Touchdown in Thailand: The First 48 Hours

Three plane tickets, two backpacks, and one dream that had finally become reality. I officially packed up my life and moved halfway across the world to teach English for six months. I had been talking about teaching abroad for years, and yet it still felt incredibly surreal the moment I first stepped off the plane in Thailand. 

I arrived in Bangkok at 11 p.m., which was not ideal, but since I missed my first flight I really had no other option. As I began to make my way through the airport I became painfully aware that, a) I had no idea where I was, b) I didn’t have any kind of data or cellphone coverage to communicate with anyone, and c) I was completely and utterly alone. At least for the first two hours. 

The customs process was much easier than I had been told it would be, however I had some friends who experienced some difficulty, so it really does depend on luck and timing. With my new passport stamp in hand, I picked up my bags and headed towards the exit. Since I arrived early, I had to figure out my own transportation to the hotel, so I wandered around aimlessly before realizing I needed to go down a level to get to the taxi service. 

I eventually reached the ground floor where I picked up a ticket with a taxi number on it, and went to the parking lot to find the corresponding taxi. When I got to the car, the driver stepped out and asked me where I was headed; he did not speak a lot of English, so a simple conversation turned into five minutes of lots of gesturing and barely any speaking. After a hesitant confirmation of my location, I dropped my bags in the backseat and was on my way.

The cab ride to the hotel was coupled with no service and a sinking feeling that my driver had not understood where I needed to go. This feeling only amplified when he pulled into a gas station on the side of the road, gestured that he was going to fill up, and then left the car. My heartbeat skyrocketed for a couple minutes until my driver came back, smiling kindly, and holding out a bottle of water for me.

After 20 more minutes of anxious silence, I saw the sign to my assigned hotel and everything went back to being exciting again. I checked into my room and quickly fell asleep…only to wake up at 4 a.m., exhausted but eager to see what the day had in store. 

The only thing on the schedule for the first day was check-in for orientation, so I headed downstairs and began to meet all the other teachers who were arriving. People were from all over the place; mostly from the United States, but there were also a few from the UK, Ireland, Australia, and even some fellow Canadians! I mustered up the courage to go to a group of girls who were sitting at the hotel cafe, and just like that, my first friendships were formed. 

With an orientation group of 100, there was no shortage of laughter, conversation, or opportunities to connect with each other. Despite being surrounded with like-minded, optimistic people, I was still surprised at how quickly I was able to connect with them. I might have travelled solo to get to Thailand, but I was right in knowing that I was going to make so many new friends here. 

Since nothing else was planned for us that day, we spent the rest of the day exploring the energetic, vibrant streets of Bangkok. A few of us decided to check out a Thai massage place, and wow, was that something else! Honestly, after that experience, I couldn't say I recommend it, but I do think it is worth trying out at least once in your life! It’s all about the adventure, right? 

As the jet lag caught up with us, it ended up being quite an early night, one that was very much needed before the first “official” day of orientation. The next morning started with a CIEE tour around The Grand Palace, where we spent three hours touring around the palace, learning about its history, and actively participating in the culture. We spent the remainder of the day in a conference room in the hotel until around 5 p.m., where the CIEE staff began to discuss what was expected of us as teachers in a foreign country. 

That whole afternoon truly opened my eyes to see what was in store, and also served as a reality check for what I had gotten myself into. Once the sessions ended, we had another free evening to not only continue exploring the lively district we were in, but also reflect on everything that had transpired so far. 

And to think, those were just the first two days! The rest of orientation was packed full of cultural immersion discussions, Thai language lessons, and practical advice from the CIEE staff. When the time came for us to depart for our schools, it hit me just how much of a stepping stone orientation had been. CIEE provided immense support and encouragement during the weekend as they eased us into this life-changing journey. Each staff member ensured that we were fully prepared to succeed as we ventured off on our own, and for that, I am extremely grateful. 

Looking back, even just a couple weeks later, I could see how naive I was at times, and how much I relied on my excitement-driven adrenaline to make it through those first few days. If I was to fly to another country for the first time again, there are certainly things that I would do differently; arrive during the day, make sure I have data from the start, and a few other adjustments. Still, I suppose I needed to experience it this way to learn for the future.

The first two days in any new place are guaranteed to be full of twists and turns. There were certainly moments of emotion and uncertainty, but that's almost inevitable after moving away from everything you've known as "normal." I'm still so new to this adventure, but I am doing my best to embrace every moment as it comes. The more I lean into the unfamiliar, the more I hope it will shape this chapter in ways I've only ever dreamed of.