Meet the Lingers: Dennis

Dennis's journey at Ling is all about embracing the unpredictable.

Originally from the United States, Dennis has found a new home in Thailand, where he enjoys the local culture and cuisine.

Let's hear about his laid-back yet fulfilling life, exploring how he navigates the ever-changing landscape of software development while connecting with multiple languages. Let's uncover his unique approach and the impact he has on making Ling a better platform every day.

Dennis, it's such a pleasure to chat and catch you at a time you aren't coding. Can you please share with us what your role is at Ling and how long you've been working with us?

I've been working with Ling as a Developer for 1.5 years, but just recently became the Lead Developer.

What does a normal day at Ling look like for you?

That's a great question! I don't think developers have a "normal day" to be honest (laughs)

You've come from a land far far away -- Hawaii! I can imagine living in the States is so much different than life in Thailand.

What do you like most about living in Chiang Mai?

Definitely the people and food. You can always find me hanging out in new restaurants and making new friends.

What's your favorite thing about working at Ling?

Ling has a very a relaxed and fun atmosphere. The best part of my job is the culture and getting to work with my amazing colleagues.

Other than Ling, what's another app you've been loving right now?

Longdo. It's a Thai dictionary that helps me while I'm learning the language.

Oh, great to hear that you're learning Thai! Are you learning any other languages right now?

Other than Thai, I'm also learning Lao and also some Burmese and Chinese.

I am mostly learning the languages closely related to Thai to interact with more people, and looking for the similarities. I use a lot of different resources, mostly dictionaries, writing resources, and books on grammar.

Is there a word or phrase you particularly like?

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It basically means, "It's your own fault it turned out that way."

Can you share an inspirational quote, either in your own language or a foreign one, that inspires you to keep going?

Don't sweat the small stuff, stop and smell the roses

I know we're running out of time, but can we squeeze in one last question?

If you could give one piece of advice to your fresh-out-of-college self, what would it be?

I'm not sure I would give myself any advice. I feel if I had the chance, my life would have turned out drastically different, which I wouldn't want to change.

Dennis's journey at Ling is a testament to the importance of embracing the present and enjoying the ride. His advice? "Don't sweat the small stuff, and stop to smell the roses." A reminder that sometimes, the best path forward is one where you take things as they come.