Teaching in Thailand is a rewarding job. Although the school week can be hectic, there is always a sense of accomplishment at the end of every week! It is always great to see the students becoming more confident with their English speaking and to see them become more comfortable around you as the term progresses. However, like any teacher faced by crying students and chaotic classrooms, I happily welcome the weekend- and weekends in Bangkok have a lot to offer!
Friday
On Friday afternoons, I usually write up a lesson-plan for Monday so I am ready to enjoy my free time. I tidy my desk, gather new resources for the following week and then I am ready to clock out! Usually, Friday evenings are a great time to meet up with other teachers. After a busy week, most teachers like to enjoy the local area instead of venturing into the city centre. This might involve heading to a local market for some Thai food, or going to a local Thai bar later on in the night. Sometimes both- and this is a great way to soak up Thai culture! It is great to make friends with local people and enjoy popular Thai music. Plus, this keeps Friday night both cheap and enjoyable.
Saturday
Saturdays tend to be the busiest part of my weekend… but still quite chilled of course! I always allow myself to lie in as someone who is more of a night owl! As Thai schools usually start early, with lessons beginning at 8am, I welcome the lazy start of a Saturday morning. However, after eventually getting ready, I am usually eager to head into the city with my friends. My life in Bangkok offers a great balance of experiencing different aspects of the Thai lifestyle, as I live in a more local area, but can explore the city centre on my weekends. My friends and I have finally conquered the metro lines (which happened to be quite simple) and use it as transportation into the centre. It takes around 30 minutes, and only 45 baht (£1!), to get into the more touristy areas of Bangkok.
I have some favourite spots in the city centre. Song Wat Road and the nearby Talat Noi are the perfect weekend spots. Although a little more expensive and gentrified, these neighbourhoods offer window shopping, little cafes, hidden bars, and winding side streets. These areas are full of free exhibitions and trendy street art, perfect for photo opportunities! Chinatown is also a favourite weekend spot of mine. It still offers cheap food whilst being in the city centre. A meal usually costs around 80 baht (£2) which still shocks me when I realise I’m in central Bangkok! And the bustling atmosphere is unbeatable! As you can imagine, I never get bored of returning to these spots.
Of course, Saturday night is usually the perfect opportunity to check out nightlife in the city. Although I am a big fan of a local Thai bar, some of the clubs in Bangkok are nothing like you would see back in England! A favourite of mine is Emsphere- a mall which has a top level full of bars and clubs that open after the regular shops close.It was a first of mine to pass through IKEA on the way into a club! Also, for more of a treat, it can be amazing to visit a rooftop bar and see the views of the city I am lucky enough to live in! The backpackers’ haven of Khao San Road still remains mine and my friends’ go to for a cheap night out- sometimes you can’t beat the infamous buckets!
Sunday
Sundays are a lot quieter. Normally I keep Sunday as a chill day, after doing most of my venturing out on a Saturday. Of course, a lazy lie in remains vital before the early Monday start! After I finally get up, I either grab food from my local market, go for a swim at my condo’s pool or spend the afternoon watching movies in my flat. My favourite Sunday comfort meal has to be Pad See Ew, a yummy dish of soy sauce noodles. (Unfortunately, my months in Thailand haven’t increased my spice tolerance).
Sometimes my Sundays are simply filled with boring jobs like laundry and cleaning, or my friends and I venture out for a relaxed day. Luckily, we live next to the local mall, which is big enough to easily get lost in for a while. It also has a cinema that shows movies in English! A short Grab drive away is a floating market which has arts and crafts beside the river- a perfect Sunday afternoon activity! I also try to look over my lesson plan for Monday, so I feel prepared.
Overall, my weekends in Thailand are all about balance. After a hectic school week, the weekends are the perfect opportunity to wind down and relax. However, sometimes after a week of routine and work, weekends in Bangkok are all about exploring and enjoying the nightlife of a megacity. Bangkok is a city that offers everything you could think of, making it perfect for any type of weekend! Teaching abroad is not always easy, and adapting to a new culture takes time, but once you create a balance between work and weekends, life in Thailand quickly begins to feel like home. Teaching comes with its ups and downs, but the experiences like those I find in my free time are what makes living in Thailand so rewarding.
