William Wallis
Summer Internship 2024
Pattaya, Thailand

Following a family trip to Thailand when I was six years old, I have always hoped to return to the ‘land of smiles.’

Through Hampden-Sydney and specifically the Compass program, the opportunity to gain summer work experience abroad arose. Since May 2024, I have been teaching English as a second language at Oxford Junior School in Pattaya, Thailand, about one hour’s drive from the capital city of Bangkok.

My students range from ages four to fourteen, and working with them every day has enabled me to reflect on the similarities and differences between American and Thai culture.

Some of the first things that struck me upon arrival in Pattaya were the warm welcome and hospitality that I received, as well as pride in and respect for tradition and culture, which I believe are also values that I have experienced within the H-SC community.

There is a genuine eagerness to learn that I see every day among the young Thai pupils. In a short time, I have learned to be more patient as there is a distinct divide between students who have the English language spoken at home and are thus more advanced, and those who are learning phonics and grammar from scratch.

As the school has an immersive English language approach, the Thai students may only speak English and not revert to their native tongue, so I have become more empathetic when I see them sometimes struggle to express themselves. Pictionary and charades have become valued tools in my teaching approach.

It’s also interesting to see what is unspoken but can be inferred about Thailand’s culture.  Through my work with the students, I see that respect for authority, politeness, and the central importance of the community (rather than individual achievement) are all priorities, regardless of social status.

Practical and logistical aspects of life in Thailand have also been a source of humor as well as occasional frustration.  Many of my students have had limited exposure to Americans and they found my style of communication very direct at first, so I have tempered my choice of language and general approach to make everyone more comfortable.

At a height of 6’6”, I physically tower over my classroom and several students find this hilarious, occasionally making me feel like a giraffe or other exotic species.  But in the ‘land of smiles,’ we find ways to keep things light and funny.

Living conditions in Pattaya vary widely and school environments can also be quite rustic, with air conditioning that only works sporadically in the 90-degree heat and humidity.  Despite any challenges in their home or academic surroundings, my students are upbeat, curious, and collaborative every day, and I am energized by their positivity.

Teaching English in Thailand has given me a greater appreciation for the nuances of language and life in the US compared to other cultures.  Western music, fashion, fast food, and other references are ubiquitous, especially through high Internet penetration, but I continue to enjoy the opportunity to learn about Thai culture and the longstanding traditions of this country.

Having the opportunity to live and work overseas through the auspices of H-SC has made me appreciate further the comforts of home, while opening my eyes to the ways that people around the world enjoy a shared sense of humanity.

Leland Blanchard
Provider: Project GO
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
2024 Summer

My time in Taiwan has opened my eyes to the privileges we have as Americans. Unlike Taiwan and the Taiwanese people, we don’t live under the constant threat of invasion and the overturning of our way of life. We aren’t reliant upon foreign nations for the preservation of our own security.  The Taiwanese love America, Americans, and American culture — more than certain Americans do.

Me and my tutors, along with my classmate Will, at dinner. Typically, we all go to lunch or dinner together twice a week. Being American has its perks: people would try and talk to me in English, give me food and drinks, and even take pictures with me. My red-haired friend Brendan even got pulled by the arm to the nearest 7/11 and was bought an ice cream cone. My tutors said this was normal and the Taiwanese are just excited to see us. I’m certainly not complaining.

Aside from the very abundant mango desserts, I’ll miss the immersion aspect of studying abroad in Taiwan the most. There were times that I absolutely did not want to speak Mandarin – but I did it anyway. Even when I was tired or sick or wanted to go home, I sucked it up and practiced my Chinese. However, I know that I’ll also miss going out for dinner and boba every night with my friends. I’ll miss my professors and tutors. But all of that is outweighed by the prospect of returning to the Hill. Taiwan was cool, 可是 Hampden-Sydney 比酷酷 (I’m 90% sure that’s Chinese for Hampden-Sydney is cooler).

I’d advise students preparing to go on a Global Ed or other study abroad program to do their research on where they’re going. Once I arrived in Taiwan and started classes, the days and weeks passed by far too quickly. Find and make a list of everything you want to see, eat, and experience. Come up with a few mock itineraries for when you get a day or even just a couple hours of free time. Go on Reddit, Google, and ask around – there’s a chance one of your friends or professors or family members has been where you want to go.

One weekend, I went to Taipei on a whim. I met up with my friend Savannah (pictured), at Hooters, near Taipei 101 (once the tallest building in the world). In this photo, she is losing the Hooters hula hooping competition. Shortly after this photo was taken, I won the Taiwanese Hooters hula hooping competition. The takeaway is simple: dive headfirst into your study abroad experience.

Specific to Taiwan, I’d advise prospective study abroad students to get off the main island. My day in Xiaoliuqiu (where the turtles are) was so much cooler than just another day spent in Kaohsiung or even Taipei. Get way, way, way off the beaten path and throw yourself into the unknown. Eat the mystery meat. Don’t ask what it is. Stay off Google for restaurant recommendations – just eat where the lines are long. And every once in a while, go to McDonald’s to get a taste of home.

This was me in front of a cool looking rock on Xiaoliuqiu. It’s called the Vase Rock. Pro tip from an amateur: take the first ferry out in the morning, there are no crowds before 9am. We left Kaohsiung via Uber at 5:30 and, following the most turbulent 15-minute boat ride ever, made it to the island by 8.

Also, just about everyone who studies abroad gets sick at some point; prepare yourself to power through it. It sucks to get sick away from home, but it sucks even more to miss out on once-in-a-lifetime experiences. I was sick at least three times, but I ignored it and went on my way.

This is me on Xiaoliuqiu, in the Genocide Cave (named as a result of the Lamey Island Massacre). I did not know that at the time of this picture.  I was hot, very tired, and ready to leave. It was 10 am. But I bought coffee and had a great time! Do not let temporary feelings take away from permanent experiences. Yet another pro tip from an amateur: do not stay out on the town until 4am the night before you travel to Xiaoliuqiu; it’s not worth it. Xiaoliuqiu is not as fun as it could be on 30 minutes of sleep.

PS: take pictures of yourself (not just what you see or do). Your mother will very much appreciate it.

Frank West
Provider: IES
Dublin, Ireland
2024 Summer

Greetings from Dublin, Ireland!

I would have to say that Ireland has surprised me quite a bit. Dublin is one of the most vibrant cities I have ever been to, and I have become extremely comfortable here. I imagined Ireland as being a mystical and untamed country unlike any other part of the western world, and in certain respects this is true, but Dublin is like any other cosmopolitan city. It is a metropolis in an ancient land that balances its history with modernity. I was correct is assuming that most Irish people speak quickly and with an accent that can be hard to understand. I was also correct about the popularity of fiddler and flat caps. I had to get one for myself!  Tweed jackets and their prevalence is an exaggerated stereo type in both the U.K. and Ireland. I do not think I have seen a single tweed jacket outside of a thrift store. Studying here in Ireland has made me understand the importance of genealogy and family. My mother’s maiden name is O’Neal which is Irish and being where my family has its roots is special to me. It has made me think about my ancestor’s stories and struggle as outlined in our family Bible. I think I will miss the stunning coastlines, the pub culture, and the high-quality food the most. For any student wishing to do the IES program in Dublin, I would recommend bringing something heavier than a hoodie as it gets cold here even in the summer. I would also not be a bad idea to adopt some budgeting skills as Dublin is pricey.

My new Fiddler Cap!

Coastline

Sunset on the Coast.

Frank West
Provider: IES
Dublin, Ireland
2024 Summer

Greetings from Dublin, Ireland!

Since arriving I am most proud of representing H-SC while studying in Dublin. As Hampden-Sydney men we are to hold ourselves to high academic and social standards. This does not end when we leave campus. I spend a lot of my free time hunting for records and exploring the city. I also spend time on the weekends in pubs or in cafes doing interviews and chatting with
locals.

I have gone out of the city a couple of times because Greystones and Howth are only 40 minutes and a couple of euros away. I have been taking lots of pictures with my 35mm and cannot wait to have them developed. Hiking is one of my favorite activities and there is plenty of opportunities in the little towns outside Dublin. It is not so different than how I spend my time at home, just more exciting. I have given up on learning Gaelic due to time constraints, but I have picked up some phrases. A lot of the signs are in Gaelic but I just ask someone what It means, or use google translate. Béaláiste means to toast but does not have a direct English translation.


35mm negatives and prints of spots in Greystones and Howth

Music is one of most important things in my life, and Dublin has no shortage of It. There is a Rock n Roll bar called Fibbers down the street from my dorm that has metal and punk bands every night. There are a lot of buskers or street musicians that play Irish folk music that I enjoy listening to downtown. I also picked up a couple of CDs with folk music on them! I Got to see Rammstein live, and they were phenomenal. It was one of the most intense concerts I have been to in a while!


Metal Gig at Fibber’s

Rammstein Concert!

There is not much here that I do not do at home or cannot do at home, but If I had to come up with something, I would say that I do not have an easy and cheap way to frequent museums. Back home, they are either too far away or I have already been to the ones nearby. I primarily spend time with a small group of American students from up north. We have had several memorable adventures both inside and outside the classroom. I have met several international students along the way, but I have only spent time together with them a few times. Our classrooms are a bit claustrophobic, but I don’t really mind because we do not spend a lot of time in the classroom except for history.

4th Of July Party!

Leland Blanchard
Provider: Project GO
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
2024 Summer

Much of my time studying abroad is spent studying. Class, (mandatory) tutoring, and homework takes up about 7 hours of my day – all involving some aspect of Mandarin Chinese. Typically, each day’s work involves learning 50-100 new vocabulary terms and various grammatical patterns. The course itself emphasizes spoken Mandarin – so most of our in-class work is conversations between classmates. Even though we’re given a lot of work, my classmates and I still manage to find time for fun.

A picture of one of our lessons – we had to role play and read out this scenario. I had no idea what was going on here.

Our first few weekends have been filled up by program-organized trips. Typically, via tour bus, all students in my study abroad program will see various sites around Southern Taiwan. Our first few weekends took us to Tainan and the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park. Tainan, the oldest city on the island, was especially cool – one can see remnants of the Dutch and Japanese colonial periods.

An old Japanese building in Tainan. All of the plaques were in Chinese, so I had to Google Translate everything.

Evenings are left to us to do whatever we’d like. On an ordinary Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night, I accompany my roommate, Chris, and a few of our friends to get dinner and hang out somewhere around Kaohsiung, where our host university is located. Friday nights are reserved for Cijin Island, a few metro stops and a short ferry from our hotel. On Cijin Island, one can find fresh seafood, manicured beaches, and Cijin Sunset Bar – where foreigners outnumber locals.

Every week, my friends make a pilgrimage to Cijin Sunset Bar. After Cijin, we ride the ferry back to the mainland and take YouBike (Taiwan’s bicycle rental system) to Brickyard, a local hangout.

A picture of the beach at Cijin Island. My tutor tells me the sand isn’t naturally black, it is a result of the pollution from the factories around Kaohsiung.

Most of my time is spent with my American classmates. We come from a variety of schools and majors – from computer scientists at Purdue to Asian Studies majors at USC. However, we all are ROTC Cadets – from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and even the Space Force. Much of the time we are accompanied by our tutors at dinner – they’re undergraduate students at our host university. We usually speak in Chinese about our plans for that weekend or about our American universities.

In Taiwan, I’ve discovered a version of myself that is far less uptight. Taiwan Leland is a much easier Leland to be around. It’s probably because, while studying abroad, I have zero responsibility aside from doing well in class. When I’m not in class, I can just relax and have fun with my friends. I’m going to try and bring parts of this less-uptight version of myself back to America.

The view from the ferry to get to Cijin Island. There is a small population that lives on the island, but most passengers are tourists, from Taiwan and abroad.

Leland Blanchard
Provider: Project GO
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
2024 Summer

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the university administering my study abroad program, managed to find a hotel that was equally convenient to our host university, National Kaohsiung Normal University, and Kaohsiung’s MRT/subway system. In total, the walking commute is about half a mile – which can take up to 30 minutes due to the number of crosswalks and curving paths.

Leland and one of his tutors, Selena. His program requires daily 30-minute tutoring sessions with graduate students from National Kaohsiung Normal University’s Center for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. During these sessions, they only communicate in Mandarin Chinese.

The streets of Kaohsiung are always packed. On the roads themselves, scooters are the main vehicular method of transportation — but walking is also common. Oftentimes, schoolchildren fill the sidewalks during their breaks. For the most part, elderly people are the most visible throughout the workday. On my way to class, I pass by 7/11s, four parks, two schools, and at least two dozen dogs. My tutor tells me the Taiwanese are cat people, but they sure seem to have a strong affection for dogs.

Kaohsiung can be smelly. Most cities don’t smell great, but Kaohsiung also suffers from terrible air pollution – in 2019 it was ranked as the “second most polluted city in Taiwan,” according to IQAir. The scent of Kaohsiung reminds of sulfur.

A picture from dinner at one of Kaohsiung’s many 夜市, night markets, in which Leland and his classmates (left to right: Leland, Chris (Leland’s roommate), Jared, Hannah, and Monty) were able to try many of Taiwan’s signature foods: 臭豆腐 (stinky tofu), 芒果冰 (mango ice), and 小笼包 (soup dumplings). Leland was not a fan of the stinky tofu.

The first regret I had was not packing a bag. By this, I don’t mean a backpack or a suitcase (those I did pack), but, rather, a going out bag – something capable of holding a passport, portable charger, and water bottle. Going out in Kaohsiung often entails dinner, multiple MRT rides, 10,000+ steps, and a U-Bike (Taiwan’s public bike rental system) back to the hotel. Therefore, a convenient way of storing the essentials for a long night out is necessary. I was able to pick up such a bag at Adidas, when our program took us to Taipei for the weekend.

芒果冰, mango ice, is a Taiwanese specialty food. Mango is topped with sweetened condensed milk and tapioca, served over shaved ice. 乐宁 (Leland’s Chinese name) 爱芒果冰！

Perhaps the second-best thing I’ve bought has been my “chag,” a portmanteau of chair and bag. I picked mine up at a Taiwanese military surplus store, about a 30-minute walk from my hotel. The store itself reminded me of an American military surplus/resale store, such as Ranger Joe’s in Columbus, GA, except this one was family run, open air, and had far more than just military surplus for sale. Taiwan has an abundance of everything stores – in which just about anything you can think of is for sale, such as chargers, snacks, clothes, and pet supplies.

The “chag.” At the military surplus store, Leland was also able to get workout shorts (that didn’t fit), a Taiwanese special forces coin, and a Diet Coke!

Overall, Taiwan has been an absolute blast so far. I’m looking forward to exploring more “off the beaten path” places, hopefully with some of my classmates.

Frank West
Provider: IES
Dublin, Ireland
2024 Summer

Greetings from Dublin, Ireland!

I’ve spent my time shooting black and white 35mm film of piers, cathedrals and state buildings, as well as doing some portraiture inside pubs. I was nervous about the locals not being so keen about my photography, but most are happy to oblige! I have already made a few pub friends!

The only thing that makes me nervous is not being able to take in all the sights and overlook some, as Dublin is quite overwhelming. Getting over to Ireland was a breeze, as my flight only had a 1-hour layover. The 15 hours went by quickly, as unbelievable as that sounds. For the most part the locals are friendly despite being a bit rough and tumble.

Outside of the Richmond Airport

I will definitely do myself a disservice if I come back with even one role of unused film. I’ve set a goal of soaking up as many of the sights and cultural experiences as possible! I have already visited Bram Stoker’s house, Parliament House the former home of the Irish Parliament which is now a bank, the Spire of Dublin and the Dublin Portal. Next Friday I will be taking a trip up north to Belfast and to Galway on the coast. I can’t emphasize how awesome Dublin is, as enough words cannot describe the environment here.

In front of Bram Stoker’s House

Parliament House