Today marks one year to the day since I left the States, clueless yet excited, to teach in a foreign country known as “Thailand,” where I’d spend my days basking in the sun on a jungle-island paradise, drinking pineapple juice, and teaching perfectly obedient and lovely Thai students.
Things turned out to be a bit different from my expectations, but despite this, in most ways they turned out better. Now, here I am a year later, teaching preschool in Burma, something I never dreamed I’d do.
I think a year abroad calls for some sort of celebration and reflection. So, here are the most important things I’ve learned about myself and the world during this past year in Thailand and Myanmar. They’re a bit random and unrelated, but here goes:
1) The world is far more accessible than you think. I remember reading travel blogs before I went to Thailand wondering: But how do they do it? How can you travel from one city to the other without knowing where it is? How can you find a job and place to live in a foreign country you’ve never been to? How do you get around when you can’t speak the language? It only took 2 weeks of being in Thailand to realize: it isn’t just possible, it’s fun to navigate these challenges. People will be kind, someone will speak English, and things generally tend to work out when you’re on the road.
2) College debt is so not worth it. I went to my second-choice university on a full scholarship, and I seriously considered turning it down to go to a school that would leave me with 40,000 dollars of debt at graduation. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thanked my 18-year-old self over the past year for deciding not to take out those loans. In the ESL teaching world, a degree is a degree, no matter where it came from or how much money it cost. Too many people my age are burdened by debt and unable to live the life they want to live because they have to work to pay off their education. If I had student loans to pay off right now, I wouldn’t be here. Simple as that. I’m happy I had the foresight (and guidance from others) not to sign up for an education that would seriously limit me in the future.
3) Gender is a flexible concept. I’ve always said I’m open-minded about gender issues. I learned over the past year, though, that I had a deep-seated prejudice buried under my open-minded words. I think this came, really, from a lack of exposure to different lifestyles gleaned from 23 years of life in Indiana. This all changed when I got to Thailand. In Thailand, boys like boys, girls like girls, girls who want to be boys like boys, boys who want to be girls like girls, men walk around in heels and mini-skirts while women wear mohawks and baggy plaid shirts…you get the point. Gender and dating relationships are very flexible here. And, on top of this, most people in Thailand have a “sabai sabai” attitude, and don’t get worked up about other people’s lifestyles at all. I remember watching a cheerleading competition at my school, where the captain of the team was a 15-year-old boy in a miniskirt, dancing to Shakira as all the senior administration at my school looked on, chuckling and smiling. Essentially, what I’m trying to say is this: There’s a long spectrum between “man” and “woman” and a lot of people don’t fit perfectly into one category or the other. People are people, they will like who they like and act as they like, and that’s great.
4) I want to be more generous, hospitable, and open-hearted. Today I went out with my adopted Burmese family again, for a day of sightseeing and temple-visiting in some villages outside of Yangon. I have learned so much from them, just in the short time period I’ve been here. Everyone in their family–mother, father, 2 cousins, and 2 little children set aside their entire day simply to show me around. From holding my hand as we crossed the street, to holding an umbrella over my head to keep off the sun, force-feeding me all varieties of Burmese snacks, waving a fan on me as I ate lunch, and driving an hour out of their way to drop me off and pick me up on the other side of the city…they may have gone a little overboard on the “protect Alyssa” front, but I can’t express how much they’ve impressed me with their extraordinary hospitality. I want to be like this someday. I want to be like this now, actually, but I think it will take some work.
5) I learned what I want to do with my life. And that is…exactly what I’m doing now. Traveling, teaching, and writing. I couldn’t be happier or more confident in this decision.
I think that’s a pretty good start for my first year overseas. How about you: What’s the most important thing you have learned from your travels?
Enjoyed getting a glimpse of your exciting past year. What’s next in your nomadic plans?
Thanks for the comment Iurie! As for what’s next…who knows? Georgia, Korea, or South America are all sounding pretty good right now.
I like all the lessons on your list here Alyssa, but number 5 is very impressive, ”to know what you want”.
Apparently there are two things to aim at in life. First is to find what you want and after that is to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second.
You are already making great strides have fun and good luck in your travels.
Beautiful Alyssa!
Having lived 11 years in NW Wa., 12 yrs in S.D, Ca, 8 in Anchorage, Ak, & now 17 in NE In., I’ve learned (1) to not take anything the area has to offer for granted ~ To do it all, see it all, smell it all, taste it all, touch it all, experience it all. (2) To learn of & grow in genuine relationship with the people in my life at the moment ~ the person with whom I have automatically assumed has nothing to contribute (of my own interest) has much!
Unfortunately, I did not know then what I know now & have not taken advantage of & experienced all that I could have / should have / would have in any of my life / travel opportunities. Alaska especially is one place that I should have gotten off of the beaten path ~ I didn’t & now long to return!
I’ve learned (3) that it is so important to thrive & continue to bloom in each place where I am planted & now, my most treasured & valuable learning (4) is that I can’t do any of it without God, I want to experience it all as God wants me to experience it. I want to know & understand as God knows & understands. I want to love each person as God loves them!
I am soo in awe of all that you are doing Alyssa, & at half my age, you are learning what I wish I had known then!
Blessed travels & life growth to you!
Thank you so much for this comment, Pam. I didn’t know that you had moved around so much in the States. Alaska is a place I’d love to see someday. These are great lessons learned :)
I will be home in a couple weeks, and I’ll be at church on Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully I can see you then!
Hi Alyssa,
I came across your blog through your application to be a travelling intern with Gap Daemon. Thanks so much for your application by the way!
I absolutely loved this post and had to let you know. What lovely things to learn from your year in Asia. Your Burmese family sound so kind! And your second point about the world being so accessible is so true. Before I travelled in Asia I thought exactly the same thing and I’m always trying to tell people that travelling is easy. The hardest part is actually packing your bags and going!
I look forward to reading more :)
Thanks for this comment Monica! I checked out your website–it looks like you are doing exactly what I’d like to be doing in a year or so with your writing and blog. Do you have any plans to travel again soon?