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My Passion: I am passionate about hiking, sewing, and discovering new creative and hands-on activities. I enjoy spending time outdoors, exploring new landscapes, and challenging myself through hiking
My Vision: My vision of the world for the future is a world that is more sustainable, open-minded, and connected. I believe it is important to protect the environment while continuing to develop our way of living.
My Mission: My personal mission is to keep learning, growing, and using my skills to make a positive contribution to the world around me. Through my future career in construction, I would like to take part in creating more sustainable and responsible buildings while finding practical solutions to the challenges we face.
Life in Thailand is very different from the life I am used to in France. People here are incredibly welcoming, friendly, and caring. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the entire team, who have always been concerned about our well-being. As soon as we arrived, we had to adjust to the time difference, but fortunately, the transition was relatively easy. Most importantly, we received a very warm welcome from the entire team supporting us. Everyone was incredibly friendly, caring, and genuinely concerned about our well-being. This first impression quickly made us feel comfortable and allowed us to start this adventure in the best possible conditions.
Before starting the actual construction work, our first mission was to prepare the site. We began by cleaning the inside of the building, removing the waste that had accumulated over the years, and restoring the floor so that we could work in good conditions. At the same time, we started discovering bamboo. We learned how to create different structures, beginning with a bamboo ladder.
To build it, we first drilled holes into the bamboo poles in order to insert the steps. We then had to carefully adjust the position and size of each hole, cut the bamboo pieces to the right dimensions, and finally clean and prepare every element before assembling the ladder. The next step of the project was to build a bamboo table. We created the legs, prepared the different parts of the tabletop, and assembled the structure using the techniques we had learned throughout the day.
Then came the first renovation works directly on the building itself.
We started by removing the existing roof, which will be completely replaced over the next few weeks, along with the supporting framework. Working on a building that is more than a century old reminds us every day of the importance of preserving this heritage while giving it a new life.
At the same time, we started reinforcing the columns that make up the structure of the building. To do this, we built formwork around these elements in order to strengthen them and ensure their stability and durability for the years to come.
We had the chance to help the children from the school with different planting activities. We prepared a soil mixture that would allow the plants to grow properly before helping them with the planting process.
Every day was filled with teamwork, learning, and moments shared with the children and teachers from the nearby school. Despite the differences in language and culture, communication came naturally through smiles, gestures, and a lot of good energy.
Between eco-construction, heritage preservation, sharing, and discovering Thai culture, this first part of our journey will undoubtedly remain one of the highlights of our student experience.
It is difficult to choose just one favourite moment from the past month because we have experienced so many incredible things. One of the highlights was definitely hiking Dragon Crest. The hike was physically demanding, with around 500 metres of elevation gain, but the view at the top was breathtaking. On one side, we could see the sea and beaches, while on the other side, mountains and green plantations stretched as far as we could see.
To end our working days, we quickly got into the habit of meeting at the “Jungle Pool”. It was the perfect opportunity to cool down, relax, and recover after several hours of working under the Thai sun.
We also had the chance to discover the hot springs and the Emerald Pool. The site was absolutely beautiful, with incredibly clear water and stunning landscapes. We also had quite a funny experience: some of the small fish in the water came and nibbled on the dead skin on our feet. It was a rather unusual experience, but actually quite enjoyable!
We then had the opportunity to discover Koh Lanta, where we were able to admire another beautiful sunset. It was a wonderful moment that allowed us to enjoy the landscapes and atmosphere of the region even more.
The rest of the weekend gave us the opportunity to discover more of Ao Nang, in Krabi Province, where we are staying during our trip.
We took part in a boat trip to discover the Four Islands and the famous Railay Beach. It was a real adventure! We travelled by long-tail boat, a traditional type of boat that is very characteristic of Thailand. We also had the opportunity to go snorkelling and see many fish in the incredibly clear water.
We also kayaked through the mangroves, explored Khao Lak, rode an ATV and visited Koh Phangan Island. The internship’s structure gave us plenty of time to explore Thailand’s landscapes and culture, which created the perfect balance between work and holidays.
During this internship, I learned many new things, both professionally and personally. I discovered construction techniques and learned how to work with natural materials, especially bamboo. I learned how to make a bamboo ladder and table and discovered that construction methods can be very different depending on the country, the available resources, and the local environment.
I also learned the importance of adaptability on a construction site. During our project, we faced unexpected challenges, including heavy rain and technical problems with the reinforcement of the wooden columns. We had to rethink our initial solution and find a stronger alternative while respecting the project’s budget.
I was surprised by how welcoming and friendly the local people was. Even though we came from different countries and did not always speak the same language, we were able to share many moments together.
It is difficult for me to choose only one person from this journey because I have met so many wonderful people. However, there are two people in particular who have had a special impact on my experience: Tam and Banly.
Tam played a very important role throughout our time in Thailand. As our instructor during the project, he taught us about local construction techniques, but he also helped us discover Thailand and the people who live here. We shared many great moments together, including meals and trips to different places.
Bang Ree also had a special impact on me, but in a different way. Working with him allowed us to discover his knowledge and experience of working with bamboo. He showed us how he uses this material to create many different things, from walls and furniture to decorations and even ladders.
Working with Bang Ree and the people around him was a really enjoyable experience. Of course, there were serious moments when we had to focus and work carefully, but we also shared many moments of laughter and fun. These shared experiences are some of the memories that will stay with me the most from this journey.
One of the challenges I faced was adapting to the climate and the physical demands of working outdoors in Thailand. The heat and humidity made some working days particularly difficult, especially when carrying heavy buckets of concrete during the reinforcement of the wooden columns.
One of the moments I will remember the most was watching the sunset from the top of Tiger Cave Temple after climbing 1,260 steps.
The climb was physically demanding, and by the time we reached the top, we were already quite tired. However, all the effort was worth it. We were able to watch the entire sunset, from the golden hour until the sun slowly disappeared over the horizon.
The view was incredible, with Krabi’s landscape stretching out below us, surrounded by mountains and the sea in the distance. It was a beautiful and unforgettable moment, and a perfect reminder that sometimes the most difficult challenges lead to the most rewarding experiences.
