I left the country for the first time one month before my 18th birthday on a school trip to Switzerland. Growing up in the Massachusetts suburbs, I had never experienced anything like it. For my high school graduation, my history teacher, who had chaperoned the trip, gifted each of us a travel book with the words “See more” scrawled on the inside cover. That small gesture planted the seed for a passion for travel and has since then been a driving force in my life.
Fast forward to now and a few years into my career, the opportunity to travel is harder to come by, but thanks to Castle’s Work Away benefit, I recently checked off visiting my 25th country just two months after my 25th birthday, a satisfying milestone I could not have reached without the flexibility and opportunity this program provides.
What is a Work Away and why?
Castle’s introduction of the Work Away program felt like an incredible opportunity to merge two passions that rarely come together, professional growth and exploration overseas.
For those unfamiliar with Castle’s Work Away program, it is a benefit that allows employees who have been with the company for at least two years the opportunity to work remotely from anywhere in the world for up to four weeks, provided you can work EST hours from your remote destination. Employees are supplemented with a stipend to help cover the costs of travel and housing.
The hardest part? Deciding where to go. Ultimately, I chose to split my time between Montenegro and Spain, two countries in vastly different regions of Europe, yet close enough to move between. Each country offered a unique experience to make the most of my month abroad.
I’ve always believed the world is the best classroom because travel teaches you to adapt, problem-solve, and empathize — lessons that are invaluable in both life and work. At Castle, we often describe our team as scrappy, creative, communicative, and forward-thinking. What struck me while traveling is how many of those same qualities naturally surface on the road, reminding me that the experiences we gather abroad can strengthen the way we show up for our clients at home.
Communication is more than words
As PR pros, communication is central to what we do. Traveling in countries where English isn’t the native language has challenged me to rethink how I connect and communicate on a daily basis.
When I arrived at my Airbnb in Budva, Montenegro, I was welcomed by my host, Ljiljana. She showed me the kitchen, demonstrated the water heater, and showed me how to reset the Wi-Fi in case I had any troubles. About 15 minutes later, as I settled in, I realized we had done it all without sharing more than a handful of words. Instead, gestures, facial expressions, tone, and body language became the bridge between us.
It was a reminder that communication goes far beyond language and that nonverbal cues can be just as powerful when it comes to building trust and understanding.
Creativity is sparked in new places.
Travel is one of the greatest sparks for creativity. It disrupts routine, rewires perspective, and immerses you in new sensory experiences.
My two weeks in Spain were spent in Tarifa, a small coastal town in the Andalusia region, which is geographically known as the southernmost town in mainland Europe. On my morning runs, I would end at Punta de Tarifa, a unique spot where the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet. From here, you can see continental Africa, all whilst standing on the European coast. With that convergence of land, water, and histories, it’s hard not to have a new perspective.
Beyond its interesting geographic makeup, Tarifa is also known as a premier destination for wind sports. While I am by no means a wind-sport athlete, I was pushed out of my comfort zone and tried windsurfing for the first time.
Whether wandering through Roman ruins at Baelo Claudia, visiting local food markets, or picking up my camera to capture world-class kite surfers, every experience became a source of fresh perspective and sparked creativity that I could carry back to my work.
Thinking ahead and adapting.
Working East Coast hours from Europe meant my days ran from 2:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. local time. Mornings were spent exploring medieval old towns, taking coastal hikes to remote beaches, and hopping on local walking tours to soak in the cities’ history, while afternoons and evenings were dedicated to my clients and team back in Boston.
On weekends, I ventured further, and with the Balkans at my fingertips, I took a last-minute trip to Albania during my stay in Montenegro. Taking the bus into the mountain town of Shkoddër before hiking to the secluded mountain town of Theth, where crystal-blue waterfalls cut through the Albanian Alps. It was stunning — but not without hiccups.
Border crossing delays and an unexpected stomach bug made for a less-than-glamorous travel day, but luckily, they were anticipated. When traveling, things don’t always go as planned, so I was always sure to hope for the best but plan for extra time and a backup in case things didn’t work out as expected.
The experience reinforced the same lesson we apply in PR: plan ten steps ahead but be prepared to pivot when the unexpected inevitably happens.
Collaboration is key.
Even though I embarked on my Work Away solo, collaboration was at the heart of making it possible. I worked closely with colleagues and clients in advance to ensure coverage and stayed connected while abroad, keeping projects moving forward seamlessly.
That careful balance between independence and collaboration is what made the experience so rewarding. I had the chance to explore, but never felt disconnected from my team or my work at home.
This month-long adventure reminded me why I’ve always sought to “See more.” While a challenge at times, exploring opens us up to new ideas, people, and perspectives that strengthen both our personal lives and professional work.
Castle’s Work Away program is more than just a benefit; it’s an investment in creativity, growth, and the belief that new experiences make us stronger professionals.
Some additional photos from my adventure.
