By Lauren Shin, Staff Writer
From the bustling metropolis of Bangkok to the serenity of the Erawan Waterfall and National Park, enjoy an adventurous trip to Thailand this summer! Led by Mr. Welsh, an English teacher at River Hill High School, students have the opportunity to spend eleven days immersing themselves in Thai culture, food, architecture, and more.
This opportunity had been advertised during Hawk Time via Hawk Talk morning announcements for a week, and flyers hang around the school walls if you are interested in learning more.
Students will be able to visit the Grand Palace and enjoy a Damnoen Saduak floating market, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Sukhothai Historical Park, enjoy a Thai cooking class, experience a train ride on the “Death Railway,” take a boat tour of Chao Phraya River and the Thonburi klongs, visit the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho and even hang out with elephants.
The total price of the trip is approximated to be around $4,279, not including personal spendings such as shopping or dining.
Mr. Welsh, as the lone organizer of this trip, shares that he has encountered some struggles along the way: “It’s just me and a tour guide through [a company called] Education First. We’ve planned it together but it’s not a school trip, so I’ve faced struggles with time. It took a lot of meetings to go over logistics and there were a few times a week where I had to sit through a 45 minute to 1 hour long meeting, but I think it’s all worth it.”
He goes on to share that his love for traveling and learning ignited this idea. He recalls the memories he made as well as the wisdom gained from his trips to Spain, Peru, Ireland, and more. He says, “I want to give students the opportunity to see the world and understand the importance of other cultures. I’ve traveled before, and each time it has been enlightening. Experiencing somewhere new has had a real impact on my worldview. I think students need more trips like this to conceptualize how things work and be global citizens. I think it’s a pretty important step in the growth process of a person.”
More than just tourist attractions, students on this trip are given the opportunity to dive deep into Thai culture and discover its roots by learning the History of Thailand from the Museum of Siam and exploring the old town of Ayutthaya. By immersing in their everyday lifestyle, students will receive a deeper understanding and appreciation of Thailand.
“I think it will be a really enlightening and a great learning experience for all my students to be traveling and seeing really beautiful architecture, trying new food, and just experiencing the other side of the world, which feels rare,” says Mr. Welsh.
Although not completely set, this exciting trip will be some time in June.