Warm Heart dog.

Warm Heart Volunteer

I arrived at Warm Heart Worldwide to volunteer as a TEFL teacher. Located 70km north of Chiang Mai, this nonprofit is tucked in the village of Phrao. My students—the orphans—would depend on me to teach them and deliver fun, engaging lessons. I felt nervous, but thankfully had my TEFL training to lean on.

Before I was able to begin teaching, I would have to obtain a work permit. Thus, I was escorted by two Warm Heart staff to the local hospital, where I submitted to a chest x-ray and blood-draw.

Folks, I don’t have syphilis. Whew. I didn’t know it was a potential barrier to getting a work permit in Thailand, but it is. To qualify for a work permit, I had to provide a clear chest x-ray and “non reactive VDRL” test result.

My office—open air bamboo walls. Unfortunately, it is also cat headquarters.  As I am allergic to cats, I will be wearing a face mask forever. This is a literal truth: the PM2.5 AQI for Phrao today is 410!  A “healthy” rating is 50 or below!

I have been tasked with creating an English language curriculum that will include career training for the orphans (I don’t live with them here on campus, but at a guesthouse across the road). I will also be going on home-health visits, visiting locals in nearby villages who are either mentally or physically unable to leave their dwellings for care and service.

Idyllic guesthouse in the tropics

My deck with laundry hanging on the line.

Another photo of my deck. It wasn’t until I took this photo that I realized it eerily resembled a painting I had done in 2011.

Black ink, cadmium yellow on watercolor paper, 2011. Did I project myself here?

A small pond view from my deck

One of the Warm Heart dogs followed me home and became my guardian angel.

It’s been a busy first week—not one day the same. A big Thank you for so many generous blessings—to those who wrote letters on my behalf, to those who gave me encouragement. Thank you everyone for your support!