Chaa Thai
Sticky Rice Magazine
50 ตอน ดู 20 ครั้ง
Society & Culture
Places & Travel
If you've ever asked the question: "what does a peace corps volunteer do?", this is the podcast for you! Join co-hosts Garrett Schliep, Zoe Ziegler, and Sam Parrish, Peace Corps volunteers currently serving in Thailand, as they interview other volunteers and spill all of the tea about all things Peace Corps Thailand! From the daily happenings of volunteers to the biggest challenges they're facing, we're going to ask all the questions that will give you a look into what being a PCV is all about.
-
Chloe From Uthai Thani
2569-09-21 · 36:42รายละเอียดตอน
Dive into this episode as Chloe gives our listeners an in depth glimpse into her unwelcome house guests, site projects, and traditional Thai dance performance while at her site in Uthai Thani. She gives sweet insights to her adventures and her growth while flowing throughout service. Check out her Thai dance here. (Begin at minute 45:00).
-
Wei From Nakhon Si Thammarat
2569-07-12 · 48:47รายละเอียดตอน
Wei offers an honest glimpse into life as a Peace Corps Volunteer, reflecting on what it truly means to be present. From his experience at a meditation retreat to navigating dependency, rural living, and personal growth, he shares thoughtful insights into how service is shaping both who he is today and who he hopes to become. This candid conversation is one you won't want to miss.Read more about Wei and Holly’s meditation retreat experience here.
-
Memos: Welcome to Site
2569-06-24 · 40:26รายละเอียดตอน
Peace Corps Thailand's latest volunteers from group 137 have finally arrived "at site." In this episode, we learn about what their first days at site are like and how some people are adjusting to their new homes.
-
Cat From Buriram
2569-05-12 · 32:29รายละเอียดตอน
This isn't Cat's first time around the block. She's traveled far and wide, working jobs in local communities and always with a passion to help others. In this episode, we cover everything from her first service in the Gambia, to making spicy spaghetti in Thailand. Tune in to learn more about Cat from Buriram.
-
So It Begins
2569-04-12 · 33:05รายละเอียดตอน
Welcome to a new season of Chaa Thai! Let's get to know your new hosts: Sam, Garrett, and Zoe from Group 136.
-
Season 2, Ep. 27 - Ketchup with Kayla
2569-03-31 · 1:05:58รายละเอียดตอน
And she’s back, with a new blend of tea! This week, we welcome our most famous tea master, Kayla, the debut interviewee for the Chaa Thai podcast! Joining us from her Bangkok apartment in the (slightly) upgraded role as PCVL (Peace Corps Volunteer Leader), a steaming pot of full circle tea is waiting for us before we even sit down. Kayla spills all about her new role and how she ended up in Bangkok for her third-year extension. Cups fill and empty as we journey down memory lane, celebrating the past 6 (six!) years since Kayla touched down in Thailand for the first time. Towards the end of our tea party, Kayla, who has filled nearly every role in Peace Corps Thailand, turns the tea table and puts on the host hat, asking Lilly and Alyssa to reflect on the end of their service, and what tea is brewing for their future adventures. Although this is the final episode of Season 2, we leave the kettle on for our Season 3 hosts to start pouring for the next group. Thank you all for joining us for these warm, passionate, and well-brewed cups of Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 26 - Tea with RPCVs
2569-03-30 · 17:49รายละเอียดตอน
As the end of our service nears and our sights turn towards home, we’ve sent our tea table traveling around the world to catch up with some of our Group 135 friends who left Thailand before us. Luckily, our invitation was received in a vibrant Korean city, by Samantha, and in an Oregon oceanside oasis by Ken and TJ, one of our Group 135 couples. A two time Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Samantha’s blend of tea showcases the warmth and depth of Kenya and Thailand, with a spice that’s uniquely Korean. Ken and TJ share a blend sweetened by serving with a partner in the golden years of life, and made bold by the love and commitment to their country, community, and continual growth. All three guests spill cups of wisdom from their time in the Peace Corps, as well as from life as returned volunteers. Find your boarding pass, secure your seatbelt, sit back and relax for this week’s nostalgic blend of Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 25 - Dave
2569-03-24 · 1:11:46รายละเอียดตอน
Our tea table’s final stop along the tour of Group 135 is a lovely beachside town in Nakhon Si Thammarat. We climb the stairs to the apartment of TESS volunteer Dave, where he’s set up with western comforts not often found gracing the homes of Peace Corps Volunteers. Our tea blend this week features proximity to supermarkets, college town activity, and foreign-friendly living, and the challenge is staying within budget in this slightly luxurious slice of Thailand.Dave spills all about his previous teaching experience abroad and how it compares with his service. We pour cup after cup, listening to stories about students, the dynamics of his school, and helping a nearby volunteer. Our second kettle finds us discussing a favorite pastime and plans moving forward. We’re so happy to welcome you one more time to the table of Group 135s service, so pull out a chair and settle in for this week’s episode of piping hot Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 24 - Memories with Michael
2569-02-18 · 1:29:47รายละเอียดตอน
From Lampang we hopped on the Nostalgia Train heading North to Chiang Mai and disembarked at the home of another YinD volunteer and Chaa Thai veteran, Michael. He was first interviewed only 3 short months after arriving at site, so we set up our table and plugged in our kettle to catch up on 2 years and changing perspectives. The blend this week is full-bodied and rich with love, open-mindedness, and sweet memories.Michael reminisces all about the expectations and goals he had coming in to site, and spills all about the reality of how they played out. We pour cup after cup as he takes us on adventures, introduces us to his students, and reflects on how his service has helped him grow. Grab a chair and let us pour you a piping hot cup of happy, friendship-filled Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 23 - Elsie Jao
2569-01-15 · 1:19:32รายละเอียดตอน
Our trip around Thailand is almost complete! In the province of Lampang, YinD volunteer Elsie expertly assists in setting up our tea table and putting the kettle on to boil. This is Elsie’s second time on Chaa Thai, having been the debut Group 135 guest in Season 1 during our pre-service training in Don Chedi. Her valley home and mountain views are a far cry from the rice fields of Suphan Buri, and our blend this week evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, growth, and contentment. As we settle in comfortably, Elsie spills all about her first time on the podcast, including recapping what brought her to Thailand and where she was in the process at the time. We reminisce on host families and site expectations, the ultimate difference between training and service, and how well her reality has matched up to what she thought. Cup after cup is filled, taking us from the highest highs to a literal tumble, and every complicated situation in between. As our second kettle is emptied, Elsie reflects on how far she’s come and offers a bit of advice for the incoming group. Pull up a chair and join us for a cup of this week’s rich and spicy Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 22 - Nonsense with Natasha
2568-12-12 · 1:34:41รายละเอียดตอน
A beautiful December evening finds us settling down for tea in the little-known province of Phi Chit, domain of one of our favorite charismatic YinD superstars, Natasha. The main flavor note of this week's blend can only be described as “laughter through the pain” as we reminisce on hopes and dreams and expectations that have one by one shattered, cracked, changed, or eeked through over the past two years.Natasha somehow has us in stitches as she spills all about her pre-country prep, a less-than-ideal counterpart, and the motivation she finds and shares every day. We giggle and outright cackle nonstop as she tells us about her province, the community she’s made, the creative ways she shows up for her students, and the travel bug that bit her when she stepped off the plane. Stay for the delight of the second kettle as we learn about her project for supporting special needs learners at her schools, and the hope for progress when she’s gone. Pull up a chair and tune in for a tangent-prone cup of hilarity and infectious smiles on this episode of Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 21 - Miko on a Mission
2568-11-28 · 1:06:46รายละเอียดตอน
On our way back from a jam-packed October break and Loy Krathong ceremonies, we stopped off at a village in Sakhon Nakhon. The home of TESS volunteer Miko is small but inviting, just right for her after living with her host family for over a year. A small yet mighty tea table is set up to brew patience and understanding, quiet connection, and healing laughter.Miko spills all about her school and co-teachers, navigating the realities of site and finding inspiration in the small moments. We pour second, then third, then fourth cups as we listen to the details of her grant project, the progress she’s made in establishing a little library, and how she hopes it will continue after she’s gone. Settle yourself in our cozy corner and tuck into a cup full of growth on this week’s episode of Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 20 - Taleah by the Thale
2568-11-04 · 45:46รายละเอียดตอน
A hectic 48-hour turnaround finds us drifting on a lake in the far south of Thailand, pulling up on the beach just a short walk to Taleah’s, a TESS volunteer in Phatthalung. She’s just recovered from a recent illness and a hilarious hospital misadventure, but the welcome is warm and the tea is hot as we join her in the affectionate presence of her host family. With a cozy backdrop of southern rain, Taleah’s blend is straightforward with hints of humour, passion, and a lovely aftertaste of pure heart.She spills the tea about her goals at site, the dedication with which her community has met her drive, and how she’s found a place for herself at school and at home. Our second kettle reveals the Service Improvement Committee President, a strong leader who stood up to represent her peers, take on the tough conversations, and leave a better service for those who come after us. Grab your favorite cup, find a seat, and tune in to an overflowing love with this week’s Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 19 - Melena in the Mountains
2568-10-07 · 1:22:55รายละเอียดตอน
From the sweeping views of Lampang, we’ve traveled even further North to the crisp air of Chiang Mai and the district of Fang, the home of YinD volunteer Melena. Full of boundless energy, balanced by an embracing warmth, her blend of Chaa Thai has us sipping with wide eyes while sinking further down into cozy cushions. Instead of setting up our own table, we find seats at the coffee shop her family owns, underneath her own room. She spills all about navigating cultural differences, tackling hard topics in the classroom, balancing a whopping 8 schools, and how her expectations shifted due to her counterpart's health concerns.Pouring cup after cup leads us to her favorite site activities, her wonderful host mother, and the students she’s come to know best. But just when we thought there was nothing left to spill, Melena puts another kettle on and serves us instead, asking some hard-hitting questions about our time in the classroom, where we’re headed next and what lessons from Thailand we’ll take with us. Join us this week for an energizing, good-for-the-mind-body-and-soul cup of Chaa Thai!Chapters:00:00 Exam Week in Thailand9:49 Teaching Kickball, Self Defense, and Sexual Harassment 12:38 Consent in Thailand15:03 Setting Boundaries 17:09 Things to See in Chiang Mai19:53 Bugs 22:39 Living with a Host Family 25:55 Teaching at 8 Schools29:17 After School Activities 31:25 Camps 33: 49 Community Run for a Cause 35:09 Sport Weeks40:25 Staying Active41:38 Last Few Months and Post Ser
-
Season 2, Ep. 18 - Charismatic Clara
2568-09-26 · 57:11รายละเอียดตอน
We’ve flown all the way from the bottom of Thailand to a province nestled near the top, to meet a fellow ocean lover ensconced in breathtaking mountains, far from the water. Setting up our tea table with Clara, a YinD volunteer in Lampang, the laughter is infectious, and the tea spills easily. California-born and raised, she confesses to not missing the ocean as she’s found a home in the beauty and people around her. Before the first kettle is even finished, we’ve heard all about the home she lives in, her “found family,” and her busy weekly schedule balanced by self-care and weekend getaways. Clara spills about the personal growth she’s made, the boundaries she’s set for work expectations, and tells all about her motivations for joining the Peer Support Network. Find a comfortable spot in the house and listen to this week’s healing blend of Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 17 - Optimistic Ollie
2568-09-18 · 59:07รายละเอียดตอน
Our tea table has found its way down South, to the province of Phatthalung, where we set up in the warmth and history of TESS volunteer Ollie’s home. She greets us with a uniquely Thai and boldly tropical blend, claiming a right to the country she serves and the environment of her site as only a half Thai, half Hawaiian can. The tea is punctuated by nostalgia and scented with history as we hear about her childhood visiting Thailand, legacy ties to the Peace Corps, and the relationships that have come from them in adulthood.We pour cup after cup as Ollie spills the tea about her work, bonding with her host mom over exercise, and daily life at site. The kettle bubbles in tune to our laughter as she tells all about the highs and lows of service, the unexpected joy we find, and the connections we form across time and distance. Join us this week for a heartwarming cup on an uplifting episode of Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 16 - Monkeying Around with Kiera
2568-09-03 · 1:01:52รายละเอียดตอน
As a monsoon stretches out over Southeast Asia, we seek shelter amid the Khmer temples of Lopburi in Central Thailand. Kiera, a YinD volunteer, guides us to a stunning spot to set up our tea table together, expertly avoiding the dozens of monkeys that give “Monkey City” its name. We watch the rain as we enjoy the chosen bubbly, giggly blend, reminiscing on bright Montana summers, breathtaking community trips to the South, and hilarious misadventures on river floats.Our kettle brews another batch of sunny happiness that perfectly reflects Kiera, and tea is spilled about the differences in year two versus year one, her tourism and volleyball clubs, and setting up a community effort world mural project. The party snacks are supplied by the stories she shares about bringing Thailand home to the US in snack form, and bringing the US home to Thailand. Splashes of tea land on Sticky Rice, her many visitors, and the large host family happily supplying love and care. Join us at the table for all the softness and smiles found in this week's Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 15 - Amazing Arleth
2568-08-27 · 1:01:42รายละเอียดตอน
Halfway through our season, we return to the province that started it all! This week, we are once again setting up our tea table in Uthai Thani, at the home of TESS volunteer Arleth. Her chosen blend is rich and flavorful, steeped for nearly a year and a half amid lifestyle changes, starting with a uniquely challenging work condition, and navigating one of the most rural site placements in our cohort.Our cups are filled again and again as Arleth spills the tea about visiting home, her motivation behind joining Peace Corps, and the relationships that have sustained her along the way. We sip eagerly, hearing about how she utilized the Host Country Contribution fund, and the many benefits it’s brought to the classroom. Cozy up and grab a seat for all this and more, on a warm, spicy episode of Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 14 - Clay Way All Day
2568-08-20 · 1:06:48รายละเอียดตอน
This week, our chosen brand of tea is Taking the World by Storm! We’ve traveled to the northern (western? Northwestern?! It’s contentious) province of Tak to talk with Clay, a YinD volunteer with unusual circumstances and a revolutionary take on life. She spills the tea about only having 2 schools! We sip eagerly in the knowledge that makes it obvious she devotes her absolute best to her site, while also having room to pursue an incredible project to establish her path after service is over.Characterized by bright, bold flavors, Clay's blend is full of fun adventures with coworkers, forming new types of friendships, the creepy crawly terror that can come from living alone, and everything in between. With hobbies, connection, and growth galore, listen in for a refreshing cup of Chaa Thai full of passion and determination!
-
Season 2, Ep. 13 - Cassidy in Chiang Rai
2568-08-06 · 1:02:52รายละเอียดตอน
It’s the 13th episode of season 2, and the famously lucky number worked its magic. It took us 2 days and 2 chaotic sessions, full of broken cups, spilled sugar, and overbrewed tea, to get through this nonetheless delightful conversation. And we sincerely mean lucky, because our guest this week is YinD volunteer Cassidy! The magic of Chiang Rai’s mountains and skies full of rainbows are reflected in her sunshiny smile and enthusiastic love for the site she calls home, and the setbacks from Number 13 were rendered nearly endearing in the light of the warmth and experiences she shared with us.From her host family who has adopted her as one of their own, to the friends who have made the journey over, and the home she has found for herself, Cassidy spills all about the beauty of her community and her place in it. We hear how Peace Corps has shaped her life before she was even a trainee, and how it brought her to the decision to extend for a third year, mixed in with plenty of the little moments that make everyone’s service so unique, of course. Join us as we sip on this vibrant, bubbly brew, an effervescent blend of Chaa Thai spilling over with abundance and joy!
-
Season 2, Ep. 12 - Good Vibes with Giselle
2568-07-22 · 1:07:02รายละเอียดตอน
Much closer to home, our tea travels find us with Giselle, in the province of Udon Thani, located conveniently close to both Alyssa and Lilly. Featured in the pot is a beautiful blend with Chinese origins, centering a language and culture that Giselle is familiar with, and has had the opportunity to share with Thai students alongside her duties as a TESS volunteer. We take some time to chat about the difficulties of language camps and the differences in sites.In a distinctly Thai fashion, the tea spills over while we touch on school drama from changing directors, the truth of counterpart relationships, and host family realities that can sometimes be difficult to come to terms with. Our conversation flows as we laughingly dance, tea sloshing onto the floor to the tune of being on the Peer Support Network and some site visitors. Join us as we take some well-timed spins together with steaming cups of Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 11 - Riveting Reid
2568-07-15 · 45:28รายละเอียดตอน
With the rainy season deepening, we escape to the North and find our next guest taking shelter in the province of Nan. This week, we’re heating our kettle at the home of TESS volunteer Reid Stautberg, surrounded by green and crisp mountain air. The tea for this party features subtle hints of a darling relationship, community integration in more than one village, and having an American support network practically built into your site.As time passes and cups are refilled, Reid spills all about how service can lead to discovering truths about yourself, how he’s facing a truth that makes his job here a tad more difficult, and what sustains him despite that. Join us as we soak up stories of the classroom, nibble on adventures, and gorge ourselves on what being a Peace Corps volunteer means, down to the very bottom of our cups.
-
Season 2, Ep. 10 - Eastside James
2568-07-01 · 1:17:58รายละเอียดตอน
At the foothills of Khao Yai, we set up our table in the province of Prachin Buri, to share some herbal tea with YinD volunteer James. The blend is very important this time, as James’ dedication to his faith not only impacts his tea choices, but also the way he experiences life in Thailand. He spills about how his life and spirituality have grown from being here, and how it compares to his previous time abroad in the Philippines.Before we finished the first kettle, however, we heard about the particulars of his life at site, communication difficulties volunteers face with counterparts and community members, and how he’s made the most of living far from other volunteers. Our cups are full of memories, determination, and resilience this week, and we’re excited to invite you to take a sip as it all spills over!
-
Season 2, Ep. 9 - Wade
2568-06-17 · 1:07:55รายละเอียดตอน
This week's tea time takes us to the fields of Central Thailand, to the province of Phetchabun, and the home of TESS volunteer Wade. We finally get the opportunity to hear from the other half of the cohort's infamous “Wade and Lalo” couple and how a newbie’s experience is impacted by having a veteran PC Thailand volunteer as a husband. But as much as we hear about this iconic pairing together, the tea on Wade himself flows strong and steady.He spills about all things past, present, and future, touching on his experience with teaching, the challenges educators face in the rural classroom, and his active steps to support and improve English teaching practices in his community. And our second kettle brought us to his work with the Grants Committee, which provides funding for projects around the country. Put on your comfiest PJ pants, lay out the mat, and join us as we reflect on the beauty of Thai “sabai” life over an ice-cold glass of Chaa Thai!
-
Season 2, Ep. 8 - Mia the Mermaid
2568-06-10 · 1:05:43รายละเอียดตอน
Our first recording post-bpit term travel and mid-service conference finds us setting up our tea table in the mystical South with Krabi YinD volunteer, Mia! The self-proclaimed and Peace Corps-crowned Queen of Camp (of the English and life skills variety) sits down with us over cozy adventures and nightmare fuel to spill all about her volunteer experience.With her signature positive outlook and sunshine smile, Mia tells us about the niche she’s carved for herself in her community. We cover projects and plans, what the work-life balance looks like in service, and dealing with the realities of being a teacher. And, of course, she offers us some magical advice on how to stay connected, stay sane, and stay safe - you read that right - safe from things that go bump in the night! Take a listen to dive into all this tea and more!
-
Season 2, Ep. 7 - The Emily Experience
2568-05-28 · 53:11รายละเอียดตอน
This week we’re sitting down in the Isaan province of Mukdahan, to chat with YinD “middle child”, Emily Hoffmeister, who is in a unique position for the currently serving cohorts in Thailand. She tells us all about what it’s like to have another volunteer, Group 134 then replaced by Group 136, minutes down the road, how it’s informed her experience and the collaboration and support it provides. A frequent travel buddy to hosts Alyssa and Lilly, we hear about the amazing adventures she’s had when not with them, including a visit from home! She also spills all about the four-legged siblings she has in her host family, small joys you find living in rural Thailand, and what’s ahead as we begin our second year of service. Find all this and more in this week's catch-up sesh!
-
Season 2, Ep. 6 - Live, Laugh, Lalo
2568-05-14 · 56:40รายละเอียดตอน
Chaa Thai is back after summer break, with a volunteer who is back after a 20-year break! Introducing our very own Thailand RPCV, Lalo Carter, who originally served in cohort 116! This time, he’s here as a party of two—he and his husband Wade have made their home as TESS volunteers in the central province of Phetchabun- and our hearts! In addition to dispensing priceless advice to the 23-year-old people pleaser Alyssa, Lalo discusses the advantages of age and gender in Thai culture, as well as boundaries he’s established with his site upon reflecting on his first service. We learn what has and hasn’t changed since he’s been gone, where he’s focusing his energy during this service, and the direction he's looking post-Peace Corps. Join us for all this and more on our first episode of the new school year!
-
Season 2, Ep. 5 - Colt 45
2568-04-10 · 1:00:00รายละเอียดตอน
It’s widely recognized that service pushes every volunteer out of their comfort zone, but our guest this week took challenging himself to a whole new level with Peace Corps being his inaugural international experience! Our hype man and inspiration is Colt, a TESS superstar who shares about life in Korat, the “Nebraska of Thailand”, and absolutely melts us with his commitment - to making the world a better place, and his long-distance relationship. Join us this week as we discuss the ideal 1-year anniversary Thailand itinerary, the most humbling teacher-student interactions, and what the future looks like when you’ve found your forever. But be warned! If you’re a hopeless romantic, you might just fall in love with Colt - listen at your own risk.
-
Season 2, Ep. 4 - Diva Mack
2568-03-11 · 1:25:33รายละเอียดตอน
This episode is rated R. Viewer Discretion is advised! We are joined today by the legendary diva who introduced herself to our cohort as “Mack, like the truck.” She then proceeded to get “smacked” by a truck during training, and lived to tell the tale (to us, here, if you’re interested). This week, Lilly and Alyssa share lots of laughs with the one and only Ubon Ratchathani YinD volunteer, Mack. There are some tears shed and lessons learned, like how the struggles of isolation and Peace Corps service can result in a deeper understanding of yourself, the benefits and reality of situations often viewed as shameful, and the coolest-looking way to flip people off. Hop on this rollercoaster of emotions and brace yourself for a h*** of a good time!In Loving Memory of Jude and Ramona <3
-
Season 2, Ep. 3 - Country Joseph
2568-03-05 · 45:42รายละเอียดตอน
It’s our first guest! Or is he just a new co-host… interviewing himself? Lilly and Alyssa are complimented this week by Farmer Jo, a prolific rice cultivator from Uthai Thani province. Okay just kidding, Joseph is a fellow TESS volunteer, and he’s only spilling the tea, not taking over, but he is serving in Uthai Thani! This is Joseph’s second time living and teaching in Thailand, and we hear all about the differences between working for a private company and Peace Corps, as well as what he was up to in the years in between. He tells us about his life at one of the most rural placements in our cohort, how his integration is going, and new insights he’s gained through his work here. Join us for all this and more!
-
Season 2, Ep. 2 - Meet the Hosts
2568-02-27 · 1:28:57รายละเอียดตอน
We are no longer strangers! In lieu of a "first guest", Alyssa and Lilly leaped at the chance to talk about their own lives. In this introductory episode, our new hosts spill some tea about their sites and how it feels to be halfway through service (13.5 out of 27 months to be exact)!Get to know a bit more about these two friends and their daily lives, as well as the more random adventures that make service so exciting. From "Thai-nappings" to living walking distance from dinosaur fossils, Lilly and Alyssa have many stories to share about the luxuries and challenges of their lives in Thailand.
-
Season 2, Ep. 1 - Passing the Kettle
2568-02-17 · 1:13:58รายละเอียดตอน
This episode begins a new era of Chaa Thai. Out with the old hosts, Dano and Morgan, and in with the new, as we pass the kettle to Group 135 hosts, Lilly and Alyssa. In their final episode before retirement, Dano and Morgan tell us the story of the Chaa Thai podcast from birth to present day. Morgan and Dano reflect on their service, spill the tea on their post service plans, and impart all of their wisdom on the new hosts. Thank you Dano and Morgan for creating Chaa Thai, we’ll pour you a cup at the 2045 host reunion tea party :)
-
Ep. 35 - Symon
2567-12-28 · 1:10:44รายละเอียดตอน
We're ending 2024 being entertained and educated by Symon, a TESS volunteer in Uthai Thani! He has traversed just about the entire country of Thailand over the past two years and who has stories and historical anecdotes out the wazoo to share. We talk about dealing with the never-ending commentary on our lives at our sites, how Symon has used his interests to connect with his site and his community, and his adventurous ventures around Thailand and Laos AND Cambodia. Thanks to Symon for letting us ask him questions for so long and maybeee he'll show up on some other country's Peace Corps podcast in the future!!
-
Ep. 34 - Clare
2567-12-18 · 38:29รายละเอียดตอน
We scored big this week getting Clare, YinD volunteer, Sticky Rice Social Media Manager, and up and coming DJ out of Uthai Thani, on for an interview! She tells us about her strategy for handling holidays at site, how she's used crazy amounts of reading to cope with the boredom that plagues us at site, her debut as a Thai dancer and all that that entails, and how she's preparing for the future as our service comes to an end. Everyone cross your fingers for Clare that she makes it to close of service without any more concussions in Thailand!
-
Ep. 33 - Nadia
2567-11-24 · 44:57รายละเอียดตอน
After our long hiatus for bpit-term and Close-of-Service conference, we're back with the one, the only, Teacher Nadia! Not only is Nadia a TESS volunteer, she's also a fashion icon of group 134 and a bilingual Spanish-English speaker - this is our first partially bilingual episode and surprisingly it's not Thai we're speaking. We cover all the typical TESS teacher stuff but we also go into travel recs and tips, what staying for a third year of service consists of, the games Nadia loves playing in the classroom, and even play a get-to-know-ya type game in the episode! Thank you Nadia and thank you to all the listeners for waiting two whole months for another episode!
-
Ep. 32 - Matt
2567-10-15 · 49:27รายละเอียดตอน
We lucked out this week and managed to carve time for an interview out of Matt's busy schedule of teaching, warding off Thai ghosts, weight lifting with his students, and eating multiple meals for dinner. Fueled by khao-jee, he's teaching English in Roi Et but if you live in any of the surrounding provinces you might have seen him running because he has managed to train for and run a marathon, the full 42 kilometers, or 26.2 miles, during his service! For obvious reasons he has become a champion of fitness of group 134 but he has also picked up several other hobbies since being at site, including gardening, mechanical engineering (kinda), hard core meditation, and raising puppies. Like I said, he's got a packed schedule.
-
Ep. 31 - Jon S.
2567-09-23 · 48:34รายละเอียดตอน
We've got Jon on all the way from down south! This week we talk all things, from incorporating football into Jon's english lessons, the role a Peace Corps volunteer played in the creation of Khao Sok National Park, and how Skibidi toilet has taken over all of our classes. Listen to hear all of Jon's southern travel recommendations, what the transition to a third-year of service looks like for TESS volunteers, and how being a high school teacher in America compares to teaching primary students here! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacecorps.thailand/?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%253D%253D Sticky Rice: https://pctmagazine.org
-
Ep. 30 - Bianca
2567-09-08 · 48:37รายละเอียดตอน
This week we have a coach of one of Thailand's most accomplished competitive scrabble teams, Bianca! She's a TESS volunteer in Ubon Ratchathani and her school is unique in the fact that it has a scrabble club and several competitive students who compete in competitions across Thailand. In this episode we do talk a lot about scrabble, but we also talk about the frustrations that come with not being fluent in a language, the pros and cons of teachingn TESS-style vs. YinD-style, and the intimidating parts of service that we've overcome over the past year and a half! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacecorps.thailand/?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%253D%253D Sticky Rice: https://pctmagazine.org
-
Ep. 29 - Cloé
2567-08-19 · 47:52รายละเอียดตอน
This week we've got Cloé on to talk about all things SAO - the good, the bad, and the awkward. Cloé is a YinD volunteer in the north of Thailand and she shared some of her uncomfortable anecdotes related to Thai photography norms, the struggles that come with trying to plan for your future during your service, and her personal developments that she has come to appreciate thus far, after being a PCV for over a year and a half! Big thanks to Cloé for coming on and to SAOs everywhere for keeping us all well-supplied with awkward photos to look back on years for years to come!
-
Ep. 28 - Will
2567-08-04 · 45:19รายละเอียดตอน
This week we've got Will coming to us from the hottest party site in Thailand, Ubon Ratchathani! Will is a Youth in Development volunteer and his site has gained a reputation, mostly through Dano and I's acclaim, for being the most fun site of group 134. When Will isn't partying at his SAO he's organizing wilderness camps, baking bread , attempting to swim across the Mekhong River and touch Laos, and field tripping across Isan with his schools. Sticky Rice: https://pctmagazine.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacecorps.thailand/?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%253D%253D
-
Ep. 27 - Virginia
2567-07-15 · 1:01:40รายละเอียดตอน
We're back with Virginia, a TESS volunteer from Chiang Rai! Virginia tells us all about her son's recent visit to her site, her experience coming from an education background in the states to a teaching role in Thailand, and her living situation at her site. We loved being able to pick a prior educator's brain about the challenges we experience here versus what she was used to in the American education system so listen and prepare to be educated!! Sticky Rice: https://pctmagazine.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacecorps.thailand/?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%253D%253D
-
Ep. 26 - Michael S.
2567-06-09 · 37:44รายละเอียดตอน
Group 135 is back this week in the form of Michael - a YinD volunteer in Chiang Mai! All the 135 volunteers have been at site for almost three months, so we checked in to see how Michael's faring so far and it's safe to say he's faring better than both Dano and I ever have at our own sites. We talk about how he's navigating his school schedule and managing his classrooms, his various travels around Chiang Mai, and his newfound hobby of visiting wats (and 7/11s). Sticky Rice: https://pctmagazine.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacecorps.thailand/?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%253D%253D
-
Ep. 25 - Kaleb
2567-06-03 · 44:54รายละเอียดตอน
We're backkk! Coming off our long and lazy summer break we've got a chaotic episode with a chaotic volunteer - Kaleb! When he's not in Bangkok, Kaleb is teaching English in Nakhon Si Thammarat and this is actually his second go around in Thailand, as he was also a victim of group 132's COVID evacuation. We cover how volunteers spend all the free time and days off we have, Thai standardized testing, managing a 6-month long rainy season, and TESS volunteers' transitions into their second year of teaching. Happy year two group 134 and happy first year to group 135! <3 Sticky Rice: https://pctmagazine.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacecorps.thailand/?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%253D%253D
-
Ep. 24 - Bradford
2567-04-27 · 49:41รายละเอียดตอน
We've met his wife. We've met his dad. This week we have...... Bradford! Bradford is a singer, aspiring margarita-making pro, writer, president, and Peace Corps volunteer. He teaches English in Si Sa Ket and is sharing his service experience with his wife, the lovely Cadi Duncan (see Ep. 4 - Cadi). We talk about Bradford's involvement with Peace Corps beyond just his teaching, we also talk about his experience at school compared to any expectations he had, and what it's like to live in his community with his wife. How many times do you think they get asked when they're going to have a baby every day?? Sticky Rice: https://pctmagazine.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacecorps.thailand/?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%3D%3D
-
Ep. 23 - Peace Corps Parents!
2567-04-13 · 1:20:00รายละเอียดตอน
By this point everybody knows what life is like for us Thai Peace Corps volunteers, but what is life like for the super important people who we left back in America? If you've wondered about this then it's your lucky day because this week we have the parents of current PCVs on to tell you! We talk about how they felt throughout the very long application process, the funniest stories they've heard, their future travel plans and experiences, and all of their embarrassing stories about their kids, in Thailand and America. We love the Peace Corps parents and all the care packages they send us <3
-
Ep. 22 - Raynna
2567-04-01 · 43:35รายละเอียดตอน
This week we have Raynna on the pod all the way from Uttaradit - is it a northern or central region? You gotta listen to find out! Raynna is a YinD volunteer and she tells us about her students and how she's adapted her plans at site throughout the past school year, about her site and everything it has to offer, and she reflects on the past year of service at her site - happy swearing-in anniversary group 134 <3 Also, happy April 1st everybody ;) Sticky Rice: https://pctmagazine.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacecorps.thailand/?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%3D%3D
-
Ep. 21 - Elsie (Group 135 Debut!)
2567-03-13 · 53:38รายละเอียดตอน
The Group 135 trainees have been in Thailand for two months now so we thought it was about time to get them on the podcast! This episode we have Elsie, a YinD trainee who is living in Don Chedi and eagerly awaiting to find out where her site will be. She tells us all about her experiences with learning the language, practicum, cultural training, and everything else that has made up her two months of pre-service training. We also cover her expectations and hopes for the next two years so go listen and cross your fingers that Elsie gets a fantastic site placement!
-
Ep. 20 - Maggie
2567-03-04 · 41:08รายละเอียดตอน
We're back and this week we have Maggie on right from the beaches of Thailand! Maggie is representing all of YinD in the southern region from Krabi. She tells us all about the diversity of religion and culture at her site, how her professional background translates to her role as a volunteer, and she shares all the wisdom and advice she's accumulated over the past year!
-
Ep. 19 Jodi
2567-01-25 · 49:26รายละเอียดตอน
Hellloooo from the other side! Fellow 134-er Jodi is broadcasting from the US of A. Since she is our pi (elder) by several decades we show her our utmost respect, but still had a ton of fun. We got to hear what readjustment is like, as well as the challenges and joys of being a PCV. She even hints of a return. Chaa Thai exclusive scoop! Could we get a Jodi Thailand sequel? Tune in to find out.
-
Ep. 18 - Andrew (International Collection: Guinea)
2567-01-07 · 1:14:58รายละเอียดตอน
Though our RPCV guest was in the West African country of Guinea, thousands of miles from the Kingdom of Thailand, our Peace Corps experiences are bound together by a common foe: poop. We've all been there, but Andrew's been there and back. He was an evacuee, leaving at the finish line of his service. He is now in law school in an air conditioned apartment and reminiscing about the good ole days in Guinea from squatty potties to learning his site's tribal language on top of French (and we thought learning one language was hard enough!).
