Dan was in college, and he was feeling lost. Majoring in Psychology (a field he had little passion for) and unsure of what other career paths to explore, he wasn’t sure where he belonged.
So when I heard that there were legitimate opportunities for me to go overseas, I could never get that possibility out of my mind. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I needed to go and find my place in the world.
That place turned out to be the Global Ambassador Program (GAP) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. GAP is a nine-month teaching and training program designed for recent college graduates considering a career overseas.
Discovering Thailand
As Dan described the city, the topic that came up over and over was food. Surprising, exciting, delicious, and cheap, exploring Thai cuisine has been a doorway to culture and connection.
Authentic Thai food is wonderful (of course), but it is spicier than I expected. It’s totally acceptable to ask a waiter to make your food more mild, but if you’re bold and ask for the full amount of flavoring, you’ll find that Thai people take spice to the next level. Once, for example, I was hanging out with some of my Thai friends, and we ordered som tam (spicy papaya salad) to share. I managed to get down a few small bites, and even my Thai friends took care to eat it slowly and not all at once.
And not to make this all about food, but meals in Chiang Mai are wonderfully cheap as well as delicious. Just this evening, I went down to a market close to my apartment and grabbed some Pad Thai — a full meal, mind you — for the equivalent of $1.20. If you want something more bougie, then you can end up paying quite a bit more, but it honestly isn’t difficult to find a full meal at most restaurants for around $2 or $3.
Finding Community
Even beyond the cultural experience of discovering new restaurants and flavors, eating with friends has been an important part of building community.
My closest Thai friend and I regularly grab Thai barbecue, which has become a bit of a tradition for us. I met this friend at an English camp this past December. Interestingly, we didn’t connect right away—in fact, I don’t think we even spoke much during the camp itself. It wasn’t until afterward, when I started spending time with a group of people who had attended the camp, that we really hit it off. Since then, we’ve discovered that we have a lot in common. We often go swimming together, and we’ve hiked and even gone camping with a group of friends. Having a close friend like that has made my time overseas much more meaningful and enjoyable.
When we asked Dan how he approached making new friends like these, he had some wonderful advice from his experience so far.
What truly matters is how you approach the people and culture. It’s important to hold relationships with open hands—welcoming others into your life, even if you weren’t actively seeking new connections. Adopting an attitude of curiosity and genuine interest goes a long way when meeting new people. While language and cultural barriers will exist, it’s essential to look beyond them and focus on the individual in front of you. Aim to understand and connect with that person. Looking back, some of my most meaningful friendships were the ones I wasn’t actively seeking—unexpected connections that over time grew to be more significant.
The people of Chiang Mai, Thailand are very safe, helpful, and just fun to be around. The pace of life is way more relaxed here than in North America, and many Thai people seem to value family and community rather than efficiency and success.
The Global Ambassador Program Team
On top of his Thai community, many of Dan’s new connections are his teammates and team leaders in the GAP program. We’ve seen over and over again just how big a difference it makes to be on a team of like-minded people who share your passion for making an impact in the world through education. For people like Dan, testing the waters of overseas life with little prior experience, a GAP team can be a vital support system as they learn the ropes.
The most challenging part for me was the initial sense of chaos and ungroundedness that comes with being in a completely new place. Before moving here, I had never spent significant time overseas, and when I had traveled, it was always with people I knew well. But when I moved to Chiang Mai, I came alone. I didn’t have the built-in stability that comes from being around familiar faces, and that made the transition a lot harder. It took a while to find my footing and feel at home, but that process also pushed me to grow in ways I hadn’t expected.
The GAP program has helped me navigate many of the logistical challenges that can be overwhelming the first time around—such as obtaining and renewing a visa, setting up housing and utilities, and understanding how healthcare works in a new country. Having someone experienced to walk me through these processes made a huge difference.
Living in a team setting also created a strong support system, where we were able to grow together and encourage one another through the ups and downs of transition. Our team took part in regular sessions focused on practical strategies and discussions about building long-term sustainability in overseas life.
Dan wrapped up our interview with some words for anyone considering the Global Ambassador Program:
Once the excitement of college—and the freedom of being away from home—wore off, I found myself wrestling with a growing feeling that nothing I was doing really mattered in the long run. I had learned a lot and gained many experiences, but I wasn’t truly giving back. At the same time, I didn’t feel ready to commit to years of service; I still had growing to do on a personal level.
What I really appreciated about the GAP program is how well it balances both of those needs. On one hand, I had meaningful opportunities to use my talents and make a positive impact on others. On the other hand, the program places a strong emphasis on personal growth. I was supported by thoughtful mentors and placed on a team where we could challenge and encourage one another. If anyone feels pressure between wanting to serve and still needing to grow, I’d say the GAP program offers a good and thoughtful space to do both.
The most rewarding part has been looking back on the entire experience and knowing that I was able to help a variety of people in meaningful ways. I had the privilege of watching students grow—not just in their English skills, but also in their confidence and personal development. Being a part of that journey felt incredibly meaningful to me. While it will be sad to leave Chiang Mai, it’s comforting to know that the work I’ve done here will continue to have ripple effects, many of which I may never see.
I didn’t know when I started (and I still don’t know) how long I would be overseas, but I know that, for now, my place is in Southeast Asia.
To learn more about the GAP program, click here!