My very first month in Thailand has come to an end. I’ve already learned so many new things, tried a million new foods, and met lots of new friends. I’m constantly adapting to new challenges and celebrating new accomplishments in language learning. I imagine that these next 9 months will be filled with even more amazing experiences.

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This was my first full week of school!!! I enjoyed getting into a routine, meeting people my age, and taking new classes. My class has 40 students, and the teachers rotate for each class period. I’m in grade 11, on the English Language and Arts path, so I don’t have many STEM classes. I also have private classes built into my schedule to focus on Thai language and culture.

At 8:00 am everyday, all students line up in front of the school. We sing the Thai national anthem, the king’s song, and they also say a Buddhist chant. Afterwards, they give out announcements. On Thursday, I had to introduce myself to the entire school in Thai. Afterwards, I was a celebrity haha. Everyone has been waving and saying “Hi Emma” since! I’ve made lots of friends so far! After school, while we wait to get picked up, we usually go get snacks or drinks behind school. There are tons of cafes and food vendors on the street.

In physics, we learned about colors and wave frequencies. It’s definitely more fun than AP Physics haha.

I also take a traditional Thai weaving class! This week, I learned how to make the Pikun flower, a native flower to Thailand.

In my cooking class, I learned how to make Tom Yum Goong, which means Spicy Shrimp Soup. You pretty much throw all of the ingredients into a pot of boiling water! This is similar to the recipe we used, if you would like to try your own! https://hot-thai-kitchen.com/tom-yum-goong/#recipe

I’ve also enjoyed taking a music class and a class on Thailand’s economy. It’s been fun taking English classes haha. It definitely puts it into perspective how hard it is to learn English as a second language. There are 4 English teachers from abroad (England, South Africa, Australia, and Louisiana).

School lunches are delicious here! They have 20 stalls that are all ran by separate people, which is a big change from the American cafeterias. There’s also a coffee shop on campus that sells Thai tea, pastries, and boba tea.

I’ve also been working on my spice tolerance! I started my exposure therapy by eating Khao Soi, a curry noodle dish that’s only found in Northern Thailand. It was pretty spicy, but I was able to push through and eat it! (with a lot of water of course)

One month in, and I’ve already done things I never thought I would: eaten crickets, survived durian, navigated temples, introduced myself to an entire school in Thai, and somehow gained celebrity status in the hallways. I’ve learned that the food here is always delicious (and very spicy), that cafes are everywhere, and that putting together a sentence in Thai calls for a celebration. This month has passed quickly, but it’s also slowed me down in ways I didn’t expect. I notice the small routines, laugh at my own mistakes, and celebrate little victories like finally finishing a plate of curry. If this is only the first month, I can’t wait to see what the next nine months bring.

Love,

Emma Kate