By Roosmarie – 1 week intern

For one week, I stayed at the KSES as a photography intern. The moment I arrived, I was so impressed by how the place was so off grid. It was so cool to see another ethnic minority in Thailand you would otherwise never be able to experience this closely. The first night I got to cook at my homestay. Seeva, the Karen lady from my homestay, showed me how she cooks dinner every night and I was allowed to help her. She chopped some wood in small pieces, made a small fire and cooked a delicious dinner on it. We ate on the ground, as that is very normal here. It is so cool to immerse yourself in such a different culture, and to realise we can learn a lot from each other.

During the whole week, we hiked through the forest every morning to see the elephants there. This experience was so unique. To observe the elephants in their natural habitat from so close is incredible. As I got to know their backgrounds in the logging and tourism industry, it is even more special to see them foraging and wondering through the forest with each other. Their interaction is beautiful. For example, one of the female elephants, Mae Doom is very protective of her little nephew Junior. Junior is only one year old and Mae Doom makes sure she’s surrounding him the whole time. The emotional intelligence of these animals and the caring for each other is amazing to watch!

As a photography intern, I was so inspired by everthing around me. The beautiful elephants, the diverse nature, the welcoming Karen people and (last but not least) the driven collegues. They have such a passion for the elephants and the environment they’re living in. Their dedication and knowlegde is inspiring. The fact that they hike to the elephants multiple times a week for such a long time now and even cannot hold themselves from taking pictures every time might be a small detail but I think it showed their passion and love for the elephants.

It might sound a bit exagerated, but in a week I feel like I have learned so much. About the Karen people, about elephants, about nature, and about myself aswell. To suddenly live in a homestay in a village in Thailand with no service and surrounded by jungle is something I will never forget. It was an unique week in my life and I will gratefully look back on the memories I have made here.