ASSIGNMENT 1: INTRODUCTION

[Michal Penwell]

Having grown up in a small town in the United States, it was easy to assume that the world was small, too. I often looked at a globe and thought that you could see it all so easily. As a grew up, went to university, and began to actually travel the world – through stories, and in person, I started to realize just how much world there is to discover. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Theology and Intercultural Studies, I moved to Bangkok, Thailand in my early twenties. I spent over eight years immersed in this environment learning about the cultural, the language, and, most humbling, myself. Since that time I have traveled all over the world – teaching, painting, writing, creating, and always learning. I have transitioned through many vocational endeavors – working in factories, churches, bars, fitness centers, and offices. I am an artist, personal trainer, minister, and pilgrim. I’m still growing up, but not in a small town, not in a small mind anymore. There are still fathoms of soul and culture to explore.

I have chosen to return to Thailand, because it is a place where I have always felt at home. It is a place abundant in gifts, and a place open to receiving my gifts – of creativity and inspiration. I do not think it will be easy to return to an environment that I knew so well, as I am different now – wiser, perhaps, but also potentially less flexible. I intended to keep a soft heart, and learner’s posture so that I can receive what is here NOW, not just fantasize about what used to be. I hope this opportunity allows me to love more fully, inspire more deeply, and live more creatively.

Oh, and my name? My name is Michal Ruth, but Thai people call me Mic. This changing of my name was one of the first, and perhaps most challenging surrenders I made when I first moved to Thailand 20 years ago. It felt scary and intimidating to loose my name, my name which identifies ME. Over time, however, I began to understand that through releasing my white knuckled grasp on who I believed myself to be, I was able to embrace all that I actually am.

[Lowri Williams]

Hi! My name is Lowri and I’m from Wales. I’ve decided to move to Thailand to start my own adventure. I’ve been working in a Welsh school for the last two years and I’m ready to broaden my horizons. Having never been to Asia, I’m expecting quite the culture shock. Nevertheless, I’m beyond excited to learn and embrace new cultures and experiences that I can take with me wherever I go. I hope to gain a deeper insight into how different parts of the world work while creating unforgettable memories along the way.

[Rachel Downing]

Hi everyone, my name is Rachel and I am 25, from Coventry in England. I graduated 4 years ago from the University of Leeds and have a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Within sociology, my favourite topic was always the sociology of education, and I have always felt passionate about equal opportunities within education. Therefore, teaching felt like the best way to positively impact students’ education. Last year I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Southeast Asia. I loved the Thai culture and seeing how other people in the world live. It changed my perspective on a lot of things as it exposed me to new ideas, cultures and beliefs. As a backpacker, I knew I wasn’t able to embrace the culture as much as I would be able to if I had lived there for an extended period, and therefore thought teaching abroad would be the perfect opportunity for this. I believe there will be language and cultural barriers, but I hope to overcome this by fully embracing the Thai culture and learning the basics of the Thai language. I am hoping that this experience will help me to become more resilient, whilst also making lifelong memories and starting a career within teaching!

[Maria Garcia]

Hi everyone, my name is Laria, and I’m from New Mexico in the United States. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts. After taking a few years off to work, I decided I was ready for a new adventure. I obtained my TEFL certification and had the opportunity to train and teach ESL to adult learners, many of whom were immigrants from various backgrounds.
I’ve never taught children before, so I’m very excited to finally get the chance! My family is originally from Mexico, so I’m bilingual, which has inspired my desire to explore other cultures and social norms around the world. I find it all fascinating.

Traveling is such a powerful way to expand your understanding of how big the world truly is and to meet amazing people along the way. I chose Thailand for several reasons. The culture has always intrigued me, and I was looking for a destination that offers flexibility, as I’m not currently able to commit to a year-long contract.Most importantly, I was drawn to Thailand’s rich culture, warm people, and spiritual roots especially the influence of Buddhist philosophy. I’ve read that Thailand is very welcoming to foreigners.

This will be my first time living abroad. A few years ago, I backpacked through Japan for a month, which was an incredible experience. Still, I know living in a new country comes with challenges specifically the language barrier but I plan to face them with patience and flexibility. While I know there will be difficult days, I’m counting on the rewarding ones to make it all worth it. Through this journey, I hope to gain new perspectives on my life path, challenge myself to grow independently, and finally have the opportunity to teach children and expand my skills as an educator.

[Maria Garcia]

Hi Rachel,

It’s nice to meet another fellow backpacker! Sociology is such an interesting field, and I’m sure it’s played a big role in your desire to travel and learn about different cultures. I completely agree with your point about not being able to fully immerse yourself in a culture while backpacking, my experience was the same. Moving around frequently to explore new places doesn’t leave much time to truly integrate into the local way of life, which I had really hoped for. This journey will be an amazing opportunity for growth in so many ways. Wishing you all the best!

[Sibongile Mzuzu]

Hey there everyone!
I am Sibongile Mzuzu from Gqeberqha, Eastern Cape a beautiful city along the coastline of South Africa. As a beauty enthusiast I naturally qualified as Somatologist and Paramedical Aesthetician to further my knowledge of what I had presumed beauty was at the time. Along my studies I discovered Eastern methodologies such as the Body, Mind and Spirit model which drastically changed my perspective and how I show up in my day-to-day life. My decision to Teach in Thailand was an easy one not only because I’ve been hypnotized by the culture and what it has got to offer but at my core, I am a devoted aunt who was blessed with nieces and a nephew from a young age. The opportunity to babysit and tutor young children as a Bilingual family really brought us together and as a result of that time teaching them English, we now have a shared love of books because of it. I’m a creature of habit and I’m extremely family oriented so those are the adjustments I expect to face, I would say that I am very adaptable having grown up around a lot of different cultures so ill immerse myself in different outdoor activities and shopping to get over feeling homesick. There a few things that come to mind when I consider the person I want to be at the other end of the program, some seem out of reach but the ones I will work on are becoming more tolerant, putting myself out there yet in unchartered waters alone and discovering what it is I love so deeply about Asian Culture.

[Dennis Montagano]

Hello everyone, my name is Dennis. I’m originally from Italy, but I have been living in London for the past 6 years, where I achieved a BA degree in Spanish and English and a MA degree in translation and interpreting. I currently work as a language teacher, as foreign languages and cultures have been my calling since high school, when I started participating in workshops abroad as the leader of the Italian delegation during a series of Erasmus+ KA2 projects. I also worked with children as a camp counsellor and as a ESL (English as a Second Language) tutor in the US and Poland, and I’m looking forward to expand my international-oriented experience to Thailand. I’m particularly excited about it especially because of its Muay Thai culture, as I used to be an amateur fighter, and in general I am always enthusiastic about learning about new cultures and meet new like-minded people from all over the world, creating lifelong bonds and memories. While I know that I will meet challenges, especially considering I mostly visited and worked in western-world countries, I welcome them too as a part of the experience and my continuous development journey

[Lucas Triplett]

Hello,

My name is Lucas, born and raised in Kansas and currently living in Florida. I have a Bachelors in Business with a focus on Marketing, and an MBA, both of which were obtained from Western Governors University over the last few years.

I have always wanted to travel to Europe, and didn’t want to be a simple tourist. It just took me a lot longer to set everything up to be able to take this chance. I settled on Thailand because of the course with ITA and Xplore looked very promising, and also the lower costs to get started. Plus, I’ve spent long enough in Florida to get used to the type of weather Thailand is famous for.

As for challenges, this is my first time ever teaching, and I’ve always been very nervous giving speeches. And while the language barrier will be hard, I tend to pick up the basics of foreign languages easily enough.

I don’t want this to be a simple vacation or gap year, but a potential career path, or a means to find new opportunities not afforded to me here in the US.

[Yvette Klauer]

Hello Everyone,
My name is Yvette, and I am from the United States, specifically Iowa. I have a bachelor’s degree in writing and am designing a children’s book. I decided to travel to and stay in Thailand for a couple of months because I heard it was the land of smiles, and it warmed my heart to think of everyone smiling. I’ve always wanted to be culturally immersed and truly be a part of another culture, and then I found ITA-TEFL! I think my biggest struggles are going to be internal—the anxiety of whether I am teaching well enough, language barriers, and probably a little homesickness. I plan to counteract these by giving myself grace and referring back to the TEFL course PDFs (there’s a great section on culture shock). I downloaded Ling and have been practicing the Thai language. I can also make a friend from school and have them immerse me even more into the culture. I hope. No, I know, I will be forever changed after this experience, which is enough for me. I will gain new experiences from joy, laughter, resilience, frustration, and walking my own path. I hope to bring this back to the States with me, create more children’s books, and let everyone else have a slice of immersion.

[Calia Hunter]

Hi everyone!!! My name is Calia Hunter and I reside in Petaluma, California within the USA. A bit about me, I am an intuitive and energetic healer, student, and humanistic psychologist with an immense passion for holistic health and wellbeing. I am positively thrilled to be engaging with you all through this program and spending time in Thailand as it is a country I’ve had on my travel bucket list for over a decade. I truly look forward to visiting the elephant sanctuaries, trying the local food, visiting local temples, and immersing myself in a predominantly Buddhist, spiritually rich culture.

When considering some challenges I am likely to face within my time in Thailand, I’m immediately brought to concerns centered around being a dark-skinned African American woman. While I have heard very positive things from other people of color who have traveled to Thailand and experienced a very warm reception, I suspect I may run into a few minor challenges relating to working within rural areas that are not frequented by tourists as often. Nevertheless, I am confident that by operating through a lens of warmth, kindness, and empathy, I will be able to connect with the locals in a meaningful way.

Overall, what I hope to gain out of this experience is cultural enrichment, a shift in worldly perspective, and an opportunity to connect with a variety of individuals and communities that I would have otherwise been unable to access in my typical routine. Much like I described in my initial paragraph, there is an abundance of enriching activities and environments that I would love to immerse myself in and look forward to the opportunity to do so.

[Andy Smith]

Make your introduction
Background information about yourself
Why are you deciding to travel/move to Thailand?
What challenges do you expect to face along the way and how do you expect to overcome them?
What do you hope to get out of your experience?

Hi, I am Andy. I am 29, currently live in Birmingham where I have stayed since graduating university and worked in a variety of marketing roles, as well as for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games which was a particular career highlight.
I have always loved travelling since going on family holidays as a child, this passion has stayed with me into adult life and though I’ve done lots of solo travelling, I’ve long held aspiration to fully throw myself in and live and work abroad, but previously in life never felt it was quite the ‘right’ time. Now it is. I have friends from Thailand, some of my favourite musicians produced work I adore in Thailand and everything I’ve learned about the country and the culture appeals to me. I am excited to make a difference and engage with the culture while helping young minds grow and hopefully equipping them for a great future.
I expect the shift into teaching will provide some challenges, in terms of communicating effectively, managing a classroom full of kids and the perceivable language barrier. I believe it will be a combination of time and determination to get over these challenges and incorporate them into my wider learning experience.
I hope to grow as a person through this experience, to make friends and connect with people, to understand life a bit more and to feel that I have contributed something truly worthwhile in a working capacity.

[Isaac Woolner]

I’m Isaac, and I’ve always been drawn to exciting experiences. I have a strong passion for food, culture, exercise and personal development, and I actively look for situations that broaden my horizons and aid in my development. I thrive on immersion learning, whether it’s trying a new meal or navigating strange traditions. That’s a major factor in my decision to relocate to Thailand. For someone like me who values not only travel but transformation via lived experience, the nation’s vibrant street food culture, spiritual traditions, and rich cultural tapestry make it the perfect destination.

A major part of this journey is my passion for teaching English. I’ve discovered that teaching is not just about language—it’s about connection, communication, and watching confidence grow in others. I love the challenge of adapting my teaching style to different learners and finding creative ways to make language come alive. In Thailand, I’m excited to bring that passion into the classroom, where I can both teach and learn from my students.

Naturally, I expect to face challenges—language barriers, adapting to new social norms, and moments of isolation are all likely. But I see those not as obstacles, but as catalysts for growth. I plan to approach each difficulty with curiosity and humility, using it as an opportunity to learn. I’ll welcome the challenge, just as I’ve done throughout my life, whether in work, relationships, or travel.

Ultimately, I hope to come out of this experience more grounded, more open, and more connected—not only to Thai culture, but to myself. I don’t want to leave but if I have to,I want to leave with stories, relationships, and insights I couldn’t have gained anywhere else. More than anything, I want to grow—and I believe Thailand is the perfect place to do it, both as a teacher and as a human being.

[Jason Townsend-Rogers]

Hello everyone,

My name is Jason Townsend-Rogers, and I am from Florida, in the United States. I am currently working as a teacher abroad in China, where I have been located for more than five years. Prior to working in China, I have spent time working as a primary school teacher and ESL educator in my hometown.
My desire to travel to Thailand stems from me not only wanting to fulfill my own personal goals of travelling and teaching in many different places abroad, but also to gain skills and experiences that will allow me to further develop as a teacher. I have had the opportunity to visit Thailand many times during my holiday breaks, such as the time when I vacationed in Bangkok or when I played tennis in Phuket. Interestingly, a hotel in Bangkok, Thailand served as the location where I received my master’s degree in Teaching.
I am well-aware that visiting Thailand as a working teacher rather than a vacationing one will come with its own set of challenges, such as overcoming language barriers, getting used to new surroundings, and adapting my teaching style to the expectations of my new working environment. However, I am confident that I can overcome these challenges through use of the experiences I have obtained throughout my time as a working teacher abroad alongside careful advanced preparation, some of which I am obtaining through this course.
As I continue my teaching journey in Thailand, I not only hope to obtain additional opportunities to make a positive impact in the lives of students that I teach, I also hope to obtain a clear pathway that will allow me to develop myself as both an educator and a person.

[Anette Basson]

Hi everyone, my name is Anette Basson, and I’m from South Africa. For the past few years, I’ve been teaching math to primary and pre-primary school kids. Besides teaching I’ve also been doing freelance photography for quite a while now. My first traveling experience was as a cruise ship photographer. I enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life and different cultures. It was at this stage of my life I realised I would love to one day work and experience life in Asia.

I’ve got two daughters who are off on their own traveling adventures now, and since exploring Asia has always been a dream of mine, I decided to embark on this journey to Thailand!

I am really excited but honestly a bit nervous given the unknown challenges that come with such a venture. One thing on my mind is the food and how different it might be. I plan to be open-minded and try new dishes, but will mostly stick to more Western food in the beginning. Another concern is getting used to the hot and humid conditions but I’m sure that once I settle in, I’ll adapt quickly.

I can’t wait to meet the kids and learn from them! Through this experience, I hope to gain new skills, grow both personally and professionally, and make a lot of memories!

[Catherine Goba]

My name is Catherine Goba, a multidisciplinary artist and wellness advocate originally from Atlanta, now based in Brooklyn, New York. My background spans creative fields such as music, culinary arts, and holistic health, with recent accomplishments including the in progress publication of my wellness cookbook Burnt by Burnout and the launch of my herbal tea line, Sickle Wellness Tea, designed to support individuals living with chronic illness. I’ve also worked in media production and administration, using my talents to bridge healing, community, and creativity.

I have chosen to travel to Thailand to complete a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification program, with the goal of expanding both my global perspective and professional opportunities. Teaching English abroad is not only a chance to give back through education, but also a way for me to live and work in new cultural environments while staying creatively and spiritually grounded. Thailand’s rich culture, respect for holistic practices, and warm communities make it an ideal setting for this next chapter.

Of course, with any major relocation come challenges. I anticipate facing cultural and language barriers, homesickness, and the logistics of adapting to a different healthcare system—especially while managing my own chronic condition, sickle cell disease. However, I believe these challenges will be valuable growth points. I plan to overcome them through preparation, mindfulness practices, and by immersing myself fully in local life with an open heart and curious spirit.

Ultimately, I hope this experience deepens my understanding of intercultural communication, strengthens my resilience, and opens the door to new collaborations—both as an educator and an artist. I view this journey not just as a professional step, but as a personal transformation: one rooted in learning, healing, and connection.

[Author]

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