ASSIGNMENT 1: INTRODUCTION

[Samantha Collette]

Hi, everyone! My name is Samantha and I will be taking the full course in Hua Hin starting on September 29th!

I am from the United States, originally from Massachusetts, but have lived in Wisconsin, Florida, and South Carolina with the company I just left. I worked for a global power tool company mostly focusing my time there in talent development and management roles. With that, I have 4+ years of classroom experience! I went to the University of Massachusetts and completed a Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration in Analytics of Marketing Demographics. I also had the privilege of being a TA for both math and marketing classes.

I visited Thailand almost two years ago now and absolutely fell in love with the environment and culture. I found myself sitting in a van on my way back from an elephant sanctuary outside Chiang Mai Googling how to come back and stay long term! When I got to a point of deciding I couldn’t stay in South Carolina or with my company any longer, I knew it was the right time to do something big and take on a new adventure like this!

The biggest challenge I feel I may face in Thailand is the language barrier. I don’t like to feel like I couldn’t just ask someone for help if I was in a tough situation, so I am already working on learning the language and conquering this potential barrier! If anyone is looking for more language learning, I would highly recommend ThaiPod101.com. They even have some of their lessons on Spotify!

I am so excited to get THE MOST out of this experience that I can! I’m excited to be a student again before becoming a teacher, to be an explorer of new places I’ve never been, and to immerse myself in a new culture more than I ever have before. I know this experience will change me for the better and I’m ready for it!

Can’t wait to meet everyone in Hua Hin in less than two months!

[Samantha Collette]

Hi Codi, I love hearing that tutoring helped you discover your passion for teaching! I definitely felt the same after getting to be a tutor/TA in high school and college. It’s such a fulfilling experience!

Maybe we can help each other learn more Thai while we’re there!

[Gurjot Kooner]

Hi! My name is Gurjot and I am 22 years old from the United Kingdom. I have just graduated from the University of Leeds as a Bachelor of Arts. I decided to move to Thailand to pursue this programme because I have really enjoyed my work experience within teaching in the past and working with young people. Additionally, I have a huge passion for travel, so this is my dream opportunity. My best friend at university is from Thailand which particularly drew me to this country as I heard about her amazing stories from her home country. The main challenges that I feel that I will face will be around culture shock, however to overcome this I want to learn the most that I possibly can about the Thai culture and way of life. I realise how lucky I am to have this opportunity to immerse myself in Thai culture, more than any tourist would be able to, and this outweighs any struggles that I may have with culture shock for me. From this experience I want to make a difference to the lives of my students, whilst also learning from them and really getting to know Thai society.

[Dannie Harrison]

Hi everyone! My name is Dannie, and I’m 41 years old and an ARMY veteran. I’m originally from Philly, but I’m currently living in San Francisco, CA. My time in Germany while in the army sparked my interest in continuing to travel and live abroad again eventually. After 20 years in the hospitality industry, I decided it was time for a change. I started as a Chef, then moved on to General Manager for restaurants and hotels. I co-owned a cafe and was even a contestant on two national TV shows. Needless to say, I’m done with hospitality! Last year, I decided to return to school and major in early childhood education. My work with kids includes roles such as English tutor, chef instructor, and behavior technician for children with Autism. My last few years in hospitality prompted me to start researching another career that would include travel, so my passion for working with youth made this decision easy. My best friend of 20 years is Vietnamese, and I lived with his family for 3 years. Being immersed in their culture inspired my curiosity about Asia. I was thrilled to discover a program that perfectly matched my needs and aspirations for exploring Asia. I’m ready to make this dream come true finally! I’m currently in Japan as a volunteer mentoring high school students and looking forward to Thailand to continue my career. I’m sure I’ll face many challenges, but I’d like to keep an open mind, be patient, and handle them with grace.
Most importantly, I’m looking forward to being a teacher who embodies and respects the culture, inspires youth, and above all, has fun while doing it!!! I’m hoping to make new friends and explore with those taking the course on September 29, 2025. I’d like to gain more knowledge on Thai culture, connect with the Thai community, and learning the language. From trying the food and exploring the endless temples to the fullest, this opportunity is a life-changing experience, and I look forward to embracing every moment.
Looking forward to meeting everyone soon!

[William Johnston]

My name is William, and I currently live in London, where I was born and raised. From a young age, I’ve had a strong interest in both sports and education. I studied Sports Science in college, where I developed a deep understanding of physical health, teamwork, and personal development. Following my academic years, I transitioned into the property industry, where I gained valuable experience in communication, professionalism, and working in fast-paced environments. These experiences have helped shape me into a confident, adaptable, and people-focused individual, always eager to take on new challenges.

The decision to move to Thailand stems from a lifelong dream of travel and exploration. From a young age, I’ve been fascinated by different parts of the world, and that curiosity has only grown stronger with time. Teaching abroad not only allows me to immerse myself in a new culture but also gives me the opportunity to contribute positively to others’ lives. I’ve always found great value in helping people learn and grow, and the idea of doing so in a setting as rich and vibrant as Thailand deeply excites me. I’m particularly drawn to the warmth of Thai culture, the emphasis on community, and the opportunity to experience life from a completely new perspective.

While I am incredibly excited about this journey, I also understand that it will come with its challenges. As someone with limited formal teaching experience, I anticipate that building confidence in the classroom and navigating the social dynamics of a new environment will be initial hurdles. However, I see these challenges as valuable growth opportunities. I plan to overcome them by embracing every chance to step outside of my comfort zone, actively learning from fellow teachers, and approaching each day with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to adapt.

Ultimately, I hope this experience will allow me to explore a new culture in depth, develop new life skills, and grow both personally and professionally. I want to become a more responsible, open-minded, and empathetic individual. I also hope to make meaningful connections with students and colleagues, share my own experiences where helpful, and embrace the personal development that comes with living and working in such a dynamic and enriching environment.

[Janelle Brewer]

Hi Everyone! My name is Janelle, and I’m 24 years old from Nova Scotia, Canada. I graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in Marketing, and have a strong background in team leadership, customer service and hospitality. I’ve also had the incredible opportunity to work with children through summer camps, coaching and volunteer projects, including teaching development work in Kenya and Tanzania. These experiences helped spark my passion for youth development and global learning.

I’ve decided to move to Thailand because I want to immerse myself in a new culture, gain teaching experience and communication skills, and to experience life from a different perspective. Thailand has always piqued my interest with its rich culture and beautiful landscapes. I view this move as a chance for me to grow personally and professionally.

Adjusting to a new language and navigating unfamiliar systems will be the biggest challenges for me but I’m prepared to approach each obstacle as a learning experience and willingness to ask for help when needed. My past international experiences have helped me become adaptable and resilient, which I know will serve me well.

From this journey, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of Thai culture, build meaningful connections, and develop skills that will help me in the future, especially in education. Teaching has always been something I’ve considered, so this experience will be a great opportunity to see if I want to shift my career path and pursue teaching full-time by going back to school for a Bachelor of Education.

[Wolfgang Culleton]

Hi, my name is Wolfgang, and I am 22 years old. I am from the United States, and I live in Philadelphia. I have just graduated from Lehigh University with a major in history. I like soccer and cats. I was unsure of what I wanted to do for a career before I graduated and so when I heard about teaching in Thailand, I jumped at the opportunity. I have worked many years at a sleep away summer camp, but I have never gone into education before. So, I am nervous to be entering this new world. Also, I really wanted to explore Asia and its many different nations and cultures after visiting China. I also want to develop my skills and confidence in teaching and hope to become a teacher back in the United States. I believe I will have some challenges at first being able to hold a rooms attention for long periods of time and I always fear being seen as a boring orator. But I still hope I can make an impact on a few students and have them remember me as a positive force in their childhood. I also hope to have a better understanding of Thai culture and also to have a decent understanding of the language.

[Caity Prasuhn]

Greetings fellow travelers! My name is Caity and I was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado. I got my degree in Animal Sciences (cattle, sheep, and pigs) and for the last 10 years I have been working with dogs and cats in vet medicine. Besides my passion for animals I have always had a love for new cultures and travel. Both my parents were elementary school teachers and between the ages of 4 and 6 we lived in Berlin, Germany. During this time we explored all over Europe and the desire to travel has been burning in me since. Unfortunately, the field of vet med does not allow much time for travel so it has been 10 years since I have been out of the country. When day dreaming about travel and looking into destinations I have frequently felt a pull towards Thailand. I have not gotten to do any travel in Asia and am very excited to get to dive in and immerse myself over the 6 months of training and teaching. I expect there will be moments of homesickness and I know this will be especially hard as I am leaving my dog with family while I am gone. I aim to combat homesickness and missing my dog by creating connections in the community and finding events to get me out and interacting with others. I also hope to find a dog rescue I can volunteer with as I am used to being around animals everyday. Entering this experience I am coming from a period of overworking and burn out. I plan on using this time to recenter and re-evaluate what I need in order to bring joy into my daily life. What better place to seek renewed joy than the “Land of Smiles”!

[Donalisa Hall]

Hi everyone!
My name is Donalisa! I’m 28 years old and I’m from Chicago, Illinois in the United States.

I am so excited to be here and to finally be going to Thailand it’s something I’ve always dreamed of doing. I have no major responsibilities holding me back right now, and I told myself.. Why not? I don’t want to live a life full of “what ifs” or regrets, so I’m diving in headfirst.

A little about me: I’m half Filipino, so I’ve always had a deep love for Asian culture, but I really want to explore more of Southeast Asia especially the beauty and culture of Thailand. I’ve never been before and I don’t know anyone there, so this is a completely new adventure for me which is both exciting and a little nerve, if I’m honest!

Professionally, I’ve been working with kids of all ages since around 2018. I’ve been a teacher, a before-and-after-school care instructor, a paraprofessional, and a nanny so basically, I’ve done it all in the education space. So I’m really looking forward to bringing that experience to Thailand and making a difference in a whole new environment.

I know there will be an adjustment but I travel very often and I’m open to the challenge. I’m here to get out my own way to grow, to learn, and to embrace everything this opportunity has to offer and I’m super excited to meet all of you and make connections, share this journey and live our best lives together!

I am just glad i wont be doing this completely alone. Let’s make the most of it! See you all soon!

[Keshia WaldronCumberbatch]

Hello, all. I am Keshia Waldron-Cumberbatch. I’m from the USA. In the past I have worked with the youth, helping them to build up their confidence through the Arts. Many of those children are now in College and or high school. I am proud to have been a contribution to their development. I am also an Author. I released my children’s book “Starlan’s Big Step” in Spring of 2024. My book brings me so much joy to have written and conceptualize.

My move to Thailand is me challenging myself even further than I already have. I’m excited to teach my language to eager and willing students, helping them on their educational journey. It is such a privilege to be able to be a contribution to society in this way. I am excited for this new journey in my life.

The challenges that I expect to face along the way is the language barrier of course. I plan/expect to overcome it by assimilating into Thai culture.

Out of my experience I expect to receive freedom. Freedom to be myself, learn and adapt. Also being surrounded by the children, helping them on their journey is exciting for me.

[Grace Chan]

Hi my name is Grace Chan and I am from Weston, Connecticut in the United States. I recently graduated from the University of New Hampshire with my bachelors of science in environmental conservation and sustainability. Last spring I studied abroad in Vienna, Austria and fell in love with the people, culture, and lifestyle of the Viennese. This experience helped me realize how little I know about other parts of the world and I knew I wanted to live abroad again post grad. Throughout college I loved my major but was unsure of what to do with it when I graduated, but teaching was always a passion of mine. I chose to teach English in Thailand because I have heard nothing but good things about the people and culture. I also grew up as an Asian American without ever going to Asia and I think this experience will bring me closer to my family. I expect to come across a lot of challenges along the way but am ready to adapt to the Thai lifestyle. I think the biggest issue will be communicating due to the language barrier but am prepared to overcome any challenges presented. I can’t wait for the opportunity to teach kids in Thailand and be fully immersed in this amazing culture! See you all soon!

• This reply was modified 9 months, 1 week ago by Grace Chan.

[Keeley Bishop]

Hello Everyone.
My name is Keeley, I am from Bristol in the UK.
I have only done up to Collage in my education and went into full time working.
In my spare time, I like to go traveling to different places and learn new things.
This will be my second time to Thailand, I went in 2022 on a group tour and teaching was involved in that as well.
I have decided to join this program because I enjoyed Thailand so much last time and wanted to experience more of it with the history and culture. Also push myself out of my comfort zone to experience something new.
The challenges I expect to face along the way is my confidence within myself also my shy ness and the hole teaching thing, as teaching is not my job but I know on this program there are people like me with no teaching experience so we will all learn together. Doing these classes before will really help and help to prepare everyone.
What I expect to get out of this experience is working with the children to learn new things, learn new culture, some languages and learn more about thailand but the main bit is, is just to have fun and enjoy the experience.

[Connor Bennett]

Hello! My Name is Connor I’m 21 and I am from Canada. I have finally finished my University degree getting a bachelors in science from Western and now I’m going to Thailand for the Hua Hin program. I saw this opportunity at my University and it really interested me because I enjoy travelling to new places, learning about different cultures and I wanted to get better at teaching so it seemed to fit perfect for my next year.

Learning as much as I can about Thailand in just a month will be challenging for sure. But I hope working together with a bunch of you guys will help make it easier! I really hope to meet some new people and make new friends around the world while getting better at teaching. Can’t wait to start 🙂 !

[Tyler Wetzler]

Hi everyone, my name is Tyler, I’m 23 years old, and I’m from South Florida. I decided to move to Thailand for the year as I am very passionate about getting outside of my comfort zone and I am eager to learn about a new culture. Thailand offers everything that I am looking for and I’m privileged to be able to have the opportunity to integrate myself and learn about the special culture. Likewise, I think teaching is an extremely valuable opportunity and a great way to maximize my experience. I think my two biggest challenges are the logistics (getting there and getting everything situated/having a routine) and just being a bit nervous in general as I’m going to be leaving my family for a year. I hope to grow as a person both professionally and personally. I also hope that I develop amazing relationships with my students and friends that I meet along the way.

[Megan Graby]

Hi everyone! 👋
I’m Megan, 25, from the UK, where I currently teach primary school children. Teaching has been such a big part of my life, but I’ve always wanted to step outside my comfort zone, so I’m heading to Thailand to teach English!
I’m excited to experience Thai culture, learn how teaching works in another country, and meet new people along the way. I know there will be challenges — from adapting to a new education system to being far from my family and friends — but I’m ready to embrace them with an open mind.

My biggest hope is to grow in independence, discover more about myself, and create memories that I’ll carry with me forever. Looking forward to starting this adventure!

— Megan

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