Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand Aug / Sept 2017: The Kids & Family Issue | Page 65

10+ YEARS IN THAILAND:
THE LESSONS
LEARNED
We spoke to some long-term expats and asked them
what their experiences here in the Land of Smiles have
taught them about Thai culture, their home countries
and life in general. Here are their words of wisdom.
FIND JOY IN EVERYTHING
Since first arriving here in the 1990s, I have gone in cir-
cles with my understanding of Thai culture. But even
after all these years, knowing that I know nothing is al-
ways a good place to start and return to. I have great
respect for the Thai ability to persevere and smile in
the face of hardship. After all, life is just as hard wheth-
er you smile or not — so why not smile?
It has since been explained to me that the Thai
words “to work” (“tam ngan”) literally translate to
“make a party.” This likely comes from the village
community joining together for group work, not un-
like the western “barn-raising” parties in days of old.
However, I think that attitude has prevailed in the
Thai approach to work in general. And why not? Life
is too short not to embrace joy, so find as much joy as
possible in everything you do.
When I first came to Thailand, I was very confident
that the way we did things in America was the best
way. It’s not that I felt superior; I simply didn’t see any
faults. Living overseas for so long and meeting people
of so many nationalities with different cultures and ap-
proaches to life has broadened my understanding of
life and human nature, and it has allowed me to look
back on my own country’s customs with more objec-
tivity, and, I hope, clarity.

—Bonnie Zellerbach, United States
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