Hi everyone!  I created this blog as a space to use for our class. Please feel free to post anytime with comments or questions about the class or about blogging. I look forward to seeing you all in cyber space!

The first assignment is to post a 150-word introduction about yourself. You should write about an experience that was interesting and meaningful to you. This can be anything in your life that had an influence on you. Feel free to add photos and/or videos!

Keep in mind that anyone on the internet can read this, and your classmates will also be reading this.

Here is mine as an example:

A meaningful experience that I had was when I lived and worked in Thailand for a year. I started my trip with a month-long TEFL course to learn how to teach English. Most of the other students on my course were from the U.K. or the U.S. This was a good introduction to living abroad.

Eating at a local restaurant with my classmates

After the course ended, the real adventure began. I had to find a job! This was overwhelming and scary, but also exciting. Fortunately, one of my best college friends joined me for a month and we traveled around southern Thailand while I went to interviews. The beaches were truly amazing.

beautiful Koh Tao (Turtle Island)

Koh Samet (near Bangkok)

Finally, the job-searching came to an end. I was offered a position in Suratthani teaching English to middle school kids at a boarding school. I was terrified and felt completely unprepared. I also didn't speak a single word of Thai! As the year progressed, however, I became more comfortable. I made friends, learned how to get around, and even picked up some Thai.

My Thai friends

The Thai language has more letters than English

My very rowdy M1 class

All in all, living in Thailand was a difficult but extremely rewarding experience. I was able to live in a very different part of the world and experience a totally different culture. I made a lot of friends, learned a new language, and traveled to some very interesting places.

Fried insects at the night market

the mosque near James Bond Island

Contrast between modern and traditional: satellite dish and spirit house