(Ban Phe, Thailand. Monday, August 24, 2009)

Exclusive for The Atlanta Journal Constitution, by Tim Torkildson

FORMER ATLANTA BUSINESS WOMAN FINDS NEW CAREER AND HOME IN THAILAND

Happiness in Thailand

Elicia Woodford grew up in the Syracuse area, attending Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School and Bishop Ludden High School, where she excelled in sports. Her parents, Ray and Linda Woodford, still reside in the Syracuse area; they both have sales jobs and Elicia’s dad, Ray, is noted for building and racing road bikes. Elicia has one brother, Chad, who now lives in San Francisco.

After graduating from Bishop Ludden in 1992 Elicia went to Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she graduated with a degree in marketing. Wanting to challenge herself by moving to a place where she had no friends, family, or job prospects, just to see what would happen, she went to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1996, and spent several years there with ADP.  She says she has always considered Atlanta her second home.

With the advent of social media like Twitter and Facebook, Elicia started her own business, calling it ePowerMe. She successfully worked to improve business’ online presence with social media. But she felt an extraordinary pull, “my soul’s desire” she calls it, to move to Thailand. She felt that she could improve her business, and her life, by learning how to teach and communicate with other languages. This led her to sign up for the four-week TEFL International course in Ban Phe, Thailand. TEFL International is a non-profit organization that specializes in certifying native English speakers to teach abroad.

Ms Woodford plans to travel a bit after graduating at the end of August, with a stint in India to further her yoga studies, and then return to Thailand as a wellness mentor. She says “I feel at home in Thailand because it brings out my inner nature. My passion is health and wellness. Thailand is a relaxed and joyful place; I get a feeling of peace and calm here. The fresh fruit is utterly fantastic and the Thai method of massage is unbeatable and so affordable!”

For more information on TEFL International, visit their website at www.tefllife.com

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Contact Tim Torkildson at torkil49@live.com

Toll-free phone: 866-384-8852

Contact Elicia Woodford at elicia@ePowerMe.com

Phone: +66 085 952 4734