Tal C.

1. What inspired you to apply for this Peace Corps position?

I had applied to the Peace Corps 10 years ago, after my first round of service in the military was cut short due to injuries. I wanted to continue serving my country and the Peace Corps felt like a great opportunity not just to serve, but to also deeply experience a different part of the world. At that time back in 2014, applying was a very different process without the luxury of choosing your sector or country, so I was fully prepared to go anywhere I was sent and do any type of work. My military service ensured I was tough enough to overcome any hardship and set me up with invaluable tools for success. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go when I first applied, so when the opportunity presented itself again, I was more proactive in my application process.

2. Tell us about a moment that sticks with you from the first week at your site.

My first few weeks were a blur! I mostly focused on learning the lay of the land, people’s names, and trying to apply the Thai I had learned. If I had to choose something, I would say it would be when I finally found my “spots”— a couple of places at my site that I like to go to when I just need to feel a bit less like “Tal the volunteer” and more like “Tal the person.”

3. What is your main job?

My job as a Youth in Development Volunteer is to work with my community to cultivate more opportunities for youth to step up and help in their own betterment and future. My main project is always my students. I focus on helping them build their critical thinking skills and confidence, whether in the classroom or outside.

4. What strategies have you used to integrate into your community?

I say hello to everyone! I try to always answer their questions even though they tend to ask me the same ones every day; even the small gesture acts as a bridge. I always bring extra food to my neighbors and try to always say “yes” when my colleagues ask me to join them for events. There are so many small ways that add up and help you integrate; it’s really just about figuring out what you can do to maintain and build relationships.

5. What’s a typical day like for you?

It depends on the day. Three days a week I wake up, get dressed, make myself coffee and go straight to one of three schools, where I teach the entire day, have lunch with my co-teachers, and during down times, talk with my co-teachers or plan the next lesson and update my calendar. Twice a week, I go to the subdistrict government building for a few hours in the morning and have lunch there before biking to my remaining schools (I go to a total of five each week) for either an afternoon of teaching, or English club. Usually I get home around 4 p.m. and start winding down for the day by making myself dinner, taking a shower, and just relaxing.

6. What is a highlight of your time in service so far?

I really love the opportunity to experience something so unique and meaningful. I feel I get to experience the real Thailand, not the version every expat or short-term tourist thinks is Thailand. Having such an in-depth and unfiltered look into this incredible country has been an eye opener for me. I never thought I’d be living among rubber farms and learning that there are many different types of banana with their own names; these are things I never would have sought out if not for living here.

7. What have you enjoyed most about the community where you are serving?

I have a couple of neighbors who have made me feel really welcome here. My neighbor across the street has three cats, and whenever I feel a little sad or need some low effort interaction, I can go there and just pet the cats. He also recently got a kitten and proudly shows it off to me. Every time we see each other we smile and wave; it’s a really sweet interaction that shows me someone cares even if having a deep conversation is difficult. My other neighbors are a family of five, and the children speak English very well so the mother always asks me to speak with them. I received a box of books from Darien Book Aid, so I lend them books to practice reading, and they love it. The mother has also been extremely kind to me, inviting me to holiday celebrations, introducing me to another family in the next town over, and always encouraging me to ask if there’s anything I need. It’s these neighborly interactions that I enjoy most.

8. What are some of the most important things you’ve learned from your community?

Patience and how to let go of expectations and allow things to roll off your back. Not every day is rainbows and butterflies and sometimes you really have to just take a step back and breathe. Things won’t always go according to plan, sometimes boundaries will be pushed, and there will be plenty of times you get frustrated, but you just need to take a moment and release.

9. How do you spend time when not working on a project?

I try my best to stay active so I’ll bike to one of two cafes on the weekend and go for walks around my neighborhood. There isn’t too much to do around here, and none of my coworkers actually live in my community, so meeting up with people is difficult. Sometimes, I splurge a bit and go on a short trip to the nearby major city in my district, but I can’t do that too often, so I try to find different ways of keeping myself busy during the day, like reading and writing (I write for both Sticky Rice Magazine and my personal Linkedin). I’m currently studying for my project management certification, so I try to put in time for that every week. I’m also learning Italian and Korean on DuoLingo and watching the full arsenal of Netflix in the evening.

10. Tell us about the strongest relationship you’ve developed while in country?

Some of my fellow Volunteers are some of the people I speak to most. Sharing with someone going through the same thing, even if their experience is different, has been really great. We are able to vent to each other, encourage each other, and help each other. We even shared lesson plans a few times because by the end of the year we needed fresh ideas. We meet up sometimes, although it’s few and far between due to logistics and finances. I’ve met up with one Volunteer who is also stationed down south maybe twice since moving to our permanent posts, whereas others I haven’t seen since the last Peace Corps conference.

11. What are you looking forward to in your remaining time as a Volunteer?

Just soaking in as much as I can. Right now we’re on school break, so returning to school and seeing my students again, and praying they retained any of what they learned last semester.

12. Tell us your favorite phrase in the local language, and what it means.

“Roi rang” or “‘roi jang hoo” both essentially mean “super delicious!” in the southern dialect. It’s my favorite phrase because some of my co-teachers taught it to me, and it felt like a real bonding moment.

13. What will you do differently when you return to the U.S.?

I haven’t really thought too much about returning to the U.S. This isn’t my first time living abroad, so I already know what to expect with regard to things like reverse culture shock and readjusting to U.S. culture. I will say this experience has more or less solidified what I’d like to focus on in my career moving forward, global brand marketing, so I think having that refined focus will be the biggest change.

14. What would you say to someone thinking about joining the Peace Corps?

If you’re fresh out of college, at the start of your career, or retired just looking for something meaningful to do, then go for it! It’s an incredible experience. You cannot come in with expectations of what you hope to accomplish, because we are here for the community and their needs, which may be very different to what you anticipated. I can only speak to my experiences in Thailand, which may be very different than the experiences of Volunteers in other countries, but I am definitely not doing what I thought I would be doing.

Learn more about serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand.