Moving to a new country like Thailand can be exciting but also challenging, especially when homesickness kicks in. For those of us teaching in Thailand, finding small comforts and building connections can help make the transition smoother. Let me share with you how I found my sense of home in Thailand.
Turning Strangers into Lifelong Friends
There were many things that were daunting about moving abroad, but something I really worried about before arriving was making friends. It feels different making new friends as an adult because we are older and not usually forced into environments with hundreds of people just like us all looking for a new friend. Past examples of this are at school or university, where we were surrounded by peers of the same age and similar lifestyle to our own, but when you leave school, this all changes.
Your social circle shrinks, and you are introduced to a wider variety of people and different personalities. So, the thought of jumping into a world where I knew no one and spoke a different language was really scary until I realized that I wasn’t the only one; everyone I met and talked to said they felt the same. I learned about some apps to use to meet friends and go to events and meet up, and Bumble friends were actually really good at helping me go out and meet new people.
Some of my closest friends were people I met on Bumble Friends, so it works! Alex O’Bannon, one of our BFITS Program Managers, recommended Meet to me. She described it as an app where you could meet groups of people with different hobbies, and she was right. They had groups for different interests like board games, dungeons & dragons, badminton and netball, and events to meet other expats, digital nomads, language exchange groups, or book clubs. So it was a really fun way to find people with whom you already share a common interest.
Finding Joy in Creative Adventures
Bangkok is full of many different activities, classes, and events to entertain yourself (or have fun with new friends). When you drastically change your life and begin to feel homesick, I found that keeping busy and finding things to love settled me. I have always been very creative and like to try new crafts and art workshops; these are great to do on your own or with friends.
There are a number of cafes and workshops in Thailand that offer art workshops, such as ceramics, painting, tufting, biscuit decorating, candle making, cooking classes, jewelry making, and I’m sure there are many more. I also had never heard of some cultural classes before, such as natural herbal inhalers, silk printing, flower arranging, and fruit carving. Short courses like this are really fun, too, because you step into local culture a little more.
Comfort in Every Bite: Food That Feels Like Home
For me, a huge part of the home is the food and being able to cook. Don’t get me wrong, Thai cuisine is a front-runner for choice; however, I sometimes want to treat my tastebuds with something home-cooked or familiar. When I first moved into my apartment, my wonderful estate agent gave me an induction hob to use, as my apartment didn’t come with any oven or hob, only a microwave. This turned out to be the best moving-in gift I could have asked for.
During some of those early weeks when I was missing home and didn’t feel like exploring my local vendors, I could just dip into the supermarket, buy some pasta and pesto, and eat my youth up in a bowl while watching Netflix. Sometimes, that was the best thing I could do. Maybe you noticed I said I popped into the supermarket to buy pasta and pesto. It’s true that some supermarkets/ grocery stores in Thailand have a pretty big selection of international imports (usually much more expensive than back home), but we need them, and it’s nice to know that the choice is there.
Also, my British body was not built for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Thai meals. I needed to mix it up a bit; I also really enjoy cooking. I always did it when I lived with my family, so it makes me feel closer to home when cooking (even if it is just pasta and pesto).
Embracing Bangkok’s Foodie Paradise
Fortunately, I live in Bangkok, a huge metropolitan city, so there are always many choices when it comes to food. You can probably find absolutely anything you crave in the city. With the gift of essential app services like Grab and Food Panda, this food can be delivered to your door anytime you like!
So, no matter where you have lived in the past, you can likely find something to tickle those taste buds here. And for anyone planning to teach English in Thailand, discovering new dishes while having familiar favorites at hand can bring great comfort.
Escaping to Paradise: Weekend Travel in Thailand
The holidays are among the best things about living and working in Thailand! Not only are we lucky enough to work in lovely schools but we get to enjoy good weather, good food and creativity whenever we want, add weekends away to beautiful islands and you have hit the jackpot! There is nothing quite like the warmth of a tropical island in Thailand.
Since I moved to Thailand, I have used many of my weekends to get away from the big city and enjoy island life for a few days. These little holidays and breaks are exciting and release the adventurer spirit, so instead of missing the cold and rain of England, I am exploring new places, swimming in the clear blue, and sipping on a fresh coconut.
Becoming Part of a Thriving Community
Discovering and exploring my local community has made me feel more at home since moving to Bangkok. I was nervous at first about exploring the area surrounding my apartment, but after a little push out the door, I ended up finding this wonderful little night market. It’s very local, and not many people speak English there, so it encouraged me to learn some simple phrases.
I think this went down really well. It also made me feel very welcome and a little bit more like I belonged. Shopping here for fresh fruit and vegetables is much more convenient and affordable.
Giving Back: Building Bonds Through Volunteering
BFITS organises a volunteering outreach programme, where they work and support different charities across Thailand and further I have taken part in a few of their events, and they have made me feel closer to my community in BFITS, but also I feel proud to give a little back to the community that I live in.
Taking part in these programmes has been a great opportunity to meet other people that work for BFITS and who live in and around Bangkok, and also to get involved with locals and expats, really these are positive community occasions for everyone. The first event I participated in was helping paint a mural at a nature reserve a few hours’ drive from the city.
I love art and being outdoors, so this was a really compelling opportunity. I met wonderful people both who work for BFITS and who were involved in the mural. We were even lucky enough to see a wild panther, which is extremely rare but so exciting!
Final Thoughts: Home Away from Home
So, being away from home can be hard. You miss the comforts, familiarity, and, of course, family and friends. But these things don’t go anywhere—they are just where you left them.
It is now time to just have more—a home away from home, with new comforts and different experiences. For me, Thailand is the home I never knew I was missing. For teachers in Thailand, there is always an opportunity to build something new and meaningful while embracing this beautiful country.
