ASSIGNMENT 1: INTRODUCTION

[Lauren Peters]

Hello, my name is Lauren Peters and I am a Junior at the University of Missouri. I am currently enrolled in Mizzou’s Nursing Program and will be starting nursing school this fall! What drew me to Thailand was the fascinating culture and peace that seems to be routed in many life styles in Thailand. I have previously had a lot of experience working with children and had been a care provider for all ages from opportunities that arise along side my major. When I found out I could be able to travel to Thailand and also work with the children of Thailand – I couldn’t believe it! I am so excited to make amazing relations and learn a lot about this beautiful country. I expect the cultural differences and language barrier may be of shock to me when I enter, but I will be sure to adapt and really try to immerse myself in the Thai culture. I cannot wait to experience what Thailand has in store!

[Caitlin Paul]

Hi everyone! My name is Caitlin, I’m 20 years old and I am from USA. I am currently studying at the University of Missouri pursing a career in speech language pathology. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to go to Thailand. The country has always been fascinating to me because it is enriched in culture. I specifically chose this program because of the opportunities I will have to teach English to kids. This is something that relates to my future career which makes me excited to expand in this area. I think the main barriers for me will be adapting to the language and also the spicy food. Sadly, I am not someone who enjoys spicy foods. I hope to overcome these language barriers by trying my hardest to learn from the locals and being able to embrace when I say things wrong and learn from it. I really hope to have an amazing experience and meet so many people from this program.

[Jalah Townsend]

Hi everyone!

I hope that you’re doing well! My name is Jalah Townsend. I am originally from Richmond, VA and currently live in Washington DC. I enjoy reading, spending time at my home, and I love love love working at Trader Joe’s (my fav hobby). I work full-time in higher education, specifically at the University of Maryland where I work for an honors program and have a passion for ensuring that every student has equitable access and opportunity to higher education.

In that quest, I’ve decided to explore this opportunity in Thailand because I am interested in learning more about the world and myself, both from a personal and professional note. I look forward to the challenges of being in a new place in a different environment where I may be the minority. I look forward to the lessons in flexibility and adaptability that I will take with me.

[Lorayne Kazee]

Hi everyone,
My name is Rayne and I’m 22 years old. I’m from Kentucky in the United States but just graduated from Texas Christian University. I am taking a gap year to teach in Thailand before going to graduate school to get my masters in Accounting and CPA. I plan to attend law school the following year. After four intense years of college, I decided to move to Thailand to take a break before pursuing my career aspirations. I was a camp counselor for several years and am excited to work with children again. The main challenges I anticipate with this move are logistical. To overcome those, I will do my best to stay on top of everything. Another challenge would be assimilation into Thai culture and the workplace. Teaching is very different than what I studied in college, so it will definitely be an adjustment. The key to overcoming these challenges is to keep an open mind and positive attitude. Through this experience, I hope to learn more about South East Asian cultures (specifically Thailand) and expand my global perspective. I hope the work in schools will be fulfilling.

[Geoff Carle]

Hello, My name is Geoff, I am 51 years young and was born in the USA. After serving 20 years in the United States Coast Guard I studied photography at the Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA. After receiving my bachelor’s degree in fine arts I started to practice light painting photography. I am currently in working on a light painting photography series in East Asia. I wanted to be surrounded by friendly people and beautiful scenery. This is why I picked East Asia.

The challenges I expect to face are language and culture barriers. I plan to overcome these challenges by observing and understanding the way of life in Thailand and other surrounding countries. Participating in community events is something I would like to do during my time in Hua Hin.

I hope to gain experience in teaching techniques and learn the history of Thailand. I also hope to immerse myself in the Thai culture.

[Tony Styan]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Tony, I am semi retired and run a small tourism business doing yacht tours of a beautiful lake I live near, on the Central Coast of NSW, Australia. During our winter months, my master plan was to travel overseas and give back to countries I have had the good fortune to visit in my younger years. Covid stopped all that. However last year I was in Nepal as a volunteer with an NGO set up by a local friend with local Rotary and Rotary International support. They have built a remote school and a training hub building centered in Kathmandu.
I enjoyed this experience and wanted to do more myself while I am able.
This year I will be in Nepal again, assisting teaching English, before this program in Thailand begins. My career was in Technical areas of communications and computers, so teaching will be a new challenge for me. I think the language barrier will be my biggest challenge and handling a class environment. I look forward to meeting other like minded souls who want to assist developing countries by the education of those not so fortunate and in their own personal growth and development. I am sure it will be rewarding personal experience for all participants.
This course will greatly assist me in being prepared for the challenges and experiences awaiting all of us.
my regards to all and look forward to meeting the July August 2024 group Tony

[Tony Styan]

Hi Geoff,
I am presently a volunteer with Marine Rescue NSW mainly as a radio operator, so a similar back ground. I believe you will find many rewards working in Thailand with its rich culture and diversity. Fine arts is an inspiration and you will find plenty to interest you in Thai art I am sure. Good luck and hope we meet.

[Tony Styan]

Hi Jalah,
I am not sure what Trader Joes is ( not in Oz ) but with your passion to ensure equal access to education for all, will go a long way when you are assisting disadvantaged students in Thailand.
Good luck with your quest and taking on the challenge. I am sure you will succeed.

[Daniel Kusnierik]

Hi everybody. I’m Daniel. I’ve been an educator and researcher in education for most of my adult life. As I have finished my studies in New Zealand, I’ve looked for a less challenging opportunity to help me get away from the highly stressful work I have been doing recently and I landed on this one.

I speak no Thai. And I’m not going to be speaking Thai well enough anytime soon. Well, we will see what happens, but I’m curious about this one above all.

I expect things to be a bit more peaceful at least for a while.

[Leonie Hassanali]

Hello everyone,
I’m Leonie and I’m 21 from Sheffield in the United Kingdom. I have just completed my final year at university studying physiotherapy at York St John University. I have chosen to travel to Thailand because it is an amazing opportunity to take part in, and I have always wanted to travel. As I have now completed my degree it is the perfect time to go. I expect the culture difference and the language barrier to be challenging however the more time I spend in Thailand the more I will hopefully learn making it less of a challenging. I hope to learn more about the culture in Thailand and be able to learn more about teaching in a Thai school.

[Candace Martin]

Hello!

My name is Candace and I am excited to be a part of the 2024 Thailand summer program! I am a seasoned educator from the United States. I have a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Communication. I have been a secondary Reading/English Language Arts teacher for the past 27 years. I am excited about this opportunity because it will be the first time that I have traveled overseas. Ever since I was a teenager, I have always carried the spark within me to live and work abroad. I’ve always dreamed that I would travel outside of my country and go to a foreign place where I could assimilate with the local people, speak their language, and work among them. That dream and spark within me has never died. It has stayed alive throughout the many obstacles I have faced in life including raising two dynamic daughters who are now grown and independent. As an educator, gaining the opportunity to teach abroad in the Thailand summer program would also enrich my own teaching experience and help me to continue to shape the minds of my middle school students when I return to my classroom in the fall.

By the end of this experience, I hope to gain an understanding of the cultural, educational, and social dynamics of Thailand. I hope to engage with new pedagogies and learn a wealth of information from my colleagues and students. I hope to learn educational practices and teaching strategies to bring back to my own classroom in the states. I also hope to meet lifelong friends and inspire students. Most of all, I want to be an inspiration to my family, friends, and colleagues. I want to show them that you’re never too old to live out your dreams and explore the world.

[Kaiya Kreassig]

Hello everyone,
My name is Kaiya Kreasig and I am 22 years old. I am from Virginia Beach, which is located in the United States. Recently, I graduated with a bachelor’s in business from Regent University. I previously studied at a University in Madrid and have traveled to Peru, Portugal, and France, all of which have sparked my love of experiencing new cultures. I have decided to participate in this Thailand program as I have always had a deep interest in traveling and learning about different cultures. Moreover, this will be an amazing opportunity to teach English, which is another interest of mine. I expect to face many challenges during this adventure, such as cultural differences, language barriers, and homesickness. However, although I do not speak Thai, I plan to learn it during my stay. I also aim to learn more about Thai culture while always being open-minded. I will also strive to connect with locals and other foreigners to overcome these challenges. Throughout this experience, I hope to learn more about Thailand, grow as a person, meet new people, push myself out of my comfort zone, and become immersed in the Thai culture. 

[Kaiya Kreassig]

Hi Rayne, I have just graduated with my bachelor’s and have decided to travel and teach in Thailand as well. I also anticipate that we will face many challenges regarding cultural differences but that we’ll overcome them by keeping an open mind and a willingness to learn. I wish you good luck on this adventure and your future endeavors!

[Myles Kehoe]

Hi,
I’m Myles, I was born and lived all my life in Ireland, at the age of 18 I moved to the UK to pursue a degree in Physiotherapy where I currently just finished at York St John University, therefore I regard myself as an ambitious and motivated person, accepting challenges, communicating with others and those of different cultures. I am looking forward to teaching English in Thailand and I understand that they may be many barriers to this such as the difference in culture and language. However I am certainly willing to develop these skills. I am excited to meet new people from all over and have a good time!

[Samuel Jones]

Hi, my name is Sam. I am 24 years and am a graduate from the University of York. Since graduating I have been lucky enough to have spent periods of time travelling and I ventured to South East Asia last year and fell in love with this amazing part of the world (in particular Thailand!). I knew this was a place where I wanted to spend more time on a long term basis, and teaching seemed to be the perfect way to be able to do this whilst also making a meaningful impact to the country of Thailand. I expect the initial adjustment period of living in a different country to be a challenge, and teaching is completely new to me so I have a lot to learn. I am however very eager to begin and use this opportunity to further myself and contribute towards my personal development.

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