Thai Elephant - The symbol for my growth and experiences as an exchange student

Are you wondering why I chose the Thai elephant puzzle as the logo for this blog? Continue reading to find out. After contemplating how I could construct a blog that would capture everything about my experiences that led to my growth and development during the SEA-Teacher Exchange Program, I decided to use a Thai elephant puzzle. Each puzzle piece represents all of my experiences, beginning with taking the risk of participating in this project despite my reservations and fears, challenges in adjusting to a new environment and culture, lessons learned from learning and teaching in a different educational system, new people met who became new friends, family, and comfort during my one-month stay, and personal development that occurred as a result of stepping outside of my comfort zone. Every event, lesson, and person I met helped shape who I am today—a Thai Elephant. But why this animal, among others? Not only is the elephant a sacred and well-known animal in Thailand, but it also has traits that I can relate to after this journey: a stronger, more resilient, and more knowledgeable student teacher. As Thai elephants are admired for their physical strength, particularly their service during wars, as an exchange student, I also faced challenges such as the new culture, communication barriers due to language, and the difficulty of adjusting to an educational system that is vastly different from my own. Like the elephant, my capacity to endure and pass through these obstacles made me stronger both personally and professionally. Elephants are also regarded as wise and knowledgeable creatures, which parallels my journey as I gain wisdom in unexpected ways. Immersion in this country and its culture has given me new knowledge and perspectives on teaching and learning, as well as communication (which has proven to be the most difficult aspect for me), allowing me to grow as a better educator in a diverse environment. Learn more about how I became the Thai Elephant during the SEATeacher Journey by reading and scrolling! Enjoy!