Dan Gallucci

Greetings from Thailand!  My name is Dan and I’d like to tell you a little about my experiences working as a full time teacher for Kaplan Test Prep. in Bangkok.  Before jumping into that, though, let me tell you a bit about myself.  I was born in the NYC area but grew up in Vermont, and for the last seven years lived in Ithaca NY.  I majored in history at Cornell University and prior to coming to Bangkok was already teaching some SAT classes for Kaplan back in Ithaca.  One day, I heard that they needed a full time teacher over here, and to make a long story short, I said “Why not?”

Bangkok couldn’t be more different from Vermont or upstate NY, but nearly 2 years into my stay here, I am certain that I made the right decision.  Bangkok is a city just bursting with life; it’s a fun and exhilarating place to live.  Everywhere you look there is something new to see and do, and don’t even get me started on the food.  It’s fantastic!  The cost of living is very low here too.  You can get a very nice apartment for a tiny fraction of you would pay in any American city, food is really cheap, and even an extravagant night out on the town won’t break the bank. 

More importantly, though, the culture and society here have a lot to offer.  Bangkok is abuzz 24 hours a day, but it’s always relaxed at the same time.  People are calm, cool, and laid back in a way that is truly remarkable for such a large city.  The stress and rush that you feel in a place like New York City or Tokyo is completely absent here.  Also, the Thai people have a very long and rich history, and there are many opportunities to take part in and learn about their culture.  Likewise, Thailand is a large country with many distinct regions, and there are an almost infinite number of interesting places to visit outside of Bangkok, everything from tropical island beaches to mountaintop temples.  If you are really the traveling type, it’s also the ideal hub for visiting other places in Asia.

Kaplan has been a great place to work, too.  I’ve been able to work with and get to know students of many different ages and backgrounds, and help them to pursue their dreams of studying in the US or other international programs that require great TOEFL, SAT, or GMAT scores.  In keeping with the relaxed feel of Bangkok, the work environment here is also pleasant and never stressful.  We take test preparation seriously, and teachers and students alike are definitely expected to work hard and do their best.  Nevertheless, it is really a friendly and relaxed place to be.

If this all sounds like a sales pitch for Bangkok and Thailand, it’s only because I really do love it here.  In fact, as I already mentioned, I’ve spent almost two years here with Kaplan, and have no plans to move away from Bangkok! 

Sincerely,

Dan Gallucci