Getting Away

We found that the frustration of living in a different culture and dealing with the language barrier is sometimes difficult. Sometimes a bike ride to a remote area to gave us the solitude we needed to regain the peace within us. Often, we would try to find "normalcy" in hanging out with other volunteers and walking around town after a long training session.

One night, while walking around our town, an elephant and its owner approached Carol and two other Peace Corps volunteers. The owner asked them to buy treats to feed the elephants (source of income for the owner). Thailand use to have a large elephant population, but with the increased deforestation to raise rice and other crops the elephants are limited to a few national parks and others are a source of income for some Thai people.