Elements of Surprise: Paint Splatters, Fierce Aunties and Canine Symphonies
By Katie Wilkes – 5 week intern
If you are reading this, you may be like me several months ago as I sat on the other side of the world opposite Thailand scouring intern blogs to help me determine if I should apply for an experience I hoped would satiate a specific craving. From my cozy apartment, I read dozens of accounts recalling welcoming homestays, delicious meals and magical immersions into elephants’ lives at KSES.
I volunteered at another sanctuary in Phuket for about a week last year. That experience opened my eyes to the complexity of the elephant welfare situation in the country, and I sought a “deeper dive” wrapped around community, education and opportunity to contribute my skills.
Now, fresh off a month-long internship at KSES, my perspective has shifted from mere reader of blogs to participant. Plenty of surprises—in addition to what many other interns have already expressed—also graced me in the thick of the forest, and I think that’s an important factor to acknowledge for anyone considering making the trek to this one-of-a-kind sanctuary: making space for what you can’t always anticipate.
So here’s a rundown of the top five surprises I encountered:
1. A Big Blue Elephant
If you visit base, which is a bit like a treehouse office nestled by the river, you’ll see a giant blue elephant head that’s allllmost lifesize in “Nee’s Corner” – home to smoothies, pancakes and other edible delicacies served up by Nee herself. I signed up as a research intern, eager to collect data and observe each of the six elephants in their natural habitat. But I’m a creator at heart, too. A storyteller and visualist. And that desire within me also came flying out, thanks perhaps to the creative inspiration Mother Nature often provides.
Interns are expected to complete a project during their time at the sanctuary, and since it’s a “choose your own adventure” kind of deal, I chose to bolster KSES’s Sponsor an Elephant program through visual awareness, designing and painting a mural featuring Mae Doom, the fierce elephant auntie to Junior (and the elephant I personally felt a connection to). If you look at the painting closely, you’ll see two things: Mae Doom is holding a “pick me up” drink from Nee, and a custom QR code that links to KSES’s website to sponsor an elephant. It was exhilarating to express my love for the mission through my artistic abilities in real-time.
2. A Different Kind of Community
I had a hunch I’d be on the “older” end as a 36-year-old intern. But I stayed open to making friends of all ages. To my surprise, there were plenty of interns spanning from their early 20s to late 40s. Even two other artists overlapping during the exact week I decided to paint the mural. There I was, bookended by a young, vibrant artist from Los Angeles and a seasoned, renowned painter from Seoul. The collaboration, encouragement and ideas flowed between us, making the project and time just that much more special.
3. Will Do Anything for Coffee
I don’t require the fanciest of coffees, surely. But I do need a solid cup of dark brown caffeine on mornings that require me to rise for breakfast by 7 a.m. —which is every weekday! A bit of advice for those staying longer than a week: bring your own coffee! Nee serves up delicious caffeinated beverages most mornings, but I didn’t account for that extra cost in the cash I toted to the sanctuary en route from Chiang Mai. (And hot tip for you extended stayers, bring extra money for laundry as your homestay can quickly do a load for about 50 THB).
4. Introverts Unite
I often joke (but not joke) that I tend to prefer animals over people. KSES is a fantastic space for extroverts who thrive on multiple group settings a day: hikes, meals, group activities, etc. While I love communal time with like-minded folks, I also require a significant amount of solo time to recharge. I was grateful for the private room I was offered and often spent my free time doing my own thing. One of my favorite spots? The back of the hiking line. It’s a great place to connect with fellow quiet-lovers. I made some great new friends there sandwiched between the moments that took my breath away observing each of the elephants during the week. I appreciated the reinforcement from many of the staff members that all activities were optional, not required.
5. Symphonies Abound
If you love the sounds of nature, you’ll thrive here! From cowbells (buffalo bells?) to rooster crows to the symphonies the village dogs provide, there’s no shortage of auditory stimulation. I’m a dog lover and enjoyed getting to know each of the pups’ personalities during my stay. (My homestay was within Scooter and Padaw’s territory, and those two brought smiles to my face multiple times a day!). Just make sure to pack earplugs 😉
The community and offerings of KSES is a special combination you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. I’m grateful for the diverse slice of jungle life, new pals, up-close (but not too close!) encounters with one of nature’s most majestic giants, and re-ignited skills and realizations I’ve brought home with me to chart the journey ahead after a full four weeks.
