By Oskar Johannes Steinert in VSAMLTV1401: RPK50 SCHOOL-KHONKAEN 05.06.2025
After 6 months I have completed half of my volunteer service and it was a unforgettable time.
Looking back, this period has been one of the most transformative and intense phases of my life. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, with highs and lows sometimes unfolding within the same day. I’ve discovered so much about who I am and how I respond to difficult moments, and I genuinely feel proud of the personal growth I’ve achieved over the past six months. Even though I had the lowest times of my live I would do it again because it really changed my personality in a good way for long time and I am grateful for that
One thing I really didn’t expect was how much I would enjoy being a teacher. The smiles from the students, their friendly “hello teacher!” every day, and their happy reactions when they finally understood something difficult made it all feel so special. It made me think about maybe becoming a teacher myself one day.
I also see teachers in a very different way now. They don’t just explain things or give homework they do so much more. At my school, many of the teachers are like second parents to the students. They support them, listen to them, and care deeply. I’ve learned how much patience, energy, and love it takes to do this job. And I’ve seen how much happiness it can bring too.
One of the most meaningful parts of my time here was the connection I built with a group of friends in a nearby city, just about 30 minutes away. From the very beginning, they warmly welcomed me, showed me around not only their city but also the surrounding areas, and invited me to join them for cultural events and local gatherings. Through them, I didn’t just see the tourist side of Thailand — I experienced a deeper, more personal side of Thai life. They took me to places I never would’ve found on my own, like hidden night markets, traditional festivals, and even car expos, which I never expected to enjoy as much as I did.
What made this experience even more special was how they brought me into their circle of friends. I got to meet so many different people from all kinds of backgrounds, each with their own stories and personalities. Over time, these people became much more than just acquaintances — they became a part of my life here, and I truly grew fond of them. Being included in their everyday life gave me a unique insight into Thai youth culture: their humor, interests, music, weekend plans, and how they see the world. These friendships added an entirely new layer to my understanding of Thailand and made my experience here so much richer, more colorful, and unforgettable.
I also had a lot of fun spending time with the students outside of class. We often played football together, and that helped me get to know them in a different way. During these games, we could all relax and just enjoy the time. We laughed a lot and worked as a team. It made our relationship stronger and more friendly. I could also see more of their personalities and how funny, kind, and full of energy they are. These moments were very special to me and made my time at the school even better.
My time in Thailand helped me grow a lot. I learned to solve problems by myself, even when things were difficult. It was not easy at first because I was in a new country with a different culture. I had to get used to many new things and ways of living. For the first time in my life, I was away from home for a long time without my family or friends around me. This was hard because I felt lonely sometimes. I had to leave my comfort zone very far behind, and that was scary at the beginning. But I didn’t give up. Step by step, I found ways to feel better and to fit in.
I also had to talk and connect with people who didn’t speak my language well and who didn’t know me before. This was new and sometimes confusing, but I learned to be patient and try different ways to understand each other. I did many things during this time that I never did before. Some things made me nervous, but I tried anyway. Now, I feel very proud of what I have done. I believe this experience will help me a lot in the future. It made me more open to new things, stronger in myself, and more sure that I can handle challenges on my own.
I am happy and excited about the next months. I hope to meet more nice people and get to know them better. I want to learn a lot from them. Being more independent will help me a lot. It will give me new chances and help me grow even more. I am curious about what will happen next and ready for new experiences.