BK: What did you do before coming to Thailand?
Luke: I was working in the tech industry for 8 or 9 years. When the tech bubble burst I didn’t know what to do with my life. I talked to my yoga trainer and asked him. He told me that maybe I was simply in the wrong career and that I should learn to become a yoga trainer. So I went to India to learn the art. When I was in India I visited Thailand where I told myself I’d stay a year. One year turned into six.

BK: After six years, what have you learned about Thailand?
Luke: I’m studying at Ramkhaemhang University with students who are paying B25 a credit. At the same time, I’m teaching people who can afford to pay B3,000 a month to practice yoga. There really is such a divide. I’m always learning.

BK: What’s the story with your TV show Farang Pok Pok?
Luke: A friend of mine told me about the position, so I tried out and I’ve filmed six episodes so far. All my friends are saying “Wow! You’re doing a TV show!” but it really has a very backpacker-theme, it isn’t hiso. It’s about living like real people do. It’s such an experience. I recently stayed at a house that used a car battery for electricity. Filming is challenging! Speaking Thai in front of the camera isn’t easy. The other thing is that I don’t actually watch TV, so I wasn’t sure what to do.

BK: What’s your hometown like?
Luke: I come from a small city in America. At home you can go to the local bar and the bartender will say, “Hey, I got a present for you,” and he’ll bring you out a pound of deer meat.

BK: Has traveling changed your perceptions?
Luke: Through the TV show I’ve also learned that you really don’t need a lot of money to live an agricultural lifestyle. I had dinner with a family one time where the host built a fire to cook the rice, went outside and gathered up some vegetables from the garden and served us all dinner.

BK: What has been your craziest experience thus far?
Luke: Well, the riots were pretty scary. I’d stocked up enough food for a few days and then I’d just stay in my apartment and practice yoga. Yoga has built such a strong foundation that I was able to steady and focus my mind during it all.

BK: Do you plan to stay here permanently?
Luke: I like it here. I’m in a relationship, I have a good job, I’ll soon graduate and I just wrote a book that’ll be coming out in July. Who knows? I’d really like to stay, though.

BK: Can you tell us about any upcoming projects?
Luke: I’ve just started to film a documentary. Info will be released on my website soon, www.luke.org. Interview by Cole Pennington and Sritala Dhanasarnsombut