Recently, Mayflower summer intern, Cecelia Bagnoli, shared with Mayflower Community residents in Beebe Assisted Living about her semester abroad in Thailand. The event was organized by Mayflower’s Community Life Director Leslie Jaworski and Coordinator Tracy Woolfolk.
The experience was part of Cecelia’s third year at the College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio. She will be starting her fourth and last year this fall with a double major in Communication Studies and Environmental Studies.
During the semester in Thailand, Cecelia was based in the northern city of Chiang Mai, while spending time in multiple villages throughout the country. During these excursions, she learned about agricultural sustainability directly from local farmers. In addition, Cecelia studied Thai language, which was helpful in connecting her with the families who hosted her travels.
Cecelia observes, “Thailand has a lot to offer, from their beautiful hiking trails in the north to snorkeling in the Andaman Sea. However, what I loved most about Thailand was the people I met along the way. I am grateful to have studied abroad in a place where learning a new language—and making mistakes while doing it—is not only accepted but encouraged.”
To punctuate the experience, Mayflower Foodservices staff, led by Jacob Staroska, Supervisor, prepared and served a banana egg roti. A Thai stable, the roti is a pan-fried dough made of wheat flour, sweetened with various toppings.
During her summer Mayflower Community experience, Cecelia is planning “…to get exposure to the healthcare field while building interpersonal relationships with residents.” She sees this as preparation to become a medical social worker.
It seems that Cecelia is not the only one having a learning experience this summer!
— Bob Mann, Sales & Marketing Director
