Relationships with the host family
My relationship with my family is good. At the beginning of the new year, I had some arguments with my thirteen-year-old sister, so my family and I decided that I would move to my brother’s house, where he lives with his girlfriend and their daughter. I’m now building a stronger bond with them. However, I still see my parents and sisters during the day because we all meet at the office where my family works.
Sometimes I spend time with my cousin or my aunt, with whom I have a good relationship. There are times when my family travels out of the province for work, so I have to stay with some relatives who can host me.
Relationships with the host community and friends
At this point in the experience, I can say that I don’t have many friends, and those I do mainly met at school. Since March, the school holidays started, and I’m struggling to meet with them. Some live far away or are busy with part-time jobs, or have strict families that don’t allow them to go out often. So, I end up spending most of my time with family or relatives.
My school performance, both from the point of view of profit and in regard to interpersonal relationships (with classmates and teachers)
My school performance is good. The school will reopen in early May, but the teachers have already prepared a “report card” confirming my grades and participation. I have a friendly and peaceful relationship with both classmates and teachers.
My leisure time
During the week, I usually stay home with my family. Sometimes I go with my brother’s girlfriend to the golf club where she works. In the evenings, my brother usually invites his friends over, so I spend time with them: we cook, talk, watch football matches, or sing karaoke.
On weekends, I travel with my family, or if they are away for work, I always find some relative happy to host me.
The things that particularly impressed me in this country (both positive and negative)
1. People always decide what to do at the last minute; they don’t make plans or, if they do, they often change them at the last moment.
2. They have a more relaxed lifestyle; I think this is also because of the climate—it’s always very hot here. Especially right now, I’m suffering a lot because it’s about 40 degrees Celsius.
3. They place great importance on their image; they love capturing every moment with photos and sharing it on social media.
4. In provinces far from multicultural Bangkok, like where I live, many people have never met a foreigner in real life. They are surprised and want to talk to me and shake my hand as if I were a celebrity.
3 words that describe my experience so far (explain why I chose it)
- No comfort zone: I’m constantly out of my comfort zone, far from my culture and old habits, and often meeting new people I have to relate to.
- Adventure: Often, I don’t know what I’ll do the next day; everything is decided at the last minute, with few plans!
- Enrichment: I’m almost at the end of this experience. I don’t fully realize it now, but I know that when I return to Italy, I’ll be able to appreciate everything this life here has offered me and how much I have changed as a result.
Anecdotes/Open Commentary
I had the opportunity to go to Japan with my family at the end of January! I recently celebrated my eighteenth birthday, which coincidentally falls during the Thai New Year, “Songkran,” the water festival!