It’s fairly obvious that I am not anywhere near fluent in Thai. While I’ve progressed so much past where I started, I still have a long way to go, and I’m constantly making mistakes and finding myself saying ‘mai kow jai’ (‘I don’t understand’) when I’m trying to have a conversation with someone. I remind myself that it’s okay, I just need to continue working on my language and improving my sentence structure and vocabulary. However, I can still connect and make friends with other people despite this.
You might think of not speaking the language of the country you live in as a huge hindrance, and while it can be at times, I’ve learned that communication is so much more than words. My friends at school and I still find ways to laugh, show each other we care, and overall connect with one another even if we can’t have a full conversation. As I’ve lived here longer and adjusted to the culture and the people, I’ve learned that most Thai people are just as confused by me as I am by them! However, they truly do appreciate it when you make an effort to talk with them, because most foreigners expect to be able to communicate using solely English. In my city, this is far from the truth. Very few people speak English, and while that has been a struggle, it has also been a blessing in that it has allowed me to push boundaries and learn about communication without relying on language. Even if I’m simply ordering a green tea, that small amount of conversation is all it takes to create a connection. If you push yourself to try your hardest in speaking, it is not the speech itself that will help you make a connection, it is the fact that you tried.
I said that despite my lack of fluency in Thai, I’ve still made friends. However, it’s not always despite it. Sometimes it is because I am a weird foreign girl that I end up making new friends and special connections. I’m grateful to live in a country where people are interested in me and want to get to know me. If I have any advice for how to make friends that don’t speak the same language as you, just try. Even saying ‘hello’ can open up a whole new friendship.
School in Thailand
School in Thailand goes from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., sometimes later. At first, this was sort of difficult for me! I didn’t have much time to do things after school, and it can be a little tiring being in the same building with people you don’t know and struggle to communicate with. However, one of the great things about humans is how adaptable we are. What was once really hard for me is now actually quite enjoyable! I like my classes a lot, and I’ve definitely made a lot more friends here over the past months.
I take a cooking class in the morning, and that is one of my favorite classes because it’s one where I do not have to speak perfect Thai to be able to effectively participate in the classroom. The teacher and students simply show me how to do something, and then I do it. It’s simple! I’ve made some delicious dishes since I’ve been here, and I’ve also learned a lot about food preparation as well as culinary sciences. I have always been a nerd when it comes to science, but it wasn’t until I moved here that I got involved in the culinary aspect of things. I am also allowed to join in on an embroidery and souvenir-making class. That class taught me a lot about patience and precision. I’m definitely impatient, but when working with sewing, you need to work calmly and take your time. Otherwise, your creation will be mai suay (ugly!).
Another great thing about school is the food. There are vendors on the streets outside, selling drinks, pork, and even tasty little strawberry ice desserts. In the cafeteria, we have everything you could ever want: crepes, rice, noodles, fried chicken, smoothies, and more. We also have about three different small school stores that sell packaged snacks as well as toiletries. That’s pretty strange for me, especially when you take into account that, in my school in America, our school store is actually more of a closet than a room.
There are a lot of things about my new school here that are confusing, shocking, and fascinating. Delving into a new culture and area can definitely be difficult. But by trying my hardest to communicate, listen, and learn, I’ve found a lot of happiness here! A situation might seem sub-par at the start, and end up being more than that. I wouldn’t lie and say that Thai high school is always easy. It’s most certainly not. However, I make the best of my situation, and it’s definitely worked in my favor. While it isn’t perfect, I’m happy to be in my school.
Connecting Despite Language Barriers
Issue Date:
January, 2017
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