Service learning trip to Thailand satisfies promise for Rider student

Victoria Jacoby
Major: Double major in international business and finance 

Over JTerm I had the opportunity to go on my second service learning trip with Rider University. The trip was for 11 days to Thailand where we traveled to Bangkok, Kanchanaburi and Koh Chang. The 22-hour flight was worth all the anticipation that it had brought amongst us. I went with a group of 18 students and two advisors. Over the course of the trip, we grew very close in such a short amount of time. 
 Culturally, there was a vast difference in comparison to the U.S.: from religion to food to etiquette. As a foreigner, the biggest thing that stood out to me was how their understood etiquette was highly respected. For instance, when visiting Buddhist temples, anyone who enters must be covered from shoulder to knee and take off their shoes. The idea of respect spoke volumes on so many levels.
 My favorite parts of the trip had to be washing the rescued elephants at an elephant sanctuary called Elephant Haven and working with the children at the orphanage. The elephant sanctuary was such a beautiful experience. Although we attempted to wash the elephants, as soon as they were done they covered their bodies with dirt, which was a way of cooling off their skin. 

The service portion of the trip was very much of what I was hoping for when I applied to go. There were three groups: teaching, painting and building. Students with education majors were able to teach the children one on one. Other students painted two murals that represented Rider and the Foundation of Children. Lastly, students who were more into hands-on work helped alongside Thailand construction team to build four chicken coups. It was a perfect balance amongst each Rider student’s ability. Personally, I was a part of the chicken group and it was the most rewarding feeling to know that I helped the orphanage become more self-sufficient through the utilization of the chicken eggs for meals.
 Thailand was among the most unique places I have ever been to. There were impoverished areas, but there was also a lot of beauty. The Thai people have a saying Mai Pen Rai that simply means "no worries." However, during the trip, we naturally hit a handful of adversities that we had to say Mai Pen Rai. 

The biggest lesson as an American was the level of impatience I had. I learned that I needed to incorporate Mai Pen Rai into my life, and that is a lesson I would extend to others. Even through language barriers we all must learn to push through and handle life with a little more grace. Mai Pen Rai.