Life in the paradise land of Thailand is starkly different from that in the European continent. Europe is a vast continent with its share of cultures, heritages, languages and history. But the lifestyle there is starkly different from that in the panoramic Thailand. Living as a Thai in Europe has its share of difficulties. Just like any other instance of adjusting as a foreigner in a different country, this too takes some time and effort.
Differences in culture
While living as a Thai in Europe, the first stumbling block one might come across will be the stark difference in lifestyles and culture. Europeans are more of the free spirited kind. But the Thai culture, being more on the lines of Asian culture, is more restrained and modest. A Thai in Europe may initially face problems in gelling with the prevalent culture of the European country he/she has moved into. The strict disciplined way of life of a Thai may clash with the free spirited banter of the European. Also, the food habits, accents and even the behavioral attitudes will be quite different. But that is a part of adjusting in a foreign land. Once the cultural barrier is surpassed, the other barriers will seem comparatively trivial.
Adjusting to the climate
This would perhaps be one of the primary factors that the Thai in Europe will find to be different. The climates of Thailand and the European countries are poles apart. Thailand has a steady hot and humid climate, with long summers and short spell of dry winters. On the other hand, the continent of Europe boasts of a temperate and continental climate. The weather keeps on varying a lot too. Western Europe is known for its mild weather – though it can get too hot at times. But the Eastern or Southern Europe regions experience most of the climatic fluctuations. As a Thai moving into Europe, it becomes important to choose a country that will best suit the person and not give him a difficult time.
Fears of racism
For a Thai tourist visiting Europe, racism will not be much of an issue. But for someone who is going to live in Europe, racism could be one of the potential threats that will make life stressful in the new country. In Europe, racism against Asians is common. But it is not equally prevalent in every region. As a Thai in Europe, it becomes important to choose neighborhoods and regions where racism is the least. Also, the occasional racist remarks thrown at the new foreigner living in the neighborhood will take some getting used to.
The bright side
Europe has a large percentage of Asian population which includes large chunks of Thai people. Barring the basic cultural and geographical differences, usually a Thai in Europe will be able to adjust well in the European scenario. The free spiritedness of the Europeans and the friendliness of the Thai are helpful in breaking the ice. With the rapid globalization of the world, inter cultural co-existence is no longer a taboo.
