Everyday I am learning more and more about the Thai culture, vocabulary and I am meeting new people. Thailand is a beautiful country. It is very green and has many mountains. There are many animals as well as reptiles and insects. For the first time in my life I observed a gecko in action as he discretely hunted for his prey. There are also many cockroaches and lizards! From the climate, to the food, to the culture, animals, infrastructure and much more, everything was so different from what I was used to but I love it all and was so glad to have chosen Thailand!

On Friday, our boarding group went to a mall named Bixi. At this mall we found many small Thai shops as well as the common stores. At Bixi I got the chance to see many of the traditional Thai clothing, bags and foods. Traditional Thai clothing is very colourful and has many designs varying from animals to shapes.

On Saturday, we went to a huge shopping centre, Siam Paragon, in Bangkok. At this centre, anything was possible to find. It consisted of seven stories, each having its own purpose. It had many European and American stores as well.  As we drove I was able to see little parts of Bangkok that were very industrialized and busy. Every street was crowded with people. Many people drove on motorcycles, and those who didn’t fit into cars sat on the back of the vehicle as they drove to their destination. Though it is very industrialized, there are also many poor areas. There are many people who live on the streets and many others simply asking for money. It had come as a shock to see so many people living on the streets in a city that seemed very industrialized and quite developed.

On Sunday, my friend Ellis took me to an elephant orphanage! I sat on a 40-year-old elephant as he walked the green mountainous streets of Thailand. I not only experienced something exceptional but I also witnessed the ways many people unfortunately live. On the trek, we passed many slums, where people lived in very small shacks and in horrible conditions. I somehow knew that this was a reality but did not realize how serious it was.

I never thought I could build such great relationships with people that I had only known for two and a half weeks. I am having a great time here and I enjoying every second, of every minute of every day. As everyday passed, I realized that soon I would have to leave and I just wished that I could stay longer. – Kamy Roberge-Carrington ’16