Alumni Interview with Bronson Taiapa

What inspired you to go abroad?

I needed to try to go out and experience something and somewhere new, on my own.

Why did you choose MediaKids Academy?

MediaKids was selected for me through a program called Xploreasia.

What was your favorite part about Thailand?

My favorite part would have been feeling welcome no matter where I went. The people were so friendly in Thailand. 

What made your experience abroad unique?

I was able to live in a small town that not many tourists would ever think of visiting.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

They were always there to help me no matter what the problem was. They were there to talk me through border bounces, getting visa stamps, and traveling recommendations. Also, if I was traveling and one of the staff were going in the same direction they would help and give me a ride it was no problem for them. This is only a few of the examples of the ways that they helped me.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I had taken classes in Thai so that I could converse with the locals better. 

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

I would usually ride to school on my scooter—students would wave or wai to me as I passed them. My classes would start about 8:25 a.m. and each class was for about 50 minutes. Most days I would have at least one free period (on a good day I'd have four) in which I would catch up on grading or lesson plans—and sometimes sleep!

We would have a 20 minute break at about 10:05 a.m. and then lunch at 12:10 p.m.. Lunch was always quite fun walking around and interacting with the students and teachers. Sometimes they would have activities going on that you could sit and watch like when they were preparing for Spots Week—which is a good time of year, lots of fun. And after lunch and another three classes, around 3:40 p.m., you would say goodbye to the students for the day and start getting ready to go home. That's pretty much a typical day.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

I liked to ride my scooter around the town and go out and explore the surrounding villages. 

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

My accommodation was very good. It was big and was recently refurbished—it had an AC, a good shower and toilet facilities, and also its own kitchen. My favorite thing about it was probably the AC!

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

Don't go into this expecting it to be like where you come from. Things are done differently and I have seen people get frustrated at the way things are done. My advice is to accept the way things are wherever you are placed and enjoy it for the exact reason why people get frustrated—because it’s nothing like where you come from.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

I have learned that I don’t want to be spending my entire life working. I think it has made me more driven to work hard and save for my next trip overseas. The sooner the better. 

Would you recommend MediaKids to others? Why?

Definitely the people in this program were amazingly helpful. They always have time for you and want you to have the best experience possible.