Welcome Volunteers! is a multi-part, limited series of advice and tips for the new cohort preparing for service in Thailand. Each installment will focus on a theme of advice from members of Peace Corps Thailand Groups 133 & 134 and compiled by Teresa Derr. Graphics created by Cloé Fortier-King.
Teresa Derr, 134 YinD
As my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers are posting about the various holiday activities they’re doing and bolstering each other through bouts of homesickness, and I’m hearing stories of holiday preparations from my family, I can’t help but compare the difference between this year and last year.
Last year, it was cold and there were Christmas decorations up everywhere. I was studying Thai at a local Temple and I got invited to a Thai celebration (honestly, bless my teacher for putting up with not just all the language blunders I was making, but also when I showed up to an official party wearing red – the absolute worst color to wear to events related to the King!). I was working, balancing holiday preparations with moving around the world preparations, and, of course, trying to spend as much time as possible with my family.
This year, I deal with the 90 degree weather, I pause and admire the solitary Christmas trees I find in random shops every now and again, and I went to a festival celebrating eating fish for dinner instead of doing anything on Father’s Day. I’m still working, except for the days off we get (not Christmas, but Father’s Day and Constitution Day), and of course, there’s still a balancing act between holiday preparations, sports day preparations, and Peace Corps required things.
I’m sure you, our much awaited next group of volunteers, are going through something similar to what I was last year. Whatever else you are doing this holiday season, the prospect of moving halfway across the world is still so daunting! But however you are preparing for Thailand, be it studying Thai, listening to music, or practicing eating spicy food so it doesn’t catch you off guard here – keep it up! And if you want some thoughts from current volunteers that might help you better prepare as the month left ticks down, here are some quotes to inspire you.
Read more installments in the Welcome Volunteers! series
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