The best summer ever! I couldn't recommend Gotoco enough!

Gotoco is a social enterprise that provides fully funded travel opportunities for volunteer English (TEFL) teachers, connecting people from different backgrounds and fostering cultural exchange.

Whilst on the programme, I worked in a primary school in Kalasin, Thailand, a small rural town in the Northeastern province of Isan.

Having had no prior experience of teaching or Thai culture, I was forced to adapt both in and out of the classroom – but I quickly fell in love with both!

Meeting local Thai people and making friends with them was the most enriching and rewarding part of the experience, as well as the teaching of course! Going into the experience, I thought that the other Gotoco participants would be the ones I would remember forever, but it was actually locals who gave me memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life!

Learning Muay Thai with a local retired fighter in his garden every day (after school, 5-7pm) was a particularly special highlight, and we were able to connect and stay friends despite not being able to speak each other's languages.

Overall, the process of immersing in another culture and community was so rewarding, and I cannot thank everyone in Kalasin - teachers, students and locals – enough for welcoming me into their town and giving me memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

I couldn't recommend it enough!