Meet the Greenheart Travel Team: Jessica Wedge
Meet Jessica Wedge, Greenheart Travel’s High School Abroad Advisor!
Jessica’s first experience abroad was a trip to France with her high school French class. She proudly paid for the whole trip herself through her job at a grocery story. She has been an avid traveler ever since. She went on a study abroad program in college to the Netherlands and France, and upon graduation, she joined the Peace Corps and spent two transformative years in Cote d’Ivoire as a community health volunteer.
She’s visited so many countries, she’s losing count. She loves biking, cooking, gardening, and spending time with her wonderful friends, husband and two children.
Read on to learn a bit more about Jessica’s favorite international city, a special travel “aha” moment and what cuisine she would happily eat every day.
Q: Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Lansing, Michigan – a solid blue collar auto town. Some famous Lansing-ites besides myself, include Burt Reynolds and Magic Johnson.
Q: What is your favorite international city?
I love Paris and have never been able to spend a big enough chunk of time there to get to know it really well. I love the history, culture, food, and I love speaking French!
Q: What is your secret talent?
I can play the baritone ukulele fairly well! My favorite tune is “Crazy,” made famous by Patsy Cline but written by Willie Nelson.
Q: If you could eat only one country’s style of food for the rest of your life, which would it be?
Definitely Korean food. My husband, kids and I are obsessed with Korean food and can’t wait to go to Korea someday.
Jess’s daughter, Nina, enjoys some Korean food.
Q: Complete the sentence: When I grow up I want to __________.
Be a farmer! I have a big garden and chickens in my backyard in Chicago but I would love to have a legit farm someday.
Q: What is your spirit animal?
This is so nerdy but my kids and I are obsessed with birding. We’ve been lucky to spot the scarlet tanager and the northern flicker here in Chicago. Anyways, I guess my spirit animal would be a goldfinch, such a pretty, sweet, and laid back bird.
Looking for birds in the forest.
Q: What is your favorite travel “AHA! moment” or memory?
That moment when I was living in Cote D’Ivoire and finally was completely fluent in French! It’s an amazing feeling, when you suddenly realize everyone understand you and you understand them!
Q: What is your favorite thing about working for Greenheart Travel?
I love working with such smart and nice group of people! I work from home most of the time, so I also really enjoy coming into the office and having someone else make the coffee!
Jess’s husband and kids plan their future travel adventures.