What inspired you to travel abroad?
My life was headed in a direction that was not going to end well for my mental health. So, I decided that a change not only of scenery but also my career path. I needed a break from the city and living in a smaller town. Teaching in Thailand is a great option to either have a great experience, "escape," or for a "fresh start." You choose which option is best for you.
Why did you choose Kids-English Thailand?
I chose Kids-English Thailand as the response time via management was efficient. The people I spoke to with Kids-English Thailand via Skype calls were helpful and lovely. The overall process was smooth. Kids-English Thailand provided all the information required from the day I arrived in Thailand. They assisted me in traveling to Sukhothai for training, moving to my town in Phetchabun, obtaining my work visa and work permit, finding accommodation, and providing a support system with great people. I am happy with and grateful for Kids-English Thailand.
What was your favorite part about Thailand?
The culture of Thailand is beautiful. My main interest in coming to Thailand was because of Thailand's national sport, Muay Thai. The best part was enjoying the fights at Bangkoks Lumpinee Stadium or even smaller bouts at local "fairs" in Uttaradit. The Thai culture and heritage are beautiful to watch and consume.
On gate duty at his school on Wednesdays.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The people I met have been extraordinary, and the change of perspective on life while living here has been refreshing. It is one thing to view a country and culture through someone else's lens, like a journalist or media presenter; it is a whole other thing once you experience it yourself. I suppose this is true for all things in life, but it is especially true for Thailand. The things I thought I knew were wrong, and the things I didn't know were eye-opening.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The staff and management of KIDS-English Thailand are amazing. Arriving in a foreign country is a little shocking, but KET made the transition smooth and offered all types of assistance. My main contact and assistance with Kids-English Thailand are Matt and Phu Khao (aka TONG), they frequently contact me to make sure everything is okay with work and if I am happy with everything. They even contacted me for non related things to the job. They are great people and have become my friends.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
Nothing. The experience has been amazing, and I don't think I will be returning to my home country for many more years. The one thing I wish I had done is learn the language better. The Thai language for a Native English speaker is very different, and for me personally is very difficult. The Thai language is tonal.
Devon visiting a local Primary School.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A normal day would include work. So, Wake up around 7AM. Head to work around 8AM. Teach about 4 hours a day with enough breaks to relax and prepare for lessons. Clock out at 4:30 PM. Head to MuayThai training at my local farm gym. Which has become a second family. Train from 5 PM-8 PM. Either head home or eat dinner with Kru and the fighters. Get home 8:30 PM. Shower and prepare for the next day of school, which usually takes about 30 minutes. Eat dinner and wind down with the girlfriend. Sleep at 11 PM.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I trained Muay Thai and traveled the country. So many cool places to go. Amazing temples and statues, waterfalls, islands, bars, clubs... Drank Chang beer, ate Thai food. My favorite food was Mokrob, crispy pork with holy basil. I spent time with my fellow farangs (foreigners). I met a beautiful, kind Filipino girl and fell in love.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
The accommodation is a bit of a shock when you arrive in Thailand. What I was used to versus what we got was different. Normally, within Western accommodation, there is a room, kitchen, and bathroom. In Thailand, due to cultural norms of cooking outside and eating from food stalls. The accommodation is a room with a bathroom. You can pay more for more, but in the end, you spend so little time at home that having a room to keep your belongings is enough. I was shocked at first but within 2 days I was totally content with my accommodation.
Devon with friends hiking to a waterfall for the day.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Everything seems tough and scary. But with the help of KET, the transition is smooth. Just ask for help, and you will receive it. On a negative note. As a foreigner, do not get involved with Thai issues. Let the people of the country resolve their own issues with their own process. Do not bring Western beliefs and norms into Thai life. An example of this is if you see a conflict arise in public. Keep your head down, and do not involve yourself even if you see an injustice. Thai people are very proud. On most occasions, they will stop their conflict to remove you from the situation and then go back to their original conflict.
Would you recommend KIDS-English Thailand to others? Why?
Yes, because if you are looking for a new experience or a major life change. Teaching English in Thailand is a great program. You grow as a person, and you help the youth of Thailand gain English knowledge, which will change their lives forever. The kids here are hard-working and want to succeed in life.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
You get a true cultural shock, not in a negative way. You get to experience a new culture and also meet many people from all over the world. So it's not only one culture, it's more like 100 cultures, as Thailand is a global hub for tourism and expats. You will gain a fresh perspective on life and when you return home. This experience will linger and humble you.
Foreign Teacher department in the School Parade through the town.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I am not home. I don't think I will ever return to my home country. I planned on staying for 1 year. But the experience has been so great and mind-altering that I do not think I want to return to my home country. South East Asia is too beautiful to go back. It has changed my political and religious beliefs, and opened my mind.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
A travel experience that will linger in your memory for years, flashing back to when you were in strange places with strange people eating strange food, drinking strange drinks, dancing to music you have never heard nor understand, and having an amazing time. The one thing I will never forget was sitting on a bus traveling home from Chiangmai. The seat next to me was unoccupied, and I was happy because I had extra space (I am a big guy). At the next stop, passengers got on the bus, and one of them was a Monk in full orange robes. He was in his mid-twenties, I assume. He sat next to me. I was scared because I had never been this close to a monk and was unsure of the etiquette. He then pulled out an iPhone 15 and started scrolling through Tiktok videos. I never thought, due to my own ignorance, that a Monk would not only have an iPhone 15 but also scrolling on Tiktok (I was ignorant about Thai Buddhism). Because of his normal human behavior, he no longer appeared to be a deity in my mind, also due to my ignorance, a normal human-being. I gained the strength to try and communicate with him via google translate. He smiled at me. We spent the next 3hours communicating slowly and with difficulty. Eventually, landing on Muay Thai and the traditional Thai tattoo art of stick and poke. He explained the "magic" and "power" of the Sak Yant tattoos from his knowledge. This was from his temple's perspective (each temple has different rules to do with Sak Yant tattoos), and he showed me one of his fellow monks who was a tattoo artist and had been tattooed from head to toe. This blew me away. He was an amazing person. I do not know if he just indulged me out of politeness because we were stuck together on a bus or if he was happy to speak with me about these things. I was grateful for him accommodating my silly ignorance and humoring my questions. This was a beautiful experience for me.
