In this interview, we have the opportunity to hear from D’Angelo Brown. He is Peace Corps volunteer serving in Youth Development in Thailand. D’Angelo’s experience and perspective shed light on the impactful work being done by PCVs around the world. As we get into the interview, we gain a deeper understanding of the challenges, rewards, and personal growth. This comes with serving in a foreign country, working with local communities, and navigating unexpected situations. Join us as we share D’Angelo’s journey and gain insights into the transformative power of volunteering with the Peace Corps.
Table of Contents
- Experience and Motivation
- Living with a Host Family and Cultural Divide
- Surprises, Challenges, and Personal Growth
- Community Projects and Interactions
- Practical Tips and Language Learning
- Impact of Media and Final Thoughts
Experience and Motivation
1. Can you provide an overview of your experience serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand in the YinD program?
My experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in Youth in the Development Program in Thailand has been nothing short of a blessing. The Peace Corps does prepare you before sending you out by yourself. We were in this pre-service training bubble for 11-12 weeks with other volunteers learning the language from native teachers, the cultural do’s and don’ts, staying with a temporary host family to test everything we were learning, and then practicum teaching with only a little experience with the language and we all ended doing better than expected.
Generally, the kids here are extremely eager to learn, and us being foreigners gives us more of an advantage teaching-wise before the content is provided due to them being curious about us. I can say now that I’m living a life fully integrated within a community, I do not want to go back to training. And that’s how you know that that was a successful training. It’s similar to finally learning how to ride a bike without the training wheels; Once you take them off you never want to put them back on again.
I wouldn’t say that all volunteers have had the same experience that I have because you realize that most of the stuff that happens to you and around you, you have no control of. But mostly, I found that you get what you put out. I’ve been in Thailand for only 7 months now and I can say that there hasn’t been a single day where I thought that this was too much, and I’m ready to go back home. It’s more like every day I get a chance to re-ensure my purpose of being in Thailand.
2. What motivated you to join the Peace Corps and choose Youth Development in Thailand as your service destination?
Joining the Peace Corps was more about taking my faith to another level and seeing how far I’m willing to go and if I trust God like I say I do. While keeping that same mindset, I found myself being consumed in a new culture, where the language is not much of a barrier because people here, by and large, operate in love and are very patient and willing to help you, being that they regard a foreigner coming to stay in their country for two years as a badge of honor.
Not knowing much about Thailand other than its luxurious beaches and scrumptious food was initially the spark that lit up the end for me because I never came in contact with a Thai person before to base a proper judgment; therefore, I had limited knowledge. I’m always asked this question of why Thailand, and as silly as it might sound, I chose it because of how hard it was to get into and the high competition application-wise. When I tell you I was strictly moving by faith, that’s what I was doing. I had the option to allow the Peace Corps to select places to serve for me, which probably increases one’s likelihood to be able to serve, but I did not care about that.
I put all my chips on the line and let God open the door if it was meant to be.
Living with a Host Family and Cultural Divide
3. You currently live with a host family. Can you tell us about them and how you cross that cultural divide while being a member of their household?
From my experience, the only way to cross that cultural experience with a host family in a different country is love. The Bible verse, “Love Conquers All Things,” is true. Thankfully, both of the host families that I’ve been blessed to stay with have hosted volunteers before. So, they already knew the best ways where I needed to be supported the most, and making sure home was a happy place was the key to it working to perfection.
After living with my first home family and with living with my current one now, I feel like we were divinely appointed to meet each other, and family we were already. Timing and growth were the only things that kept us away from each other for so long. Initially, you will feel the fishbowl effect, where you feel as if everything you do is under a microscope, but that only lasts a while if you open yourself to show them we are all one and the same.
Staying with a host family was my first test of integration, and I knew if I could pass this test at home, then I could go outside and do the same.
Surprises, Challenges, and Personal Growth
4. What has surprised you most (or least) about Thailand or Thai culture? Has it influenced your service?
What has surprised me the most about Thailand is how collectivist they are. They look out for themselves even if it means that they go without. Many times, I have witnessed someone giving their last for me just to feel welcomed.
For example, I was riding my bike in my neighborhood just joyriding, and I ran into a man who was outside looking to see if his mangoes were growing on his tree. He spotted five that were ready. He began to take them off and walk inside until he saw me. He screamed, waved me down, and, as startled as I was, I stopped. At this point, I was not so confident with my Thai either. But he did not speak; he only smiled and put all of his mangoes in my bike basket, and told me to head home.
I felt bad afterward because I took away from what his family was probably looking forward to, but that wouldn’t be the last time that happened to me. I then realized it was directly tied to their culture and core beliefs, and it surprised and inspired me, to say the least.
5. What challenges did you face while working with community members in Thailand, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge by far is the initial language barrier, but I knew this was going to be the case. And it probably will be for every volunteer in every part of the world. This is not something that can be brushed off and taken lightly. If you want to see true change, you must be able to communicate the change that they want to make or help make.
But even with the best communication skills, I recognize that the work of a Peace Corps volunteer may just be planting trees for shade that they will never be able to stand in. Another challenge that I face is having directional agency at different schools. For example, regardless of them knowing that I’m an English teacher, I am still presumed to be one and am expected to lead the English club at the school. Countless students reached out to me personally asking me to form a club that teaches American sports. I prefer this type of club because I have a background in it, but I ran into a problem when approaching the staff about this. They mentioned that the kids need the English club or they won’t graduate, or it’s too late for the students to change clubs. This was a hard pill to swallow because there is nothing I can do about it, but I pray that one day I will be able to overcome some bureaucracy at the schools.
6. I know you only just started your service in March, but have you personally grown and developed during your time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand? If yes, how?
I take it that if any past, current, or present volunteer were asked this question, they would say they changed since being in service, and it’s true. Whether you want it to or not, serving abroad radically shifts your perspective and way of life.
I found that I grew a stronger and more personal relationship with God. I’m now in a position where it’s sink or swim, and leaning on my faith has always kept me afloat. I know I have changed when I started doing things I said I would not do, like eating insects, which is the norm in my province in Northeastern Thailand, or deleting my social media to be more immersed in my experience. These are things I didn’t have the guts to do before serving in Thailand.
Community Projects and Interactions
7. Could you share some of the secondary projects you have been involved in while working with your school or community members?
Being that I’ve only been in Thailand for 7 months now, my main focus has been on building relationships within the community and with both the teachers and students at my school to gain that trust, which can help when trying to implement our projects. Peace Corps gauges that most volunteer projects come to fruition in their second year when the volunteer has established themselves as a trusted member and visionary.
Thankfully, at my site, they already knew what they envisioned me doing right away to keep engaged in the integration process outside of the school setting. One of those projects is teaching swimming lessons at our local government office. I will start teaching both children and adults starting next week. The focus is educating them about the importance of water safety, increasing their confidence around water, and teaching different drowning prevention techniques.
I have a few other projects in mind that will come into fruition at some point. For example, creating a mentor/mentee program where I’m teaching my mentees how to be mentors to primary students, and another project involves redesigning the SAO’s website to attract more people to our district.
8. Can you tell us about any memorable experiences or interactions you’ve had with community members that have left a lasting impact on you?
Something I will never forget was having the opportunity to lead a Thai Parade. This was a big deal for the community members. Each district was represented, and my district happened to be at the front.
I woke up not knowing that I was leading it. All I knew was that my host parents bought me this outfit to look like the people who would also be in the parade, but I was in for a surprise. My host grandfather, who is the mayor of our district, B-lined to me to inform me that I needed to take pictures with our local Government Office staff and then prepare to start the parade.
At this point, I still did not know that starting the parade meant I would be leading the way, with the rest following. After the picture-taking was finished, my other supervisor gave me a sign that was indecipherable because it was written in Thai. They told me what it was, but that wasn’t the main focus at that very moment.
Immediately, I felt the pressure was on. They gave me the signal to start going, and not knowing the pace of Thai Parades, I bolted, leaving everyone behind me in the dust. Everybody started laughing, including myself, and the rest was history.
Advice and Support
9. What advice would you give to someone considering joining the Peace Corps and serving in Youth Development in Thailand?
Serving in the Peace Corps will be unlike anything you will ever experience in your life. If you feel like you can’t walk away from your current lifestyle to move across the world, then you are right. But if you think you can leave everything behind to go, explore, and serve in the uttermost parts of the world, then you are right. Whether you think you can or cannot do something, you are right.
Did I know that the Peace Corps was going to change my life as it has before leaving America? Not at all, but just the thought of possibility was all I needed to go experience what God had in store for me.
10. What skills or qualities do you think are most important for a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Youth Development in Thailand?
Generally, what volunteers who want to serve need to possess to serve in Thailand is:
- They should have some experience working with kids prior it will make one’s experience so much better.
- They must have both creativity and adaptability skills being that so much of what happens on a day to day fluctuate and it may require one to pivot away from an initial plan.
- They must have great time management skills because most site may expect volunteers to juggle a lot at first to see what they can handle.
- They must be good emotional regulators. Dealing with kids is not easy even when they are the sweetest. Chances are volunteers will experience difficulty managing the emotions and the energy of the classroom, but it will be 10x better if this id is already skillful.
- Last, they must be great listeners. Kids will tell you what they don’t like or do like, what works and doesn’t work, and it’s up to us to execute with that data.
11. How has the Peace Corps provided support and resources to enhance your service experience in Thailand?
The Peace Corps does so much for volunteers more than what they get credit for. Every single day there are staff specific to our post in Thailand who only work on our behalf, they handpick counterparts to help guide and make the transition into site easier, we have a website where we can access anything we ever went over in PST or beyond, they provide language tutors to volunteers after going to site if requested, they make both the volunteers and counterparts attend multiple training sessions together to ensure the work is getting done and expectations are being met, they give volunteers stipends every month and is not shy of giving more if a volunteer is in need, they can give grants to help fund different volunteer project. I can go on and on about the many ways the Peace Corps actively finds ways to enhance the service of the volunteers.
Practical Tips and Language Learning
12. Anything yet that you packed or didn’t pack that you’d like to tell future Thailand volunteers?
To all volunteers, I recommend you do not bring any jackets or thick clothing, but do bring things like shorts, T-shirts, etc. However, I want to place a heavy emphasis on SHOES. Bring at least two pairs of dress shoes. I have only one, and I regret not bringing another pair. If you are a man with large feet, you will run into a shortage. I’m a size 12, and most shoe shops I go to do not have my size, except for shopping in the city.
Make sure you have a reliable computer so that you can document your experience, edit videos, or whatever it is that you do. I advise you to bring it; you won’t regret it. Also, bring a type C adapter if you have a Mac (buy 2).
You can bring a whole bunch of toiletries if you want. I did, but only because my mother was so worried that I would not be able to get my essentials. If I were to do it over, I would save more room in my luggage for books or instruments because most of the toiletries that you use back home are available here, even in rural areas.
I would also recommend bringing two phone and computer chargers, an extension cord, and a surge protector. Print out a bunch of pictures of your family, so you can hang them up. Trust me, you will want to fill up that space on those empty walls. If you have space, pack some of your favorite paperback books because you probably won’t be seeing them in English for a while. That’s about all I got!
13. How has learning the language been? Any advice to future volunteers?
Learning a language will always be a challenge, but the best way to learn a language is to travel and possibly live with native speakers. The Peace Corps thinks the same way, being that they prefer us to start learning Thai in Thailand and not before, and with us being taught by Thai natives. Having a native teacher makes you feel as if you have a head start and cheat code in language learning. That’s how powerful it is to have one, but what I came to know was that every Thai person I interacted with every day was my native teacher.
Once I started thinking that way, everything changed for me. I began to go into every interaction eager to learn, my notepad ready, and if I did not have a notepad, I was taking mental notes. But I don’t think that this was only a language tip for me; it was a life tip. Every person has something to give and can teach you something. If you go into every conversation humbly and with a curious mindset, you won’t walk away the same.
My advice to volunteers is that the teacher must always be ready to become a student. View every person that you come in contact with in your country of service as a teacher, and you will know the language in no time!!
Impact of Media and Final Thoughts
14.How do you think your YouTube channel contributes to your overall mission as a Peace Corps volunteer? And what advice would you give to aspiring Peace Corps volunteers who are considering starting a YouTube channel during their service?
I must mention that the fact that I’m able to provide answers to these questions and partake in this interview is proof of the mission of the Peace Corps at work. Jim and so many others reached out to me because of my YouTube channel.
The main reason why I started my channel, to begin with, was because I wanted to help bridge the gap for both my family and me over the next two years while also being a resource to other potential volunteers who want to volunteer in Thailand but have no idea what it’s like.
Ultimately, the Peace Corps wants Volunteers not only to exchange culture and learning in the places that they serve but also want the volunteers to do the same to our people back home or around the world. Therefore, I consider my YouTube channel as a way to help promote a better understanding of Americans on behalf of the people served, and to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
Final thoughts
I want to thank D’Angelo for answering these questions, but if you have more, just drop some comments on his YouTube channel “LoToTheMax”.
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Thai Government.
