BEFORE THE START OF CLASSES in Chiang Mai, the students got an introduction to the language, customs, culture, arts, and food of Thailand.

This trimester’s host school – Traidhos Three Generations – conducted classes on Thai conversational basics and customs, to enable the students with a better awareness of their new surrounding culture. They teamed up into groups to role play dos and don’ts around town, including appropriate clothing in temples, public displays of affection, polite responses to hospitality, and so on. All the students perfected their hellos and thank yous in Thai and learned how to ‘wai as the locals wai‘.

The day evolved from practicing sawasdee to constructing paper lanterns and painting elephants on paper umbrellas. The sunshine dried their creations, as they dressed for the special dinner ahead. Seated on the ground at the school’s amphitheater, they enjoyed a Khantok dinner using their hands as utensils. It was spicy, flavorful, and aroy mak mak (delicious).

Hands washed and dinner tables moved, the TGS community witnessed various traditional Lanna dances under a bright full moon, including a full-body drum performance, an umbrella dance, and a fire-breathing sword exhibition. The black night sky enveloped four massive sky lanterns with the wishes of the students written across their rice paper sides. Fireworks completed a perfect evening.

By the day’s conclusion, the students accumulated great knowledge and appreciation of their new host country and felt prepared for the next three months ahead.

After a month-long break in their respective homes across the globe, this week marked the reunion of the TGS community to their ever-mobile classrooms and homes away from home. Moving from the highlands of Ecuador to those of Thailand, the climate is surprisingly different considering both locations closely flank the Equator.

For four days, THINK Global School experienced the learning potential of a remote research station in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Being the first high school group to visit Tiputini Biodiversity Station, it was a real honor to meander the hiking trails with expert guides, observing the most biodiverse ecosystem in the world. Here, biology doesn’t just engage; it entrances.

They organized the event, made posters, invited friends from Colegio Aleman Stiehle Cuenca, set up the room, bought snacks and beverages; they even arranged an awards ceremony at the end. I knew we had an intelligent bunch, but the creativity and talent that was on display was fantastic.

Science teacher Jarret Voytilla, along with visiting guides and professors, instruct students to observe, measure, and learn ‘in the field,’ surrounded by turtles, sea lions, sting rays, and marine iguanas.