My July Story

My name is Shi-Yuan Huang, and I am a master’s student. Life in my home country can sometimes feel very simple and repetitive. For me, it was mostly the lab, the library, and the dormitory. It felt as though these three places were the whole world around me.

At one point, I started wondering: Should I volunteer internationally whenever I have the chance, or should I simply stay in my usual routine until I pursue my PhD? I felt that I needed something fresh. Perhaps I could finally fulfill a dream I had when I was younger  to stay somewhere new, to understand how other people see the world, to listen to their stories, and to experience a way of life that I had never explored before.

So I chose to step out of my usual routine.

And then I discovered that life could be so simple and lovely in Mae Chaem or, more specifically, at Ban Thap School.

During my time there, I taught Kindergarten 3 students. We learned English through the ABC song and other songs together. After two weeks, it was lovely to see that they could sing along and knew how to respond to me in class. Those small moments made me incredibly happy.

I also experienced something very special with my host family. On my first night, they invited their friends and relatives to come and meet me. Even though we could barely communicate without using a translation app, they gave me such a warm welcome. They treated me like a member of their family. They asked me how my day at school had been, whether I was homesick, and whether I had called my parents or family to let them know that I was doing well.

That was when I realized how strong family connections are in Thailand.

Back in Taiwan, I often only contacted my family when I needed something usually just sending a quick message to my mom or family when there was something necessary to say. Sometimes, a whole month could pass without us really connecting.

That became my first lesson: things can be simple, but I should never take them for granted. If I stop appreciating them, I may forget how lovely they really are. Human connection is one of the most wonderful things in life.

My second lesson was: never be stingy with your compliments.

When I was teaching the Grade 4, 5, and 6 students, whenever I learned a simple Thai phrase and used it in class, they would become so excited. They would always look surprised, give me a thumbs-up, and then happily teach me even more Thai.

It made me realize that learning the local language is not only about understanding the culture. It is also a wonderful way to take one small step closer to people and build a stronger connection with them.

But the most important thing I gained from this journey was a warm and loving family.

I had a host mom who always cooked delicious meals for me. She was also incredibly talented at weaving beautiful Sin Teen Jok, a traditional textile from the region. Before I left, she even gave me one that she had made especially for me.I had a funny and caring host dad who often worried that I might not have enough Thai baht to buy things. He also took our Thai family out on weekends so that I would not feel bored.And then there were my two adorable host sisters. One was always patient enough to teach me new Thai words, while the other was simply… well, adorable. Very, very adorable.

I also cannot forget P'Tom, who helped me solve all kinds of big and small problems throughout the month. She always provided me with information about Mae Chaem, helped me communicate and interact with the students, and gave me the chance to create so many wonderful memories with them.

My July story was short, but it was full of new people, new experiences, and small moments that I will carry with me for a long time. The story of July has ended, but I believe that someday, I will come back and continue writing our story together.