“Thai people have a very heavy carbohydrate (Rice and rice noodles) and protein (Pork, Chicken, seafood, or beef) - filled diet that rarely includes vegetables. If I were to have any vegetables accompanied by a dish, it would typically be garlic, onions, spicy peppers, or a leafy green. This is enhanced by lime, peanuts, soy sauce, shrimp paste, or other flavor-enhancing ingredients to give Thai food a signature depth of flavor without using much seasoning.”

Thai people love spicy food! The portion sizes are smaller here, so you can eat more food throughout the day whenever you get hungry. Most food and ingredients are fresh, and they eat lots of chili’s, noodles, rice, pork, and chicken. Meals are usually in a group, and I have not seen any traditions or customs that aid in digestion.

What is one challenge you experienced during your first month? How did you overcome that challenge?

“One challenge I experienced was the language barrier and the difficulties in pronunciation of the words and tones. I have worked to overcome this challenge by going back to the basics and tackling how to properly pronounce the vowels, consonant clusters, and common phrases.”

“The biggest challenge so far with living in Thailand is learning how to budget my funds. Within my first week of living here, I have blown through 250 USD on trying new food, buying the necessities for my dorm, getting uniforms, and buying other items to ensure my well-being. One of my biggest goals is to stretch my current funds for the next 6 months; however, spending $250 a week will not even get me to the end of this semester.”