It takes six weeks to create a habit, and it took me six weeks to make a habit of eating Thai food portions, having rice embedded in every meal, having to bow to almost everyone to show respect and living in the Buddhist culture that is prominent in Thailand.
While being there, I created my own routine:
Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays: wake up, ride the shuttle to school, attend classes, eat lunch, more classes, then ride the shuttle back home to catch my friends for dinner. Tuesday/Thursdays were reserved for exploring more of the street food along the strip I lived on, but also catching the 515 bus to either the closest mall or into Bangkok. And, the weekends were reserved for traveling in or out of Thailand.
Hugh attended Mahidol University International College student, wear she had to wear the official uniform each day at school. Credit: Rebecca Hugh
However, in my departure session with my International Studies Abroad (ISA) representative, Megan Dekievit, the Resident Director educated my new ISA family on various important information needed upon returning home.
Our sendoff packets included information on when transcripts would be sent, how to properly check out of our apartments, equivalences for grades, etc. But, what she really warned us about was experiencing reverse culture shock. Since I’m originally from Jamaica and I’ve been studying abroad in the U.S.A. for my entire college life, I thought transitioning back to my American college would be easy. Boy, was I wrong. Studying abroad in an Asian country for almost three and half months truly impacted me in a way I did not know until I left.
It took me three days to get to Thailand, and it took me three days to fly back home. After getting home and instantly falling asleep, when I finally woke up on the second day, I was puzzled as to what to eat for breakfast. In my fridge I had eggs, sausage links, avocados, everything I needed to make a regular breakfast meal. But, I couldn’t help but think of eating pad thai noodles, or chicken skewers with sticky rice.
Fast forward to moving back on to Saint Leo’s campus. With my previously on-the-go schedule, coming back seemed so mundane in comparison to the life I was living; however, I was also hit with the realization of how diverse the campus really is. Being Asian myself and living for one semester in an Asian country with little diversity, I now suddenly stuck out as a student.
Since Hugh was already on the eastern side of the world, she decided to fly to Hong Kong to visit family members and visit various sites, such as the Madame Tussauds Museum. Credit: Rebecca Hugh
Now, no offense to the cafeteria, but I was turned off by the food and was screaming (in my head) for some green or yellow curry chicken with rice or tom yum soup with noodles. Even eating off campus took some getting used to, because in Thailand I would spend on average two to three American dollars on food, so going anywhere and paying $10 and up for a meal was just blasphemy.
Being back, the weather also put a damper on my mood. I returned to Florida’s “winter” while right now in Thailand it’s a nice, warm 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
I think the one thing I miss the most is the friendliness of the Thai people. Coming back and being given uninterested looks and half-served sincerity took me for a whirlwind.
Just looking back and reminiscing is giving me some serious FOMO (fear of missing out). Watching the “insta-stories” of friends who decided to stay an extra semester in Thailand has made me miss it even more than I realized.
From Muay Thai fights to island hopping, rooftop bars to markets, nothing is more exciting than living in a new environment and experiencing all it has to offer.
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”- Henry Miller
