By: Yoliswa Mbathu
I have always known myself to be courageous, a risk taker and everything that embodies being an
optimist and this was truly a period where i got to see that i am fearless and filled with so much
faith. October 2023, i decided to officially resign from my Retail Corporate job. I left a space i
managed to cement myself in for 4 years, leaving it with no plan b or an employment option
readily for me to hop into. Leaving a full-time job in South Africa in the midst of the outrageous
unemployment state is absurd right? RIGHT!
Early 2024, when i decided to come out of my mini hiatus, i started looking at teaching jobs
abroad. After sending many online applications across the world, I came across SINE Education
which posted about available vacancies in Thailand. Now, i’ve always deemed Thailand as a
tourist destination, where i would go to break away from the noise, the busyness and just have
fun. It never dawned on me that i could actually hit two birds with one stone, work in Thailand and
still have the fun, be adventurous and be “Dora The Explorer”.
I sent my job application without any hesitation, i got an instant response and the whole
recruitment process was seamless, the next thing i knew i was stared in the face by a job
opportunity, an offer that would make me leave home, my comfort zone, everything i have always
known for the unknown. Then and there i knew very well that was the perfect time for a huge shift,
it was time to see the world with another perspective and hopefully a positive one.
I took a leap of faith, crossed oceans and all from Africa to Asia which is 9000+ kms/5000+ miles
apart because i deeply believed that all will workout.
I arrived in Thailand just a week before my 30th birthday, this was a new chapter in my book of
life, the move made so much sense, i was starting from scratch, everything was new, it was a
clean slate, an empty page. Who knew i would enter my thirties in Bangkok, at the Wat Arun
Temple, being blessed by Thai monks, doing some sightseeing and that’s all thanks to my
colleague Jason and his family.
I was welcomed with so much warmth from the learners, fellow teachers and as well as the locals,
this made my transition extremely smooth, this is also when i knew for sure that i made a great
decision of packing my bags and saying Sawadee kha to a new life in Thailand.
End of July 2025, i will be celebrating a year since i have made this big move and there hasn’t
been one day i have regretted relocating to Thailand, regardless of the language barrier which on
many cases i have been able to get by with body language, the little Thai i have learnt, little
chuckles and a smile, this place most definitely feels like a home away from home. From the
amazing Thai cuisines, the culture shocks, the HEAT/humidity, the friendliness, learning about the
Thai culture and many more, this was indeed the ordained move.
Thailand – the land of smiles, one would suggest that this is just a saying or PR for the country but
in all honestly, you just need to be here in order to experience it.
It has been quite a fairytale thus far, a year later and the warm reception, kindness of Thailand is
still surreal.
I have been dearly blessed to be in such an amazing community, where a stranger would offer you
an umbrella when it’s raining, bike drivers know your stops without you indicating. The Thais are
truly an epitome of Ubuntu (IsiXhosa/IsiZulu – South African languages) word that means
Humanity.
Apart from Retail, back in South Africa, i started creating football content in 2017, as a blogger
and later on the rest followed, being a vlogger, brand manager, sports radio host, social media
manager for various football clubs and it was quite heartbreaking that i had to up and leave all of
that behind and not being certain that i would be able to even physically attend a soccer game.
But, i have been privileged to be nearby one of the big stadiums, BG Stadium the home of BG
Pathum United FC popularly known as The Rabbits. That space has made me come alive
numerous times especially when i would miss home.
Many think it’s just 22 men chasing after a ball but it’s more than that, the stadium gives you that
exhilarating feeling, the cohesion amongst the sport supporters, hoping to delve into this some
other time.
Chon gâew, to many more good days and creating memories whilst making an empact with the
English Language.