In Thailand, Trat is considered one of the smaller cities. It is not considered a tourist destination, which most westerner’s would assume meant that it was lacking in culture and significant experiences. But in my eyes, Trat is the very essence of Thai culture. One of the most rewarding experiences on my journey so far has been the local market.
Sometimes, I like not knowing the language here in Thailand. I enjoy being able to be invisible in the sense that I don’t hear people’s conversations, I don’t have to get involved in their daily dramas, and I am free to think my own thoughts and be left to them. At other times though, when out with friends or when trying to communicate with a student at school, I desperately wish I could speak Thai.
Luckily, we have been provided with an excellent language instructor here in Thailand. Meaw speaks about four languages in total, and is excellent at all of them. So when I ask her a question about the Thai language, or an English translation, I know she is an incredibly good resource (one which I utilize a little more often than necessary).
The lessons in Thai that we have been given are incredibly useful. I am using the words I learned daily, and knowing them have made life here much easier. Truthfully, I disliked the idea of the class at first, since I wasn’t here to learn, I was here to teach myself. But that arrogant attitude didn’t last long, and now I try to soak up as much Thai as I can, and I am practicing daily. It doesn’t come easily to me, but the most rewarding skills usually don’t. Overall, I have changed my attitude and am now anticipating the lessons rather than dreading them.
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