After I graduated from college in the US, I moved abroad to Thailand. It's nothing like I expected.
A recent college graduate shares his experience moving to Thailand to teach English, finding personal growth and community connection outside of the traditional US corporate path. He highlights the cultural immersion and shift in perspective gained from living abroad.
Why it matters
It reflects a growing trend of young professionals seeking alternative career paths and international experiences over traditional domestic corporate roles.
Teaching English in Thailand has opened my mind to new possibilities beyond climbing the corporate ladder in the US. Tyler Wetzler After graduating from college, I signed up to teach English in Thailand for a year. I thought I'd feel like a tourist, but I have felt welcomed by my community and inspired by them. Living here has helped me build a stronger work ethic , and I'm now staying longer than I planned. "Same, same." That's all I have to say when I stop by my neighborhood street vendor. The woman running it already knows my order: pad krapow, a spicy Thai basil stir-fry, topped with a fried egg. Over the months, she's gradually nudged up the spice level, and I've grown to love it. My broken Thai has become part of the routine, too.
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