A Wallet's Paradise?: What it REALLY Costs to Live in Thailand

When I was gearing up to move to Thailand one year ago, I generally heard one underlying theme from people who had traveled here: "Everything is so cheap!"  I did not, however, have any input from someone who had actually lived in Thailand long-term.  So, how much did it really cost me to live in Thailand for one year?  Read on to find out!

Reading time: 6 minutes

Unreal National Park, Countless Temples, and Meeting my Idol: Solo Trip to Mukdahan

Last week, I decided to take an impromptu solo trip to the province of Mukdahan in Eastern Thailand.  I experienced such good luck on this trip, especially in the form of the people I got to meet.  Read on to learn how I met one of my idols on this adventure, how we explored a national park full of crazy rock formations, and how we had the great fortune of being allowed into some glorious temples at nighttime!  I am still pinching myself that this trip happened.  You never know what can unfold when you seize opportunities...

So, join me, and let's head to Mukdahan!

Reading time: 10 minutes

"The Plan is No Plan": Farm, Fair, Family ADVENTURE in NE Thailand

Do you ever just say "yes" to an adventure, not knowing what it will be, but with an open mind for whatever is in store?  This is what I did last weekend, and it was one of my favorite adventures of my entire year in Thailand.  This post documents my trip to the family farming village of my dear teacher friend, Teacher Pang, which turned into a 3 day, 4 province extravaganza that truly was one for the books!

Reading time: 11 minutes

Culture Shock: What I Wish I'd Been Told About Thai Culture

Moving abroad, especially halfway across the world, is bound to come with some culture shock.  This is pretty inevitable and should be expected as part of the adventure.  Something I underestimated, however, is how long this process can last.  I have been living in Thailand for almost one year, and new elements of the culture that catch me completely off-guard are arising still.  In this post, I will share some aspects of Thai culture that I wish I had been told instead of having to figure them out myself.

Reading time: 9 minutes

Teaching English Abroad: My Journey and How You Can Do It Too

Teaching English in Thailand has been one of the most enriching and life-changing adventures I have ever taken on.  I often think back to when I was deciding whether I wanted to do this.  I read a crucial sentence that prompted me to go for it: "If you are even thinking about teaching English abroad, do it."  I did, and it was one of the best decisions of my life.  In this post, I will share more about my journey teaching English as a foreign language, as well as advice for how you can do it, too!

Foreigners in Thailand: Making Friends Abroad

I think we gain the most appreciation for things when we go without them for awhile.  

For my first six months in Thailand, I was the only teacher my company placed in my province.  The closest foreigners I knew were over 2 hours away.  This helped me in many ways; it necessitated my learning Thai, figuring things out for myself, and truly immersing in the culture here.  However, I must admit, at times I felt very lonely.

In my second term teaching in Thailand, things changed.  My company partnered with two other schools in my city, and suddenly an influx of foreign teachers ensued.  I met up with two of them and we became fast friends.  They are a couple of my favorite people on earth, and they have so enhanced my time teaching here for the past few months.  In this post, I will document some of our adventures, along with some of the reasons that I have come to deeply appreciate finding like minds while so far from home.

Wild Thailand: (GIANT) Bugs, Catfish, and Lizards, oh my!

Thailand is a fascinating wonderland of wildlife, even smack dab in the middle of the city (or inside the walls of your apartment... yikes).  In this post, I share some of my encounters with wild beings here, including insects, giant catfish, lizards, snakes, and a terrifying spider I have named Natasha (pictured below).  Read on to adventure into wild Thailand with me!