Amazing experience with XploreAsia and as a teacher in Thailand!

I completed the one-week orientation with XploreAsia before heading onward to placement. From personal experience, becoming an XploreAsia member and teacher guarantees a support team, credibility, ongoing guidance, and the opportunity to create lifelong friendships. Beyond the many activities and excursions offered, the XploreAsia team took the time to listen and work with me to place me in the best position seen fit. I was placed in the south of Thailand, just as I hoped for, and it couldn’t have worked out better. I’m the only foreigner in a small town, living with the director and his family on school property. This may seem unappealing to some, and at first, I was skeptical too. However, that changed almost immediately as I was warmly welcomed into the family and into the community. I am so grateful for how the placement turned out and I wouldn’t change a thing. I am fully immersed in the Thai culture, the language, the pace of life, the community and family events, and the overall reciprocal generosity and kindness of the Lumthap community. At my school, I teach a lot of students in a span of a week, which at first, was nerve-racking as I thought it would be an impersonal experience and extremely difficult to remember any of my students. This is so far from the reality of it. The students are all so unique and silly with such strong personalities and big hearts. Even the mischievous students will win a special place in your heart. They are impossible to forget and you will quickly develop a bond with many of them. Of course there are tough days and tough classes and tough students and this will make you second-guess why you ever made the decision to teach in Thailand. But then the littlest occurrences happen, like your host family or coworkers bringing you your favourite mangoes, or a student making you a key chain or a bracelet, or the moments of pure joy when the students understand what you’ve taught them or their excitement when it’s time to play a game, or even just walking down the street and noticing all the excited smiles and “hello’s” you receive. These little occurrences will happen and immediately reassure you that you not only made the right decision but possibly the most rewarding decision of your life.