In the Spring of 2013, I spent six incredibly challenging and fulfilling months living in Northeastern Thailand. My student group and I were based in Khon Kaen, in the Isaan Region - a region known for its dry land and poor people. Through the months we lived with rural villagers, studying the environmental and social injustices which threatened their ways of life.  Most of these issues sprung from an unaware centralized government, a westernizing culture and large development projects. It was difficult to see their struggle first hand, but even more difficult feeling helpless to change their circumstances. In our big white vans full of mostly white, affluent students, we drove into villages devastated by government built damns, mines, commercial development and the likes: curious to observe everything; prepared to do nothing.

*** 

I am tremendously grateful for my time studying this country and just a few groups of its very diverse people. I hope if and when you travel to southeast Asia, you will remember how much influence you have as a western tourist, and let that drive you to travel mindfully - with heightened awareness of the cultural and environmental mark you may leave.