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Staff
Bryan Massingham
Bryan Massingham is the Director of Studies, and a partner in the Maekok River Village Resort project. He took over the additional role of General Manager of Maekok River Village Resort in October 2002.
He taught in the U.K. before arriving as Head of Geography at Island School in Hong Kong in 1982. In his latter years at the school, he was one of the Deputy Principals. An Oxford graduate with a degree in geography, he has also studied at the University College, London and the University of Hong Kong.
In his time at Island School he has organised and led the following trips.
- Treks to Nepal and to Sikkim in Northern India
- Ski trips to Switzerland and Canada
- Field trips to Guilin in China
- Field trips to Northern Thailand
Bryan also developed a wide range of fieldwork in Hong Kong, China and Thailand. In addition he has written several geography textbooks which were widely used in Hong Kong’s schools.
Rosie Massingham
Rosie Massingham has particular responsibility for overseeing the Maekok River Village Community Project, a community development project established at the resort. She has a degree in Humanities and has an interest in the history of the region, from the early La Na period to more recent events. Rosie is particularly interested in the Nationalist Chinese who settled in the area after fleeing China following the 1949 revolution success of Mao.
Before coming to Thailand, she taught history at Shatin College Hong Kong where she was responsible for developing various schemes of work, as well as organising history fieldtrips to Vietnam.
Austin Paddon
Austin Paddon is the Head of Activities at the Maekok River Village Outdoor Education Centre. Before joining the MRV Team he was Head of Outdoor Education at The Regents’ School – Pattaya, where he managed the Outdoor Education Centre (IDEALS) on the island of Koh Chang and directed the OE programme for the two Regents’ schools and other visiting international groups.
He taught in the UK before serving in the Royal Air Force as a commissioned officer and returned to teaching on the ‘international circuit’ in 1994. Austin has a wealth of experience in Physical Ed and Adventure / Survival / Leadership training and has taught overseas in Cyprus, Thailand, Oman and Ethiopia. A graduate from Carnegie PE College and Leeds University, he has also taught Geography and has organized schools’ International Award programmes and led numerous field trips and expeditions.
Some of the highlights of his travels and adventures include the jungle of Brunei, the Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda, the Danakil Depression and the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia and the deserts and wadis of Oman.
Jaruwuat ‘Will’ Tepinta: Student Centre Manager and Community Project Co-ordinator
Will came to us from Lampang University (south of Chiang Mai) for a 3 month internship programme in 2004 and we were fortunate that he decided to make his career with us after he completed his degree. He has gained a huge amount of experience and skills and is an invaluable member of the team, instructing, leading activities as well as being central to our community project programmes. He is a natural leader and speaks excellent English.
Adisorn ‘Q’ Jaima: Assistant Student Centre Manager
Q also came for an internship in 2006 and without much persuading, he, like Will, also decided to stay and work with us. Apart from assisting with planning and logistics, Q is an assistant instructor, tour guide and is also a central member of the community project team. In particular he links closely with our numerous gap year students and has enjoyed the opportunity of enhancing his English language skills. Q has also developed a range of skills and is an invaluable member of the team.
Pitsanook ‘Dtoh’ Sampoowong: Assistant Instructor
Dtoh, just like Will and Q, came here for work experience and decided he would like to stay. Dtoh is a graduate in tourism from Rajhabat University and is now enjoying developing a wider range of new skills and is a well-established member of our team. In particular he is in great demand on overnight camps due his talents on the guitar, leading group sing-a-longs around the campfire!
Gap Year Instructors
Every year we welcome 2 or 3 'Falang' or 'foreign' instructors who come to the MRVR for a period of up to10 months. In the past we have had graduates from University College, Birmingham, Cardiff, Southampton and Nottingham Universities and this year we have Sarah, a graduate of Leeds University and Salla from Finland, who is covering her internship from Humak University.The relationship is mutually beneficial in that we receive excellent instructors and the instructors gain tremendous experience; and at the same time enjoy spending a year in northern Thailand (and get to travel widely during their down-time).
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