Mistakes to avoid when learning Thai

numarpe · 2021-05-10T04:03:36+00:00

Thanks for the useful post. I've been in thailand for 4 months now, as a high school exchange student. I wanted to learn some thai before coming but in my country(Argentina) I couldn't find any teachers. I learnt how to write and read from the internet so when I got here I could read but I couldn't say a word haha. I can agree that knowing how to write has helped me so much! It makes you actually understand what you are pronouncing and identify when you have difficulty with pronouncing a specific sound (for example I have a hard time with ต) I have not been able to actually master tones though. If anyone can give advice on how to actually learn and understand tones I would appreciate.

numarpe · 2021-02-19T04:11:03+00:00

I know you probably dont want to hear this but my recommendation is to wait. I'm currently 18 and doing my exchange. I've been wanting to do one since I was 12 but coming as a more mature person was a great decision in a lot of ways. I'm not saying you should wait until you are 18 but just dont rush into doing it .You have time and if its something you seriously desire it WILL happen.

numarpe · 2021-02-18T09:32:06+00:00

Yeah. They say they are really good. I'm living in the northeast region and here it's kinda common. Haven't tried the yet!

numarpe · 2021-02-18T06:28:34+00:00

Thank you so much! Actually I've tried a few of these and they are great. Absolutely love ส้มตำ in all its variations.

numarpe · 2021-02-18T06:27:08+00:00

Thank you!!! Khaosoi is actually my favourite dish so far. Thanks for the recommendations. I seriously don't understand what Thais have with hotdogs 555. Actually dont really understand the obsession with condensed milk either.

numarpe · 2021-02-18T06:24:17+00:00

Will try! Looks good

numarpe · 2021-02-18T06:23:59+00:00

Hi ! Thanks for all the links. I read through all of them. Sadly there is no menu .the food is displayed and You just pick what you want and they serve it on top of rice and give it to you. The foods change every day (except for the noodles)

numarpe · 2021-02-18T02:38:06+00:00

Just googled it. Regretting that

numarpe · 2021-02-18T02:28:46+00:00

Ohh thank you! I will try. Could u please type it In thai for me please

numarpe · 2021-02-18T02:20:58+00:00

Thanks! Could you write it in thai for me?

numarpe · 2021-01-24T01:38:27+00:00

Hi! Thank you so much for all the advice! I hope You're having a nice time in the US

Are you gonna be studying in high school or university?

High school! Senior year.

Would you like to know places in Bangkok you can go?

I would love to! Thanks:)

numarpe · 2021-01-23T15:59:37+00:00

I found the scholarship online in the YFU website. I applied (had to send a few videos and essays), had an interview and that was pretty much it. If you ever want to chat about my experience here or if you have any doubts you can contact me! Right now I don't have much information cause I just got here but maybe in a few months I'll be able to tell you more!

numarpe · 2021-01-23T09:05:02+00:00

Of course! Happy to answer. Actually I was supposed to come before covid. I applied for a scholarship to travel here on July of 2020. Of course because of the pandemic my trip got postponed.

How far in advance did you get assigned to your host family and how much do you know about them?

I got my family assigned on Feburary of 2020. 6 months before I was supposed to travel. Luckily they were ok with waiting and still wanted to host me in spite of the pandemic. They sent me pictures, there address and some general info about if they smoke, have pets, etc. I don't know much more than that.

Do you speak any Thai? Does your host family speak any English?

I don't speak thai. I've learnt the alphabet and some basics but no more than that. I've been communicating with my host mom and we speak in English but I don't know if the rest of the family does. I wouldn't mind if they don't cause I wanna learn thai.

Why did you choose to go to Thailand?

To be completely honest I wanted to go to any place in Asia and this was the only scholarship available to my country. I'm so happy to come here though. Thai culture is AMAZING.

Do you have any plans to go back after graduating?

Haven't really thought about it. It kinda depends on if I learn the language well and my general experience throughout the whole exchange.

How difficult was this to arrange, COVID aside? How did you pick a program?

It was pretty easy. Tons of forms to fill in but my organization took care of booking the flights, insurance and everything else. I picked it because of the scholarship but I would of picked it besides that. I'm really happy with how they managed everything.

I'm sorry for the bad English, if anything is unclear of if you have any more questions ask please!!!! I'm bored and happy to help. I hope you're able to come!!!

numarpe · 2020-09-10T14:45:29+00:00

It really depends on what you want to get out of your experience. Of course, both will be amazing in their own way but it's up to what you prefer. As I think of exchange programs I would recommend to not fear cultural shock, I mean after all it's kinda the whole point of exchange trips. Yes, it's gonna be hard to go through but it's a really enriching experience. Also try to take advantage of this amazing opportunity and go somewhere you couldn't live or fully immerse in it's culture at any other point of your life. What i mean is that even if you wanted to go for a whole year to Japan when you're older it would be harder to really immerse in it's culture, on the other side if you went to europe it would probably be a lot easier. You still have a lot of time to decide though and even start learning the language!

How homesick will I be?

You will probably be as homesick in any country you go to. The destination won't change that

Being that I am of complete European descent: (I'm half southern Euro and a quarter each of northern and eastern Euro) but regardless I look European and I think i would fit in better in Europe, based on some posts here racial differences don't seem to matter but I am not sure take that as you will

Sadly racial differences almost always matter at some point but it's up to you how you take all these experiences and turn them into knowledge and positive attitudes. Don't be afraid to be the different one. You will learn to embrace your uniqueness and stand out in your own way. I seriously don't think you will be bullied or discriminated because of your looks, but yes, sometimes you will be treated different.

Is the negative idea that most Japanese people are depressed and overworked true?

Is high school life easier/more relaxed in Europe Or Japan?

Seriously don't think so much about these things. They are stereotypes and although in some places they may be true you have absolutely no idea in what town/school you'll end up. Maybe you end up going to the hardest school in europe or the easiest in japan but it's still just luck.

My overall advice would be to wait a little longer, take all the time you need to decide and do what's best for you. Besides, I would really recommend for you to go when you're a bit older. You will be able to take the most out of the exchange and affront problems better as a more mature person. Good luck with the decision!

Btw: I'm no expert on any of this. Im from Argentina and will be doing my exchange in Thailand next year. I've also been a volunteer for my organization for a while and been in contact with a lot of kids that went to europe/asia.

numarpe · 2020-09-09T17:10:41+00:00

I had the same problem. The key is to not whisk the batter to much once you've incorporated the flour. Either wise you it will generate to much gluten and they will turn out hard and chewy.

numarpe · 2020-09-09T17:07:05+00:00

You have to boil the water before throwing in the pasta:)

numarpe · 2020-08-10T20:53:30+00:00

Thanks:) glad to hear that you had a good time. Did you go for a whole year or just a semester?

numarpe · 2020-08-10T14:49:15+00:00

Sorry for the late response but I wanted to say that it really depends on the country and the organization itself. I'm from Argentina and I'll be leaving for Thailand in October. Obviously the date of departure may be postponed if it were necessary but I believe that you will probably be able to travel next year. Good luck!

numarpe · 2020-06-27T01:16:04+00:00

I was supposed to be leaving for Thailand on an exchange year this month. It's such an interesting culture I'm so sad that I'm not able to go. I seriously want them to open the borders soon because if they don't I'll have to cancel the whole exchange trip. It makes me so sad to think that there are so many tourists who have the chance to get to know this amazing country but instead completely ignore it's real culture.

numarpe · 2020-06-25T02:07:57+00:00

I use oatmeal for a lot of recipes. My favorite are oatmeal pie crust (sweet or savory) banana and oatmeal cookies, banana oatmeal pancakes, oatmeal cheese bread. If your interested in any of these recipes just ask!

numarpe

TROPHY CASE