From Dream to Reality

By Elaina - 3 week intern

Six-year-old me would be screaming right now! When I was little, I always dreamed of going to Thailand to work with elephants, and now here I am in the 'Land of Smiles.' Even though I am 21 and almost a college graduate, flying to a new country alone made me feel like I’ve grown so much. 

The biggest takeaway from this experience has been learning about the Karen way of life and observing the unique behaviors of each elephant. Of course, I will miss celebrating Christmas and New Year’s with my family, but this internship was an opportunity I couldn't pass up—we can always celebrate when I get back! I only wish I could speak the Karen language so I could interact more deeply with my host family and the local community.