Here's another short story about a BT dream-job and how this maritime boy went from lobster trapping in the Atlantic to piranha fishing in the Amazon ~ among other activities he embarks on while flying around Brazil guiding BT trips. Meet Taylor Aikins:
So how did you first hear about Beach Travellers?
Well in my first year of university I was getting pretty stir crazy, midterms were creeping up, it was getting colder, and I could feel the travel bug biting again, so I literally googled something like travel/surf/awesome, and BT popped up. I checked out the website and boom! Love at first sight.
How exactly did you get involved with BT?
After spending a while looking through all of the videos and checking out the photos, I emailed BT with my life story and my resume. I said that I wanted to be a guide, and was told that most of the guides have either been on a BT trip before, or worked as a campus rep, so that seemed like the next best thing to me.
How did you end up being a Brazil guide?
I started working as a campus rep at St-FX University in Nova Scotia, and after about a year of putting posters up, hosting info tables and repping the shize out of BT, Graeme, one of the founders, and Mitch, one of the Costa Rica guides flew out to the Maritimes for a marketing campaign. They spent a couple days at my school, and over beers one night I mentioned how keen I was to be a guide, and I soon decided to jump on the Brazil 28 day trip to see what it was all about. My parents weren't happy at first, but it ended up being the best decision I ever made. I came back from Brazil and started repping again, ended up getting hired as a Brazil guide, and it's been insanity ever since.
What work do you currently do for Beach Travellers?
Right now I manage marketing on the East coast of Canada during the school year, and in the summers I head to South America to guide BT trips and show travellers all the best that Brazil has to offer. I also get to head to Costa Rica to help guide there whenever they need me so it's just amazing how everything turned out. I have been studying Portuguese and am now pretty fluent, and every year I get to do something amazing with my summers. I couldn't ask for more, the BT family is just that, a family, and now that I'm a part of it, I can't imagine doing anything else.
Thanks to everyone that has applied so far. We're still scanning applications and conducting interviews, so stay tuned.
Hey all, we would like to thank everyone who applied to work for Beach Travellers. Over the past couple of months, we've been reviewing hundreds of applications, and for the next few weeks we'll be carrying out interviews for the various positions available with BT.
In the spirit of finding one's dream job, here's a short Q&A with Ravi Handa, a McGill graduate who discovered Beach Travellers three years ago and is now a valuable BT team member, both in Brazil and here in Canada.
So how did you first hear about Beach Travellers?
Well, I was starting my fourth summer working at a photocopy shop and I wasn't particularly excited about it. I worked in a basement and there was no air-conditioning. One day, this guy came by to put up a Beach Travellers poster. I stared at it for a week until I finally called, and the rest is history.
How exactly did you get involved with BT?
At first, I worked as a rep at McGill while I finished up my degree. I basically promoted events, put up posters, handed out flyers, helped out at info booths and most importantly, spread the good word across my social network. Eventually, I recruited enough people which earned me a Brazil trip at half price.
How did you end up being a Brazil guide?
I expressed interest to my guide in Brazil and kept an eye out to see what it takes. Upon return, I took a Portuguese course for two semesters, kept working as a rep and got hired as a guide the following season.
What work do you currently do for Beach Travellers?
I do logistics, administrative and communications work for Beach Travellers Brazil. I guess you would call that Brazil Operations Manager...I'm kind of a big deal. (laughs laughs laughs)
Hey-o gang, BT Voyage Bresil Brazil guide Ravi here. That's me above, applying cream to my pasty white thighs. Just checking in to set something straight: speedos are super legit. While you might not be crazy about moulding your package and exposing whispy inner-thigh hairs at first, your attitude is likely to change only days after getting off the plane in Rio.
In Brazil, speedos are the norm for men, in the same way that Brazilian bikinis are the norm for the ladies. On Ipanema beach, one of Beach Travellers' very first beach destinations, lovely people of all shapes and sizes rock their gear (boobies, asses, and man-junk) under the sun, carefully covered by speeds and bikeenz.
While in general Brazilians love their exercise and healthy food, not everyone looks like Gisele. Nevertheless, compared to North Americans, Brazilians demonstrate an inspiring level of confidence when it comes to their bodies. And frankly, it's terribly liberating.
In fact, the vibe is so strong, that so far, 9/10 dudes on Beach Travellers Brazil trips have regularly rocked speeds to the beach, and all the ladies have bought at least one Brazilian bikini to package their goods.
So if you're coming to Brazil this summer, bring your boardies and bikinis, but I can guarantee that in no time, you'll be slipping into something a little more snug and trim. And gents, if you're having hang-ups with rocking your gear skin-tight, just think about what the ladies wear all the time! And for the ladies, a Brazilian bikini is no big deal. It's just a little more boob and bum. Peace!
Seen the latest Brazil vids? Brand new 2011 teaser and BTTV episodes here
Oh, and.. one more thing. $500 off BT Brazil trips for signups before Nov.30, or til they're full. Yup, it's happening. Lock down your spot here.
