Being a volunteer in Thailand is an amazing experience, but it also comes with some challenges. When I first arrived in Khon Kaen, almost everything was new to me. The language, the culture, the food, the school and even the way people communicate were different from what I was used to in Austria.

One of the biggest challenges is definitely the language barrier. Most of the students I teach have only basic English skills, and I cannot speak Thai very well. Sometimes I want to explain something simple, but the students do not understand me. I have learned to use gestures, pictures, simple words and a lot of patience (and Google Translate as a last resort).

Another challenge is getting used to the Thai school system. In Austria, I was used to lessons being quite structured and students usually being expected to sit quietly and listen. In Thailand, the atmosphere can be very different. Sometimes there are many students in one classroom, and keeping everyone attention can be difficult.

There are also cultural differences. Especially the way of communicating is very different to my home. In Austria you normally talk or text someone directly about plans or problems and try to always effectively give information to other people. In Thailand people don't like to be direct and information doesn't always get to us volunteers because of that.

However, these challenges are also what make the experience so valuable. They force me to leave my comfort zone, become more patient and learn how to adapt. Being a volunteer is not always easy, but that is part of what makes it such a memorable experience.

When I first came to Khon Kaen, one of the things I was most excited about was trying Thai food. As a volunteer from Austria, I was used to European food like

schnitzel, pasta, pizza, bread and potatoes. Thai food was something completely different.

At my school, we get food every day. During lunchtime, I usually eat the food provided at school, while also seeing the students eating from a distance. One thing I noticed immediately was that rice is everywhere. In Austria, we often eat pasta, noodles or potatoes with our meals, but here in Thailand, rice is the most important food.

At first, I was a little nervous about the spicy food, even though I have always liked to eat spicy. I adapted to it very quickly and soon discovered that I could eat food as spicy as Thai people eat it already, without having any digestion problems.

Another interesting thing is, that Thai food often tastes sweet, sour, salty and spicy at the same time. In Austria, our food is usually less spicy and less sweet and has a different style of seasoning overall.

What I really like about food culture in Thaiand is, that you can always very easily get something to eat. Food is available almost everywhere, at every time, for very cheap prices. There are markets, food courts and convenience stores everywhere and when you are in the city you never have to be hungry or thirsty.

Even though Thai and Austrian food are very different, both cultures use food to bring people together. And after months in Thailand, I have to admit: I really miss Austrian bread – but I will definitely miss Pad Kra Pao and Pad Thai too.