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Business Insider
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
He worked multiple jobs just to pay rent in the US — so he packed up and moved to Thailand to chase a new life as a fighter
Maxwell Wolfe left the US and moved to Koh Samui, Thailand, to become a Muay Thai fighter. His daily routine in Samui involves waking up at 5 a.m. and training twice a day. He prefers the simplicity of his life in Thailand over the rat race in the US. Maxwell Wolfe had never traveled outside the US — until he flew to Thailand in 2019 for a Muay Thai fight on the island of Koh Samui. He lasted two minutes in the ring, took an elbow above his right eye, which left a scar, and then lost. But instead of flying home feeling defeated, Wolfe was hooked. Wolfe grew up in northern Virginia and had started practicing martial arts in his early 20s, when he was at a crossroads in his life. As someone with ADHD, he always found it hard to conform to conventional societal expectations. "I never really fit the mold, and martial arts is one of the very few things in my life besides music and art that made sense to me," Wolfe, now 34, told Business Insider. That match in Samui lit a fire in him, and he hoped to return to Thailand sooner to continue pursuing the sport. But the pandemic threw a wrench in his plans, and he continued training in the US instead. But life wasn't easy. With the rising cost of living, he had to juggle IT jobs, work in nightclubs, and deliver Uber Eats to pay his rent. In late 2023, things came to a head when he lost both of his IT jobs. Feeling stuck both personally and professionally, Wolfe decided to return to Samui in search of a reset. Starting afresh in Samui Once he arrived in Samui, he signed up for training at Lamai Muay Thai, a local gym. The training routine he followed gave his days structure and a sense of purpose that he quickly grew to appreciate. But as a foreigner, he realized his time in Thailand was limited. "One day, I went up to Ralph and said, 'How do I live a life like this?'" Wolfe said, referring to the owner of Lamai Muay Thai, Ralph Beale. That's when Beale told him about the Destination Thailand Visa, or DTV. Introduced last year, it can be used by digital nomads, remote workers, and those interested in participating in cultural or wellness activities — including Muay Thai. Beale told BI that the training center welcomes foreigners of all experience levels to its classes and currently has around 12 fighters training under the DTV. Wolfe's original plan was to stay for just one year. Enough time, he thought, to rebuild himself through Muay Thai. But with the visa valid for five years, the possibility of staying longer began to take shape. Eat, sleep, train, repeat Wolfe represents Lamai Muay Thai in local matches. "They get a small fight purse when they compete, which can start as low as a few thousand baht," Beale said. Most foreign fighters aren't in it for the money, but rather for the chance to compete in Thailand. Those who prove themselves in smaller arenas often earn opportunities on bigger stages, like those in Bangkok, he added. Wolfe's lifestyle on Samui is far from the relaxed and idyllic island dream one might expect. His day starts at 5 a.m. After washing up, he takes his supplements and has a light breakfast — typically a piece of fruit, like a banana. Then, it's time for training. "I usually reach the gym when the sun's still coming up, stretch a little bit, and then I run 8 to 10 kilometers in the morning," Wolfe said. After cooling down, he moves on to padwork or a CrossFit session. After morning training, Wolfe heads home and spends the afternoon on online IT courses. By 4 p.m., he's back at the gym — and ready to do it all over again. He lives in a house just five minutes away from his gym with several other fighters. One of the biggest challenges he faced was adapting to the strict discipline required by his new life. Getting into the habit of waking up early was tough, and staying mindful of his diet proved equally challenging. "I couldn't be eating all this processed crap. I couldn't have much seasoning on it," he said. "There's also temptation — I'm not even a big drinker, but alcohol is ridiculously cheap here." Adapting to a simpler life If there's anything he misses about the US, it's the sense of familiarity. "This is straight up jungle life," he said. "You've got to make sure you have a charger. Going to this spot means that you have no communication. Going to that spot means you'll encounter wild dogs." "It's one thing to be street smart back where I'm from, but being jungle smart is a completely different thing," he added. The Muay Thai gym has become a place where Wolfe has made some real friends. He finds that people in Samui are generally more open and accepting. Wolfe says he's slowly trying to learn the Thai language to get along better with the locals, including some of his trainers. Apart from training, competing, and representing the gym, Wolfe's life in Samui gave him the breathing space to grow his IT career. The lower cost of living in Samui has relieved a lot of financial pressure, allowing him to focus on upskilling himself and running his remote cybersecurity and IT consulting business. On the side, he's also building an AI app to help martial arts athletes track progress and improve performance. "Muay Thai is my main focus right now, and I'm fully committed to it. But I know fighting isn't forever," he said. Compared to the rat race, he prefers the simplicity of his life in Samui. "Despite the pain and discipline, it's so much better. I may not be working toward a luxurious apartment, which I'll never pay off in my lifetime, but I could see myself having a little house here, and I'd be happier than most people who are making six figures as a lawyer in New York," he said. In May, Wolfe fought his first Muay Thai match since receiving the visa. He walked away with a win.
The Citizen
23-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Every rose needs a name
Did you know that the practice of naming roses after people goes back two centuries or more? In those days you needed to be a British Queen, a French duchess or a Cardinal, for such an honour to be bestowed. Roses are still named after celebrities and people who have made a difference to society, but by far the most roses are named to celebrate a person greatly loved by their family – grandmother, mother, husband or wife or a beloved daughter or son. Roses are among a fairly small circle of plants where each plant (cultivar) has a name, and with it comes a story. Here are some of the roses that tell the stories of extraordinary 'ordinary' people who touched the lives of the people around them. 'Mushe Kirsh' is one of many grandmothers who have had roses named for them. The sweetly scented 'Mushe Kirsh' rose was chosen by the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to celebrate Mushe's 80th birthday. They selected it for its ageless beauty and vibrancy as a reflection of their grandmother. The full petalled old fashioned blooms are produced in abundance on a stately, shrub-like rose that grows up to 2m and is very disease resistant. Natalie Douglas is a breast cancer survivor diagnosed at the age of 27, who subsequently created the Natalie Diana Douglas Kotze Cancer Foundation to provide awareness, to inspire hope and positively encourage young people from all walks of life diagnosed with cancer. The 'Natalie Douglas' rose is a powerful grower, producing large, fragrant blooms on long, strong stems. A sterling garden rose. As a great lover of roses Alan Tew was an active chairperson of the Gold Reef rose society before moving to Knysna where he continued to make rose growing popular in that area. The rose was given to him as a surprise by his family. The 'Alan Tew' rose has glossy, healthy leaves and the blooms are shapely and fragrant. Candice Morgan has been one of the most active ambassadors for the deaf community and has set her sights on representing the deaf community in Parliament. She is Executive Producer, Director and Presenter of DTV and the channel has become a role model, assisting other countries and media channels including the BBC's Channel 4. The 'Candice' rose has a flower shape and perfume typical of the romantic yesteryear roses. The bush is graceful and reaches between hip and chest height. 'Simply Samantha' rose was named in memory of the untimely death of a beloved daughter and sister. This sweetly scented rose produces large, beautifully shaped blooms, that open just enough to allow bees to visit the deeply seated stamens. This tall bush rose is extremely vigorous with long flowering stems. It makes a statement wherever it is planted. Sixteen year old year old Cianliné van der Westhuizen suffered a traumatic brain injury as an infant, leaving her paralysed on the left side of her face and with a lob-sided smile. Despite a long road to recovery and bullying at school for her looks, she radiates strength and dreams of becoming a polytrauma surgeon. The Cianliné rose is a sturdy hybrid tea rose that grows vigorously and is resilient to climatic changes. How roses are named Every year new roses become available and it's been the practice of rose grower Ludwig Taschner to name a rose after someone he feels needs to be honoured. But as time has gone by more and more people have come to him wanting to name a rose after somebody who means lot to them personally. In the huge trial grounds at Ludwig's Rose Farm there are 100's of roses on trial and once a rose has met the many criteria after three years of trials, it needs a name. That's when people are able to walk through the 'approved' roses and see which rose speaks to them. There is a price tag attached and the name needs to be acceptable. That's how the latest rose, 'Bettina's Café' was selected. Bettina O' Grady wanted a rose to celebrate the 21st anniversary of 'living her dream' which was to give up her career in travel to open a coffee shop. With a pink rose in mind she visited the rose farm until she came to a tall rose with full petalled burgundy red blooms. Ludwig remembers that she pulled down one of the strongly fragrant blooms and smelt it, and instantly that became her rose. For Bettina her rose is a symbol that 'it is never too late to live your dreams and there is no expiry date on pursuing those dreams with passion, love and perseverance.' German rose breeder Thomas Proll offers the final word:' If you want a rose to be remembered it has to tell a story.' Details: Article and images supplied by Alice Coetzee. For more on gardening, visit Get It Magazine.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democratic groups launch $14 million investment ahead of 2026 House races
The Democratic group Defend the Vote PAC and Defend the Vote Action Fund announced a $14 million investment ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The investment includes $10 million from Defend the Vote PAC, which would support House Democrats the group describes as 'pro-democracy champions' through direct contributions, independent expenditures, and targeted get-out-the-vote efforts. Defund the Vote Action Fund's $2 to $4 million investment will support election worker and voter protection efforts, as well as nonpartisan get-out-the-vote activities. The Hill was the first outlet to report on the groups' investments. In addition to their $10 million investment, the Defend the Vote PAC endorsed its first federal candidates of the cycle, including Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Adam Gray (D-Calif.), George Whitesides (D-Calif.), Derek Tran (D-Calif.), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), April McClain Delaney (D-Md.), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Mich.) Herb Conaway (D-N.J.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Susie Lee (D-Nev.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.), Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), Josh Riley (D-N.Y.), Greg Landsman (D-Oh.), Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), and Marc Veasey (D-Texas). Defend the Vote PAC says it will also work with candidates to improve their messaging to voters by showing them 'the connection between democracy and economic well being.' 'DTV has been a great partner to Frontline members and the [Congressional Black Caucus]- helping provide key investments and political support as well as bringing important expertise on issues,' said Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.). 'DTV understands the policy and the politics of the moment, which is invaluable to members.' Defend the Vote PAC describes itself as a 'pro-democracy organization.' During the 2024 campaign cycle, the group helped elect 75 percent of its endorsed candidates. Defend the Vote Action Fund is dedicated to supporting efforts to protect election workers and voter access, provide voter education, and hold lawmakers accountable for their commitment to voting rights. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Democratic groups launch $14 million investment ahead of 2026 House races
The Democratic group Defend the Vote PAC and Defend the Vote Action Fund announced a $14 million investment ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The investment includes $10 million from Defend the Vote PAC, which would support House Democrats the group describes as 'pro-democracy champions' through direct contributions, independent expenditures, and targeted get-out-the-vote efforts. Defund the Vote Action Fund's $2 to $4 million investment will support election worker and voter protection efforts, as well as nonpartisan get-out-the-vote activities. The Hill was the first outlet to report on the groups' investments. In addition to their $10 million investment, the Defend the Vote PAC endorsed its first federal candidates of the cycle, including Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Adam Gray (D-Calif.), George Whitesides (D-Calif.), Derek Tran (D-Calif.), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), April McClain Delaney (D-Md.), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Mich.) Herb Conaway (D-N.J.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Susie Lee (D-Nev.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.), Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), Josh Riley (D-N.Y.), Greg Landsman (D-Oh.), Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), and Marc Veasey (D-Texas). Defend the Vote PAC says it will also work with candidates to improve their messaging to voters by showing them 'the connection between democracy and economic well being.' 'DTV has been a great partner to Frontline members and the [Congressional Black Caucus]- helping provide key investments and political support as well as bringing important expertise on issues,' said Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.). 'DTV understands the policy and the politics of the moment, which is invaluable to members.' Defend the Vote PAC describes itself as a 'pro-democracy organization.' During the 2024 campaign cycle, the group helped elect 75 percent of its endorsed candidates. Defend the Vote Action Fund is dedicated to supporting efforts to protect election workers and voter access, provide voter education, and hold lawmakers accountable for their commitment to voting rights.
Russia Today
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
European pro-war elites seek to derail Ukraine peace
While the end of the Ukraine conflict has never been so close, European 'pro-war' elites are seeking to sabotage the process, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has warned. Speaking to Hungarian broadcaster DTV on Friday, the top diplomat expressed cautious optimism regarding a solution to the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. Szijjarto welcomed recent discussions between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the fact that they had agreed to meet in person in the near future. 'Now we can not only see the light at the end of the tunnel, but that it gets closer and shines brighter and brighter,' Szijjarto stated, adding that the prospect of peace is now more tangible than ever before. However, Szijjarto cautioned that achieving peace would not be straightforward and anticipated resistance from European pro-war liberal elites. He believes these groups will make concerted efforts to prevent an agreement, but remains confident that strong US leadership can secure a deal with Russia, regardless of opposition from other leaders and bureaucrats. READ MORE: Trump ejects from the Ukraine joyride, leaving the EU screaming in the backseat 'The European pro-war, liberal elite will try to do everything in its power to ensure that the peace agreement that ends the war in Ukraine is not reached, which is currently closer than ever,' the top diplomat said. Putin and Trump spoke for nearly 90 minutes by phone on Wednesday. The conversation is the first publicly known top-level contact between the US and Russian leadership since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. During the call, the two leaders invited each other to visit their respective countries and agreed to hold a meeting on neutral ground beforehand. According to Trump, that will likely take place in Saudi Arabia, and Riyadh has already warmed to the idea. 'The Kingdom welcomes holding the summit in its territory and affirms its continued efforts to achieve lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, which began since the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis,' the Saudi government said on Friday.
