Blog

A story of mangoes, sandcastles and haikus (by Lucy)What is the best way, you may ask, to get young adults to bond with each other? Put them in teams and then tell them they’ll be participating in a competition. The rules of the game are simple: complete the tasks, protect your mango, win the game.  We set our scene on the tropical island of Koh Lanta, Thailand. Think white, sandy beaches and picturesque, azure seas. One bright, clear morning, Tari (our instructor) aske… Read more

Pushing our limits (by Addie)Our climbing and rappelling adventure was—for many of us—a trip outside of our comfort zones. However, despite some initial apprehension, we embraced the challenge as a growth opportunity and discovered new aspects of ourselves. On Day 1, we braved the courses on the side of the cliff, assessing our climbing skills by trying routes of varying difficulty. (Some of us—myself included—made an immediate beeline for the “easier” routes, only to f… Read more

Our Instructor (Daniel) is running a half marathon in his Thailand Quarantine hotel room while on one of our Spring Programs. We couldn't describe what he is doing better than he does himself:   'I'm running a half marathon in my hotel quarantine room in Bangkok to raise money for cancer, specifically Hodgkins Lymphoma. 21 kilometres on the 21st of Feb for a supportive and connected 2021 I did a trial run two days ago, running back and forth a few thousand times for … Read more

This is the amazing tale of one of our programs who are experiencing a quarantine hotel in Thailand before they can explore this incredible place!  Relaxation Time (quarantine) With a thousand different printed documents, masks on our face and passports in hand we have all made it to Thailand for this amazing adventure. We have travelled from all over the United States to get here through this new world of ‘covid’ travel. The what’s app group was bombarded as we all arr… Read more

When viewing the world, people think in terms of opposites categories such as good versus evil, exotic versus mundane, or east versus west. However, the world is never as simple as one versus another. Exposing this false dichotomy has been a theme throughout our travels in Thailand. However, it was most evident and apparent to me at our meditation retreat. While speaking with the monk and reading the various book on Buddhism, I could not help but see the similarities be… Read more

The four and half days spent at Elephant Nature Park can easily be described as the most humbling and inspiring days of my life. The atmosphere created from the workers, volunteers, and even the animals made me feel right at home. Our guides Apple and Bas were also spectacular at welcoming everyone with open arms and hearts and trusting that we were there to fully immerse ourselves into the project. What Founder, Lek Chailert, has been able to accomplish at the sanctuar… Read more

Sawasdii ka! Hello all and welcome to the 2017 Thailand Summer Program. Soon you will depart on an incredible journey with Bangkok as your first destination. We will have the chance to spend four weeks together, traveling around Thailand (known as the Land of Smiles). Not only will a life changing experience be awaiting you, Andy and I will be as well! My name is Jessica, but you can call me Jess if you prefer. Canada is my home country, but I have made Asia my backyar… Read more

Last week, we made a small difference towards a large cause. I feel very grateful for the opportunity to work at the amazing center Elephant Nature Park (ENP). Staying there, it was immediately clear what ENP stands for and how much the people working there care about changing the lives of animals for the better. Elephant Nature Park is a true sanctuary for these elephants and other animals. It was so inspiring to meet the founder, Lek Chailert, and learn about her stor… Read more

I wanted to kill the rooster who woke me up. Instead I tossed and turned until I willed myself back to sleep under the fragile protection of my mosquito net, mentally preparing myself to wake up at least 4 more times before the sun would rise. My night in the Red Lahu village, tucked away in the mountains and swimming in the clouds, was a peaceful one. After exhausting myself from the 4 hour trek and exhausting myself even further by playing with the rambunctious group … Read more

Waking up anticipating the adventure of Thailand everyday is a luxury you can't afford to take for granted. The days are flashing by and before you know it a day has turned into a week, a week turns into a month, and then this adventure has ended. We've been so blessed by our companions, support, locals, activities, and food. Taking in the Thai lifestyle and scenery has been exciting and thought-provoking. These past few days in Thailand have been challenging both physic… Read more