Becky Boe and Ryan Schwingler

Last Seen in America: Advising and working with the student government at Minneapolis Community & Technical College (Ryan) and completing a year of AmeriCorps VISTA with Admission Possible, followed by a few months of work at Crate & Barrel (Becky).

Where in Thailand? Prapradaeng, Thailand

Bio: Our journey together has taken us many places in the world. We actually met in Paris, France while on a high school band trip. No surprise that we both caught the travel bug.

While in college at Bemidji State University (Go Beavers!), we took the chance to study in England for a semester, which opened our eyes to learning about new places and different cultures. Seeing the world has become a lifelong ambition that we now share. After graduating college we rewarded ourselves by spending two months in Copenhagen, where Ryan’s parents were living at the time. Once arriving home we both found positions working for organizations where we would be able to serve students.

Now, two years after graduation, we are so excited to have the opportunity to continue working with students in a new part of the world. We are looking forward to sharing our experiences in Thailand with you.
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Kerianne Hanson

Last Seen in America: Working and living in Boston, MA as a nanny.

Where in Thailand? Province of Saraburi, Thailand

Bio: Hello everyone, my name is Kerianne Hanson. I was born and raised in the seacoast area of New Hampshire and graduated from Keene State College in New Hampshire in 2010.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Sociology. During my years in college I was able to travel a good amount through the United States but missed out on the opportunity to study abroad. As my biggest regret, I knew I needed to make up for this, but how?

I spent the last year as a nanny in the Boston area, trying to figure out what to do with my life and how to cure my constant travel bug that seemed to be plaguing me. This is when I found CIEE and realized that teaching in Thailand could be the answer. This is my first experience in Asia and I am extremely excited to spend the next year learning and growing as a person in Thailand!

I hope you enjoy following my on this amazing adventure I am about to embark on!
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Michael Garland

Last Seen in America: Living on a couch in Conway, Arkansas in a house with six other people, and bartending at the local country club to save money for the experience of a lifetime.

Where in Thailand? Samut Prakan

Bio: I was raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, and stayed there until I graduated from high school. I then travelled 35 miles up Interstate-40 to Conway for college and ended up dropping out after my second year.

I took the summer off with people who were making careers for themselves in the same position I was using to try and figure out my life, and it finally hit me that college was the answer.

I reenrolled the very next semester and after three years of chasing dreams I graduated with a double major in Political Science and Writing and had become the editor for the school’s student run newspaper.

This is my first time across an ocean but it won’t be my last, and I hope I can inspire anyone who reads my blog to never give up! Show full bio.

Meghan Pernice

Last Seen in America: Living in a barn with my boyfriend in CT.

Where in Thailand? Samut Prakan

Bio: Hello, my name is Meghan. I grew up in Brookfield, CT and recieved a Bachelors of the Arts in English from Keene State College in 2009.

After graduation, I tried on roles such as restaurant management, marketing, and, the perpetual fallback, waitressing. Finally, I decided I was going to do something that I actually wanted to do. Luckily, I went with my instinct and now I'm in Thailand and ready to make a brand to adventure for myself. I look foward to sharing my journey with you all and having a good ol' time in the meantime. Show full bio.

Jessica Zartler

Last Seen in America: Living in Denver, exploring Colorado and working as a reporter at the NBC affiliate, KUSA-TV 9News, in Denver.

Where in Thailand? Chantaburi

Bio: Jessica left her home in Orlando, FL to pursue a career in broadcast journalism out west. Now, her sense of adventure has brought her to SE Asia to teach, learn and explore.

Allie Smith

Last Seen in America: Itching to escape my childhood home (and post-grad slump) after receiving a degree in English from Dickinson College in May of 2011.

Where in Thailand? Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan

Quick Bio Armed with a single backpack, a proclivity for foolish behavior, and a general inability to sit still, I've abandoned my hometown of Yarmouth, Maine in pursuit of bigger adventures (and disasters) in Thailand. I teach kindergarten during the week and spend each weekend traveling with a group of half-insane but endearing friends, during which time we struggle to speak Thai, drive motorbikes without killing ourselves, and maintain some semblance of our dignity.

Jaime Cunningham and Matthew Foley

Last Seen in America: October 12, 2010....Charleston, SC

Where in Thailand? Chon Buri province (at the beach!!)

Quick Bio Jaime and Matt are from South Carolina and a few years after graduating college and exploring their careers, are off to Thailand together!

Elizabeth Nagelkirk

Program: Teach in Thailand October 2011 (2 semesters)

Last Seen in America: Visiting siblings in Portland, Oregon, but slaving away as a recent college graduate (aka a waitress) in the small town of Marquette, Michigan, on the banks of Lake Superior.

Where in Thailand? Bo Phloi in the Kanchanaburi Province

Bio My name is Elizabeth (I often go by Liza) and I recently graduated from Northern Michigan University with an English/Graduate Bound degree. While my plans have always been to pursue a Ph.D and become a college professor, I knew that I wasn't ready for eight more years of graduate school without discovering what life is about outside of my small bubble. I stumbled upon CIEE Teach Abroad website and what I was meant to do fell into my lap. After a long summer of waiting tables, waking up with aching feet and little sleep, I took the leap and moved abroad and thus far I couldn't be happier. I hope that you enjoy following my blog, sharing in my triumphs and downfalls, and joining me on what will most likely be the biggest adventure of my life.

Samantha Harrington

Program: CIEE Teach in Thailand

Last Seen in America: Teaching high school physiology and business in Oakland, California while living in San Francisco.

Where in Thailand? Saphan Sung District, Bangkok

Bio Born and raised on the East Coast, I have lived in the Bay Area of California for the last three and a half years. My passions include being outdoors—hiking, cycling, climbing, and swimming—and getting youth outdoors. After graduating from Duke University in 2008, I moved to California to be a teacher. I quickly became involved with local organizations to facilitate getting my students outdoors. In three years of teaching high school, I led day hikes, overnight camping trips and a backpacking trip for my students. I am teaching in Thailand to gain perspective and understanding of other cultures so that I can continue to grow personally. After this program, I plan to return to California and continue working with youth.

Jennifer Young

Program: Teach in Thailand

Last Seen in America: Selling shoes at Nordstrom Rack in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Where in Thailand? Chonburi, Chon Buri

Bio Aloha! My name is Jenny Young. I was born and raised in Puyallup, Washington, but after graduating from the University of Washington I moved to Hawaii with my boyfriend, Cyrus Howe. I knew I wanted to teach when I decided to major in English literature, but heading off to graduate school right after my undergraduate studies did not appeal to me. I was seeking an alternative route to teaching. Since I did not study abroad during college, teaching abroad seemed like the perfect solution. To my surprise, Cyrus wanted to come along for the journey. We both studied the Thai language during college, so it went without saying that we wanted to go to Thailand. Besides gaining teaching experience, I look forward to practicing my Thai speaking skills and eating spicy food. Enjoy!