Culture Shock in Bangkok

So far I have introduced you to the side of Bangkok I love, the amazing and beautiful Bangkok, there is lots to love about living here.

It is far from the hardship postings of yesteryear. Amidst the exotic foods and fruits, you can find pretty much everything you would want. We even have Tesco’s and Boots here now, I bought a pork-pie the other day in Central Embassy. It’s not that I wanted a pork-pie it was because it was there. Woohoo!

Bangkok is renown for its medical tourism which brings high-quality care. Your teeth can be a perfect polished pearly white for the Land of Smiles.

You can live in a great apartment (at a price), with cheap household help. Your maid can live-in or visit as often as you want. You need never do another household chore again!

Now I’ve got you smiling, you can join endless clubs and make lots of friends. The Brits and Aussies all have good associations. You can go more multicultural with the International Women’s Groups, InterNations or the Soroptimists to mention but a few.

You can fill your days with bridge, mahjong, golf, shopping or a myriad of welfare activities. If you told me you were struggling in Bangkok because of no friends and nothing to do that is easily fixed.

If you are finding the transition tricky due to the Sweaty Betty humidity. I’m sorry you’re going to learn to live with the fact that you will, ok I do, look a wreck where ever I go in this heat…

Or that you can’t stand not being able to get anywhere with any degree of certainty on timing on these roads which make the M25 on a Monday morning look like a stroll in the park.

Or that the pollution is getting to you, that you have a permanent sore throat and metal taste in your mouth…

Or that you’ve had yet another fight with a taxi driver who insists on giving you the scenic tour of Bangkok without the meter rolling, before declaring the fare to be a thousand Baht and the Grand Palace closed for the day…

Well, then I would say welcome to my life.

People (me!) do struggle living in Bangkok. It is an overwhelming, messy and complicated city that I have the privilege and honour of living in. Sometimes I need a “Scotty, beam me up out of here moment…”

Hence I am currently writing this in South Korea where the air is cool, the sun is shining and the cherry blossom is out – Yay!

Culture shock is described as

‘the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes’.

When I read about others living in far-off climes, Bangkok doesn’t seem too bad. I loved reading Most Eligible Family’s post about her culture shock in Russia.

There are four phases to culture shock, starting with the honeymoon phase where everything is new and exciting.

Culture shock phase where you compare everything to your home culture and it’s tough.. especially when you moved to Bangkok from the World’s Most Liveable City, Melbourne gave up a good job, left family and a beloved crazy poodle behind!

The next phases is the recovery stage which is when you decide it’s not that bad after all and remember what it is about the place that you found exciting when you first arrived… bring it on!

Here’s to rediscovering my inner zen!

And finally adaption – which is when I will be dragged out screaming and kicking from Thailand saying I don’t want to go! Watch this space.

I never thought I’d suffer culture shock in Thailand given that I’d been living in two other Asian countries. If there was one thing I wish I could change it would be my body’s ability to function well in this climate and the pollution. Quick hand me the air con remote!

If you are looking for more information and help Expat Focus has a Thailand Destination guide you can visit here   

How would you be? Would you be up for the challenge of uprooting to a new climate where you knew no-one but knew you would be soon meeting new and interesting people and travelling al over,  or would you prefer to stay put with the life you know?

Tomorrow we will go for a little ride in the car! as D is for Driving in Thailand! I hope you’ll join me. Driving is quite an experience in Bangkok!

C is for Culture Shock in Bangkok and part of Blogging from A to Z April (2018) Challenge. Click here to see the list of all participants!

Thanks so much to the organisers.