This article was not written by a Peace Corps Thailand volunteer currently serving in country.
Yulan Seua Hungsungnoen Smith Havlicek, Peace Corps Trainee Group 135
I served in the Peace Corps for only a month during Pre Service Training (PST) but was abruptly separated due to medical concerns. As such. much of my work, and dreams, were left unfinished. (But I still hope to fulfill them at some point in the future. Hopefully sooner rather than later.) This is a record of my efforts towards service.
I decided to join the Peace Corps at some point in my youth, but It wasn’t until around 2562 (Thailand calendar; 2019 on Western/Gregorian calendar) that my linguistic studies of the Thai language finally presented the opportunity and calling again. After interviewing and being selected, I started the process of medical and legal clearances. However the Covid lockdowns would belay this pursuit, and I was told to resubmit my application the next year.
Life continued to play out, and I continued the process. I served in Americorps for Coosa Riverkeeper, earning a “living wage”, and worked a short stint in concrete conveyance. As such, funds were low, so when Peace Corps medical told me I needed to get an $800 dental filling to serve, I questioned whether I should continue the process. I remember jestfully thinking “What if I spend this money and still get disqualified?” I finally resolved that it was worth the risk, with respect to my diplomatic pursuits. Long story short I was still medically disqualified.
I was enraged. Not by all the time, money, and effort wasted but by the idea that my diplomatic pursuits would be dashed because of an inherited trait that had played a large role in my growth and development as an individual: psorasis. I couldn’t let this stand. I wrote out a lengthy response which was thankfully tempered by several friends and colleagues, then sent it to the country desk officer.
Thus I began the process a second time. Being more experienced, everything passed much more smoothly, and I was pleased when my second medical appeal was approved. 2567. I was finally destined for Thailand.
I arrived at the Intercontinental San Francisco and immediately felt out of place. This was too rich for my blood. A flurry of introductions and orientations later and our cohort was shipped out. After a bit of chaos at the airport, and a long flight over the Pacific, we landed. I was finally going to start my mission!
PST for Youth in Development (YinD) volunteers consisted of multiple orientations, language and cultural lessons, lesson planning, and the issuing of equipment. As expected the stipend was quite meager, especially so considering foreigners pay a surcharge for not looking like the locals, but for the most part food, housing, transportation, and the internet were covered, so it works as a discretionary safety fund. Though not all will use it as such. My teaching counterpart for example spent much of it on supplies to enrich our students.
The most directed service a trainee provides during PST is teaching at the local schools. We mainly focused on teaching English, and integrating games to do so. The YinD program is quite adaptable, but also suffers from that lack of pure direction that TESS (Teacher Empowerment for Student Success) offers, so volunteers in this field should take that into account when preparing for their service. Of all the activities I participated in, this felt the most fulfilling.
Aside from this directed service, volunteers are subject in their off time to the social activities of their host families. My family owned a mango farm and stall, so much of my efforts revolved around setting up, breaking down shop, and some farming and distribution activities. Early on I attempted to be slightly bombastic, yelling out at their stall “Farang kai ma muang!” However I quickly recognized that my host family was quite reserved, so I subsequently mimicked their demeanor. Most days after class I would ride to their stall at the town’s chedi monument, then work on my language studies, and side projects.
Though unfinished there were several images I worked on.
My host family’s stall, being centrally located, often gave me the opportunity to see my fellow cohort members. So whenever they walked by, my host family would point them out and I’d guide them around and provide translation services. Being half Thai and able to speak the language decently, had me making friends with several of the locals, and enjoying conversations with many people as I assisted our cohort in getting their bikes repaired and other services rendered. It was in all these interactions that I presented and conducted myself as an ambassador of the United States and its people. A sentiment I believe all volunteers should have as representatives of our country.
Although I only served a month in country, I believe service begins the moment you first submit your application. It takes sacrifice in time, money, and effort; And unlike most jobs this is a 24/7 position. With this in mind I admire and respect anyone willing to make this sacrifice, and though like any job you will find those that will shirk from this strain, the fruits of those that persevere will be a boon to humanity.
Now with my reinstatement denied, I can only hope that this third time’s the charm.
Sticky Rice 