Before coming to Thailand I tried to research as much as I could about the country and one of the first things that struck me was that it was nicknamed "The land of smiles". I really did not understand the significance of the nickname until I actually got here. During my first week here I had contracted a very nasty flu, not wanting to spoil my trip I decided to go to into a pharmacy were an extremely nice pharmacists asked what I was feeling, she carefully listened to my every word and gave me the medicine she thought appropriate for my symptoms and as I left she waved and said "hope you feel better". It only got better when I meet Ajarn Yupa, my Thai advisor, she greeted me with a giant smile on her face and we spent the first day laughing despite of the language barrier. When it came time to travel to Korat for my research, she took such great care me I felt like I never left home. She would order foods she knew I liked and would wrap her arm around mine to help me cross the street as if instinctively knowing that I was afraid too. In fact, everyone in Thailand seemed to have the same instinct of wanting to help. Even our van driver, Mr.Naroung has become a wonderful friend that helps all of the SMRT and LSAMP students when they are need of anything, even if its something small like finding the chili sauce at a restaurant. I will also admit that although I have picked up some Thai words it is not enough to get me by so when I go shopping I am a typical foreigner asking how much something is in English but instead of getting nasty looks or being shunned the store clerks smile and try to answer as best they could. Random strangers on the street are even willing to help anyway they can. Yesterday a group of us got lost looking for a restaurant named "volcano", we ran into some students and asked if they knew how to get there but instead of just pointing us in the right direction they actually drew out a detailed map with a "you are here" and land marks to help us get there. There is a million more stories I can tell about the people here fortifying the idea that this land truly is the land of smiles, not just because people smile a lot but because everyone is so caring and genuine. This is an aspect of Thailand that I will never forget and a virtue I will carry with me the rest of my life.
by Crystal Cortez
by Crystal Cortez