National Geographic Student Expedition to Thailand

The kingdom of Thailand is an intoxicating land with magnificent mountains, jungle-clad islands, pristine beaches, and majestic temples. It also has a mix of the colorful religious festivals, ancient cultural traditions, bustling cities, and fragrant cuisine that will probably excite the senses. I went on a trip through the national geographic for mentoring and leadership, and later I taught for two weeks. Some of the things that I never took for granted during my journey was issues dealing with time management, being flexible with my schedule, and being confident. This paper will discuss my experiences during the expedition and what I learned from it.

During the period, we stayed in the huts, which were well built with enough comfort for a common man. It was not easy though to get there because of the distance we were forced to travel daily. Walking two miles was not a joke, it was a reality which I never believed in before, but I got used to it as time passed. Besides, there was neither cell, Wi-Fi, AC, or even hot water to shower with. Before the experience, my thinking was different from what I saw, but I still believe that it was worth it.

However, we were able to pair with other students for three days, where we shared our experiences, asked questions, and compare the lives we lived and the one they have in the kingdom. From them, I was able to learn that some liked, others hated with another group wishing to stay even longer. My life there was like the opposite of what I was exposed to before. So, what I heard and read about places having different weather, and living conditions were real.

For seven hours each day, I was to walk for a long distance, teach one lesson then playing followed and after that, another lesson followed before stepping back again to help the family. The first teaching experience turned my expectation because of the challenges in the English language. I was also easily aggravated when the students did not understand what I was trying to address. Some of the problems I got were handling rowdy students, translation, and creation of a flexible backup plan or other activities. Others included the timing of lessons and helping in developing lesson plans.

Apart from that, there were differences that I noticed during the expedition. For example, I saw houses that had no windows or doors, individuals wearing torn clothes, the absence of sanitary, and unavailability of iced drinks. These things were not common at home. Some of the individuals had lice, their hands were dirty, and soap was not used frequently as it is back at home.

However, the trip was a great one with so many things to learn from. From the culture of the people, appreciation even for small items was highly practiced. This also involved going across the street with friend and families. I also learned that people are different though we have some common similarities as a human being. Besides, culture is the center of everything that runs in us as people; therefore, understanding the uniqueness of each individual is the starting point for appreciating the complexity of the creation.

In conclusion, Thailand is a vast geographical area with a unique culture. It is a place with so many experiences and lessons that can be learned from it. From my expedition, I believe that I am not the same again. I am better.