Greenheart Travel

Author: Josiah Gundersen

  • 5 Ways Thailand Will Surprise You While Teaching and Living Abroad

    5 Ways Thailand Will Surprise You While Teaching and Living Abroad

    When I moved to Thailand to teach English, I knew that I would try new food, visit some amazing beaches, and explore ancient temples. I knew that I would be surprised and challenged at school and by trying new things, but living here has brought many surprises.

    Here are five ways that Thailand will surprise you:

    1. Thailand is More than Just the Land of Smiles

    My thai student and host sister and I visiting the local aquarium.

    Thailand is known as the land of smiles, but Thai people are hospitable beyond belief. Within minutes of knowing someone I have been invited to dinner with their family, offered rides, been boating and rafting, and taken care of as if I were a family member.

    When I came down with a fever and virus, my Thai friend (and conveniently, doctor) sent her husband to bring me to the hospital and pharmacy. They then insisted that I stay at their house with them so that they could take care of me. After that they made sure I had enough food before taking me home and checking on me the following days. I was amazed at how quickly they welcomed me into their home and family.

    2. A Scooter Serves Multiple Purposes in Thailand

    It is common knowledge that scooters are widely used throughout Asia, but I was surprised with just how resourceful Thai people are with their scooters. They serve so many purposes!

    It is the family car, made with a special child seat in the front. It can fit one person, or 5 with a dog, in the front basket. It can be used to carry anything including ladders and couches. Scooters also function as mobile food and ice cream carts (and in this case an ice cream scooter and local taxi/playground).

    I was also surprised that you can get a motorbike taxi to just about anywhere for significantly cheaper (and faster) than a car.

    3. Not Only is Traffic in Thailand Organized Chaos, Life is as Well

    Everything in Thailand seems to move at a different pace and work differently than back home, but in the best way possible. Even though I normally don’t understand the methods, I have learned to trust the process because in the end things work out (whether it be transportation, maintenance in my apartment, or in everyday interactions).

    I have come to realize that my school also uses the “organized chaos method.” Sometimes we find out about things months in advance, other times moments before (I guess it just depends on the day).

    Similarly, I was recently on a motor bike taxi when the driver just pulled over, turned off the bike, and walked into 7/11. I just sat and waited a few minutes, he came back, popped his cigarette in his mouth and off we went. In most situations, I have no idea what’s going on, but I trust that the organized chaos will get me to where I need to go.

    4. The Sunsets and Sunrises are Incredible

    Whether you’re in the mountains or at the beach, you are almost always treated to a colorful sunset. On one of my first nights in Trang I noticed the sun starting to set and decided to head to the roof of my building to watch the sunset. Not expecting anything spectacular, I was shocked by just how beautiful the sunset was.

    Another time while visiting Koh Kradan, the sun began to set while we were still in the water. It was incredible to watch the sun go down while floating in the ocean. Whether you are at the beach, in the mountains, or in Bangkok, you will most definitely be treated to some remarkable sunsets in Thailand.

    5. Thailand Quickly Becomes Home

    As cliché as it sounds, I was shocked how quickly I settled into life here in Trang. I arrived, decorated my apartment, and quickly fell into a routine, just like back home. And it feels normal. I have my routine, friends, and life here. It’s comfortable and that’s something I never expected.

    But one of the most surprising things for me about living in Thailand is how it feels like a second home. Despite the language and cultural barriers, and even though I am still a foreigner living in a relatively small town, I feel like I fit in.

    I know that I found my small piece of this puzzle that is life in Trang and life in Thailand. I found my place, and I could not be more surprised and happy finally feeling like I belong.

    My thai host family in Trang, Thailand.

    About the Author:

    Hi! My name is Kelsey, I’m 23 years old, and I am a Colorado Native. I’m a sucker for cute dogs, margaritas, and anything outdoors. I am currently living in Hua Hin, Thailand and sharing my adventures from South East Asia!

    Follow Kelsey’s blog “The Life of Kelsey Barlow” for more insights into teaching English in Thailand! 

    Want to be surprised by all Thailand has to offer?

  • Expectations vs. Reality of Teaching in Thailand and Tips for Adjusting to Life in the Land of Smiles

    Expectations vs. Reality of Teaching in Thailand and Tips for Adjusting to Life in the Land of Smiles

    To be completely honest, my expectations of what my life would be like in Thailand have changed since I first began the process of deciding to teach abroad. When I was back home in the States, I thought less about my actual teaching experience and more about the logistical side of getting all of my paperwork together, arriving in one piece, and finally getting settled.

    During orientation is when I began to shape my actual expectations of what living and working would be like for the next year.  Here are a few expectations I had about life as as an English teacher in Thailand, and what the reality has been since I have arrived.

    Finding Housing in Thailand

    My room in Thailand.

    Expectations:

    My main housing expectation before coming to Thailand is that it would be incredibly affordable. During orientation we were told to have low standards and just expect a room with four walls, a bed, and a basic bathroom.

    Reality:

    While housing costs significantly more than I expected, everything about my housing here in Thailand has exceeded my expectations. My agent picked me up when I arrived to town and took me to the apartment building where I live now.

    I live in a very nice, furnished apartment with a king sized bed, a fridge, hot water, air conditioning and an incredible view. But this is not the case for everyone! I have friends who were completely on their own when it came to finding an apartment and friends who do not have hot water, a fridge or air conditioning.

    My room in Thailand, from another angle.

    Having low expectations definitely benefited me in the long run because I was bound to be pleasantly surprised wherever I ended up.      

    Advice:

    • Bring something small from home for your room. I brought pictures and my teddy bear and it makes my room feel like mine.
    • Don’t settle for the cheapest housing that you can find just because it’s cheap. Live somewhere safe, comfortable, and where you see yourself for your entire time here.

    Teaching English in a Thai school

    One of my classrooms in Thailand.

    Expectations:

    On the management side of things, before starting at my school, I learned a lot about how the Thai schools are run differently from Western schools. There is a different communication structure and you aren’t necessarily given all of the details all of the time.

    Basically, if you want information you have to ask for it. You also have an agent, who is your actual employer, who is there to help and manage the relationship between you and your school.  

    On the student side of things, I was expecting to walk into school and have kids greeting me with hugs and high fives excited to learn from their new teacher (naive, I know). I expected to meet all of the Thai staff and teachers and slowly get to know them and become friends.   

    Fellow teacher in Thailand.

    Reality:

    For management, the director of my school and the head of the English Department are both women, which is somewhat of a rarity here in Thailand. I was given a complete binder with all of the information that I would need for the year, including a calendar with days off, and my weekly lesson topics.  

    During my first week of teaching I felt like a rock star. I had the undivided attention of 45 ten year olds because I was new and they were so excited to hear what I had to say. I am very lucky in that I use PowerPoint in all of my classes and have access to every resource possible.

    When I arrived at school I was surprised to learn that the foreign teacher’s office was separate from the Thai teachers and thus, I hardly interact with the Thai teachers. There are a few in my classes who are friendly and say hello, but I am still far from making friends like I had expected.

    Advice:

    • All Thai schools are different and everyone has different experiences. Don’t compare your school, students, or experience with anyone else’s.
    • Just be yourself and be able to laugh at yourself. No matter the age of your students, they will appreciate you being genuine and real with them.
    • Stay hydrated and well fed while teaching, and don’t forget to put yourself first!

    Culture Shock and Cultural Immersion in Your Host Community

    My Thai Family (Doctor Daranee’s kids).

    Expectation:

    Being called the Land of Smiles, I had high expectations when it came to settling down and making friends here in Thailand. I expected to get to my new town and over time, easily be able to make friends with locals and other teachers. I did expect to experience culture shock, although you never know what form it will come in.     

    Reality:

    Making new friends and settling down takes time. I arrived in the middle of the semester which meant that everyone had settled into their friend groups and routines. Thai people are super nervous to talk to native English speakers because they are shy about their English.

    I have had people turn and run away after I accidentally greeted them in English instead of Thai. Once you make a Thai friend you will become a part of their family and they will forever hold a piece of your heart. Even after settling down and making new friends, I experience culture shock in ways I never have before.

    Traveling in Chiang Mai with friends.

    Recently, I have been getting so frustrated with the people who just stare at me as I walk down the street, workout, or eat in a restaurant. Sometimes I just want to scream “say something to me”. Other times I embrace these awkward moments and surprise them with a smile and wave (it’s especially funny when they are trying to sneak pictures of you). While I am still working on making Thai and Western friends, I am happy with the small little group that I have here.  

    Advice:

    • Say yes to everything that fellow teachers or new Thai friends invite you to do.
    • Culture shock is real and it hits you at the worst times. Embrace the emotions and talk to your friends and fellow teachers about it. They can relate more than anyone back home can.

    Travel and Free Time

    View point in Trang.

    Expectations:

    When you think of Thailand you think of the busy city life in Bangkok, the temples in Chiang Mai, and the beautiful beaches down south. Well, when I found out that I would be living in Southern Thailand I was thrilled to be able to visit the islands often. I also expected to have a decent amount of free time while at school.

    I’m there about 45 hours a week and only teach 23 hours so that leaves a good amount of time unaccounted for outside the classroom.       

    Reality:

    At school I have a few 45 minute breaks throughout the day and then a few hours at the end of the day. I try to plan and prepare for my lessons during the day so at the end I can read, blog, or watch Netflix for an hour before going home. I also use this time to research places to travel and things to do around town.

    One big reality is that travel is exhausting and expensive. Even though everything here is relatively cheap, it is not free. And cheap still adds up quickly. There are so many things to see, and you probably don’t need to travel far from home to see them. In reality I can only afford big out of town trips once every few weeks.  

    A view point in my town in Thailand.

    Advice:

    • Develop healthy hobbies for your free time. I do Sudoku and read before I let myself on Facebook and Netflix.  
    • You earn in Thai baht and spend in Thai baht, who cares how much is costs in USD.
    • Don’t run off and travel every weekend. Stay in your town and explore what it has to offer because those are what you are going to remember when you go back home. Some of my favorite places in all of Thailand are in my town.

    As you prepare for your next travel adventure in Thailand, it is hard not to have certain expectations about what the teaching experience will offer. By keeping an open mind, you will be able to adjust to your new life a bit easier and potentially find that the reality is even better than what you had expected.

    About the Author:

    Hi! My name is Kelsey, I’m 23 years old, and I am a Colorado Native. I’m a sucker for cute dogs, margaritas, and anything outdoors. I am currently living in Hua Hin, Thailand and sharing my adventures from South East Asia!

  • Key Takeaways and Tips for Balancing Work and Play During a TEFL Course in Thailand

    Key Takeaways and Tips for Balancing Work and Play During a TEFL Course in Thailand

    When I decided to move to Thailand to become an English teacher, one of the first things that I knew I needed to do was get my TESOL certification. I knew that there were options to do it online, but I opted to take the course once I arrived in Thailand. Lo and behold, taking the TESOL in Hua Hin, Thailand through Greenheart Travel’s in-country partner, XploreAsia (XA), was one of the best decisions that I have made so far in my teaching adventure!

    Here are a few reasons why getting TESOL certified is important and how to balance the course work and wanderlust during your first weeks in Thailand.

    Key Takeaways from My TEFL Course Experience in Thailand

    Enrolling in the three week TESOL course prior to my English teaching placement included 120 hours of hands on training, in-class demonstrations, and much more. From day one, you begin building your own lesson plans and curriculum.

    At first, these tasks were incredibly intimidating, but by the end I was able to quickly create and execute a seamless lesson plan from start to finish. Pretty impressive for my first time ever!

    My favorite, but also most challenging, part of the course, was the student teaching at the English camp in Thailand. We arrived at the school on Thursday morning with no idea of what to expect. What ensued next was complete chaos! It was frustrating because I was excelling when we practiced our lessons in class, but during the real situation everything just seemed to fall apart.

    Thankfully, when I went back for my second day of teaching everything ran according to plan. I am extremely grateful that my program included student teaching as a part of the TESOL course so that I was able to work out the kinks before arriving at my permanent school.

    First day of teaching at the English Camp in Thailand.

    Tips for Balancing Work and Play During Your TESOL Course

    1. Make a routine and keep it.

    As soon as the TESOL course starts, you begin to realize that you are no longer on vacation and it finally hits that this is a more permanent part of your life. So it’s time to act like it!

    One of the best decisions that I made was giving myself a daily routine. I woke up every morning to exercise and got coffee before class with a few friends.

    Getting to know new friends in Hua Hin.

    I also made it a point to eat dinner with other people every single night. With all of these new things happening it is so easy to fall into a rut and just grab dinner to eat alone in your room after class. While it is definitely okay to feel this way, I had to actively push myself to get out there and say “yes” to trying new things.

    Exploring the Hua Hin Night Market.

    2. Treat yourself every now and then.

    It’s all about work/life balance, right? A small group of us made it a priority every Friday night to go to the night market for massages, corn on the cob, and drinks.

    Enjoying corn-on-the-cob at the night market in Hua Hin, Thailand.

    On the weekends a group of us would treat ourselves to a Western breakfast (hello eggs and bacon), and then we would go to a local coffee shop to work on some of our assignments for the week. Talk about a well-deserved treat after a long week at school.

    3. Explore Thailand with your TESOL group.

    One day a weekend we planned excursions as an entire group. The first weekend we took a songthaew to Phraya Nakhon Cave. We arrived at the national park and hiked for 30-minutes to the temple inside the cave.

    Arriving at the entrance of Phraya Nakhon Cave.

    At the advice of the in-country TESOL staff, we went early in the morning which made for fantastic lighting and so that we also avoided a lot of the tourists who were coming later in the day.

    The next weekend our group organized a trip to the Pala-U Waterfalls. Located just west of Hua Hin, Pala-U is a set of 11 levels of waterfalls, although only five are open to the public. This hike was a bit more technical and difficult, but all 25 of us made it to level five!

    These unofficial group outings were one of my favorite parts of my TESOL experience. The fact that everyone chose to hang out together during our free time really speaks to the organization and environment that Greenheart Travel and Xplore Asia fosters.

    4. Keep an open mind.

    I consider myself a go-with-the-flow kind of girl, but even sometimes my patience was tested by avoidable situations. Be open to constructive criticism and suggestions on your lessons plans and teaching demonstrations. Sometimes it can feel harsh, but it is really only going to make you a better teacher in the end.

    My graduating TESOL class in Hua Hin, Thailand.

    5. Bring supplies from home.

    I wish that I had brought a set of markers, white board markers, construction paper, scissors, a glue stick, and tape. This would have saved me time and many frantic trips to the stationary store at the mall!

    6. English Camp is hard, but it doesn’t reflect your talent as a teacher.

    I wish someone had just told me flat out when I was preparing that English camp would be hard. I wish they would have said, “Hey! You’ve put in all of this hard work planning lessons and materials and you’re going to get into the classroom and it’s going to be chaos, but that does not reflect on you as a teacher.”

    So when the chaos ensues, or you start questioning if this is still for you – it is. Stick it out and don’t doubt yourself.

    These are just a few tips and pieces of advice to make your TESOL course, initial classroom experiences and first weeks in Thailand as stress-free as possible. When challenges do arise, remember, you are here for a reason; you have all of the skills you need. And the rest is out of your control.