A friend of mine is a charismatic and vivacious young man named Jonathan Tschetter. Jonathan, (JJ or “double J” as I like to call him) is a family friend, a peer of my older sons, and was a camp counselor for our youngest son. His travel knowledge is very informative and inspirational.

What inspired you to be a travel influencer?

People asked me how I did traveling and afforded it. So it easily answered people’s questions.

Do you have a favorite destination?

Greece is a given….so, the Amalfi coast, Positano, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. There are places alot of people don’t take the time to see and they are hidden gems.

What advice do you have for a potential traveler?

Don’t plan out every, single, last detail on your schedule or you’ll feel like you’re working. I can’t stand that kind of agenda because it leaves little room for creativity or random things. Obviously, you have to plan out certain things ahead of time (like seeing the Anne Frank museum or Eiffel Tower.)

How did you reconcile that when you were a  camp counselor at Ionian Village which is a detailed itinerary?

That’s different because we promised these kids that itinerary but there was a little room for freedom. It’s important to follow that schedule because  you also have that volume of people expecting to see certain things. It was hard for me to follow a schedule so closely, honestly but you make it work for the sake of the program.

I’m inspired and impressed you’ve been both an Ionian Village counselor and a Camp Emanuel counselor. What advice can you give someone to inspire them to be a counselor? Why did you do that and how did it enrich your life?

That’s a great question. I always knew I wanted to be a Camp Emanuel counselor and had been to camp 9-10 times. I knew I’d go back and give back. I didn’t want to be taking all this time and I remembered all of my camp counselors who made a difference. They actually emphasize on calling it camp staff and not camp counselor because we don’t really have the credentials to be a camp counselors. I do believe we counsel to an extent. With Ionian Village, I received the FAITH scholarship and I was adamant at that point to give back and return as a counselor. I really care about the future of the Orthodox Church—not just the church but promoting community. It’s more than going to church. Look how we go all over the country and promote camp and experiences. My mom reflects on her conventions from the 70’s and 80’s, even. I’m passionate about giving back and going to the Y.A.L. conferences.

We were talking about that yesterday—how our sons still travel almost monthly to see all of their camp friends. It’s interconnected if you go to camp, you enjoy tournament more. If you go to tournament, you enjoy camp….and Oratorical festivals, etc. It costs. Yes. It’s an investment you make in your kids and family and the returns are huge. The friendships our sons have made have resulted in great networking opportunities both socially and professionally. 

Your desire to be a counselor …you already have a spark , creative spirit, fulfillment of what you want to do and give back. For someone who doesn’t know what they want to do, it can be a great experience to light that spark!

Oh yeah, going back to Ionian Village gave me my first opportunity to travel abroad. It was so much fun. I went to New Zealand right before my junior year  which was a huge leap for me! I bought the ticket and then told my mom and dad that I was going! My parents were shocked and told me I should’ve talked to them about that first before going halfway across the world.

That’s carpe diem!!

I bought that ticket because I knew I wanted to study abroad. I spent 3 months planning this trip. My grandmother and I planned it together and it was a big deal for her to help me plan it. My grandparents have been very supportive of what I want to do and that’s helped a lot. There’s no way I could’ve done it without their help. For years, my grandfather and his wife opted out of Christmas gifts and invested in my education which greatly helped me with my study abroad program in Barcelona and allowed for me to have more opportunities abroad in my traveling. For younger kids, it’s a great idea. I started a trip account for my Godchild. I try to put money in that when I can. I bought 3 round trip tickets this spring and worked really hard to buy them but I’ll sacrifice going out as much in town or spending money on dinners, etc. I make sacrifices. I don’t buy a $200 pair of shoes at the mall.

We’d rather give each other a trip in lieu of gifts. I get it.

It’s so important. People say they can’t afford to do it but they can if they give up certain things. Budgeting and making sacrifices….I use hostel world which is a great tool. If you’re traveling with a party of 4 or more, you can find an Air BnB for less than hotel rooms and you can have your own space and a kitchen, etc. I spend 75% on location and 25% on amenities. When I went to Ireland, things were more expensive so we stayed at a youth hostel. When I was in Greece for an extended period, I hung out in an Air BnB to recuperate. I’m a big advocate for youth hostels and it’s a great way to meet people if you’re not in a big group. At the Amalfi Coast, we took a boat tour and met British girls and spent a whole day with them. In Greece, I visited family.

Best way to do the flights….I always book direct with the airline because if something happens, it’s easier to deal with them rather than third party flights. I don’t trust the latter. You waive certain rights if something happens—changes, delays, cancellations. I use Sky Scanner to look for flights. Plug in U.S. everywhere and it gives you options and tells you cities of departure. When I flew home from Greece last minute and then back , I used Easy Jet in Corfu to Gatwick in London and then from London to Denver with Norwegian. You have to be strategic about it or you run the risk of losing a connection. With domestic travel, none of the travel sites use SW airlines. Their business model doesn’t allow it. Scott’s Cheap Flights uses a team of people looking all day , every day to random places all over the world. I’ve earned so many miles on travel reward cards by putting expensive things on the card (like paying for things for dinners or hotel rooms and have everyone pay me back).

I’m applying to work corporate for an airline and would like an analyst, HR, data analytics or finance position with them. I can apply my degree to the travel industry. On the side, I want to open a travel consulting, LLC. I’m not profiting off the places I recommend but just giving consultations.

My biggest travel inspirations were my oldest sister and my Godparents.

I thought it was me.. (laughing)

It is you. I know a couple of really good travel bloggers…you and a lady from church who travels all over the world and has a blog. If I get a job with an airlines, my mom and dad get my benefits as well. So my mom is stoked about that idea.

What quote do you have about travel? Either a famous one or an original one?

When my friends and I were siting in a coffee shop in Amsterdam, my sister’s friend who is a local said to us, said, “If you see something you want to do or buy, do it or you’ll regret it because you may never be back there.” ….you take that chance. When I was in New Zealand, I bungee jumped because one of my best friends pushed me to take that opputunity when it was presented to us.  That’s something I’d never do.

Take a chance! That’s your quote! (JJ and I have an inside joke about a song lyric that says “take a chance”.) Patrick taught me that. He’d say, “get that alpaca jacket because you don’t know if you’ll be back here.”

Once people travel, I guarantee they’ll build a love for it.

©Gina Michalopulos Kingsley

Jonathan Tschetter is a senior at the University of Colorado- Leeds School of Business majoring in a Bachelors of Science in Business with an emphasis in both Finance and Real Estate. He is in the process developing a consulting company and looking at project management positions some of which involve travel. His email address is : Jonathan.TschetterJr@colorado.edu

 

To read more blog interviews like this, you can subscribe to this blog. Also, follow gypsyfamilytravel on Instagram. Click on link below for the travel book, A Magic Carpet Ride.

https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Carpet-Ride-Michalopulos-Kingsley/dp/069271393X