Assignment 1: Introduction

Hello everyone! My name is Ana and I am from North Carolina in the United States. I am close to finishing up my first year of teaching pre-kindergarten, but I have worked with children for many years. I would love to travel more and gain teaching experience in other parts of the world, so I believe this is an excellent opportunity for me. This will be my first time traveling outside of the United States, so I expect that I will experience some culture shock as well as feel a bit homesick at first. I expect to overcome this challenge by immersing myself among a different culture and finding my community within the people I meet on this journey. From this experience, I hope to gain valuable insight into a beautiful culture and make lifelong memories and friends.

Hey everyone! My name is Mattie. I got my Bachelor’s in Business Administration and just recently got back from a 2 year volunteer program. During that time I feel in love with the people, the food, and the culture. This has led to my deep desire to return again. I have done a lot of traveling, so I understand the issues with culture shock and adapting to a new environment. that being said, learning as much as you can before you go and embracing each new experience can really help you enjoy your time more. I am hoping that I can grow as an individual and refine my teaching skills so that when more opportunities come my way, I will feel ready and qualified.

Hi, my name is Lindsey, and I am from a small town in Massachusetts USA. Since I can remember, I have ridden and worked with horses. They have taught me many things, and it is also where I started to teach. I began teaching riding lessons which turned into me getting a job as a substitute teacher in my town’s elementary school. As I was subbing, I completed my degree in English and got the opportunity to go to South Korea during the summer for a program at Yonsei University. This all lead me to where I am today, wanting to teach English in a foreign country. So, I am currently getting ready to go to Thailand to get my TEFL certificate and make the dream a reality. As with anything new, challenges will arise especially when going to a different country, with a different culture and language. Being able to communicate with the people is a big challenge but having determination to learn Thai will make life a bit easier and show that you are trying to assimilate. Another challenge could be the food since it is very different from the regular meals in the US. It is great to try new things but finding a place that sells food you are accustomed to can help bring familiarity to the unfamiliar. I believe that this trip will help open my mind to different ways of life creating moments that will last a lifetime.

Hi Brittany,
Nice to meet you. I can relate to wanting to gain more skills in the classroom because this experience will be very beneficial as an educator. I look forward to meeting all of you in person.

Hello, my name is Alisha. I’m 28 years old, born in Warwick, England, and of Punjabi Sikh/Indian heritage. Growing up, I had the privilege of living between two diverse cultures, speaking two languages, and enjoying South Asian and European cuisine throughout my life.

My journey of global exploration began early. At the age of 13 years old, my parents made the bold decision to emigrate to Australia for two years. That experience completely shifted my perspective. I was exposed to many different cultures and met people from all over the world such as: Lebanese, Macedonian, Māori, Somali—just to name a few. It was my first real taste of how beautifully diverse the world is, and I was instantly inspired. That’s really when my curiosity for other cultures, languages, and communities began.

Since then, my love for travel and cultural exchange has only grown. I’ve now traveled to 22 countries, and each one has taught me something new. But it was last year that really changed everything. I decided to solo travel through Southeast Asia. And wow… what a journey. I loved every single minute of it. From the people to the food to the energy of the region, it all just felt so familiar. Maybe its because of my South Asian roots, but I didn’t really feel that culture shock people talk about. Instead, it felt like coming home.

That trip was transformative. I discovered a deeper connection with myself, found a profound sense of self-love, and developed a greater appreciation for life and others. I know it may sound cliché, but I genuinely felt like I had discovered my purpose. One of the most beautiful and unexpected blessings of that journey was meeting my life partner in Thailand, who is also creating the next chapter with me.

Fast forward a year, I’ve now been given this amazing opportunity to teach the next generation of Thailand, to help them grow, learn, and reach their goals. Giving back is a big part of my upbringing. In Sikhism, we call it “seva,” which means selfless service. And I’ve found that this spirit of service exists in Thai Buddhist culture too, which makes this experience feel even more meaningful.

As someone who grew up in the West, I recognise the privileges I’ve been afforded, and I feel a deep responsibility to use them to uplift others. I hope to be of service not only through teaching English language but also by contributing to the community in meaningful and holistic ways.

I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited to continue learning, growing, and evolving with a beautiful soul by my side.

To everyone reading this: I wish you the very best on your own journey. May it be filled with discovery, purpose, and joy!

Hi Alisha,
I love how you wrote that you didn’t really feel a culture shock but that instead it felt like coming home when you traveled through Southeast Asia. It is also amazing to read that you felt like you had discovered your purpose, while I am still figuring that out. I wish you all the best to continue your beautiful journey and look forward to meet you if our paths cross in Thailand.

Hi! I’m Jess and I am 24 years old and from Surrey, England. I graduated from Bath Spa University 3 years ago and with a degree in Geography. I have had experience within two job roles since this time. After university I entered the non-profit world and began working from an International Organisation called Crown Agents. I enjoyed my time here and was involved in the logistics team for a number of global projects within countries such as South Sudan, working to help distribute vaccines for diseases such as Malaria. Unfortunately, this company entered insolvency and closed down so my time within this role came to an end. After this I got a job within administration for a Property Management company locally called Hamways. This wasn’t what I planned to do but I fell into it and the people were really lovely, which helped! However, I have had a strong desire to experience a new culture, travel and teach for a while now and finally had the courage to take the leap! I am nervous but also very excited and I look forward to growing as a person and meeting lots of new people throughout this journey in Thailand!

Hi everyone!!! My name is Calia Hunter and I am an intuitive healer from California! I have an immense passion for holistic wellness and teaching others how to strengthen their innate capacities for healing their mind, body, and spirit. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Humanistic Psychology with a specialization in Consciousness, Spirituality, and Integrative Health and aspire to become a health educator following my education. I am deciding to travel to Thailand as it is a country that has always called to me and resonates with my way of life as a compassionate and empathetic being. In turn, I greatly look forward to immersing myself in a predominantly Buddhist culture as Buddhist values are deeply in alignment with my view of and interaction with myself, the world, and other living beings. In terms of anticipated challenges, I expect to have some adversities related to being a dark-skinned African American woman. When considering the demographics in Thailand, I am aware that there are not a substantial amount of people like me there working in the community and understand that it will be an adjustment for all parties! Nevertheless, I recognize that moving with kindness and grace in all situations is necessary for overcoming challenges and am excited to integrate with the locals. In relation to what I anticipate gaining from this experience, I am interested in gaining a shift in worldly perspective. In coming from a highly privileged and entitled society, I am interested in gaining more cultural humility through real life practice and going beyond my existing community to connect with others of differing cultural and ethnic backgrounds.