I must preface this post with a morsel of advice: "never make lofty assumptions."

Before arriving on Ko Chang, I presumed it to be a luxurious, tropical getaway marked by simple lessons and sunny weather.

Boy, was I wrong.

The past week has been such an illuminating experience. In all of my eagerness to travel somewhere foreign, I quite underestimated that Thailand is a developing country. Instead of lavishly furnished rooms in what I thought would be a high-end resort, I am currently sharing a room with three other roommates in a small, thatched beach hut with beds that harbor the comfort level of hard-wood floors. Add walls and a roof that lack any sort of insulation, and you have a perfect breeding ground for newts, spiders, maggots, and other creepy-crawleys that have you tossing and turning at night. The one wonderful thing about our accommodation: A/C. Ahhh, sweet, sweet, air conditioning: I shall never take you for granted ever again.

Last Monday night was one of the scariest climatic episodes Rina and I have ever experienced. After settling in bed after a long day of training, all of the sudden we heard thunder in the sky that made us jump from our oh-so-feather-soft mattress. The sound of lightning started to build more and more, to the point where we were all huddled together on our bed, quaking and wondering if we would all be evacuated from the island. Rain continued to lash at our frail little beach shack and began leaking through our roof, dripping onto our bed and all around our room. After a frantic dash to stow away my macbook, I decided that Ko Chang is a not-so-tropical-paradise during the rainy season.

If I could sum up my TEFL lessons in two words, it would be: incessant, yet fulfilling. Although 6-7 hours of training each day doesn't sound too bad, please take into account the humidity level, early rising time, and the fact that our program is filled with post-grads from the UK who have the science of partying down to a T. Trying to keep up with them reminds me a lot of being in Isla Vista (all over again). Aside from being tired about 90% of my time here, I can't really complain. I'm in good health and learning so much from our seasoned TEFL teachers. Our first day we were thrown directly into the fire. In pairs, we had to teach our own lesson to the rest of the group, which was nerve-racking but also extremely rewarding. Beginning next Tuesday through Friday, we will travel to a nearby Cambodian school, teach a couple of classes with a partner, and be peer-reviewed. I have many feelings of excitement, extreme anxiousness, and minor doubtfulness. Can I really control a class of foreign teens and actually manage to have them learn something? Only time will tell.

TEFL Heaven crew

Although I sound altogether pessimistic about this whole experience, I have to admit that Thailand is a pretty wonderful place. The people have lived up to their exalted reputation: sincere, sweet, and reserved are just a few adjectives to describe this humble group of people. I'm looking forward to departing the island and experiencing the less touristy side of Thailand, in Chiang Mai.

Above all, I need to remember: roads are for journeys, not destinations. This was a journey I willingly sought out and I will continue to cherish, even through times of longing (for American cuisine!), aching (you can't believe how sore my bum and neck have become), and general homesickness. Everyday is an adventure and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds.

Visualize:
Loud, caustic voices. Festering pools of litter and murky water. Moisture hanging so thick upon the air that it feels as if you've hit a clammy wall. Smells so foreign that your senses are going haywire. Holding a handful of a strange hodgepodge of currency that makes little sense. Above all, beating, relentless sunlight that has you crawling for the nearest air-conditioned establishment.  This is Bangkok.

But it's not all doom and gloom. You've been thrown together with a jolly lot of British, Irish, and Scottish lads who are just as baffled as you are. The pad thai and chicken curry melt in your mouth and life seems just a bit more optimistic when you suck down that last drop of refreshing Chang beer. This was my first conception of Thailand as I stepped off the plane from alien Taiwan to sweltering Thailand...and into the next phase of my life.

My first meal in Thailand: Thai chicken curry and hard noodles...scruuumptious!

Boarding our boat to the temples.

My favorite mode of transportation: tuk tuk!

Navigating our way through the back alley streets of Bangkok.

Insects galore!

Bangkok was a whirlwind two days of getting utterly lost, visiting majestic temples, and partying on the city's most touristy road: Khao San Rd. The night was filled with drunken shenanigans and struggles to decode warbled Scottish and English accents. Indeed, I feel as if I'm learning two new languages in this foreign land.

I am now settled on the beautiful island of Koh Chang and have many more adventures to regale you all with. Until the next post...xoxo