Alumni Spotlight – Saulo

We love catching up with members of our Ambassador Teacher Alumni community and we get excited about being able to share their updates with all of you! We recently heard from Saulo, a former cultural exchange teacher from Colombia, who gave us a glimpse into what he has been doing since leaving the program. He also took a moment to reflect on and share some of his fondest memories from his time teaching in the United States. Keep reading to meet or reconnect with Saulo!

Reflecting on his experience teaching in the U.S.

Q: What schools did you teach at and when?
A: I had a wonderful experience teaching at two schools in Union County, North Carolina from 2015-2020. In 2015, I started as a co-teacher teaching Kindergarten and First Grade at Sun Valley Elementary School. Then I taught Fourth Grade at Shiloh Valley Elementary School in 2019.

Q: What inspired you to apply to teach in the U.S.?
A: What inspired me to apply to teach in the U.S. was a previous cultural exchange experience that I had in California back in 2008. I was a Spanish speaking volunteer in an immersion school and after that, I always knew that I wanted to come back and teach my language and culture to students in the U.S.

Q: What did you enjoy most about your time teaching in the U.S.?
A: During my time in the U.S., I loved teaching content and learning best practices with the amazing teams I worked with in Union County. Also, I am thankful for the long-lasting connections I made with other teachers and members of the school community.

What life looks like now

Q: Where are you now? Are you living in your home country, another country, or did you go somewhere else?
A: My wife and I are now currently living in London, United Kingdom.

Q: Are you currently teaching? If not, what else are you doing?
A: Currently, I am working in the area of logistic support at a private school in the heart of London, U.K.

Share 3-5 facts about your time teaching in the U.S. Think about favorite memories, travel experiences, special moments, accomplishments, or other things that happened during your time with the program.

• I met my wonderful wife during my cultural exchange experience with Participate Learning. She is now also an Ambassador Teacher Alumni. We are expecting a baby in November!
• One of my favorite restaurants to visit in Charlotte was Mi Tierra, a Colombian restaurant.
• During spring and autumn, I loved driving through the Blue Ridge Mountains. A must-do!
• I traveled to China three times during my time with Participate Learning—as part of an exchange program between a high school in Union County and a school in China. I also had the opportunity to meet my in-laws and visit the Terracotta Warriors in Xian.

Interested in connecting with Saulo and following his journey? You can find him on Twitter at @oluas86.