Thailand vs USA: 10 Ways Thailand Wins

Ahhh Thailand. A tropical paradise with beautiful islands, gorgeous beaches and delicious food. It was my home for two years that flew by way too quickly and changed me in ways that make adjusting to life back in America difficult at times. Below is my list of ten ways Thailand essentially ruined me for the USA…

1) 7-11 stores

Of course there are other countries around the world that have 7-11 convenience stores, but nothing quite compares to the ones in Thailand. First of all, there is a 7-11 on almost every corner. Thailand is actually the country with the MOST 7-11s…they are obsesssssed. The beauty is you can do virtually anything there. Need a plane ticket? Buy it online and pick it up at 7-11. Need to pay your bills? Pay them at 7-11. Cell phone run out of data? Get some more at 7-11.

You can also buy so many things at 7-11 (which the Thai people refer to as just ‘Seven'), including a wide variety of snacks. A stop at any 7-11 store in Thailand could satisfy almost any craving. The one that really changed the game for me? Their ‘toastie.' This little sandwich comes in different varieties and is pressed in a panini machine and served hot. My favorite was the ham and cheese; after a late night of drinking, I honestly don't think there is anything better. 7-11 also serves up burgers and other sandwiches as well as frozen meals they can heat up for you right in the store. It really is a one-stop-shop and I became as obsessed as the Thai's and probably visited one every day.

2) Incredibly cheap but delicious food

This kind of goes along with my first point, but holy crap you guys – food is so cheap in Thailand! And it all tastes sooo good! I ate street food quite frequently (no, I did not ever worry about food poisoning… in my two years there I only got it once) and a meal would cost me about a dollar. If I wanted to go out to a proper restaurant, it would probably set my back about $250 baht (~$7) and a feast wouldn't cost more than 1000 baht (~$30).

Everything tastes amazing too! Pad Thai is the standard food that foreigners are usually familiar with, but there are so many other kinds of food that are delicious in Thailand. I fell in love with all different kinds of curry (green is my favorite), fried spring rolls, fish cakes, huge river prawns served with a spicy dipping sauce, spicy tom yum soup or tom kah Gai – a coconut milk based soup – or freshly caught fish fried up and served with fresh veggies on top. All of it was good and I never spent a fortune on anything! Just typing all of this is making my mouth water! If you go to Thailand for nothing else, go for the food – your stomach (and your wallet) will thank you.

3) Cheap travel

In addition to eating really cheap food, you can travel around Thailand and South East Asia for ridiculously low prices. While living in Thailand, I was able to visit Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia (Jakarta and Bali), Myanmar, Singapore, Hong Kong and Laos. Round trip flights to other countries often cost less than $100 depending on how far in advance you book your ticket and the time of year you travel. Some of the cheapest airlines include Air Asia, Nok Air, Thai Smile, Thai Lion, Vietjet and Malindo Air. Make sure to compare price on these airlines before booking.

It was also really cheap to travel within Thailand. The same airlines above can have prices as low as $25 within the country depending on the time of year you are looking to travel. Holidays often lead to a surge in prices as the Thai people travel home to see families or take vacations. In addition to flying, there are mini vans that operate like buses and cost between 200-300 baht (~$9-12) to get around. I visited many of the Thai islands by booking mini vans from Bangkok that drove a few hours to a nearby pier. From there I could catch a boat for about the same price to the island. Round trip tickets usually cost less than a oneway if you know the exact dates you will be traveling. In Thailand though, it is not necessary to book bus or minivan tickets in advance – just show up on the day you want to go, pay, hop in and go! There is not anywhere in America I can travel for that cheap or that easily last minute!

4 )'mai bpen rai' Attitude

A popular Thai phrase that I learned relatively early after moving abroad was ‘mai bpen rai.' This phrase essentially means ‘don't worry.' It kind of reminded me of the Thai version of ‘hakuna matata.' The Thai people do not stress about things outside of their control. This attitude definitely comes across in every day interactions with the people. When waiting for a bus that was taking forever, the Thai people woudld shrug their shoulders and say ‘mai been rai' to one another. For them, there is no point in stressing about the bus coming or whether they would be late because there was nothing they could do to change that fact. If you bumped into a person on the street, they would smile and tell you ‘mai been rai' – ‘don't worry about it.' If you ever needed help, a Thai person was never far away who would go above and beyond to fix your situation. After thanking them profusely, you almost always got a shy ‘mai bpen rai' before they were on their way.

I really appreciated this attitude and it made me think twice about getting stressed about situations that were out of my hands. It is a huge part of the Thai mentality and one I have tried to take to heart and remember even as I transition back to life in America.

5) Warm weather

Now that I am back home in Boston and its harsh New England winters, this reason stands out more than others in this particular moment. Thailand is a tropical country with balmy weather all year round which was wonderful for me – a girl who grew up accustomed to frigid winters that were absolutely miserable. Granted, hot season in Thailand is no joke, with temperatures reaching scary sweltering numbers (think 100+ Fahrenheit). However, I honestly think I prefer that over having to put on three layers just to go outside. If I ever did miss the cold winter weather, I just had to go home for a quick visit to get my fix – and then escape once again to tropical paradise. Thailand also has a rainy season where monsoon-like storms pass through. These storms dump ridiculous amounts of rain that cause floods in many places. But I personally prefer a month of rain over a few months of absolutely bitter cold. It is liberating not having to think about what to wear when you go outside. I loved just throwing on some shorts or a tank and being dressed for the day.

6) Relaxed work environment

I was a certified teacher in Chicago for 2 years before making the leap to teach abroad. I taught at a school on the Westside that was known for being a difficult place to work. This difficulty was partially because of the students' behavior but also due to a lack of resources and little support from administration. While I found it rewarding and loved (most of) my students, after 2 years I was drained and completely worn out.

In Thailand, I never EVER felt the same level of stress that I felt in America. I still had the same responsibilities (lesson plan, teach classes, meetings with other staff and administration, classroom observations, reports, etc), but the work environment is complete different. For one, students are raised to respect teachers – so behavior in the classroom was hardly ever a problem. Even in the public school where I first taught, students listened; granted if they didn't, a Thai teacher could come around with a large stick to threaten them and get them back in line (yes they do use corporal punishment in the public schools in Thailand…). I never felt like I had to fight with them to want to learn, which was really refreshing. To read more about my teaching experience in Thailand, click here!

7) Close-knit expat community

Living abroad can be scary sometimes: you are far away from your home, your family, your friends and everything familiar to you. In Thailand, I was lucky enough to meet a lot of like-minded individuals who were excited to travel and work in a place other than their home. We became a family and supported each other through a lot, whether it was getting homesick or being so far away when a loved one passed away. I was also able to travel to many countries and Thai islands with my expat friends and made lasting memories!

Having a close group of friends also meant I had people who were going through similar experiences to me. Sometimes, when living abroad, it can be hard to talk to friends and family back home about what you may be going through. This most often stems from the fact that they cannot relate to your experiences. Having a group of friends makes the adjustment a lot easier. I am very lucky I had such a great group!!

8) Cheap rent

If you haven't already noticed, the theme of things being ‘cheap' is a major reason why life in America just may not be for me anymore. The first town when I lived in Thailand was called Songkhla. It was a small beach town with cute cafes and the sweetest Thai people ever. I taught at one of the public schools for a semester and lived in an apartment building which also doubled as a hotel. Essentially, I lived in a hotel room where the rent was 5,000 Baht (~$150).  I split this cost with my boyfriend, so I only had to pay 2,500 baht or around $75 a month! The room included a Queen size bed, private bath, desk and a balcony. Laundry machines were available on each floor and cost 10 baht per load (about 30 cents). There was also a small outdoor common area where other teachers and I would sometimes sit and have dinner or drinks together.

When I moved to Bangkok, rent was more expensive than the small southern town; I paid 13,000 (~$400) for a small condo in a large apartment building. The room came with a smart TV, laundry in the unit, a free gym and a pool. There was a security guard that checked people in, making it incredibly safe. It was also a short 10 minute walk to the BTS Skytrain, which I would take to work everyday. In America, a condo with these amenities would cost an arm and a leg. In Thailand, after splitting the rent with my boyfriend I was paying about $200!!! Crazy, right?!

9) Night and Weekend Markets

One of my absolute favorite things to do in Thailand was visit a market. These markets typically pop up at night and were a fun place to grab dinner and drinks with friends or do some shopping. In the small town, Songkhla,  where I first lived, there was a weekend night market and a midweek night market. In Bangkok, there was a market every night of the week in different areas of the sprawling city.

Markets usually had a section for food filled with different vendors serving up delicious freshly made food. There was also always a shopping section where many Thais would go to get clothing, jewelry, or other accessories. The night markets made a fantastic place to get souvenirs for friends and family back home.

Night markets were always a popular place to go with friends since there was a variety of food people could eat for dinner; we could also just grab a few small bites while wandering around and taking in the sights. Some night markets would also feature bands or cultural performances depending on the time of year! So fun!

10) Thai cultural holidays

One thing I loved about living Thailand was getting to experience the culture and participate in different festivals and celebrations. Two of my favorites were Loy Krathong and Songkran.

Loy Krathong

Loy Krathong is held in November each year. To prepare for the holiday, Thai people will build krathongs by folding banana leaves into different shapes and pinning them onto a floating base. At night, they take these krathongs and float them on a nearby body of water as a way to symbolize a removal of the negative things in their life. The idea is that your krathong, along with a small offering and a prayer to the river goddess, will take away your sins and bad habits from the year before, giving you the chance to start over fresh. You can read more about my experience celebrating Loy Krathong here. It is a truly beautiful holiday. In some areas of the country, people also light large lanterns as another way of floating away the bad, leaving room for the good. It is a truly magical sight to see the floating lanterns and candles on the krathongs floating along at night!

Songkran

Another holiday that I love (and is quite possibly the most fun I have ever had) is called Songkran. This is usually held in April at the peak of the hot season and marks the end of the Thai New Year. The fun for this holiday comes from getting to join in on the biggest water fight I have ever been a part of! The idea is that by splashing each other with water, the people wash away the sins from the previous year, starting the new year fresh! It is so much fun and a hilarious way to spend a few days (the festival stretches over three days! That's a lot of water fun!). Getting to live in Thailand and be a part of these two festivals is something I will never forget! If you have to choose one time of the year to visit Thailand, try and plan it over one of these two cultural celebrations.

BONUS: Bum guns!

I couldn't write a list about why I love Thailand without mentioning one of my favorite things ever. So instead of 10 reasons why Thailand is way more awesome than the USA, you get 11!

If you were to get poop on your finger, would you wipe it off with dry toilet paper or wash it? Of course, you would wash it off (or at least I hope you would)! This is what a bum gun does for your bum after you…  you know, go Number Two. It essentially is a hand held bidet that showers your bum. While living in Thailand, my butt was always so clean!  I love bum guns so much that I bought one and immediately installed it in my bathroom once I arrived back home in the United States. Seriously… they are the BEST!

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Have you lived in or visited Thailand? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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