Snapshot of Service is an ongoing series dedicated to showcasing the reality of a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand. Featuring the small moments, captured in a single image or a series of photos, that may make up the routine and mundane in our daily lives, but are also the essence of what it means to serve.
Lilly Hromadka, 135 TESS
When I first arrived at my school, over a year and a half ago, one of the first rooms I was shown was a neon green space that they proudly proclaimed to be my office. I was to share it with the science teacher, who spoke good English, and they were going to move an old AC unit into it so that I could keep cool in the blazing Thai heat.
Fast forward through vigorous cleanings, door repairs, 3 or 4 rearrangements, a little bit of decorating, and 1.5 years, and I can say that my office is my safe space. I love my students, and my fellow teachers, but it’s nice to have a little nook I can retreat to when the greetings become constant, the hugs become too tight, and the Isaan becomes a little too garbled. Not to mention being able to turn on the air conditioning whenever I please is a massive blessing.
At the start of term for my second year of teaching, though, I feel more comfortable opening my safe space at times to let a little more love in. After all, my time here is almost up. I am often at school until around 4 or 4.30 in the afternoon, so I’ve started to put aside working until after the students leave, so we can spend some time together, or I can just observe and relax while they entertain themselves.
Don’t get me wrong, the students have always barged in to try to hang out with me when I’m hiding. But we’ve worked on the significance of knocking, and asking for permission before entering, and it’s made the moments they do come looking for me, politely and respectfully, that much sweeter.
Now, my afternoons in the office look like this. Students come to color, play with my Uno cards and Jenga sets, or create ridiculous obstacle courses using the hula hoops I bought for an English camp. Once, I spent an entire hour doing splits, cartwheels, and backbends with a group of 4th grade girls who decided they urgently needed to stretch instead of going home.
Whether it’s 5 students, or 15, I never pass a day without some visitors. This past August, the teacher I share the office with was helping students prepare dances for the Science Day showcase. Two weeks passed where the entirety of 4th, 5th and 6th grade squeezed into the room each day, either to practice, or to cheer on their friends. Some would linger to play Bingo, or games, but all would make sure to wave goodbye and say “thank you” before leaving.
I don’t always pull out my phone and snap a picture, but every student-filled office afternoon will stay with me forever. I am honored and humbled that my students have become comfortable with me, and actively want to spend time together. Even on the days when everything was too much and I turn them away at the door, the thought of them wanting to hang out makes things a little bit easier, a little bit better. I can’t wait to make more office memories with my little hooligans.
Sticky Rice 
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