However much I've loved the weekends travelling, I am so grateful that my first visit to Thailand was through the TET project as there is no way I would have seen as much of 'real Thailand' as I have otherwise. My tiny little village in the middle of nowhere that terrified me in week 1 has taught me so much about all things Thai, as well as opened my eyes to my own culture in comparison. As one of my last posts, here's a few pieces of advice I would give my past self who wrote the scaredy-cat first post on here nearly two months ago, or someone considering doing this project next year.
- be prepared to try food you would never have dreamt of putting in your mouth before. It will 99% of the time taste amazing.
- Remember shaking hands with a man you've just met is very, very forward here.
- People don't say 'bless you' when you sneeze here. Therefore, they also don't have a clue what your on about when you say it to them.
- Embrace how cheap public transport is here, but be prepared for most forms of transport to be at least an hour later than scheduled. Particularly trains.
- Be wary of all things 'whitening'. It seems everyone wants what they don't have, so whilst us westerners spend days sizzling in the sun desperate for a tan, the whole of Thailand is desperate for white skin - wearing white powder on their face and having treatment which bleaches their skin lighter. Therefore, most beauty products you can buy here aim to whiten your skin - moisturizers, sun cream, I even came across whitening diodrant. So be careful what you buy!
- As well as being prepared to try all food, be prepared to share all food to. It's one of the many things I really love here, how communal meals are. Dishes are just plonked in the middle of the table where you help yourself to a bit of everything. It's the best, especially if you - like me - get really bad food envy and always wish you ordered what someone else had. I'm probably going to go home and start weirding people out by eating their food off their plates...
- The 'rock' signal in England (forefinger and pinky pointing up) means 'I love you' here. I didn't learn this until after 5 weeks of the students walking past me at school doing it to me!
- Don't be frightened to use the 'wee-un'. I should probably explain this one...
Me and Vikki both found that when we asked how to get to a certain place for a weekend travelling, our mentors advised us to use either the bus or 'wee-un'. A bit confused by what this 'wee-un' was, for a long while we opted for the bus; we didn't want to risk a form of transport we hadn't heard of, especially knowing how crazy transport in Thailand can be. It wasn't until, a few weeks later when it was written down for us, we realised what the 'wee-un' was - a mini van. Thai people struggle with the letter 'v' and so this was their pronounciation of 'van'. It was hilarious when we found out we'd both felt a bit weary of the infamous 'wee-un'! As well as 'v', Thai people struggle with 'th', 'ch' and putting an 's' on the end of any word. So be prepared for that, as well as prepared to teach them these sounds which is highly entertaining!
- Travel as much as you possibly can. There is so much to see and do in this country, and even after 8 weeks of going somewhere different every weekend, I haven't seen a fraction of the amount I'd like to! Hence why I have to come back here.
- Be aware and open to Buddhism. I am not Buddhist, and have in no way become Buddhist since being here, but I have always been fascinated by religion and it's been great to learn more about it. For example, I didn't know that women couldn't sit next to the monks - Becky learnt that the hard way on a train journey to Bangkok and caused uproar!
- Don't be scared of the teaching. It's what I was most frightened of coming out here without a doubt, which seems silly now. The students are so grateful for anything you teach them - even if it's one word a lesson, it's more than they would have known before. I'm not studying to be a teacher and haven't got much teaching experience, but if you really throw yourself into it you will find it so rewarding and really enjoy doing it. And don't be scared of the language barrier either - you'll be surprised by how much you can communicate through actions! The language barrier for me has actually been the cause for some of my funniest moments here.
- Two months might seem long, but it's not. The 8 weeks will fly by. Remember to make the most of every day you have here, as you'll have a lot of people envying you from home!
This blog has been a diary for myself more than anything, but if anyone reads this who is considering doing this project, don't hesitate. I have made friends for life out here with some of the other ETA's. I have also never been showered with so much love in my life by the Thai people - particularly by the students at my school who I have come to absolutely adore. Yes, there are lows, yes you will probably get a bit of culture shock at some point and yes it's not easy. But these lows seem not even worth mentioning in comparison to the highs.
Everyone has had a different experience here - I have been incredibly fortunate. But because every experience and every school is different, no one can be fully prepared for what's to come. But if you just embrace it, do as much as possible, see as much as possible, eat as much as possible - you will have the summer of a lifetime. I did!
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