Bintou Goes to Thailand

So when i had my first class blogging was completely new to me i was as my Nigerian folks would call it(J.J.C) meaning journey just come, so i had to learn how to create an account and post blogs so join me through my experience in the new world of technology!.... My experience begins here.As i embarked the flight connecting me to Senegal, leaving my family left me both sad, excited and determined. I know i would miss my Family my Mom and the rest of the Farewell crew because i never stayed that long away from them. But i was determined because as an 18 year old leaving for the first time to Asia it was indeed a giant step and one that didn't come too easy for many of my status so i considered myself lucky and intended to make the most of it. As i boarded long exhausting flights to my Destination random thoughts flooded my mind like who i would meet at the airport, would my baggage arrive as expected, how soon would i talk to my Mum and tell her about all the exciting people i met on transit. Interestingly on my flight from Ethiopia to Bangkok my neighbour sitting right next to me on the flight was a Senegalese(neighbouring country to the Gambia),so i was excited by this because i had someone to talk with who has a similar cultural background as mine for most part of the flight. So we talked about our study Majors and related topics,i eventually learnt a few about Architecture which is a very different major from mine, i admired his personality as he was a very unique kind of architect going to china to design a complex, this further motivated me as a student aspiring to achieve such a dream across the World so i daydreamed of success and all its compliments. So after getting bored from flipping through the various channels of TV, music and Entertainment i was attracted to the unopened magazine in front of me about Ethiopia and its rich culture i hoped to visit one day and learn their language as it excited and made me want to learn it, after exhausting that i figured i would be spending the night in the flight so i nuzzled up and looked forward to a bright and new day.

I woke up to the sound of the flight attended saying " sorry miss.. would you like your breakfast now please" at first i was like where am i? Then it hit me that i was still on my way so i ate breakfast and finally after a few hours we arrived The Bangkok International Airport. I quickly re checked my collection of phrases and made a mental note, so i was quick to say "sa ba dee kha"( hello) to the first and any Thai person i came across. Behold..Bangkok had to be the most well constructed,beautiful and biggest Airport i have ever been,so i looked around every other minute as i drank the sights and people in my surrounding i couldn't help but noticing little details such as how everything was so organised, the place being spotless clean, everyone busy doing something, people filling various documents etc. There and then i knew, my adventure and experience was just beginning.
After an hours flight to Chiang Mai the second largest city in Thailand i was picked up by an eager attendant a man called Thieu with my name on the board like in the movies, so i took a sigh of relief knowing that i wouldn't be lost like in the film " Home alone". I however realised that my baggage took longer than normal to appear so i got nervous and asked one of the attendants, but was relieved when she pointed out that i came to the wrong baggage port so Thieu quickly escorted me to claim my baggage and drove me an hours drive to the Dorm. During the drive he gave me a brief synopses about the university how he drove a series of other students on outings, and had to go pick a lot more later. I was excited but mostly exhausted so i look forward to a refreshing shower and then, getting around and meeting a few people hopefully for the Thai Studies programme.

We arrived at about 8:OO pm, disembarked and just as i stepped in i met one of the girls from the Thai studies group , she was very friendly and told me she just arrived herself, i immediately got more relaxed as i made my first contact and friend. So after going through paper work i went up to my room and met my roommate who happened to be Chinese, we exchanged hello's as i told her about my long route to Thailand so we went through the introduction, tour of the room, how to get around etc. I got comfortable and looked forward to a semester full of new experiences alien from my comfort zone, people and life style.I would keep you updated on my stay, living in Chiang Mai when next get the chance but til then.. Pob Gan Mai Kha( see you soon!!!)