Peace Corps Thailand Volunteers in Group 134 recently reached the milestone of living in Thailand for a full year. With about 15 months left of service, there’s still plenty of time to take inventory. For this month’s group article, we asked the Sticky Rice Staff to look ahead and think about what they might take back to America as both physical and intangible reminders of their time in Thailand.
Teresa Derr, 134 YinD
Before coming to Thailand, I would have said I hate running. I’m not a runner, and I would much rather bike everywhere than take a step faster than my fastest walking pace. That doesn’t mean that I couldn’t run – I’ve always been athletic, I love playing sports (even when they involve running), and I can pick up new physical skills relatively quickly (according to my sister, at least, but I trust her). I just didn’t like running because it bored me, mostly, and it doesn’t naturally have breaks for me to catch my breath like biking or sports do.
Now, only a year into my service, I can confidently say that running is if not a skill, then at least an experience that I will be bringing back with me. Running has transformed from being boring to being the best way to connect with my host father and meet people in the community through him. It’s turned into one of the only ways I regularly exercise (because knowing my host father is waiting for me is the only reason I can drag myself out of bed before the heat becomes oppressive). It also has earned me several physical keepsakes, as I regularly participate in 10k runs with my host father now and come home with medals, trophies, and shirts! I have also started to recognize some of the other runners in my age bracket, getting me that much closer to making friends through this endeavor!
Bianca Palese, 134 TESS
I have always wanted a unique gallery wall in my house full of art that has a story behind it and reminds me of where I’ve been. While in Thailand, I’ve started collecting paintings, fabrics, and student work that I’m going to frame and showcase when I get back to the States.
So far I have a couple paintings that I bought from my friend, P’Tang, who owns and operates Natree Cafe and Art Studio in Don Chedi, Suphanburi. I visit him every time I’m in Don Chedi because I’m obsessed with everything he creates whether it’s coffee, tee shirts, or postcards. I also have an envelope of student artwork tucked away that I want to frame or scrapbook because it’s so gosh darn cute. Thai students are incredibly creative! Anytime a student writes me a cute note or makes me a drawing, my heart melts.
And while it’s not from Thailand, I did buy a couple paintings from a non-profit organization in Cambodia, Colors of Cambodia, that funds art programs for kids in rural communities when I was there visiting. It’s an understatement to say I’m excited to go arrange my dream home gallery when I’m done with my service.
Kayla Kawalec, 134 YinD
Bradford Reszel, 134 TESS
Something I’ll take back from Thailand:
An empathetic, rather than my previous sympathetic, understanding of the day to day struggles of being a teacher. The grind to be “on” for your kids day after day along with creating a quality learning environment can wear you down. The highs and slows can swing frequently, but the memories made with the students will last throughout my life.
Dano Nissen, 134 YinD
Besides the feral dogs lurking in every crevice waiting to pounce at any given moment, living in a Thai village comes with many fewer distractions than I had living in Brooklyn. With weekly bar trivia and professional baseball games now off the table, I’ve had to fill in the free time with new hobbies.
At the end of PST I purchased a guitar in Don Chedi, and for practically everyday since then I’ve practiced for an hour after school. Before coming here I could muster a chord or two, but now I can easily woo at parties with my rendition of “Wonderwall.” In general, I’ve been able to establish more of a routine with working out, yoga, reading, writing, meditating and other self improvement exercises. But, playing guitar is the only thing that feels like starting from scratch. I’ll always remember the moment I finally broke through, managing to sing and play simultaneously. I can only imagine what my host parents were thinking hearing a tone deaf version of “Good Riddance” by Green Day in an incomprehensible language to them followed by whoops of joy.
I may not be able to take my physical guitar back, but I will take the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll I found in Thailand on tour to the USA.
Dito Montaña, 134 YinD
By far the one thing I plan on bringing back with me from Thailand is the ability to open a beer bottle with another beer bottle. I dream of the day when I am back home after service and visiting my friends, and when one of them offers me a beer I’ll cheekily accept, knowing full well that I hid all of the bottle openers in the house when they weren’t looking. The moment will come where they will have no way to open their drinks, perplexed and losing faith. And then, with a grin and a shrug, I’ll grab a bottle and pop the cap off with another bottle in one swift motion, surprising everyone with my newfound skill for the entirety of about 7 seconds before everyone moves on and forgets. Man that’s gonna be great.
Cloé Fortier-King, 134 YinD
I still remember the agonizing process that was packing for Thailand. I sat on my bedroom floor holding item after item in my hands, trying to imagine their practicality during my service—and then proceeded to play a giant game of Tetris to fit them all into my two suitcases.
Now, a year in, many of these items have served their use, some have worn out entirely, and a handful have been given away. While I’m in no rush to pack up my bags again, I occasionally wonder what from Thailand will make it back to the United States with me. What will represent my fondest memories of service? What can I not imagine leaving behind? And of course: what will fit!?
So far, I have just a few ideas. Of course, some clothing is a must—I’m quite fond of my colorful Thai cotton shirts with coconut shell buttons and embroidered details. I have a small version of the Northern Thai Lanna-style lanterns hanging in my room that I have no doubt will fit nicely in my luggage. I can’t part with the notes and drawings from my students, nor from the photos, receipts, and ticket stubs I’ve collected into journals to document my time. On a more symbolic level, I hope these skills and habits accompany me too: naam jai generosity, appreciation for life’s little luxuries, and a desire to explore every corner of the world.
Although I’m sure I’ll agonize once more over what to pack, it’s comforting to know that no matter what finds its way into my luggage, Thailand has a hold of my mind and heart.
Read more monthly Sticky Rice Staff group articles here.
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