Worth it!

Going through CIEE you do not get to decide where you are placed (although you do state where you would like to be placed). I was placed (with my best friend) in Khon Kaen , Thailand which is in the Issan region near Laos. I had never heard of this part of Thailand (it’s northern but nope not near chiang mai) and was definitely worried about what the year would hold. While where I live is untouched by tourism the people are WONDERFUL. I am definitely experiencing the real deal thailand. My job is so thankful for us to be there teaching English and make us feel so special and at home everyday. The salary allows me to travel every other weekend and I have been able to see A LOT of Thailand. CIEE does a great job of preparing you before your departure and I am forever grateful I went through them especially because of the week long orientation in Bangkok. It gave me time to make friends who would be teaching around Thailand, adjust to Thailand, and get prepared for the year of teaching ahead. While I am not living the beach, elephant life, I imagined I would be I am so thankful for where I am and the people I have met. I have been challenged and grown so much in my time in country and I have CIEE to thank.