By Claire Wadzinski 8 week reseach intern –

Let’s be real, we all go through countless fixations when we’re kids. Some that last a few years, some that only last a few days. There was never a set answer for me on what I wanted to be when I grew up or where I wanted to go, but there was always one thing I was consistently certain about, and it was that I loved elephants. While which grandma or aunty is to blame for giving me my favorite elephant stuffed animal as a baby is unknown, they certainly made an impact on my life. I’ve heard the same retold stories of all the times my mom had to repurchase the same plushie thanks to my never-ending ability to lose my belongings. Something about that elephant stuck with me.

My younger self chose well. The more and more I have learned about elephants, the deeper I fall in love with them. I developed the itch to come to Thailand a few years ago, specifically to see elephants, of course. Why Thailand instead of another country with elephants, I’m not quite sure. It seemed like the only option for me. The itch eventually led me down a rabbit hole of online searches for ethical elephant sanctuaries. I had my eye on Kindred Spirit for quite some time battling with the idea of traveling or settling down after college graduation. As time went on, I knew that I wanted to try to make this trip come to life. It took a bit of convincing to get my family on board and I received quite a few puzzled expressions from my peers when I told them my plans. Some of the reactions made me insecure about my decision at times, but I am so grateful I pushed through.

My time at Kindred Spirit has been more than I can put into words. I have made such amazing friends through this internship from completely different parts of the world. I grew so much in my independence and confidence in taking risks and my ability to take care of myself. Most importantly, I made my little dream of visiting elephants come true, all while making an impact on their lives in the most ethical and respectful way possible. These eight weeks have made my heart so full. If you are like me and considering committing to a few weeks at Kindred Spirit, this is your sign to book the flight. Buy the train ticket. Remove whatever obstacle is holding you back. I promise you won’t regret it.