Chaa Thai is a podcast spilling the tea on Peace Corps volunteer life in Thailand! Each episode, hosts Alyssa Strong and Lilly Hromadka interview a current Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand and do a deep dive on their experience at their host site. The tea is that there are as many examples of what service is like for a volunteer in Thailand as there are volunteers — join us as we get a taste!

Our trip around Thailand is almost complete! In the province of Lampang, YinD volunteer Elsie expertly assists in setting up our tea table and putting the kettle on to boil. This is Elsie’s second time on Chaa Thai, having been the debut Group 135 guest in Season 1 during our pre-service training in Don Chedi. Her valley home and mountain views are a far cry from the rice fields of Suphan Buri, and our blend this week evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, growth, and contentment.

As we settle in comfortably, Elsie spills all about her first time on the podcast, including recapping what brought her to Thailand and where she was in the process at the time. We reminisce on host families and site expectations, the ultimate difference between training and service, and how well her reality has matched up to what she thought. Cup after cup is filled, taking us from the highest highs to a literal tumble, and every complicated situation in between. As our second kettle is emptied, Elsie reflects on how far she’s come and offers a bit of advice for the incoming group. Pull up a chair and join us for a cup of this week’s rich and spicy Chaa Thai!

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Find more episodes of the Chaa Thai podcast here.