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Student Trip to Thailand - Madison McGeddy Reports

by Madison McGeddy, Class of 2018

When thinking about the trip I took over spring break, I don’t even know where to begin. I was fortunate enough to go on one of Ranney’s annual Upper School Spring Break trips - this time to Thailand - with an amazing bunch of kids and chaperones. I was waiting for this trip all year and excited to embark on a journey to experience a new country and culture.

As cheesy as it sounds, I was also super nervous. I didn’t know how I was going to survive a 16-hour flight to Hong Kong, then a 3-hour flight to Bangkok, not to mention that I had no idea what to expect since I had never been anywhere like Asia before.

Long story short, I survived, sleeping as much as possible on the plane. When we landed, I was ready to absorb the information available to me around every corner, while also having fun with the people around me. Day one, two, three, and four all flew by - full of adventure, jokes, smiles, and even coconuts thanks to one of our chaperones, Mr. Gilbert. It was unreal. Everywhere I looked was something different, something I wasn’t used to seeing at home.

The city of Bangkok was chaotic and loud while Kanchanaburi was rural and stunning. By bus, we traveled from place to place making pit-stops along the way to our destination. Thailand was far from what I expected, this coming from a girl who took a tuk-tuk ride on her first day in a new world; then walking barefoot around the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. I was in love with the feeling, the people, and the experience. It isn’t everyday that you’re able to look out the window of your hotel room and see a booming city, or take a train ride on something called the “Death Railway,” or even splash around with elephants and feed them lunch in Chiang Mai.

There are not enough words in the dictionary to describe what I learned on this trip. Aside from seeing exotic animals existing commonly in the streets, I witnessed a different kind of poverty. I saw young mothers cradling their baby in one arm while crocheting a purse to sell in the other. I experienced bargaining for an ankle bracelet in a local market and handing out crackers to children running around in the village of Mae Taeng. Experiences like these are what made Thailand unforgettable.

How lucky was I, to make new friends, eat crazy foods, and admire the beautiful culture that surrounded me each day. Thailand was spectacular, and I encourage everyone to go and fulfill themselves with culture, experience, and eye-opening memories.

Ranney's Upper School offers multiple international trips each spring. 
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.