Blog Post: William & Mary Freeman Intern Fellow Rehanna Alami's Initial Reflections on Mae La Noi
Global Playground is excited to welcome Rehanna Alami as one of two Freeman Intern Fellows from the College of William & Mary who will be working with us this summer! Rehanna will be teaching English at Mae La Noi Daroonsik School, one of our partner schools in Northern Thailand. Read on below to learn about Rehanna’s experience during her first weeks of her internship.
Hello, everyone! I'm Rehanna Alami, a rising senior at William and Mary, majoring in kinesiology with a concentration in public health. I've been in Mae La Noi for over a week now, and I'm absolutely mesmerized by the breathtaking beauty of northern Thailand. Joining me on this journey is my fellow Freeman Fellow, Myra Simbulan, and together, we are representing Global Playground. Our days are filled with teaching 13 English classes per week at Mae La Noi Daroonsik School, providing tutoring sessions, and engaging in after-school sports and activities.
After a tiring day of travel and a four-hour car ride from the airport to Mae La Noi, I was thrilled to finally settle into our on-campus house with Myra. We arrived at Mae La Noi Daroonisk a full eight hours before our first day of teaching, so we wasted no time and went straight to bed to prepare for the exciting challenges ahead. As soon as I met the other teachers, faculty, and students, I knew I had found a welcoming and comfortable environment for the next eight weeks. The enthusiasm of the students to improve their English skills and embrace new connections is truly inspiring. Whether Myra and I are strolling around the campus, exploring the charming town of Mae La Noi, or simply relaxing in our house between classes, we are always met with warm invitations to chat, share meals, take pictures, or visit someone's house or farm. Sometimes, the students even surprise us with fruits and vegetables from their family's farms! Just the other day, our friend and favorite barista, who owns a coffee shop near the school (a place I also frequent almost every day), invited us to visit her local coffee farm and village. The level of generosity we have encountered here is unparalleled to anything I have experienced before.
Today marks my eleventh day at Mae La Noi Daroonsik School, and I've already had the opportunity to immerse myself in extraordinary experiences beyond my imagination. Myra and I organized a green curry dinner for the English department at our home (with the assistance of Kru Jear), helped construct a dam near the local river with the help of students and local authorities, embarked on a hike to a cave, received invitations to our students' villages for dinner, and had the chance to explore our friend's farm and village.
I am eager to delve deeper into the lives of each student I teach and build meaningful connections with the teachers. Furthermore, I'm motivated to enhance my Thai language skills, allowing me to gain a more profound understanding and appreciation for the rich cultural heritage here. I've already experienced so much in such a short time, and I'm eagerly anticipating the adventures that the remaining six and a half weeks will bring.
