Love/Hate

My love/hate relationship with Thailand.

I know I posted in my last post about how my exchange in Thailand has been quite difficult for me and I honestly go from having one of the worst days in my life to the best and it’s a very hard cycle to deal with. After having a particularly good weekend in Bangkok, I am back in Maha Sarakham with good vibes all around. While in a good mood I decided to share with you exactly why  Thailand and I have this love/hate relationship.

How My Mind feels about Thailand:

Love: In my mind, I love Thailand. I love how laid back of a country it is and I love the way it has changed  me and helped me to become a different person. I love that  Thailand and these times will always be in my memories, to revisit. I love that I am strong enough to be here and to go through all this.

Hate: CULTURE!! Gosh, I know it is a cultural exchange and I guess I just assumed I would like the culture but boy, was I wrong. The culture and societies norms drive me mad. Everyday the culture questions my morals and makes me feel down right uncomfortable. I hate that Thailand is still highly gender bias, I hate  that Thailand considers you a child until you have graduated from university or wed. I hate that they don’t think the same way we do, they are very closed minded and it drives me mad.

How My Body feels Thailand:

Love: I love how my skin is so tan and healthy. I love how my hair is so light. I love how I get to wear shorts and t-shirts everyday, soaking up the heat. I love the way my body feels after snacking on delicious fruit instead of junk food.  I love how you can always go for long walks because the weather is always nice.

Hate: I hate how I have to take diarrhea meds almost daily. I hate how I have to take allergy meds daily. I hate how I do not get enough sleep. I hate how the pollution in the air causes acne. I hate how even a trip to the end of the drive way will turn your feet black from all the dirt and dust. I hate how I am constantly covered in mosquito bites and have become more reactive to them and swell up like a balloon.

How My Eyes see Thailand:

Love: I love how everyday its sunny with bluebird skies. I love how my eyes are constantly observing new things. I love how there is always a palm tree or tropical flower and sight. I love how you can always see massive butterflies. I love being able to watch people from all different walks of life live a life very different than my own.

Hate: I hate how there is garbage every where. I hate how old fat Thai men walk around with the shirt pulled up so that their belly’s hang out. I hate how people watch me with blatant disregard to boundaries. I hate how dirty everything is.

How My Ears hear Thailand:

Love: I love the sound of Body Slam, the only ok Thai Band. I love the sound of the very rare but beloved Silence.

Hate: Thailand is a very loud country with no noise by-laws and I hate it. I hate the sounds of roosters in the morning. I hate the sound of  the trucks that place announcement extremely loud and drive around streets regardless of the hours. I hate how Thai girls talk at an impossibly high decibel. Don’t even get me started on most Thai music.

How My Nose smells Thailand:

Love: I love the smell of the food. I love the smell of the flowers. I love the smell of the shops.
Hate: I hate when it randomly smells like sewage, and this happens a lot.

How My Mouth Tastes Thailand:

Love: I love chili!! I love fruit!! I love kow mon gai, chicken on oily rice!! I love kow neow mat muang, sticky rice, mangos and sweetened coconut milk!!! I love Tom Yum Goong. spicy chili shrimp soup!! I love kow pat, fried rice!! I love Som Tam, spicy papaya Salad!! I love saparot and gleu-a prique, pineapple and chili salt!! I love bahmi (Chinese noodle)!! I love gang keow wan, green curry!! I love  gang pet,  red curry!! I love gloo ay boo at chee, boiled bananas in coconut milk! I love glooay tort, fried banana  in batter!! I love Kai jee o, Thai omelet!! I love Kow lahm, sticky rice steamed inside bamboo!! I love tort man gung , fried shrimp cakes!!!

Hate:
I hate fish sauce!

That’s it for now.

Xoxo Chantel <3