ASSIGNMENT 1: INTRODUCTION

[Laura Ivancevic]

Hello. My name is Laura and I am from Croatia. I have studied and live in both the UK and Netherlands. I have completed my bachelor studies in Psychology (major) and Fine Arts (minor), and my masters in Psychology of talent development and creativity. I have already volunteered in Sri Lanka as part of my psychology placement upon completion of my undergrad studies, and in Costa Rica where I taught English in schools. I am moving to Thailand because I am interested in its culture, traditions and way of living. I have heard many positive experiences from other people as well about visiting Thailand and I am very excited to part of it.
The challenges I expect to face while living in Thailand are some cultural differences and adaptation to them, and also homesickness at times. But with these I also expect to sharpen my ability for adaptation and for mental growth and expansion. As far as homesickness is considered, I would like to keep touch with people I know from back home and with my family.
From this experience, I hope to get expansion in personal growth, new skills and knowledge, a lot of new experiences, new friendships and acquaintance. Also I would like to use this time of being in Thailand to travel around and to possibly enrol snorkelling course.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 2 weeks ago by Laura Ivancevic.

[Maili Cumming]

Hi,
My name is Maili, I was raised in Kent, England but have been living in Edinburgh for the past couple years because of my animation degree!

I’ll be moving to Thailand to teach English through the Xplore Asia programme. A big reason behind why I want to move here is because I’m of Vietnamese descent and I want to be able to not only immerse myself in Thai/south-east Asian culture but to be able to form connections with their people and provide valuable education.
I expect that it’ll be a big adjustment for me learning the language, the culture and also being able to teach Thai children a foreign language that is very familiar for me. However, I’ve always done well with languages and teaching so I’m sure it won’t take me long to become accustomed!
Confidence seems to be something that a lot of people hope to grow in when moving across countries, which also applies to me. I’ve never really solo travelled properly so I really hope I find the strength within myself to build the life I know is possible for me in Thailand.

[Lilitha Kayi]

Hello everyone! My name is Lilitha, and I am from South Africa. I am a qualified Maths and Science high school teacher, and also a Bachelor of Applied Social Sciences (majoring in Psychology and Counselling) student. I have decided to move to Thailand due to my love and interest of the country’s food and culture, and to gain intercultural experience for a chance to get into the Psych Master’s programme in a few years from now. The challenges I expect to face in this journey, would certainly be language barrier as well as the Thai way of life, but knowing myself; I am a very adaptable and flexible person, so I will definitely do everything it takes to immerse myself. From this experience, I hope to gain great social skills, and leave a lasting impact on the lives of my students and colleagues at large.

[Kenneth Parris]

My name is Kenneth, I’m from the US, already TEFL-certified, and I’ve taught in a few countries across Europe and Asia for a total of 3 years. I actually now work as a TEFL advisor, assisting new students to become teachers and start their adventures abroad! I’m moving to Thailand because it’s a country that has tons of teaching opportunities, very manageable cost of living, plus I had a positive experience with the locals when I visited before. For the first time, I’ll be going abroad with my partner, which is a big reason for this move as well, since we want to have one big adventure together before settling into the next phase of life. Challenges I expect will be the language, heat, and adjusting to a new school system. As with anywhere, I control what I can control, and lean on my colleagues for guidance within the Thai society. Overall, I hope to reignite my creativity, as I’ve felt stifled in that area for the past few years, and reconnect with teaching as a career.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by Kenneth Parris.

[JShuster]

Hey everyone, my name is Jacob Shuster and I’m a screenwriter from New York. I’m an amateur at guitar and oud; and I love volunteering to help rescue and TNR cats back home. I decided to travel to Thailand because I heard a lot of great things about XploreAsia from my girlfriend’s experience doing the course and teaching in South Korea; so I decided to give it a try and take the course somewhere new, (though I intend to teach in China and not Thailand).

I’ve had the privilege of studying abroad back in college and traveling a bit more since then, so I’m familiar with culture shock and how to deal with it. Though I do have to say, I have a sensitive stomach (I’m actually submitting these assignments a bit late due to having already had food poisoning for the last week); so I think my biggest challenge is going to be walking a fine line between eating healthy and not getting anymore food poisoning. Thai is also a difficult tonal language, and one that I wasn’t prepared to learn, so even the most basic phrases have proven to be a challenge for me.

I was hoping maybe I’d meet one or two other students who intended to teach in China, though I understood it was unrealistic to expect any here to be doing so. Otherwise I love exploring and learning about new cultures and art; and Thailand clearly has a really strong appreciation for the visual arts considering how much street art I’ve already seen around Hua Hin! The people have already been very warm and welcoming, so I’m happy to continue to learn even more about the culture here. I’m not a fan of individualism, especially of the ‘rugged’ American variety, so the collectivist nature of Thailand is a breath of fresh air.

[Donnisha Peacock]

Hello my name is Donnisha Peacock, and I am from Washington, DC. I am a navy veteran who has served in the Navy for over 4 years. During my time in the military, I got the opportunity to travel and live overseas for the first time. I lived overseas in Japan for about a year and I loved it. I also had an opportunity to visit South Korea, and Guam.

I have decided to move to Thailand because I wanted a change of scenery and a new career. I loved the person that I became in Japan and how it made me blossom into a social butterfly. Moving to another country forces you in a way to shift your old identity and form a new one.

I’m pretty sure that there will be a lot of language barriers, not having access to tissue in public restrooms, not being to have access to certain products that I can get from my home country, and learning how to adopt to a new way of life and culture. I expect to overcome these challenges by just taking it one day at a time, not forcing myself to learn everything overnight, and learning how to be content with my current situation.

From this experience, I hope to gain a lot of knowledge about the Thai people and the Thai culture. I hope to discover new things about myself that I never knew, I hope to gain new friendships, and I hope to potentially make living overseas a reality and a way of life for me.

[Javier Gomez]

Hi everyone!
My name is Javier, I’m from Spain, and I recently graduated from York St John University in England, where I studied Physical Education and Sport Coaching. I’ve always been passionate about sports, education, and working with young people, and I’m now really looking forward to starting this new chapter in Thailand.
I decided to move to Thailand because I want to combine my two biggest passions, teaching and physical activity while discovering a completely new culture. I believe that teaching English through games, movement, and interaction can make a real difference for children, and Thailand seems like the perfect place to keep growing both personally and professionally.
Of course, I expect some challenges along the way, such as adapting to a new language, cultural differences, and being far from my family. However, I’m confident that keeping an open mind, staying positive, and learning from local people will help me overcome any difficulties.
What I hope to gain from this experience is much more than just teaching skills, I want to learn from Thai culture, improve my communication and adaptability, and develop as a teacher who can connect with students from different backgrounds. I also hope this experience will help me grow as a person and prepare me for a long-term career in education around the world.
I’m really excited to start this journey and meet everyone soon!

[Javier Gomez]

Hi everyone! My name is Javier, I’m from Spain and I recently graduated from York St John University in England where I studied Physical Education and Sport Coaching. I’ve always been passionate about sports, education and working with young people and I’m now really looking forward to starting this new chapter in Thailand. I decided to move to Thailand because I want to combine my two biggest passions, teaching and physical activity, while discovering a completely new culture. I believe that teaching English through games, movement and interaction can make a real difference for children and Thailand seems like the perfect place to keep growing both personally and professionally. Of course, I expect some challenges along the way such as adapting to a new language, cultural differences and being far from my family. However, I’m confident that keeping an open mind, staying positive and learning from local people will help me overcome any difficulties. What I hope to gain from this experience is much more than just teaching skills, I want to learn from Thai culture, improve my communication and adaptability and develop as a teacher who can connect with students from different backgrounds. I also hope this experience will help me grow as a person and prepare me for a long-term career in education around the world. I’m really excited to start this journey and meet everyone soon!

[Addison Nickel]

Hi everyone,
My name is Addison Nickel, and I’m from Seattle, Washington, where I currently still reside. I recently graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Human Development. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with children in a variety of settings, which has deepened my passion for supporting their growth and development.
I decided to teach English in Thailand because it perfectly combines two of my greatest passions—working with children and traveling. This opportunity truly feels like the best of both worlds. Although I’ve never been to Thailand, I’m very excited for the adventures, experiences, and cultural learning that await me.
I anticipate that one of my biggest challenges will be navigating the language barrier, as I’m not yet fluent in Thai. While I’ve started learning some words and phrases, I’m still a bit nervous about not always understanding or being understood—especially in the classroom setting. Additionally, adjusting to life in a new country will be a significant transition, but one that I’m eager to embrace.
Ultimately, through this experience, I hope to grow in every way possible—building my confidence, immersing myself in a new culture, and continuing to define the path I want to take both personally and professionally.

Best,
Addison

[Eric Amancio]

Hello Everyone,
My name is Eric Amancio, I’m from Chino Hills, California. I graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in Finance, Real Estate and Law. For the past 9 years I have done teaching spanning from swim lessons and coaching to teaching in classrooms in Taiwan and the US and have gained a love for traveling. I decided to teach English in Thailand to continue my passion of both teaching and traveling. I would say the biggest hurdle I will face when I arrive will be the language barrier since right now I have only learned basic phrases and not much else. I plan to learn the language through communicating with my coworkers and those who live around me. I hope to make a difference in my students lives and to continue refining my skills as a teaching while immersing myself in a new culture.

[Aryn Francis]

Hi! My name is Aryn Francis. I am 22 years old and was born and raised in Punta Gorda, Florida in the USA. I have a Bachelors of Art in Business Administration from Anglo-American University, located in Prague.
I have decided to move to Thailand to teach because I want a new experience. Thai culture has always fascinated me and I am excited to learn more about the people.
I am certain that teaching will present many challenges such as language barriers and cultural miscommunications. I know different cultures interpret actions and even simple phrases very differently. I will be sure to clearly communicate my intentions and what exactly I mean while teaching or even speaking with locals. If anything is misconstrued, I will be sure to explain the miscommunication and ensure everyone is on the same page.
I hope to bond with my students and learn more about the Thai culture and language through them and my experiences in Thailand. I hope this experience will allow me to become more independent and to learn more about myself.

[Sophie Ouellette]

Hi! my name is Sophie, I am 22 and I am from Canada. I live in a smaller town near Toronto, Ontario. I recently graduated from Trent University with my undergraduate degree. I received a BA Honours in Sociology with a specification in Social and Equity Justice. Throughout my time in the Sociology program I increasingly developed my passion for culture, travel, connection, and ultimately fostered my desire to move abroad following my graduation. I have always loved to travel and experience new places. For the past several years I have researched, budgeted for, and dreamed about moving abroad to Thailand to teach English to pursue my career goal of being a teacher, continue to work with communities and children, and at the same time travel South East Asia. I am so excited to see what Thailand and Thai culture is like. However, I am a bit nervous to arrive in Thailand and experience maybe a “culture shock”. I anticipate having a more difficult time with language barriers. However, I have translator apps as well as a desire to learn! I am hopeful I have guidance in practicing daily with locals and interacting with my community with in placement. I also anticipate I may feel a bit homesick, but luckily my partner Ethan will be joining me. I really hope to push myself, grow, learn, and experience all Thailand has to offer me! I hope to gain perspective and new ways of thinking, friendships, and lifelong memories!

[Denis Wheeler]

Hi!
My name is Denis Wheeler, and I’m from Germany. I studied Environmental Science at the University of Freiburg, and after finishing my Master`s, I have been working in the field of renewable energy. Along the way, I’ve gained practical experience in various projects focused on sustainability, which has really shaped my professional and personal interests.
I’ve decided to move to Thailand because I’m fascinated by its culture, traditions, and way of life. I’ve also heard many positive experiences from others who have visited or lived there, and I’m really excited to experience it myself and immerse in the local community. I expect that some challenges might include cultural differences and adapting to a new lifestyle and I see it as an opportunity to grow personally and broaden my perspective.

[Geraldine Westerhoff]

Well, how do ya do? My name is Geraldine (Geri) and I thank you for gazing your eyeballs upon my introduction. I am 29 years old from the United States — a state in the midwest known as Illinois and I am about one hour away from the Windy City of Chicago. Although I have adored my last 7 years of teaching in the United States, life circumstances opened the doors for possibility and the decision to move to Thailand was made. Thai culture and life have always intrigued me, traveling and immersing myself into other countries’ cultures altogether has been an interest of mine since I was 8 years old. My Speech Pathologist (I grew up with a superb stutter) was from Japan. When she shared her story, I fell in love with the idea of living elsewhere myself someday. With this experience, I hope to learn as much as I possibly can. I don’t know about anyone else here, but I declare myself a dedicated Harry Potter fan and, if I were truly a witch, would be in Ravenclaw house. Learning is by far, in my opinion, the most important thing we can do as humans. We are but visitors on this wonderful planet and I want to immerse myself in as much of it as possible. What better way to do that, however, than by teaching? I am extremely grateful and stoked for this opportunity!

[Tita Kontodiakos]

Hi everyone! I’m Tita! I am 34 years young, and I am from Chicago, Illinois. I have been teaching in the Chicago Public Schools’ system for 10 years- from teaching every subject in elementary school, to teaching Physical Education, Health, and Driver Education in High School. I decided to travel and teach in Thailand for a few reasons: I want to experience education in a different country, I want to experience the culture of Thailand, and I want to challenge myself by moving to a new country. I visited Thailand several years ago and completely fell in love with the people, the food (although I still can’t handle the spice level yet), and the country itself. While I vacationed here for a few weeks, I knew I wanted to explore deeper at some point in the future. Fast forward a few years, and I have the opportunity to live out this dream with my partner.

A few challenges I expect to face is the language barrier, cultural norms, educational standards, and a sense of community. The language barrier will be challenging as I am unfamiliar with the tonal language. In order to address this concern, I plan on learning Thai through my students, and taking a language class as I believe it is important to learn the language of the country I am living in. Another challenge I expect to face, to some degree, is cultural norms. What is expected, how to behave, etc. For example, I recently learned in Koh Samui that people remove their shoes before entering some restaurants, coffee shops, etc. I think it is important to note to observe and implement what fellow people are doing. I also believe the educational standards are going to be a challenge for me. Being a teacher for 10 years, I understand what is expected and how to teach in the US. Being in a new country, schools may have completely different instructional practices and methodologies. However, this is why I am participating in Xplore Asia, to challenge myself to new thoughts and ideas within education. Finally, the last concern I have moving to Thailand is facing a lack of community. At home, I have my family, my friends, and my partner to rely on. Here, I will have my partner, and hopefully, new friends I make through this program and the school I will work at. I find myself to be a bit shy and timid, so this experience will allow be to grow in the discomfort. That’s where growth happens, right?

Anyways, thanks for taking the time to read my post. I’m really looking forward to this new chapter in my life, Thai style!

Tita-

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