Assignment 1: Introduction

Hello, my name is Roda Anshur, and I originate from the city of London. With a background in accounting and finance, I’ve spent a significant part of my life delving into the world of numbers and analytics. However, my desire for new experiences and cultural exploration has led me to embark on an exciting journey – the decision to travel to Thailand.

The allure of Thailand’s rich history, diverse landscapes, and captivating traditions has captivated me. The prospect of immersing myself in a completely different culture is a thrilling opportunity. Through this adventure, I aim to not only satiate my curiosity but also foster connections with people who hold perspectives different from my own.

As I prepare to set foot in Thailand, I am well aware of the challenges that await me. Language and cultural barriers are two significant hurdles that I expect to face. The unfamiliarity of the Thai language and the intricacies of social customs may pose initial difficulties. However, I am determined to overcome these obstacles by taking proactive steps. I am committed to dedicating extra effort to learn the Thai language, which I believe will not only facilitate communication but also demonstrate my respect for the local culture. Additionally, I plan to educate myself extensively about Thai customs and etiquette, ensuring that I navigate the cultural landscape with sensitivity.

Ultimately, my aspiration for this experience goes beyond sightseeing and exploration. I am eager to gain a profound understanding of the Thai culture, customs, and traditions. By connecting with locals, participating in cultural activities, and engaging in meaningful interactions, I hope to broaden my horizons and cultivate a deep appreciation for the uniqueness that Thailand has to offer. This journey isn’t just about the places I’ll visit, but the transformative impact it will have on my perspective and outlook on life.

Hello everybody!
My name is Maria, I was born in Estonia, Tallinn. From the age of 6 i traveled to different countries.
At the age of 21, I graduated from my first university with a degree in Arts in Society, Marketing. We did various projects to develop advertising and companies on the market. Then there was a period when I wanted to explore new directions and develop myself in other areas. At the age of 27, I graduated from another university with a specialization in design and art. And I participated in various events, organized shows, made collections, made programs for children and teenagers to express themselves through creativity in different European countries. It was a wonderful period. Then I lived in Portugal and Spain, working in different projects in IT, social networking and computer games.
I decided to move to Thailand, it will be a completely new experience for me, I have not been to Thailand but I am familiar with the beauty of the places, the cuisine, and the philosophy of life through the internet and books and I had a dream to visit and live in these places and see everything with my own eyes and it will be a new experience as a language teacher.
What difficulties can be on the way, I guess taking a step into the unknown is a bit scary, but once you take that step everything falls into place and you realize that everything is fine) once the journey starts this feeling disappears. I always have this feeling before a new step in my life.
I hope to get impressions, inspiration, communication, new amazing friends, also the development of myself and other people and children and my growth, more confidence in my actions and cool moments, as well as the opportunity to show my experience, get teaching skills, and chance to travel a lot of beautiful and interesting places.
Look forward to meeting with everybody, and best of luck with course!

Hi everyone! My name is Nora, and I am from Boston, Massachusetts in the US. My first year out of college I worked for a student travel company, called EF Educational Tours. I worked with teachers to help them travel with the world on student tours, and went on a student tour myself in Europe to shadow and learn! I have a deep passion for educational travel, and in my first job I helped teachers travel, now I am taking the opportunity to do the reverse and be a teacher who IS sharing their culture. Since highschool I have always felt this pull to teach abroad in Asia, particularly Thailand. Not only has it been my ultimate dream destination, but I am so excited to immerse myself in the culture w temples and history, learn about the countries religion, and get to know these beautiful people!

In terms of challenges, I am very close with my family and do expect their to be some initial feelings of guilt, though I know they will be happy for me once I am settled and really living out my dream. Of course, I also anticipate the language barrier to be a challenge, along with adjusting to the unexpected weather patterns, and learning how to teach students knowing limited amounts of Thai. I think enthusiasm, flexibility, and being able to adjust when needed is the mindset that will allow me to overcome all challenges. Also, Iam going into this experience knowing that the adjustment won’t be immediate, and it will take a little bit to be fully comfortable in the classroom. Teaching with a smile, being coachable and ready to learn is the golden ticket! I am ready for all that will come, excited to step out of my comfort zone, and make a real impact in these student’s lives. I hope from my experience to further understand the Thai culture and from a personal standpoint, to really remain present and be eager to learn everything and anything I can about the culture. I feel sometimes in my life I am always looking to the next chapter and asking “what’s next”, but in Thailand I want to be in the moment, present, and appreciating each day, while making a note to journal my experience and be very reflective on each day and what I’ve learned about the culture. 🙂 Can’t wait!

Hello my name is Steve. I was born in New York. I am from the U.S.A. I enjoy traveling. I have been a tour guide and driver in the summers in Denali National Park in Alaska for the past 10 years. In the winters i would drive ski shuttle buses at ski resorts in Colorado. I love wild places and all the places that you can see beautiful nature. I enjoy bike riding, kayaking, hiking as well as other outdoor activities. I decided to come back to Thailand to take a TEFL course. I was here last year and had lots of fun. I thought coming back here to take the course would be a good idea, because i am familiar with the places. But I would also to get to visit other parts of Asia i have not been to yet. Some of the challenges i expect to face is some language barriers in some areas. I usually use google translate which helps, but is not perfect. I think another challenge is doing something different, that I have never done before. So i plan to have an open mind and make the best of my experience. I hope to gain a new skill in teaching english as a foreign language. Also just enjoying a different experience in life.

Hi everyone! My name is Lucy and I’m 22 from the United States. I just graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and I’m now headed to Thailand to teach English. I decided to move to Thailand because I went abroad my Junior year spring semester of college and absolutely LOVED Europe, and now I’m hungry to explore another part of the world! I have so much respect for Thai culture, and I absolutely love the food and scenery. It will definitely be a challenge to navigate the Thai language, since I don’t know much more than just “hello.” I have also never been a teacher before, so it could be a challenge disciplining the children since I’m relatively young. However, I am more than willing to learn the language, and I’m sure I’ll get the hang of teaching after the orientation lessons, and practice of course! I hope to learn a lot, and make a difference in someone’s life while abroad! I want a child to look back at their English-learning experience and remember me fondly 🙂

Hi all,

My name is Josh, I am 32 years old and I am from Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States. I recently began traveling through Japan and Korea to learn more about the culture of different places than my own. I feel it is important to see the way of life in another place to give us perspective on our lives.

I am moving to Thailand because I want to help young kids learn a skill they will carry for the rest of their lives. Not to mention experience a new place and culture to help with my writing career.

I expect to make mistakes regarding how culture works differently between my country and the country of Thailand. I am sure I will mix up my Thai words but mistakes are a big part of how we learn.

I simply want to experience a new place and contribute to the world in some way so I felt teaching English could be my contribution.

Hi, everyone! My name is Ivy and I am originally from Houston, Texas. Right now I live in Tyler, Texas, where I am a producer at a news station. Along the way, I’ve lived in Denver, Colorado where I earned my bachelor degrees in Anthropology and Political Science, and spent a semester abroad in Hyderabad, India.
About ten years ago, I wanted to move to Thailand to teach English, but life got in the way and I had to set that plan aside. I did however spend a month traveling in Thailand, and was blown away not only by how kind people were, but how easy it was to travel and how safe it felt as a woman traveling on her own.
The idea of giving up the safety and security of my job and life in east Texas is scary, but I know from prior experience that we’re all going through these same challenges together, and that’s a unique bond.
In my life, I’ve had jobs that were very fulfilling, and jobs that just paid the bills. It matters far more to me to do something that is meaningful.
I look forward to meeting you all!