Who are you?
My name is Tiffany, but you can call me Tiff!Where, when and why did you move abroad?
I moved to Bangkok (Thailand) last year as I got a job here.
What challenges did you face during the move?
The language barrier! Although many people in Bangkok can speak some English, not many can speak English fluently enough. So getting around just with knowing English is definitely not feasible if you’re planning on living here for a while. I’d definitely suggest taking some beginners’ Thai lessons so that you can master the basic conversational skills. It’ll also make your CV look good (hint hint!).
Are there many other expats in your area?
A few but I think the expat areas are mostly based in Sukhumvit, On Nut, and Thong Lo.
What do you like about life where you are?
I like how everything is a little bit slower and more relaxed. Where I’m from, it’s always incredibly rushed and busy. So it’s quite refreshing to come to a more chilled environment. There are also lots of new attractions and places in Thailand for me the explore, and even within Bangkok. So every day is an adventure. And did mention the food? So good and so CHEAP!
What do you dislike about your expat life?
It can get a bit lonely sometimes, but that’s why I’m super proactive in trying to meet new people and well, blog about it on my blog! Blogging gives me a chance to express myself and to show people what I like about where I’m living. Hopefully that’ll inspire them to visit Bangkok too!
What is the biggest cultural difference you have experienced between your new country and life back home?
This is a little bit out of the ordinary but I still want to mention it. The toilets here are nothing like what’s at home as they often come with a bidet (a shower gun for cleaning your bum)! It does come in handy when you visit a place with no loo roll available (which often happens).
What do you think of the food and drink in your new country? What are your particular likes or dislikes?
Already mention this but I absolutely love it! There as so many exotic flavours, I’d definitely recommend trying every kind of street food available (especially the sticky rice with fried chicken). I’m not a big fan of fish oil which is often in many Thai dishes, so that’d be my only dislike. Other than that, everything’s yummy!
What advice would you give to anyone following in your footsteps?
Learn Thai and be open to the new culture. Don’t treat it as something that is less than your own. Rather, see it as a new opportunity to experience something different. You never know, you may end up here longer than you think!
What are your plans for the future?
I’d like continue working in Thailand for a little bit before I move to work in a different country. I’m definitely a true globe trekker at heart!
You can keep up to date with Tiff's adventures on her blog, Simply T.
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