IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT MOVING TO BANGKOK, THESE ARE THE LESSONS I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME FROM DAY ONE

1. Your world gets smaller than you think. Bangkok is huge, but after a few months you’ll probably rotate between the same few BTS stations, cafés and neighborhoods. Make it a habit to explore somewhere new every week. 2. Learn Thai from day one. You can survive with English and Google Translate, but learning the language is what helps you truly feel at home and connect with the people around you. 3. You’ll slowly become a different person. Living abroad changes your perspective, while your family keeps living their lives back home. Call them often. Don’t let distance turn you into strangers. 4. Bangkok will test your discipline. Everything is convenient and every temptation is just around the corner. The freedom this city gives you can either build you or break you. 5. Convenience is addictive. Food, groceries, transport, almost anything can be at your door in minutes. You don’t realize how spoiled you are until you leave. 6. Where you live matters more than how big your apartment is. Being close to the BTS or MRT will improve your daily life more than almost anything else. 7. Some days the air quality isn’t great. It’s something you don’t think about before moving here, but you’ll learn to keep an eye on it. 8. You’ll meet incredible people from all over the world, but many of them won’t stay. Goodbyes become part of life in an international city. 9. Bangkok becomes your gateway to Asia. Weekend trips to islands, mountains and neighboring countries suddenly become part of normal life. 10. If you stay curious, Bangkok never gets boring. The best memories often come from getting off at a station you’ve never visited and simply walking. What’s one thing nobody told you about living in Bangkok? #bangkok #thailand #expatlife #travel #livingabroad