Expat Family Life in Bangkok
I moved to Thailand in 2003 simply because I was bored with my life in the United States. I lived in Boston, studied in New York, and traveled the world.
Traveling was my favorite thing to do until I went to Thailand. It was like I was looking for something in the world and I finally found it in Thailand. After that, he had little to no desire to travel further. Although I missed my family and friends in the United States, I was bored after a week of visiting them, and I longed for Thailand every time I went on vacation to the United States.
First of all, I love Thai food. There is so much variation that you can go months just eating Thai food and not get bored. Thai food has a wide range of flavors from spicy, sweet and sour. I learned to do a little bit of that, but I usually cook Western food and my wife cooks Thai food. You can learn a LOT about Thai food here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_cuisine, however it really is an art that requires endless practice to achieve perfection. People are usually nice and friendly too. They love white fur, so if you’re pale white… that’s actually a good thing! Where I’m from, it seems like you haven’t been able to get out of the house or office to get some sunlight in years.
The culture is uniquely Thai, though it is also a mix of surrounding cultures. The Chinese have some firm hold on Thailand in both culture and business. Schools in Thailand are not that good and teach compliance and memorization for the most part. I have also connected with many Bangkok expat families over the years in Thailand.
The climate in Thailand can be described as hot and humid for the most part. There is a rainy season and a not so rainy season. For me, the humidity is the worst part. If you are in a big city, pollution along with humidity is lethal. Many taxis, buses, shopping centers, restaurants, etc. They have air conditioning, but walking outside even 10 minutes can make you sweat. I have friends who literally carry a couple of sweat rags or even a towel with them wherever they go. Don’t plan on doing a lot of walking in town if you want to be comfortable for a sit-down (no shower) dinner later.
There is so much in Bangkok, let alone in the country of Thailand. I hope you can experience it one day!