My Life in Thailand

My Life in Thailand

With my time in Thailand coming to an end (for now), I want to reflect back on the experiences that I've had and everything that I've learned. The past five years have been the formative years of my adult life, and have changed me so much, as I've learned and grown. I love my job, and I love my life in Bangkok, but it's time to move onto something new. Here, I look back at my life since graduating from university. Some of my earlier posts are embarrassing to read! I really didn't know anything about Thailand back then! But that's part of the fun. Looking back, I can see how much I've learned. Wherever I go, and whatever I do, Bangkok will always be my second home.

This post focuses on only my experience in Thailand, not my travels. I will link to my old posts, starting with my very first week in Thailand five years ago...

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Part I: The Social (Years 1-2)

The Social, as my friends James, Ryan, and I called it, was an aspect of Thai culture that we weren't really prepared for. We didn't quite have a good way of translating it into English, so we ended up adopting the Thai-English word for it: "The Social". The Social means saving face, being part of the society, and making sure to fit exactly into one's prescribed role in the society. And our role sure was a unique one.

Ryan and I arrived in Bangkok back in 2013 as part of a group of 10 brand-new English teachers hired to work at a very special private school in the Thai capital. James was our senior  (our "guru", we joked), and we met him for the first time at a "Welcome to Bangkok" party held by Grant, my direct predecessor.

• I'm going to Thailand!
• Going to school for the first time
• Meeting my new colleagues, and learning to bow
• First big adventure - exploring the weekend market
• Bagel Day - the first weekend in Bangkok
• The First Day of School

The Standing Buddha

It didn't take long to find our routine. James, Ryan, and I became a great team. We would go on to become good friends under the mentor-ship of our eccentric and lovable British boss, Geoffrey. Soon, we were settled in at work. The beginning of the school year arrived, I met my new students, taught my first class, and went out for my first adventures exploring the "Big Mango".

• The first real experiences exploring the city on my own
• The First Week of School
• Friday Afternoon Sticky Rice
• The Third Week of School
• One Month in Bangkok

Koh Larn

After about a month, I took my first weekend trip out of the city with some friends, to a small island called Koh Larn just off the coast of Pattaya. It became my habit to get out of the city, even for a day trip, at least once a month.

• My first time at the Golden Mount, what would become my favorite place in BKK
• Koh Larn, my first weekend getaway, and my first Thai island!
• The 4th of July

Kanchanaburi Province

In a few months, our first long weekend came around. It was the "Rains Retreat", the beginning of the Buddhist Lent. A teacher from our school invited my friends and me to visit Kanchanaburi Province with her and her family. After a day or so in the town, we went out to the western countryside for a fun and beautiful weekend far away from the big city.

• Kanchanaburi, my favorite Thai province
• Staying in a jungle hut!

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While there, P'Ja took me and my friends to donate food to the monks. During the Rains Retreat, Thai monks return to their home monastery, and cannot leave. They are supposed to spend the period in meditation and reflection. Instead, people will bring food as donations to them. This was my first direct interaction with Thai Buddhism, and specifically the "Forest Tradition".

• My first experience with Thai monks
• "Adopted" into a Thai family

Over time, I became good friends with my boss, Geoffrey. Eventually, he even invited me to go on a very special road trip with him to a remote town in the far northwest of Thailand, way up on the Burmese border, called Mae Sot. There, he is involved with a refugee camp and a small school for refugee children. Visiting the school was an amazing and humbling experience.

• I go on a road trip with my boss to visit a refugee camp (and maybe get dengue fever) 

Mae Sot

We took a group of Australian exchange students on a day trip, visited our principal's weekend home, and soon, it was the end of my first year as a teacher.

• The end of my first semester
• We take a bunch of Aussie exchange students to a floating market
• Weekend at Ajarnyai's - the headmistress invites us to her weekend home
• The last week of school!

Ampawah

The second year began with a bang! Literally, actually, as there was a military coup in Thailand just days after I returned to Bangkok. It turned out that everything was completely fine, though. All of the protests that had shut down the city the previous year dissipated, and things returned to normal in Bangkok. It was a little hard to explain that to the new teachers, though! My friend James got married, my family visited me in Bangkok for the first time, and I finally feel like I  really belong here in Bangkok. I love my job, and I'm so happy and feel like I'm really doing something positive and making a difference in the world.

• Back in the Big Mango - I return to Thailand for my second year
• There has been a coup!!! But everything is completely fine
• My family comes to visit! (Part 1 of 4 by my brother)
• I go back to the Mae Sot border with my boss
• Final exams
• My buddy James gets married in a traditional Thai ceremony!

Over time, I'm beginning to feel as if I really have a place in Thailand, and a role to play. During my second year, I delved deeper into Thai culture, and really embraced my expat side as well.

• I visit the Ancient City with my future girlfriend
• I celebrate Remembrance Day with a small party at the British ambassador's residence
• Field trip to the Thai opera
• It's a Thanksgiving tradition!
• My friends and I spend Father's Day at Hua Hin
• We host a very special tea party
• Senior Trip!

Part II: Into the Deep Blue Social (Years 3-4)

• Krabi - the most beautiful southern province

Krabi

My third year was when I got a lot more responsibilities in my work. I became the manager for the new American teachers, which came with its own challenges and learning opportunities.

• I fly home to give an orientation to the new teachers
• My third school year begins

With Professor Kay

• I attend my first Thai funeral
• Wai Kru Day! (Teacher's Day)
• My mother visits Thailand, and we go to Phuket Island
• We also eat lots of delicious food

Wai Kru Day

• Celebrating the Thai River Festival (Loi Krathong)
• Bridge on the River Kwai
• Chilly winter in the north
• Boxing Day at a Thai vineyard

Hua Hin

My friend James visited me for the first time, something that would become a New Year's tradition!

• My buddy visits from America, and we spend New Year's on an island
• The Third Last Week of School
• My first class graduates and I win an award
• I say goodbye to a special group of students  
• I tour a durian farm (stinky fruit!)

durian!

By the time my fourth year began, I really felt like I had a place, both in Thailand and at my school.

• My professor visits Bangkok

with Geoffrey and Professor Kay

But I still need to get out of Bangkok every once in a while!

• I go to an island
• And go out on a midnight squidding boat

sabaai!

• Mulled Wine and Minced Pies
• Chanthaburi - a cool town in the east
• New Year Train Along the Burmese Death Railway
• Hiking up a 7-tiered waterfall

going to Kanchanaburi

My family visited, and I visit the north for the very first time. We got to spend a day trekking with some awesome elephants!

• My 4th year of school ends
• My mom and brother visit, and we go trekking with elephants in the far north

elephant highlands!

Part III: Going Troppo (Year 5)

My 5th year was a hard one. There were a lot of changes at the school, and I had more responsibilities than before. I went to beautiful Koh Chang island for a weekend getaway, but stayed in Bangkok for most of the semester.

• My old boss retires
• Traveling along the Train Market Railway
• My final school year begins
• I spend a rainy monsoon weekend on a beautiful tropical island

Koh Chang

I got to spend a short weekend down in Krabi province, thanks to my friend and former boss, Geoffrey!

• A Weekend in Ao Nang

Krabi

 And then, in October, Pinky and I headed to Thailand's far north to explore Chiang Rai Province.

• Chiang Mai
• The Blue Temple - Chiang Rai

Chiang Mai

We even got to visit a hill tribe village!

• Visiting a Hill Tribe Village
• Tea Plantation

Akha Village

• Thailand's most beautiful mountain

at Pu Chi Fah

When the new semester began, Thailand was reaching the end of the one-year period of mourning after the recent death of the king. Our school took a field trip to visit the royal crematorium, which I'm really lucky that I got to see up close!

• Volunteering at the Royal Crematorium
• Golden Mount Festival of Lights

Royal Crematorium

My mom and brother came back again to spend Christmastime with me!

• Hellfire Pass
• My mom and brother come for Christmas

family Christmas!

And shortly after that, James came again for the new year. As my school year wraps up, so does my time in Bangkok. It's time to move on, at least for a few months.

• My friends come to Thailand for New Year's
• Visiting Ayutthaya

Old Town adventures!

Now... on to the next adventure!

The next time you hear from me, I'll be getting settled in Hanoi, Vietnam.