Arriving in Bangkok

As part of my studies, I had the opportunity to spend a semester abroad in Thailand. At the beginning of the year, I flew from Frankfurt on 1 January and arrived in Bangkok at 5 a.m. with a one-day time difference. Until then, Berlin had been the largest city I had visited, so as we approached the airport, I realised just how huge Bangkok actually is. The city stretches endlessly in all directions.

Upon leaving the airport, I immediately felt Thailand's tropical climate; instead of 2°C in Germany, it was almost 30°C. Fortunately, all indoor spaces in Thailand are air-conditioned. I also noticed right away that Bangkok struggles with air pollution due to heavy traffic. Especially near the busy roads, you notice a clear difference to the fresh country air in Ispringen.

 

Studies

My university, Kasetsart University, was about a 15-minute walk from my dormitory. Unlike the university in Karlsruhe, it has a city-like campus with lots of water and green spaces. To get around faster, you can rent electric scooters. There are food stalls, cafés and other shops all over the campus. I took five courses at the university, four of which were from the Faculty of Economics and one from the Faculty of Engineering. There are numerous other faculties (Agriculture, Science, Humanities, Education, etc.) from which you can choose suitable courses. In Thailand, the final grade is made up of various assignments and several exams – not just a single final exam as in Karlsruhe. Professors in Thailand clearly place less emphasis on punctuality, so lectures regularly start 30 minutes late or end early. Students arrive every five minutes until the first hour of class is over. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, the lectures were interesting and informative.

 

Life and culture

Bangkok is ultra-modern and offers virtually unlimited leisure activities, so you can discover something new every day. I particularly liked the night markets, where you can stroll around in the evening and buy delicious food for very little money. The street food culture is very pronounced, which is why I cooked exactly once myself. I will miss the traffic less, because Bangkok is constantly congested. The fastest and most dangerous way to get from A to B is by motor scooter. Alternatively, you can also use the Skytrain.

If you want to travel longer distances, you can take a bus, night bus or plane. Travelling is very easy in Thailand and the surrounding countries, so you can spontaneously decide to go to the next city or island for a few days. During my stay abroad, I also had the opportunity to travel to parts of Vietnam and Malaysia.

I also learned a lot culturally. Thailand has many temples, which are architecturally very impressive and reflect the spiritual devotion and closeness to Buddhism. The Thai people are very warm and open towards foreigners who are willing to adapt to Thai culture and traditions. Even though the level of English is quite poor, interactions with locals were almost exclusively positive and you almost always leave with a smile. What particularly impressed me was that although poverty is much more noticeable than in Germany, I had the feeling that many people there go through life happier and more relaxed. Unfortunately, I hardly learned any Thai in the 4.5 months I was there – except for the four words I already knew when I arrived: hello, goodbye, thank you, excuse me. The exchange and sharing of experiences with other international students from different countries and cultural backgrounds was particularly enriching.

 

Conclusion

I am very grateful for the experiences I have had over the past few months – both academically and personally. It was a valuable opportunity to learn more about myself and other cultures. A semester abroad offers a great chance to improve your English skills, step out of your comfort zone and make new contacts.