MY YEAR IN THAILAND by Caroline Yaxley

How It Began

My daughter Caroline naturally became involved with AFS due to my involvement, attending chapter meetings, meeting overseas students and attending many of the social events.
I think the arrival of two Thai teachers in April 1996 was the influence Caroline needed to take up the challenge of an Exchange. Na and Noi took a great interest in Caroline and it was these two gentle, caring Thai ladies who “sowed” the seed for Caroline in her desire to spend a year in Thailand.
Caroline had decided she wanted to go on Exchange to Thailand and was determined to succeed so we commenced the application process March 1997 and Caroline was subsequently accepted and later advised that she would be going to Thailand in 1998 and be hosted in the North East city of Buriram, some 450 kilometres from Bangkok.
Caroline eventually received details of her host family the Laochoochareankit family who were merchants in Buriram and continued preparations for her departure. Caroline was just 16 when she left which must have been a daunting experience to leave home for the first time without her parents and to go to a country with a completely different culture, food and language

Caroline arrived safely and the surprises started – her family living at the house numbered a staggering 21, as it was an extended family. One of Caroline’s “sisters” could speak a little English so it was difficult to communicate so Caroline had to start learning Thai.
This is an extract from Caroline’s first letter to me:
“I called when you were out but please don’t ring back as it makes me homesick then I have about 20 different faces looking at me with concern. I have 12 kids living here and quite a few adults, I have worked out who my pa is but not my host ma. If it was not for the language barrier I would feel quite at home, I am already learning to love these people”

Caroline's host sisters, Kenk & Tor

Caroline receiving a presentation from her Thai School Principal.

Here is Caroline’s report on her year in Thailand:

Where can I start? I learnt so much in my year that it is difficult to know what to say.
I could say it was the best year of my life or I could say it was the hardest year of my life. To say it has been both the best and hardest year of my life would be closest to the truth.
In a country as different as Thailand there is a lot of adjusting to do but through the adjusting you see - despite how different we are - there are some things throughout the world that are the same. Brothers and sisters still fight over the television, mum’s still nag about cleaning up your room! It was a reality to realise that we as humans share basic needs.

Caroline pictured in front of a beautiful temple

My family lived in Buri Ram about 400 kilometres from Bangkok in the north east of Thailand, which is also the very poor part of Thailand. Due to this fact I was exposed to experiences that perhaps students hosted in larger cities were not. Being taken to tiny villages of around 100 people or less was common for me - being the first farang (foreigner) these people had ever seen was an amazing experience - just their expression and reaction to you cannot be described, excitement, fear but an overwhelming sense of curiosity - perhaps the same way I felt about them.
My family were totally wonderful people although a bit different to my Oz family as my family numbered a staggering 22 living permanently at our house - but almost instantaneously I was accepted as a daughter, sister, niece and to me they will always be my special family. They enjoyed things that cost nothing but are more fulfilling than money. When my family got used to me and stopped staring at me every time I walked past it was better.

Then there was school 3,000 students staring, touching my hair, my skin, shouting questions in basic English or Thai because at my school I was the only student who was not Thai. All schools were pretty strict with hair length and uniforms checked weekly.

This was also a good chance to travel and in my year I did a lot of travelling to the north, the south and so many places in between like Khon Kaen and Udon Thani. Of course I went to some touristy places like Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Lampang and of course Bangkok.
But what touched me most was the rural villagers where no one had ever seen a foreigner before. For me to be their first foreigner was something I will never forget - but by far the thing I’ll remember most about my experiences is the Thai people. I have friends in every social class and every occupation - from novice monks to the poorest workers - they all changed my outlook and made me realise how much we take for granted.
Thank you for listening and the opportunity given to me by AFS Launceston and I have got some photos and some Thai souvenirs if you would like to have a look.