Reflections

Jaruwaree Snidwongse, Thailand

I looked at the sky this morning, feeling another chill from the coming winter and thought, my, this is my fourth winter already. Time really does fly when we have fun. I'm supposed to be doing quite a difficult degree but I like being here in Sheffield and meeting people from all over the world (that sounds a bit ironic, doesn't it?). I'm not quite sure what homesickness really is like when I've got the whole union list to choose my activities from: that is, if I'm not being lazy and staying at home to watch the telly, but that's what I normally do anyway. I'd recommend people who get homesick to get to the Union and see what they have for the weekly events. You'll have too many things to do until you have to schedule yourself. But saying that, I'll also have to thank the competition among the phone companies that I can call back to Thailand at the price of almost a fourth of what I paid in 1997 so I can call home without robbing the bank.

The problem for me now is how I'll adjust back to the life at home. One of my friends who just went back to her home country for the first time in 3 years said that it's like waking up from the dream to face the reality. I'll probably think so as well. Here all the problems are mostly ours and even though our families are facing problems, we don't really get affected as strongly. I get enough money to live comfortably but it still gives me a shudder every time I think of how much it really is in Thai baht.

However, studying abroad is probably the best opportunity to happen to me so far. Being by myself and having to face my own problems in 3 years results in maturity and I've discovered myself like I have never done in my whole life. I've already felt that I've outgrown some of my friends back home. Having my ideas and manners being more westernised (than they already were) make it even more difficult for me to relate to them and vice versa. I've become even more outspoken and confident than before. I'm sure many people might share my new traits after living abroad for a few years. I'll definitely have to re-orientate myself back to my culture and people. Let's keep our fingers crossed for things to turn out well for us.

Jaruwaree Snidwongse, Thailand