General Impression
Overall Rating: / 10
My name is Jessica. I'm 27 and from Miami, Florida!When I was first presented with the opportunity to come to Thailand, I gave myself thousands of excuses to why I shouldn't go…but they say life begins when you step out of your comfort zone so with great fear I knew it was something I needed to embrace.
As I found myself boarding the plane completely alone heading to a country where I didn't have a clue of the culture, language or customs and for all I knew there was no one even in my
mission/volunteer group-which terrified me. Since I arrived though I have been sharing a home with 11 beautiful strangers from all over the world who have taught me MORE than I could even begin to imagine. We have become family overnight!
As for the learning about the Thai culture, I've found it incredibly inspiring witnessing how others live so happily with only bare essentials; even businesses are operated right out their homes. It's no question why this land is known as "the land of smiles." Even in the toughest situations a smile remains on their faces.
In Thailand, they live off of "Thai-time"-which means going with the flow. Most classrooms take place on the bare floors outside. No rooms, no desks, no pens... Just floor space. For building and repairing their educational facilities, we've utilized sand and hoes to make cement by hand. A task that's taken weeks to do would take hours using machines but this is how they live- happily going with the flow.
If there is one thing I've learned in the past year it's if there's something that scares you, embrace it- it'll probably end up being the best experience of your life!