A Story to Tell is an ongoing series of interviews with the volunteers of Peace Corps Thailand by Group 135 TESS volunteer, K.D. Norris.
K.D. Norris, 135 TESS
Lalo has seen it before — Peace Corps service in Thailand — but this time he sees service with a deeper understanding of himself, appreciation of the world, and, now, a life companion.
Two decades after his first encounter, the beauty of the Thai people, the culture, the landscapes, remain. And, you know, the wine in this part of the world ain’t bad either.
“I first served in Thailand 21 years ago as part of Group 116, and it remains one of the most significant experiences of my life,” Lalo, TESS Group 135, said in an email interview. “It was eye-opening, exciting, moving, mind-bending, and intoxicating. Before that, I had never truly traveled internationally.
“Right now, I’m serving in Dong Khui, Phetchabun, alongside my husband, Wade. He covers the south side, I cover the north, just a kilometer apart. … Returning to the Peace Corps has been a longtime goal of mine, and sharing the experience with Wade has made it all the more meaningful.”
Born and raised in Flagstaff, Az., having gained a degree in Art Education and then having traveled and lived outside the United States, Lalo considers the world his home. And his first Peace Corps service in Thailand played a big part in who he is now.
“Thai culture was a complete contrast to the environment I grew up in, and I soaked it all up like a biscuit,” he said. “My program was a hybrid of TESS and YinD, and I was stationed in Amphur Mueang, Loei, working with three schools. Back then, there were far fewer rules, so I traveled constantly — visiting other volunteers on weekends and running English camps across the country, which gave me the chance to see so many different provinces and places.”
From there, life went on. But his interest, his desire, to serve in the Peace Corps again was always there.
“Wade and I decided to join the Peace Corps two years ago while traveling through South America,” he said. “ Before that, we had already begun reshaping our lives —purging nearly all of our possessions (except for our art and a couple of cases of wine) and exploring South American cities in search of a new home outside the U.S.
“When we applied, we were open to serving anywhere in the world. But as a gay couple, our options were limited to places where we could serve safely, and we were fortunate to be placed in Thailand.”
Already a fairly open society, culturally, same-sex marriage legislation was initially introduced in 2023 and fully legalized early this year, making Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to do so and the third in Asia after Taiwan and Nepal.
His service this time is often much the same as it was before. At his school he has 270 students and three co-teachers. He teaches about 18 hours a week and creates materials and games for his teachers to use after his service. And this time, he says his focus is on student-centered learning and critical thinking skills — “similar to before, but this time with a stronger focus on just one school.”
And, as a returning volunteer, his home life is different: “This time around, service feels easier. I’m more focused, comfortable, and patient — and, of course, far less lonely.”
His outlook on the world, on living internationally, has changed how he views his service in Thailand as well.
“Living in Thailand doesn’t feel drastically different from many other places in the world,” he said. “The people here take great pride in their food, art, ceremonies, and music.
“At our site, life resembles that of a small town in America — everyone knows your business. Every culture has its strengths and challenges, and what one person sees as a positive might be a drawback for someone else. But at the core, we’re all more alike than we are different.”
Lalo and Wade also take pride in showing people their world, their community, often with a glass of wine and a good meal involved. This October, they will have friends coming to visit, and they’re planning a whirlwind tour of the country — “an experience that’s sure to be unforgettable.”
Those, too, will be memories he will carry away next year.
“I’ll always remember the times other volunteers and friends came to visit,” he said. “We love hosting, and since this isn’t the easiest place to get to, we make sure to spoil them however we can!”
“Spoiling” their guests usually involved some homemade treats, some local Thai food, and maybe a little wine. (Oh, did I mention that Wade and Lalo are considered the “wine guys” of Group 135?)
“It’s exciting to see Thailand’s emerging wine market, and you shouldn’t overlook some of the locally made wines,” he said. “We don’t have a go-to wine here in Thailand, but we usually stick to dry whites and rosés. Wade would say my go-to is sparkling wine — specifically brut, not dry or extra dry … brut!”
Today, he said as he wrote his responses to Sticky Rice Q & A, “I’m enjoying a spritz with a Spanish table white.”
There are often times when Lalo is considered the “chef” in the house. But he begs to differ.
“Lately, I feel more like a scientist than a chef. I’ve been experimenting with homemade sodas using ginger bugs and making vegan milk punches.” (Ginger bugs are wild-fermented starter cultures used to make naturally fermented probiotic sodas.)
“I also bake breads, cookies, and cakes regularly for Wade’s leadership club. At home, I haven’t cooked much Thai food — it’s just so much easier to grab it in town.”
And now, half-way through his second tour as a Peace Corps Thailand volunteer, and sharing the big, beautiful world with Wade, even his view of “home” is different.
“Home, for me, is wherever I am, and I’m lucky to share life with someone who feels the same way,” Lalo said. “No matter where we are, our life stays pretty much the same — we’ve learned what we need, what makes us happy, and where to focus our energy.”
Sticky Rice 
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