Travelling to a foreign country and working as an English volunteer teacher is something that I have always wanted to do. The summer of 2004 presented itself to be a perfect opportunity to do exactly that. After some research and advisement Thailand became my travel destination. It is a far and exotic place for many people in Canada. It is an Asian country that attains its own unique culture and society.

While driving from Chiang Rai City to Mae Yao district, where the Mirror Art Group is based I was happily shocked and amazed at the landscape of the area. Throughout the drive there was miles of lush green mountains and rice fields. It was an exciting feeling, to know that I had the opportunity to live here for a few weeks. However, when I did arrive to the Mirror Art Group I had great sense of nervousness, hundreds of questions running through my mind, the greatest one being, will I be able to live here for four weeks? There was a lot to adjust to during the first few days, new people, a language I didn't understand, and living space that I had never experienced. It wasn't only about the differences between North American culture and Thai culture but also the differences between city life and country life. The atmosphere at the Mirror Art Group is a lively one. There are always people coming and going, locals and foreigners with great stories to tell. It's a beautiful living area, with trees in every direction, the sounds of birds whistling and a warm breeze make everyday better than the one before. It didn't take long before I became apart of the group and the daily activities that take place at the Mirror Art Group.

A typical day as a volunteer English teacher is to wake up, get ready, and have breakfast during the morning meeting with everyone who works at the Mirror Art Group. After, I would hop on the back of a truck, or motorcycle with the open fresh air on my face to go to school. As I learned about the primary school system, specifically for hilltribe area schools I was left with an appreciative feeling of the education and opportunities I was given during my own childhood. I only taught at one school however, I did have the opportunity to visit and spend some time at various other schools in the area. For a number of them the facilities are satisfactory, teachers are few and students are numerous. At the school where I worked, both the students and teachers were kind and appreciative of me coming to help teach English. It was clear that English was one area that needed a great deal of help and they were very thankful that I as a foreigner had come to teach. As the weeks went by and I learned even more about the school system, the life that many hilltribe people face, and realized that my help was a great thing but there is a lot more that has to be done. It will be organizations like the Mirror Art Group, who will help to facilitate the needed improvements and help to provide the necessary tools for the futures of the young students I taught. I truly commend the goals and aims of the Mirror Art Group and encourage anyone to participate in the work of the group. It has been a life experience, learning about the culture, the language, the food, and the education system of the Northern Thai people