Not Alone After All
Hannah Fairweather, 137 TESS
You’re Not Alone
Before arriving in Thailand, I expected PST to feel pretty lonely. To be honest, I didn’t think I would find my people; I assumed the cohort would be much smaller based on what I had heard about the hiring shortage. I went into this experience with the idea that I was going to be alone and, frankly, I thought that would be a good thing for me. I imagined long stretches of independence where I could reflect and really grow on my own. I accepted solitude because I thought being in the Peace Corps meant being okay with being alone. Fast forward to now – March 30th, 2026 – it turns out that in Thailand, you’re never alone. Over the past couple of months, I’ve come to appreciate this in a whole new way. There’s something really special about always being included, always having someone check in on you, and never feeling isolated. So far, I can tell you I have learned that growth doesn’t only come from being alone, but it also comes from being deeply connected to the people around you.
Living with a Host Family
During PST, I never expected to have such a caring, supportive, loving, and kind host family. I didn’t expect to cry when it was time to leave them, and I definitely didn’t expect my host mom to cry too. I came from Bethesda, Maryland, where I had been living in an apartment with my mom (Judit) and stepdad (Brendan) after finishing my master’s degree.
Arriving in Thailand, my family suddenly grew from three to seven – or nine on the weekends. My host mom had lived in her house for around 70 years, and I was her sixth volunteer. The household included her husband, her son, and her daughter, who came home on weekends with her husband because she worked in Bangkok during the week. During the week, I lived with her two granddaughters, and every other weekend, another granddaughter visited. It was a huge shift, but one that meant a lot to me. I remember helping the granddaughters do cartwheels and moments like Bai Pool coming into my room to do skincare, makeup, and share peanut butter (my organic Trader Joe’s kind). Dinner with my host family, evenings spent practicing Thai or playing Pick-Up Sticks and UNO, sizzling Mu Kratha meals, catching the cats for bedtime, and the countless funny moments of me bumping my head, all started to feel like home. I loved having fellow Trainees over, exploring the rice fields, going to 7-Eleven, playing at the water park, and café excursions. Each small, everyday moment made me feel more connected. I truly became a part of the family in a way I never could have imagined. Even the cats and I bonded. I’ve always understood the importance of family, but my host family has shown me its true meaning. From the moment I arrived, they welcomed me into their home, shared their lives with me, and made me feel like I truly belonged. I am deeply grateful for their kindness, warmth, and unwavering support. It was living with them that gave me the motivation to push through the challenges of PST and made me genuinely excited to come home each day.
Making Friends
One piece of advice I would give to any future Peace Corps trainee is to put yourself out there and don’t be too shy. I’m generally an extroverted person, but making friends post-grad is hard. It’s especially challenging when you’re starting a new job in a country you’ve never been to before. Once you find some people with whom you get along, find more! The difference is clear: some people stick to cliques, and others take the chance to connect, and it makes all the difference for the rest of PSTOne of the best decisions I made was asking Coles to get dinner with me in Bangkok during that first week. I was eating alone at a really good noodle soup (guay tiew) spot by the hotel when I saw him ask in a group chat if anyone was up to anything. I hesitated at first, but then said ‘screw it’ and invited him to join me. To my surprise, he did! He is now one of my best friends. Even if you try this and it doesn’t work out, that’s okay. The point is to try because you never know what could happen. That single invitation ended up sparking some of my closest friendships, which carried me through the long language lessons and the more tedious stretches of the program.
Up Next…Ubon Ratchathani
Looking back on PST, I realize how much I underestimated the power of connection. I arrived expecting isolation, but instead I found that growth often comes through relationships, shared experiences, and community. My host family showed me kindness, care, and love in ways I never expected, and my friends reminded me that putting yourself out there can open doors to lifelong bonds. For anyone heading into PST, my advice is simple: embrace the people around you, say yes to connection, and let yourself be part of the community.
