Gayle Borawski has been working with Hemisphere Educational Travel for seven years. As Head of Operations, she works behind-the-scenes in Tour Operations—balancing the books, creating paperwork that enables students to sign up for a tour, and much more.
What’s your favorite part about your job?
I love my job. Roughly every three months, my job evolves into another facet of the tour process. My job is ever-changing. It's exciting to see how each tour takes shape. Tour Operations works closely with the Account Executives to deliver the tour they worked so hard to build. We all take great pride in our work to produce the tour that the school envisioned.
Where is your favorite destination?
My favorite destination is Washington, D.C. There is so much history and possibility. I had the opportunity to visit with my family, as well as on a tour with Hemisphere. I was able to see magnitude, power and sacrifice in such short time frames. There was something to learn, be grateful for or be in awe of—every step of the way.
What’s your most treasured travel memory, or the best thing you’ve learned while traveling?
My husband and I have been traveling 30 years with the family. Now that the kids are grown, we are traveling to more bucket list destinations. It's really fascinating for me to see different climates, lifestyles and cultures, and to experience different foods.
What’s the best thing you’ve eaten while traveling?
We were in Alaska, and I enjoyed a crab leg from the Bering Sea. It was amazing, but left me wanting more, as they only gave you one giant leg at this restaurant. But oh, so yummy.
If you were stranded in an airport, what three things would you want with you?
A deck of cards.
Some yummy gluten-free snacks.
A pillow.
If you could run into anyone famous—fictional or nonfictional, historical or mythical—during travel, whom would you want to run into?
I would love to meet Harriet Tubman. To be so brave, endure such torture and still help so many to freedom is a tremendous feat. We can only hope for strong people like her in our future.
What is your favorite mode of transportation?
I want to see everything I can fit into each destination I travel, so flying in an airplane is my favorite. I don't want to miss a moment of my trip. Although, all of my family road trips created the best family memories over the years.
What destination on your bucket list do you most want to visit?
My husband and I have been experiencing the best of our world lately, so I don't have just one. Each place is so different from the next that it makes our memories so enjoyable. We have an upcoming trip to the Eastern Caribbean and hope to see the progress of the rebuild after the devastation of the hurricanes. A trip to Spain and Italy is planned this summer, and Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons in the Fall.
What’s your favorite activity while traveling, or something you’ve always wanted to try?
Working in the travel industry, I am a planner. With each destination, I research all my options and pick the best of the best that I can afford. I may never return to that destination in my lifetime, so I try to fit in as much sightseeing as I can (mixed with a little adventure). I've landed on a glacier, gone hot air ballooning, fed giraffes, swam with dolphins, ziplined and snorkeled. In a few months, I will take a ride on a BOSS Underwater Scooter in the Caribbean Sea.
What do you love about travel?
I am so very lucky to be able to experience and respect the diversity of our world.
Written by Hemisphere Travel.
