General Impression
Overall Rating: / 10
I had an incredible experience in the teaching program in Koh Samui, Thailand. I loved absolutely everything about my program, and I genuinely can't say enough good things about it. I had the pleasure of teaching wonderful children, met so many interesting and inspiring people, and was greeted by such welcoming and kindhearted staff members. Our entire volunteer group was a unique blend of individuals from all around the world of different ages, most of whom had travelled there alone. This created a very interesting group dynamic, but what we shared was a genuine love of giving back, adventure, and a wholesome love for life itself. We quickly grew close to one another at the beginning of our stay, and began our project together.The teaching program involved planning and preparing our own lesson plans for our classes (with adequate demonstration and support, rest assured) and then delivering said lessons to a class of approximately 30 children between the ages of 5-13. A typical school day was between 8:30am and 3:30pm, and the classes were divided amongst the volunteers with the alternation of main and assistant teacher roles. It was a very well designed system because we were all involved in one another's classes, and had the opportunity to help out in the art classes as well. Moreover, the staff was extremely accommodating and ensured that we were only doing what we were comfortable doing. It was such a pleasure teaching the children; they were all so wonderful and full of excitement, and they loved to greet us with hugs and kisses when we arrived. It was an extremely rewarding experience because I was able to hear the children correctly pronouncing the vocabulary and speaking the dialogues I had given them, in addition to grasping and understanding the delivered concepts.
Koh Samui is a beautiful island with so much to offer. During the evenings, the other volunteers and I would explore the island on our motorbikes, go to the beaches, and all go out for dinner together. Our coordinators kindly offered to take us to viewpoints, temples, and waterfalls around the island as well. There was always so much to do and there was never a dull moment during my entire stay there. The other volunteers and I planned many excursions together, which included trips to Khao Sok and Ang Thong National marine park. Both of these places manifested stunning views and offered numerous activities. In Ang Thong we kayaked around the island and hiked to Emerald Lake, and a handful of us decided to hike to the incredible viewpoint at the very top. There were also the options of hiking to a cave on the island and snorkeling. In Khao Sok we went on a couple of safari adventures in a long tail boat and explored the jungle, in addition to spending the night in tiny bungalows floating on the water. These are only a couple of examples of the many adventures we went on, given that every day held a new adventure and every day so many incredible memories were made.
There's no better way to experience an unfamiliar country than to immerse yourself in such an environment where you can learn about and practice the country's customs, and really gain an understanding and appreciation of the culture itself. I believe this creates a unique experience all on it's own, and as volunteers we had the opportunity to do exactly that - we were even lucky enough to be a part of a Buddhist temple celebration with the school. The NGO in Thailand that LV is partnered with is a reliable network of remarkable individuals, adhering to the founding principle that the work done by volunteers is truthfully required and will make a difference. During my stay there I spoke to the coordinators regarding their work, and the passion entailed in their voices was unmissable. I was honestly moved by their love for what they do, how much they care for the children, and the amount of their own time and energy they've devoted to making a difference in the lives of others. The wonderful thing is that you can feel that energy and passion every step of the way, and in everything that you are contributing to the project. I'd love to go back in the future to revisit the relationships I made with not only the children but the entire staff in Koh Samui. Additionally, in the near future I intend on travelling to a new destination and partaking in another one of the projects that LV has to offer. I've been thoroughly impressed with the level of preparedness and the accessibility of information LV provided me with during the entire process, and I would highly recommend for anyone with a passion for volunteering and adventure to take part in this project. To volunteer in Thailand is to open your mind to a world of compassion, exploration and self-actualization. You'll immediately know that you're a part of something bigger than yourself - go there and be sure to take in every moment of it.
Thank you for everything LV!