ASSIGNMENT 1: INTRODUCTION

[Jordan Exford]

Hello, my name is Jordan, and I am most recently from Mobile, AL in the United States. I am 24 years of age, I have a B.S. in Information Technology, and tutoring experience in programming languages. I decided to move to Thailand to immerse myself in their culture to gain cultural awareness, gain new experiences, and get a different perspective other than that of a U.S. national/citizen. I expect to have challenges learning the language since our alphabets are so different, so I downloaded a Thai language learning application for English speakers to help. From this experience I would like to gain positive lifelong memories to share with my friends and family.

[Jacob Fetherston]

Hi I’m Jake! I have been substitute teaching for the past couple years after doing Music Business at university in Manchester. I was in Thailand just as COVID broke out, and had to return home, so have been looking for an excuse to go back ever since. This is my first time going away on an extended trip on my own, so I expect many challenges along the way, but have confidence from my time before in Thailand and my experience teaching that all will be well! I hope to give the children we are teaching genuine happy memories to look back on and help their English blossom, and hope to connect with the culture of the country both during and after the summer camps.

[Luke Montgomery]

* Background information about yourself
I am from the United States and more specifically Pennsylvania. I am 24 years old. I wrestled for 12 years of my life, which was a large part of my identity. Naturally I have a lot of respect for Muay Thai fighters. Recently I have been in sales, which has taught me a lot about perseverance.

* Why are you deciding to travel/move to Thailand?
My brother has been working in Thailand for two years. We went to visit him last October and it has been on my mind ever since. I was extremely impressed with how much he had evolved and it piqued my curiosity and it only grew.

* What challenges do you expect to face along the way and how do you expect to overcome them?
I think that the language barrier and the social norms could be challenging but my goal is to patient, understand and give my self some grace. Also smile!

* What do you hope to get out of your experience?
Being completely independent is something that I have wanted for a long time. It could be as simple as finding a laundry mat or more complicated like creating lessons. This is a great opportunity to learn how to adapt.

[Sarah Deschacht]

Hello everyone,

My name is Sarah, I’m 32 years old and I’m from Belgium. I studied Social Work in Bruges and already have professional experience in the field.

After graduating, I started working with people who struggled with substance abuse, providing support across various life domains. Later on, I worked as a community worker in underprivileged neighbourhoods in my country, engaging in projects aimed at reducing social isolation. Currently, I work in an asylum centre with refugees, providing guidance throughout the international protection procedure.

I have always enjoyed working with people, not only adults but also children. I tend to make people feel comfortable and at ease, and I consider myself culturally sensitive, which I believe is an important quality to bring with me to Thailand.

While living in Belgium, I travelled extensively across Europe. I also spent time in Gambia (West Africa), where I volunteered in elementary schools. My work there ranged from helping with daily activities such as cooking to giving science lessons in the classroom. I have also taken some Arabic classes, as my favourite travel destination so far has been the Middle East.

Now I feel it is time to give Asia a try! Not just to travel, but to gain meaningful work experience as well. I am very family-oriented, so being far away from home will probably be the most challenging part for me.

I am truly looking forward to a great and enlightening experience.

[Erika Strazinsky]

Hello Everyone,
My name is Erika and I am from Cleveland, Ohio. My background is quite scattered; I graduated with my bachelors degree in Industrial Design and worked at a design firm for a year and then transitioned to a social work role where I worked at a domestic violence shelter. After learning from those experiences, I decided to get a TEFL certificate in order to pursue my passion for working with kids and traveling the world. After working at a refugee center back home, I did a Worldpackers trip to Italy in order to get more experience teaching and living abroad. When deciding where to teach full-time, Thailand stuck out to me as a welcoming and beautiful place to start this journey. I can’t quite explain how I landed in Thailand, it was a mixture of elements as well as a feeling that I should go there. I expect to face many challenges at first, as I am from a Western country and have never been to the East. Traveling to a new place can be very overwhelming, but I try to remind myself “It’s not hard, it’s just new,” in regards to this adventure. Navigating language barriers, cultural norms, public transportation, etc will be hard at first but part of the joy of travel is learning about a culture and land that is different from my own. From this experience, I hope to gain new perspectives, grow in new ways, and embrace the differences/ challenges I face.
Best,
Erika

[Sophia Wnek]

My name is Sophia Wnek and I am so excited for this opportunity to teach abroad, to grow my skillset as an educator, and enrich the lives of my students as well as my own. It feels daunting to uproot my life in Philadelphia, the city I have called home for the past ten years, but I am ready for change and feel lucky to have the support of Xplore Asia and my loved ones along the way.

Currently, I work as a building-based substitute teacher for an elementary school in South Philadelphia, where I work with about 400 students (many of whom are bilingual) in Pre-K through eighth grade. As the building-based substitute teacher, I take on last-minute positions or emergencies, juggle numerous faculty schedules, and provide support to the teachers in the classrooms. I also volunteer at the Nationalities Service Center, where I teach English to adult immigrants and refugees. This work is very rewarding because I see English as a tool for people to find success, confidence, and a sense of belonging in unfamiliar environments. It has also taught me how to manage a classroom with varying fluency levels in which no two students spoke the same primary language!

I chose Thailand after an extensive period of research and reflection. Based on my personal values, and Thailand’s cultural values, I think we will make a great match. I don’t doubt that there will be some challenges along the way, such as homesickness and missing my loved ones, but I know this enlightening experience will make it all worthwhile. I hope to grow as an educator, grow as a traveler, and encourage others to take risks that enrich your life!

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by Sophia Wnek.

[Amanda Davidge]

Hi Guys! I fly to Krabi on Tuesday and will be spending 2 weeks relaxing, acclimatizing and doing the course work. I first travelled to Thailand 22 years ago. Last year I was there for a month and cant wait too return!

Since passing the TEFL online course last year I have been teaching online along side my job as a support worker for people with autism and learning difficulties. Facilitating communication, educational tasks, and personal development goals while supporting individuals with autism and mental health needs in structured routines has been my work for the past 7 years .

Prior to this I worked with primary school children and also taught dance classes. My previous career and background is in dance and drama. I was a professional dancer during my 20s and travelled to and worked in many countries. Now I am excited to be exploring doing that again with teaching English.

Look forward to meeting you all soon , safe travels there
Amanda x

[Amanda Davidge]

Hi Guys! I fly to Krabi on Tuesday and will be spending 2 weeks relaxing, acclimatizing and doing the course work. I first travelled to Thailand 22 years ago. Last year I was there for a month and cant wait too return!

Since passing the TEFL online course last year I have been teaching online along side my job as a support worker for people with autism and learning difficulties. Facilitating communication, educational tasks, and personal development goals while supporting individuals with autism and mental health needs in structured routines has been my work for the past 7 years .

Prior to this I worked with primary school children and also taught dance classes. My previous career and background is in dance and drama. I was a professional dancer during my 20s and travelled to and worked in many countries. Now I am excited to be exploring doing that again with teaching English.

Look forward to meeting you all soon , safe travels there
Amanda x

[Ellie Sprinkmann]

Hello everyone!
My name is Ellie, and I just graduated from undergrad a couple of weeks ago with degrees in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies. I am from Wisconsin and am so excited to be coming to Thailand in just a few weeks! I decided to travel before moving to Thailand to teach alongside my friend Morissa, who is also part of this program. I have always wanted to travel to Thailand, and I’ve long been interested in teaching, so this felt like the perfect opportunity to explore both. I am especially excited to work with international students, as I currently work as a Student Success Coach for international students who are working toward earning their American high school diplomas. Being able to combine my passion for education, psychology, and cross-cultural experiences is something I am really looking forward to.
One challenge I expect to face is the language barrier. I plan to overcome this through this course, using tools like Google Translate, asking questions, and making an effort to communicate with and learn from locals.
Through this experience, I hope to gain clarity on whether I want to pursue further education to become a teacher in the U.S. I also hope to learn more about myself, my independence, adaptability, and ability to teach and guide others. Most of all, I am excited to grow in confidence and become more culturally aware through this experience.

• This reply was modified 4 months ago by Ellie Sprinkmann.

[Morissa Lambert]

Hi! My name is Morissa Lambert, and I am 21 years old. I am from Chicago, and I just graduated from college in Washington, D.C., around two weeks ago! I majored in International Studies and minored in Economics. I also played college soccer! I decided to move to Thailand because I knew I wanted to travel after college, and Thailand seemed like an exciting option that offered a ton of different adventures. Along the way, I expect to face some challenges being in such a different time-zone than my family at home, but I know I can always text them whenever and will build in time to call them. I also think navigating cultural and linguistic differences will sometimes arise as a challenge. I plan on overcoming this by learning as much about Thai culture and language as possible, while being patient! I hope to gain a better understanding of Thai culture. Individually, I hope to gain more confidence as I teach! I also hope to meet cool new people and travel around Thailand!

[Morissa Lambert]

Hi! My name is Morissa Lambert, and I am 21 years old. I am from Chicago, and I just graduated from college in Washington, D.C., around two weeks ago! I majored in International Studies and minored in Economics. I also played college soccer! I decided to move to Thailand because I knew I wanted to travel after college, and Thailand seemed like an exciting option that offered a ton of different adventures. Along the way, I expect to face some challenges being in such a different time zone than my family at home, but I know I can always text them whenever and will build in time to call them. I also think navigating cultural and linguistic differences will sometimes arise as a challenge. I plan on overcoming this by learning as much about Thai culture and language as possible, while being patient! I hope to gain a better understanding of Thai culture. Individually, I hope to gain more confidence as I teach! I also hope to meet cool new people and travel around Thailand!

[Ellie Sprinkmann]

Hi Jordan! I am very excited to meet you! I am also worried about the language and cultural barrier but I think this course and orientation week will be very helpful for that! I am wondering what language app you downloaded? Excited to meet you soon!

[Morissa Lambert]

Hi Jake! Nice to meet you. I also hope that the children we teach will get to create positive memories of us and am looking forward to meeting all of my students!

[Sharni Emanuel]

My name is Sharni Emanuel, and I am an educator preparing to travel to Thailand to teach. Teaching is a passion of mine, and I believe education is not only about sharing knowledge, but also about learning through new cultures, perspectives, and lived experiences.

I have chosen to teach in Thailand because it offers a unique opportunity to combine my professional skills with cultural immersion. Thailand’s rich cultural heritage, welcoming communities, and diverse education environment strongly appeal to me. Teaching in Thailand will allow me to broaden my understanding of global education practices while contributing positively to students’ learning experiences.

One of the main challenges I expect to face is homesickness, particularly being away from my children. I understand that this emotional challenge may be difficult at times; however, I plan to overcome it by maintaining regular communication with my family, establishing a healthy routine, and building a strong support network within the teaching and local community.

Through this experience, I hope to gain valuable worldly knowledge, expand my cultural understanding, and develop greater independence and resilience. Ultimately, I aim to grow both personally and professionally, while creating meaningful experiences that will enrich my life, my teaching practice, and my future opportunities.

[Jodie Pritchard]

My name is Jodie Pritchard, and I am someone who values personal growth through new experiences and cultural immersion. I have developed strong adaptability and independence through my previous experiences, and I enjoy learning by stepping outside my comfort zone and engaging with different ways of life.

I have decided to travel to and potentially move to Thailand because I am drawn to its rich culture, history, and lifestyle. Thailand offers a unique opportunity to experience a society that is both deeply traditional and rapidly modernising. I am particularly interested in gaining firsthand experience of daily life in Thailand and broadening my global perspective through meaningful cultural exposure.

I expect to face several challenges along the way, including adjusting to a new culture, language barriers, and adapting to different social norms and systems. Being away from familiar support networks may also be challenging at times. However, I plan to overcome these challenges by remaining open-minded, patient, and proactive—seeking local guidance, learning basic language skills, and allowing myself time to adapt and grow.

Through this experience, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of Thai culture, develop greater confidence and resilience, and grow both personally and professionally. Ultimately, I aim to return from this experience with a broader worldview, valuable life skills, and a greater appreciation for cultural diversity.

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