Travel to Teach: Thailand Volunteer Story

Vicky at the orphanage in Nong Khai

Vicky Holsgens, 18, Holland

Don't expect too much before you leave.

Six months I've been here and still I hardly have any time to write a story. Not that we teach so much, it's just that we're having too much fun at the moment. Hereby I must say it's not always been like that. I'll just withdraw myself from all the fun here and tell you about my last six months.

In September I arrived in the pouring rain on Udon Thani airport. Tired as I was I couldn't really see the beauty of 'sunny' Thailand on the one-hour-drive to Nongkhai. Although I came with no expectations I had to get used to the Thai way. But once I got used to it, I had the time of my life.

The teaching started soon after I arrived. It was much easier than I expected. The level of English is not really high here. I didn't really like the teaching, so together with Kerstin I looked for something else. I ended up in the orphanage, a very good choice.

In October the summer camps began. It was hard work, but absolutely worthwhile. During the days we played games with the kids and in the evening all volunteers socialized on the porch or on the balcony.

After the summer camps we had the Naga festival. The Thai believe that once a year on full moon in October Naga (a dragon in the river) wakes up and spits fireballs in the air. According to everything I had heard about it, I expected it to be big. And it was. The street along the river changed into a festival terrain for one week. Although we didn't really get the Thai plays or the chaotic aerobics, we definitely enjoyed the ladyboy contest. On the main day of the festival we went to the place to be. Our expectations were high. For twelve hours we were waiting for fireballs to emerge from the river and escape in the night, but Naga let us down. Well these things happen in Thailand, we still had a great time.

But you have good times and bad times. The first week of November everyone left, so I decided to travel around myself as well. For a month I traveled through Cambodia and Laos. Travel to Teach was alright with it. It was a great experience and I learned a lot from it, but it was also nice to come back to a familiar place with familiar faces.

As soon as I got back, I could pack my bags again for a trekking to Phu Rua. We never arrived at the promised guest house, it was freezing cold, there was not enough food, the bus ride just wouldn't end, but we still look back on it as a fun weekend.

I was on half of my trip and things got quiet and boring in Nongkhai. Everyone left for home to celebrate Christmas and New Year with family and friends. It got freezing cold. Our main activities were staying warm and eat. But with Christmas we were woken up by the tsunami. The little news we received horrified us. We all gave blood, clothes and money and just hoped for the best. Luckily all our volunteers in the south were alright and the T2T-dorms got quiet again. By the end of the month we had three houses for four volunteers, so we didn't really expect a great New Years Eve. But, well, what can I say, there are no words for the fun we had. Just go to Udon…

The beginning of 2005 sounded promising for the rest of the year and so far it lived up the expectations. I went to Chiang Mai with another volunteer and when I came back the dorms were filled again. In the beginning I didn't really feel like making new friend again. But it's very hard not to socialize with other volunteers here, so pretty soon we had a close group again. Now, one week before I leave, it's very hard to go. I just love Nongkhai and it's people.

I've had a great experience and learned a lot. Don't expect too much before you leave. Just throw yourself into it and have fun!

Email: Vicky Holsgens