My VSA experience in Korat, Thailand

At August 10th, I headed for Thailand to start my three week long volunteer experience in Korat. I was really exited and a little nervous, but everyone I met on the program was really nice and helpful. 

During my time in Korat, I had to teach English class at two different Thai schools, where I was immediately met with a warm welcome from both students and teachers. The children were very eager to learn and enthusiastic, and even though they were a little shy at the beginning, they soon opened up to us and were happy to see us coming.

Our host was a local teacher at one of the schools, who received us very generously. She made sure we had everything we needed and were as comfortable as possible. She and her family made our guesthouse feel like a true home. They were always ready to answer all of our questions and help us when we needed it.

During these three weeks in the schools, I participated in a lot of different, fun activities, such as a sports competition between various schools, an Englisch camp at a nearby Highschool and a science camp at one of the local schools. Our hosts also encouraged us to do activities outside of school, such as making some city trips and going to local night markets, which brought us in touch with local people and culture.

This expanded my own knowledge and appreciation of Thai culture. I am happy to say that I cannot wait to return there again someday!

By Fien Gelders Volunteer in VSA2408 Intercultural and Language (ICL)- Nakhon Ratchasima 11-31/8 2024