I have successfully navigated through my first week in Bangkok and I can already guarantee that the next two years are going to be vastly different than my previous 22 years of life. I thought it would be fun to share with you some of the differences that are now a part of my daily life. So, here we go:
- I live in an Urban Poor Community (slum).
- I sleep on a 3 in. deep mat under a mosquito net.
- I take cold showers, usually twice a day.
- I use public transportation to get everywhere, whether that be by bus, taxi, or by motorcycle taxi. (That was an interesting experience)
- I usually spend around $7 dollars a day. Everything is SO cheap here.
- I am learning the Thai language. We study 5 times a week, totaling 10 hours with Kruu Jum. (My teacher)
- I’m tasting a variety of new foods, but everything is so delicious.
- People stare at me. It’s either because I’m a big white man, or it’s because I have a beard. But in all actuality it’s probably both.
- Eating out consists of eating on the side of the street from the local food vendors.
- I use a “Squatty Potty”. I won’t go into much detail, but squatting is required and you can use your imagination from there.
- Buddhist monks are everywhere.
- Traffic is a whole new kind of crazy here. It’s unreal.
- Spirit and ancestral shrines are in front of every house and often people will leave food and drinks for the spirits to bless them.
- Cars drive on the left hand side of the road. (Like the UK)
- Cats, rats, and dogs are pretty consistently around me. The rats more so at night.
- Physical touch really doesn’t exist here. No more hugs, hand shakes, or high fives…. It’s all about the Wai. (Bowing with your hands together)
- I get to see aspects of Jesus in the new culture every day.
Needless to say, within the first week my life has drastically changed. I’ve definitely experienced culture shock as I continually am taking in new things around me. But our first two weeks here have been mapped out and designed for us to dive in and learn how to have a teachable and humble posture when entering into the Thai culture.
I know I wasn’t very descriptive, but shoot me an email at [email protected] and I would love to share more stories with you!
Thanks for journeying with me.
-RPM