WITH its white sand beaches, remote diving spots and throngs of party-crazed visitors, Thailand is well known as a tourist mecca. Dig a little deeper, however, and you’ll find a region full of people who pride themselves on their inherited Buddhist values and cultural traditions – some of which might shock the stereotypical tourist in search of a Full Moon Party.

It certainly shocked me when I signed up for a year teaching English to Thai students. I took the road less travelled and had an experience like no other.

Bangkok is a vast city made up of towering vertical buildings, elevated highways and a large meandering river which lies in the heart of the buzzing capital. The heat consumes you, as does the extraordinary beauty of Thailand – ornately decorated temples, the interiors of each painted individually, rise from the ground and take you by surprise at every corner of the city. Visit Wat Saket, a temple of pristine gold which illuminates the city; ride with the locals around the Chaophraya River, which exposes Bangkok’s beauty from the comfort of a small power boat as it navigates its way through the city’s hidden canals.

Thai culture is deeply rooted in every aspect of its tourism, from the bumpy tuk-tuk rides to the little sois – small numbered side streets filled with vast arrays of unusual food, clothes and quirky souvenirs.

It all felt surreal and I’m not sure I realised what I was in for as I watched the tears stream from my parents’ eyes when I waved my goodbyes at the airport. It wasn’t exactly as though I was going on holiday for a week; it was going to be a whole year. A whole year spent working as a foreign languages teacher and being a support to students in a country on the other side of the planet – I wasn’t even a qualified teacher, how would I cope?

At 18 years old, I was naive and inquisitive and craving adventure. I decided to take a different path from my peers, who would be attending university the following September. My whole life, I’ve lived in the same country and been exposed to the same day-to-day routine, so after completing 13 years of school I felt a new experience was in order.

Visiting a new country for the first time is often challenging but to call a place your home and start a new life there is an entirely different prospect – a new and surreal experience.

Living and working abroad really appealed to me – meeting new people, learning a different language, a constant supply of sunshine, exotic island retreats and the sensational Asian cuisine. However, working as a foreign expat in Thailand challenged every part of my character and allowed me to learn a lot about myself and the world that I live in. To be truly accepted into a Thai community and be a well-respected teacher involved learning the language, respecting Buddhist values, reflecting their culture in all of my work and also sharing my own culture and values – to create a life in a society completely alien to my own.

I moved to a small city, only three hours north of Bangkok called Nakhon Sawan. This literally translates to The Heavenly City. Paradise Park, an aptly named public plaza, encompasses the city. A tremendous dragon monument reflecting the city’s Chinese ancestry stands tall at its centre, as fragrant white and yellow petals gently fall from the tops of the Plumeria trees. The majority of locals are of Chinese-Thai descent and many have their own businesses which are situated around the park. However, there were also many more who lived in poverty due to a lack of education and job opportunities which saw many of them move to Bangkok and find jobs in the tourism industry.

There are various schools in Nakhon Sawan, some very prestigious and modern private schools with qualified foreign language teachers from all over the world and rigorous entrance exams. However, the government schools lie on the opposite side of the spectrum, often in the heart of the city, lacking in basic facilities. Many still practise corporal punishment in classrooms.

The majority of the students at the government schools are from disadvantaged backgrounds which made many of them keen learners, desperate to grasp every word of spoken English. For their part, local Thai teachers always do their best to ensure the students are well looked after. The hard-working teachers often stay after hours, unpaid, to look after children who need additional support.

During my time teaching in Thailand, I tried to reflect my personality in my lessons by bringing in my own materials – anything from clothes I had at home to coloured paper – and trying my best to make the English lessons fun and more enjoyable for the students. I wanted to have them conversing, playing games and using their imagination.

I was often welcomed into the playground for colourful Thai festivals. Lessons would come to a halt for the day and all of the teachers and students would wear brightly coloured traditional skirts. They would sing songs celebrating their Thai heritage and embrace their culture. It was like a show – the students were dressed as Thai princes and princesses as they paraded around the school dancing in beat to the drums.

Although the school was lacking in facilities and quite rundown, the teachers placed huge emphasis on creativity and nurtured each and every pupil passionately in dancing, singing or playing instruments.

The great thing about Thai students is that they truly value education and were desperate to understand the English language for themselves. Every day was full of excitement for the pupils who were amazed by the way I looked and spoke.

When entering the classroom, I was gifted with paper origami, sweets and stickers and the students showed a keen interest in my life and where I was from.

Life as a foreign language teacher tested my skills and knowledge every day. In the intense heat of Thailand, it was at times tiring but it was one of the most worthwhile and rewarding opportunities I have ever taken. And I would do it all over again if I could.