Ten Things Learned from Living in Thailand
“Come with more money than you think you need and spend less than you think you should.
Scott Mallon, Writer and Photographer
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One reason why I have always loved traveling and seeing the world is doing so provides you with insight and experience and the opportunity to learn about the world first hand.
Human beings who stay curious and continue learning, keep the will to live. Once the desire to learn stops, the mind dies. Then the spirit dies and finally, the body gives out and dies.
Below are ten of the many things I have learned so far from living in Thailand. This list is not comprehensive nor is it exclusive to Thailand.
1. Count on your self - parents strive to make their children self-reliant. Seeing Thais struggle in daily life opened my eyes. Providing food, clothing, and shelter and learning how to handle the majority of situations is a constant battle. While asking for help or guidance is okay in some circumstances, self-reliance remains foremost. I prefer to stay in a hotel than
We need to respect our elders, if not for any other reason than they have managed to survive longer than we have and might have something to offer.
9. A smile goes a long way 
It sounds so cliché but smiling costs nothing. Smiling also makes you feel better and lightens the mood, opening the door to conversation and friendship. When I first came to Thailand, I was leery of others. I was ready to fight if I thought someone did something inappropriate. What I realized was this was my way of overcompensating for my own fear. Better to smile. Smiling goes a long way, often diffusing tension and putting people at ease.
10. We all want the same thing 
We all want the same thing; a roof over their head, enough food to eat, a decent education, a loving family, fulfilling relationships, a better life for our children, and health and