It's shockingly different in Asia, especially in the land of Thai. I really didn't know what to expect when I arrived in Thailand in early January, considering this was my first time ever traveling abroad.

The only thing I knew for sure was that I had my Emory University tennis teammates by my side, about to plunge into this unfamiliar and radically different culture, where we went to teach and work with children as community service.

Thankfully we spent most of our time outside enjoying the warm climate, participating in the usual Thai activities: petting tigers, riding elephants, cruising down a river on a bamboo raft.

Two of my favorite activities were Flight of the Gibbon and our visit to the Viengping Children's Home in Chiang Mai.

Flight of the Gibbon zigzagged us through the canopy of a rainforest by way of a two-kilometer path made up of zip-lines and sky bridges.

Soon after being strapped in, I realized that I was about to fly 500 feet above the rainforest floor with only a metal hook gliding on a piece of inch-thick wire tied between two trees with a piece of bamboo as my only means of braking. Was this really a good idea? Heck yes it was!

Feeling free was somewhat of an understatement for the kids at the local orphanage. They were like the ones you see on TV, wanting and needing someone to care for them.

My teammates and I threw a party for them, with cupcakes, cookies, milk and a bunch of our tennis love! I remember playing with one little girl who found no greater joy than from me pushing her back-and-forth on the swing. It was amazing to see how little I had to do to bring so much happiness into her life.

I never wanted to leave!