Ik ben Pan uit Thailand

‘Ik ben Pan. Ik ben een uitwisseling student van Thailand en ik ben zeventien. ‘

'Life of exchange student isn't across of the road of roses.' Said the director of YFU Thailand. Now I understand what she means.

Last year in the middle of August I had left from Thailand with my empty knowledge about Belgium. Okay, Maybe the good chocolates and waffles. First step at the airport I just thought in my mind ‘OMG! , I’m here! Far from my hometown more than 10000 miles!’ Then I met my host family! The host father, host mother and the little host sister that just 8 months old. They have been in Thailand once so they know more or less about my country.

It was very hard for me in the first week. I couldn’t speak Dutch, also not good enough English and everything was completely different! So my first week here is the week that I just keep crying! Haha . That’s sound bad, right? But the week after everything was getting better. School started! At school I follow publiciteitsgrafiek class with a lot of lesson about art. This is also one of all the things that different. I didn’t learn anything about art before. I like it very much! I’m VERY LUCKY that I got a very very wonderful class. My classmate always helps me to translate and teach some Dutch! They asked me to visit Antwerpen and shopping together!

After 2 months everything looks fine until… I have to move to another family by some reason. I started to cry again. I didn’t know where I would go, even maybe I have to go to another school! YFU helps me a lot. So! I had met my new host family, host parents and two little sisters. My host mu m can bake the best waffles and also my host dad is the best chef. haha :D So it seems back to be cool again!

Now I’m here 7 months already! Times go fast and never wait for anyone! I had learned a lot and also traveled a lot! 'Life of exchange student isn't across of the road of roses.' Yes! It’s true. But don’t forget that it doesn’t mean that that road doesn’t have some roses, right? :D