly. Sometimes I’m posting about paradise and sometimes I gotta talk my shit. That’s what I like to call balance. I also help others move abroad by providing resources, offering advice, and I recently launched a guide to teaching abroad available on my website, iamjashley.com.
On Education
Did you attend college? If so, where, and how did you choose that school/those schools?
Yes, I attended THE Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama. Just like everything else, I didn’t plan on going to Tuskegee, but I followed the opportunity and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Similarly to moving abroad, I applied and committed to the school site unseen. I guess I’ve been preparing for this expat lifestyle for longer than I thought.
In your opinion, what makes travel uniquely “educational”?
Traveling puts you in the best classroom there is: the world. Everyday is a new experience and a chance to learn something you didn’t know before. Since moving abroad, I can’t remember a day I didn’t learn something whether it was about culture, language, another lifestyle, food, taboos, and everything in between. I have become a student of the world and every encounter is a lesson.
My teachers went from professors to neighbors, waiters, coworkers, my students, friends, bartenders, custodians, taxi drivers, cashiers, and everyone else I’ve met along this journey.
Traveling is intensely personal and an interpersonal relationship that is constantly changing. Here are some older thoughts from 2019: What Traveling Means to Me – The Millennial Abroad
What would you say to someone trying to decide between studying abroad for one semester vs a full school year?
Go big or stay home. If you have the opportunity and means to study abroad for a full school year I would highly recommend doing it.
I spent three months in Italy and the time literally flew by and had me ugly crying at the airport with my host family when it was time to say goodbye.
While abroad, the opportunities to learn not only in the classroom, but about yourself, another culture and the world around you are abundant and cannot be replicated.
Professional Background
How might your career path have differed if you’d stayed in your home country?
I would not be working in education. I know that for sure. If I would have stayed in the States I most likely would have begun working in Delaware in the engineering field at the job I secured before finishing undergrad. Although I knew I didn’t want to work in engineering I found a job as a backup plan to my backup plan. If push came to shove I would go to work and keep plotting on my escape into the expat lifestyle. Luckily, that didn’t happen.
Do your future career goals involve living abroad or traveling for work?
My future career goal is to live abroad and be location independent. I don’t know exactly what I’ll be doing whether that be teaching, remote work, writing full-time, or anything else. My goal is lifestyle driven as opposed to career driven. Hell, if somehow I can find a way to not work and just be able to travel and share my experiences that would be AMAZING.
A lot of expats find themselves doing something different from what they studied. Have you found this to be true in your experience and if so, what are your thoughts about that disparity?
That is the story of my life. Alright, prepare yourself for this. I have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, but, since graduating, I have been working as an international teacher all around the world and launched my travel blog in 2020. As if that path wasn’t different enough… I’m now working part time as a web designer.
I’m still figuring out what I want to do with my life and just winging it until then.
I knew early on that I didn’t want to work in engineering and immediately began looking for another path. I love that people are following their gut and going for what they want instead of just settling into the rat race.
On Lifestyle
Why do you enjoy traveling?
Honestly, I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and experiencing new things. My life is a balance between enjoying the moment and looking for the next opportunity, adventure and, to be honest, country. I also love being fully immersed in another culture and being able to go beneath the surface level of a touristic experience.
Do you think young people in your home country would benefit from traveling more? Living abroad more? Why?
For young Americans, having worldly experiences will allow us to better relate to others and recognize the privileges that come with life in the States. Traveling allows you to see the world from a different perspective and to go completely outside of your comfort zone. Americans often form generalizations about cultures, people, languages, food, and regions without ever seeing it first hand.
Before coming to Haiti, so many people who had never come to the island had nothing but negative things to say about the tropical paradise I’m living in.
Do you prefer fast or slow travel? Why?
I definitely prefer slow travel all the way. With slow travel you are able to experience life in another country, not tourism. Being fully immersed in another culture and way of life is only attainable through slow travel. It also allows me to take my time to go to different places, eat local foods, and form genuine connections with people without feeling rushed.
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?
If traveling is something you’re interested in you should definitely make it a priority. There are so many opportunities to see the world and it’s becoming more and more accessible with different companies such as Airbnb, WorkAway, CouchSurfing, etc. Be careful though… Once you start you may not be able to stop!
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Editor’s note: This interview has been lightly edited.
Thank you for reading Fearless Friday No. 28 – Jash, Nomadic Teacher in Haiti!
If you connected with Jash’s feature, are curious about the nomad lifestyle, what it’s like to be a teacher in Haiti, teaching abroad tips in general, and apologetically pursuing your goals and the life you want, she invites you to connect on the following platforms.
Instagram: @iamjashley
Website: iamjashley.com
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