How is Living Alone in Thailand as an International Student

Moving abroad for university sounds glamorous, and in many ways, it is. For me, moving from Myanmar to Thailand was a mix of excitement, fear, and endless curiosity. At first, I was thrilled by the freedom—nobody telling me when to sleep, what to eat, or how to spend my time. I could live on cereal for dinner three nights in a row without judgment. That sense of independence felt liberating, like I was finally in control of my own life.

But independence doesn’t come without challenges. When you live alone in a foreign country, you quickly realize there’s no safety net. If a pipe bursts, you figure it out. If you get sick at midnight, you figure it out. If your visa paperwork suddenly needs attention, well—you figure it out. Google translate and a lot of awkward hand gestures have become part of my everyday survival kit. And strangely, I’ve grown to love that resourcefulness in myself.

Living in Thailand has also meant immersing myself in a culture that was new and sometimes intimidating. My broken Thai often confuses locals, and Bangkok’s public transport system still feels like a puzzle some days. Yet every small success like finding my way home without Google Maps or ordering food in Thai without panicking, feels like a personal victory. These little wins have made me more adaptable, more patient, and more open-minded than I ever imagined I could be.

The best part of being here has been the people I’ve met. My university is filled with students from all over the world, and hearing their stories has broadened my perspective in ways no classroom could. At the same time, being away has given me a deeper appreciation for Myanmar. I notice it most when I explain my culture to others and realize just how much I value it. It’s as if leaving home has taught me how to love it more.

Of course, it’s not all excitement and growth. Loneliness creeps in, especially during festivals and family occasions. There are days when all I want is a home-cooked meal or the comfort of my parents’ voices. And then there are the responsibilities that never stop—bills, deadlines, cooking, cleaning, budgeting. Sometimes everything piles up at once, and it feels like life handed me a group project with no teammates.

The financial side is another challenge. I’ve learned budgeting the hard way—spending too much on Thai tea one week and surviving on instant noodles and sausages the next. And while social media often paints studying abroad as “living the dream,” the reality is more complicated. There’s pressure to look like you have it all figured out, even when you’re secretly just winging it and hoping things turn out okay.

Still, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. Every struggle, every awkward misunderstanding, every late-night meal of noodles has shaped me into someone more independent, resilient, and adaptable.