ASSIGNMENT 1: INTRODUCTION

[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 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.

[Jawahra Atterberry]

Hello, my name is Jawahra “Jay” Atterberry, age 33, from Chicago, IL. Ive been a commercial photographer for roughly 10 years and I’m now shifting my career to teaching. With photography, I’ve traveled all over the world working with cruise ships, ski resorts and other seasonal positions. My travels have shaped me into a more well-rounded and adaptive person. I’ve always been great with children and I’m also passionate about language learning. I believe that working with children and the opportunity to teach language in Thailand will be a great opportunity for me and something that I will come to love. I expect that there will be challenges, such as learning a new culture and language, and changing fields of work- I plan to overcome these challenges by being disciplined, persistent and adaptable. From this experience I hope to become a better person, better the lives of my students, and come away with new skills and new meaningful experiences.

[Avery Hettinger]

Hi,
My name is Avery, I am from Colorado in the United States. I attended Colorado State University, where I recently earned my Bachelor of Science in Marketing. I have been fortunate enough to travel outside of the country, where I came to realize my desire to learn from new cultures and people. In 2023, I took a summer internship at a resort as an Advanced Childcare Attendant. I enjoyed building connections with the kids and inspiring them to grow. Between my passion for travel and starting a life out of the United States, along with my past experience of childcare, teaching in Thailand aligned with my goals. I am excited to learn about Thai culture, meet new people, and embrace the journey as a whole. Challenges I will face are homesickness, as it will be difficult to be so far away from family and friends, along with language barriers and trying to get settled in a different lifestyle. All of this will come with ups and downs, but it is a part of the experience, and that often leads to great growth. I will take each day a step at a time and give myself grace as I learn. I hope to build my confidence, connect with the community and my students, and learn from others.

I look forward to this course.

Best of luck to everyone,
Avery

[Janet Ellsworth]

Hi, my name is Janet (Sunny). I am from the US and am getting my BA in Eng Lit. I am doing this program to get my TESOL Certification so I can do something with my love of teaching while getting my higher education degrees completed and teach at the same time. I am actually not doing a teach in Thailand program but heading to Cambodia after the TESOL. I thought since I have been getting further and further away from home, why not keep going and do it in a way that expands not only my knowledge of “how-to” teach and do things but cultures as well. I expect getting around confidently and communicating while doing so to be a bit of a challenge but, hey, lie has its challenges and if things were always easy, what fun would that be. More exposure and just taking initiative to get out and see and do things in the areas we’re placed whether alone or grouped with other expats will definitely help build the confidence to do things we need to do alone on a daily basis where it just becomes second nature eventually.

[Felecia McBride]

Hello! My name is Felecia and I’m joining from Virginia, USA! I am traveling to Thailand for a 3-month English teaching position. I earned a TEFL certificate earlier this year, and have been gaining work experience primarily through volunteer teaching with adult students with a local church. My professional background is in Human Resources and I am taking this opportunity to explore a new career path. Some challenges I expect to face includes of course, the language barrier. I do not speak any Thai. With that, assimilating to cultural norms and figuring out how to get around. I hope to overcome these challenges by learning through this course as well as through peer support. I am already connected via Whatsapp to some participants who are already in Thailand, and offering lots of great real-time information. I hope to gain an experience of a lifetime and to gain professional teaching experience.

[Rosalind Herrington-Moxon]

Background Information About Yourself
Hello, my name is Rosalind, though most people call me Rose. I’m a wife and mother of two children—an 8-year-old and a 16-year-old. Originally from Los Angeles, California, I’ve also lived in Texas and Washington State due to my military background. In 2021, my family and I left the United States, gained residency in Panamá, and began exploring other countries. I am a licensed mental health therapist, and the flexibility of transitioning my practice fully online has allowed me to pursue my childhood dream of becoming a teacher.

Why Are You Deciding to Travel/Move to Thailand?
I was inspired to move to Thailand after my husband completed his program with Xplore Asia and shared such a positive experience. As I researched more about the country—its people, culture, and beauty—I felt a strong pull to experience it for myself.

What Challenges Do You Expect to Face Along the Way, and How Do You Expect to Overcome Them?
As with any major move, I anticipate challenges such as adapting to a new routine, navigating language barriers, and adjusting to a new way of life. I plan to meet these challenges with openness and resilience, always remembering my “why” and embracing the journey.

What Do You Hope to Get Out of Your Experience?
I believe that knowledge is meant to be shared. Through teaching, learning, and meaningful interactions, I hope to both impact others and be deeply impacted myself. When we live life with purpose—on purpose—we give and receive exactly what we need.

[Krystin Faith Villanueva]

Hi there, I’m Krystin. I’m 24 years old, Ian associate’s degree in nursing and a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership – which is a subdivision of a business degree. Previously, I spent approximately 2 months in Thailand with ESL camps, I thoroughly enjoyed by time there and decided I want to return and stay for a longer time.
I’m expecting several challenges, a major concern being feelings of inadequacy. I’m taking the TESOL course and have both a associate and bachelor’s degree, however, I know that I can and will continue to learn as I gain experience. Additionally, I’ve only lived in the same state and location for my entire life – therefore, I have some fear about being along and without my support team. To combat that, I plan to be open and willing to experience various things, additionally, I’ve thankfully made friends last time I was in Thailand and I’m excited to see them.
I would like to gain life experience while living in Thailand, I’m a person that loves to learn and I want to share my knowledge with others. I’m aware that learning a second language opens many opportunities and I want to be part of that journey.

[Felecia McBride]

Hi Avery! Nice to meet you. I enjoyed reading your bio and hope to meet in Thailand! What other parts of the world have you traveled, and have you ever taught ESL to children?

[Willy Paguyo]

Aloha and Sawadee-krap! My name is Willy, and I was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, USA. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Asian and Asian American Studies from Syracuse University. I’m excited to move to Thailand to immerse myself in a new culture, grow both personally and professionally, and contribute to the community through education. I know there will be challenges—adjusting to the heat and humidity, trying new foods (I’m not great with spicy food, but I’m willing to give it a try!), and navigating the language barrier. However, with an open mind and a love for learning, I’m confident I’ll overcome them. I hope to gain unforgettable experiences, form meaningful connections with fellow teachers and locals, and develop a deeper, more immersive understanding of myself, Thailand, and the world around me. Mahalo and khop-khun-krap!

[Wade Brennecke]

Hi. My name is Wade. I’m 26 years old, born and raised in California, USA. I attended Graceland University in Iowa for 2 years before joining the US Army immediately after turning 20 and completing my sophomore year of college. I remained on active duty for six years, until I fulfilled my service obligation in January of this year.
During my time in the military, I completed a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Liberty University. After discovering my love of travel, infatuation with other cultures, and passion for teaching and mentorship, I decided to pursue a master’s in international education, which I completed this year during a cultural exchange program in Italy.
I chose Thailand because it is somewhere I’ve wanted to travel to for over a decade. The culture, the nature, the bustling city of Bangkok, the food, the martial arts, and the low cost of living are all things that have attracted me to this beautiful country.
Moving anywhere outside of one’s home country comes with great challenges, but I have always thrived in those environments. Usually, the logistics of moving overseas are the most complicated aspects, such as obtaining a visa, finding a place to live, and navigating public transportation. However, I have learned to appreciate and admire the journey. It’s a highly valuable learning experience, always.
During my time in Thailand, I hope to explore as much as I can, meet great people, create lifelong memories, leave a lasting impact, and contribute to the society that I will be living in throughout the process.

[Ronald Gafford]

Hello:
My name is Ron Gafford. I am a TEFL Alumni residing in the United States. I am an attorney retiring my practice in the US. I plan to live in Thailand on a retirement VISA and voluntary teach ESL to Professionals and Young Adults. I have taught part time, Business Law and related curriculums at Universities of higher learning in the State of Illinois, USA over a period of five years. in the past. Although Law has always been my profession, teaching is something that I have enjoyed doing over the years. In Chicago, Illinois I have had several Thai friends and relationships. So I am not exactly foreign to Thai culture from an American Standpoint. I am looking forward to experiencing being in Thailand on the ground. At this time I look forward to the challenges of adapting to a new environment and contributing to its culture with my unique background and experience. I feel that this adventure will prepare me for my new environment in Thailand from a day to day living perspective.

[Claire Gao]

Hi everyone, my name is Claire and I’m from England, United Kingdom. I have just graduated university with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. Over the past few years, I have developed a keen interest in traveling. One of my favourite TV programmes is a British reality series called ‘Race Across the World’ by the BBC (the state-funded news and media production outlet here) which shows pairs from the UK travelling across the world. I’m particularly drawn to Thailand and South East Asia because of its rich and beautiful culture and history. Many of my friends have been there and have said that it’s amazing. I expect to face some challenges in adapting to new cultural norms and being mindful of my impact as a tourist on the local culture. I hope to make at least a small positive impact teaching English over the summer in Thailand, whilst also being able to see this part of the world before I begin my graduate job.

[Teresa Garcia-Nunn]

Hi! My name is Teresa, and I am from Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Prior to coming to Thailand, I was an animal care manager at a non-profit animal shelter. I have always wanted to live abroad and traveling feels more like home. Volunteering in Indonesia and Sri Lank are my favorite memories, and I am excited to be back in SEA. I had never been to Thailand prior to coming for my TEFL certification and to teach for a year but am excited to continue to learn more about the culture. I anticipate that the biggest challenges will be missing my dog back home and overcoming the challenges and unknowns of moving to another country, trusting myself and the process will be important to me overcoming these challenges but that’s also a big part of the experience. While not knowing where or what you’ll be doing next can be a little scary, it’s also so exciting! I look forward to the growth that comes with doing something completely new.

[Teresa Garcia-Nunn]

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• This reply was modified 9 months, 4 weeks ago by Teresa Garcia-Nunn.

[Teresa Garcia-Nunn]

Hi Rose, I think it’s so cool that you have made space in your life to pursue your life long dream of becoming a teacher. I found what you had to say about what you’re hoping to get out of the experience so interesting and am looking forward to speaking more in person!

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