Across my 30 instructor weeks, I’ve been fortunate to meet incredible people and learn from the shared experiences we create together—through our local partners, the communities we visit, and the students themselves.
Hi, I’m Jack. I’ve successfully run three 10-week semester programs for Pacific Discovery, and the philosophy behind these programs—experiential travel education—aligns perfectly with my own. I believe in learning by doing, and what better classroom than a foreign country?
Across my 30 instructor weeks, I’ve been fortunate to meet incredible people and learn from the shared experiences we create together—through our local partners, the communities we visit, and the students themselves. During our orientation, we introduce an activity based around comfort zones. This helps everyone understand where each person sits on the continuum of challenges ahead, creating early connection and deeper understanding of one another. This became real in the very first week during our rappelling adventure in the Blue Mountains of Australia, as students stepped over the cliff face and into the expansive canyons beneath them.
Every student learns about the countries we explore; many discover new direction or potential pathways in life. But one thing is guaranteed: everyone learns a tremendous amount about themselves. One CORE session that always sparks meaningful growth is our discussion on personal values. It’s both challenging and rewarding—students really have to consider what they hold most important in their lives. It also brings students closer as they recognize shared values and begin building confidence within the group.
This growth continues to unfold while living side by side with 13 other individuals—shopping, cooking, cleaning, traveling, and navigating daily life together. These seemingly simple routines become powerful lessons in independence, cooperation, and resilience. Throughout the program, students take on rotating roles and responsibilities that gradually increase, so that by the end they are almost leading the entire show. This nurtures independence, confidence as solo travelers, and practical problem-solving skills they can carry into college and beyond.
We also engage in meaningful service and volunteer work, giving back to the communities we visit and exchanging cultural perspectives. One major benefit of this work is cultivating empathy and understanding—recognizing that service isn’t about offering what we think we can provide, but learning what the community actually needs. It removes ego from the situation and deepens cultural respect and awareness.
And, of course, we have a blast with the countless adventures: rappelling in the Blue Mountains, learning to surf in Australia and Bali, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, and more. These exciting but challenging activities offer not only fun, but also opportunities for bonding, overcoming adversity, and connecting through shared fear and support.
Our CORE sessions add another layer of depth, prompting reflection on personal values, identity, communication styles, leadership, ethical cultural exchange, and sustainability. Standout sessions this semester were Communication, Leadership, Values, and Wellness.
• Communication set the tone for how we interacted throughout the program and beyond—an incredibly valuable foundation.
• Leadership gave each student insight into their own style through peer feedback, which many found profoundly eye-opening.
• Values pushed students to reflect deeply; I always enjoy revisiting this exercise myself and noticing how I’ve changed each time.
• Wellness encouraged students to consider their personal well-being and how to support each other—built on the idea that “you can only help others when your own cup is full.”
Australia and Bali are two extraordinary places to compare and explore. Australia offers immense natural beauty as we travel from Sydney up the East Coast to Cairns—stunning beaches, lush rainforests, refreshing swimming holes, endless beach BBQs, and abundant wildlife. Adjusting to new routines is always a challenge at first, but everyone adapted quickly. Soon the rhythm of the program became natural, and many students later shared how strange it felt to return home to a slower, more stationary lifestyle.
Then comes Bali, an island in Indonesia with the largest Hindu population in the world. Being surrounded by so many warm and welcoming people is a privilege in itself. The jungles, rice terraces, waterfalls, and beaches are breathtaking. Our work with the charity Scholars of Sustenance was the most impactful moment of the program. We started each day preparing and packaging food boxes for lower-income communities, then delivered them—one community living directly beside a vast trash pile. This direct contact gave students a powerful and personal insight into the daily realities many Balinese families face. Seeing these conditions also connected to the broader issues Bali faces around waste management and poverty. Experiencing it firsthand reshaped students’ perspectives on global inequality and inspired many to make meaningful changes in their own habits, choices, and awareness.
Both countries offer deep cultural immersion and highlight how different (and similar) life can be compared to home. Australia shares many traits with Western countries but also has a complex and often painful history that we explore together. Bali, on the other hand, is “same same but different”—rapidly developing for tourism yet still deeply connected to its traditions.
The growth I witnessed in my students throughout this program was truly remarkable. They became stronger communicators, especially when navigating challenges or conflict. They consistently showed empathy and support for one another. They set personal and group goals centered around sustainability and held each other accountable.
During our student-led portion, my co-instructor Destiny and I took a completely hands-off approach to give the students full control of five consecutive days. Leading up to this, we knew giving them space could be an invaluable opportunity for growth—and we were right. It taught the group the importance of communication, research, proactive planning, and organization. It became a pivotal moment that brought everyone together, highlighting each student’s strengths while encouraging others to step into areas where they were less confident.
A shared group goal this semester was simple but powerful: “Make this the most unforgettable experience of our lives.” And judging by the emotions we shared as we said our goodbyes, I can confidently say—they achieved exactly that.
Posted by Jake Weinheimer on January 17, 2026
