Expat Life

International Schools – UK Universities – Year Abroad in Beijing – First Job in Bangkok

by Alice Osborne

Hi there, my name is Alice! I’m twenty -two years old and currently based in Bangkok. Not one for stereotypes, but definitely fit your perceived mould of a third culture kid – born in the UK but relocated to South East Asia at the age of two. I graduated from the University of Manchester in the summer of 2020 and now find myself starting a career in Bangkok with a blockchain company called SDLT. Exciting times!

To date, I have lived in a total of five countries: Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and England. What I don’t tend to tell people upon first meeting them is that I’ve moved between these countries eleven times over the last twenty -two years and can’t even begin to recall the number of times I’ve relocated to a new house… my intuitive guess would be to treble that eleven! How many times people have asked whether my parents are in the military or are diplomats – of which they are neither – I have also lost count of.

People can think what they like, but my parents didn’t come out to Asia twenty years ago as CEO’s or GM’s. They came as a loved -up, middle -aged British couple attracted to the region’s sensational potential. It was actually mum who drove dad to ‘go for it’ and pursue a career out here because ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’. Had she not then my story would be quite a bit different! People can think what they like but I come from a conscientious family that have given me opportunity not money. Forever grateful to my mum and dad for providing this extraordinary start in life, which I have worked incredibly hard to maximise.

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Just sharing with you how life can be

The article you’re reading today has no intention of being perfect, it’s about how I feel today and my journey. I’m not a journalist or a publicistpublished author, just sharing with you how life can be. My hope is that students, young professionals, and parents can read it and get some value about how they live their life going forward. If you’re a parent, that could be something as simple as loving your children andor letting them grow into who they want to be.

This piece explores my recent experiences with university in the UK, a year studying in China, working life in Bangkok, and also reflects broadly on my fifteen years in international education.

Feeling like a stranger in my country of birth

Education is the most defining aspect of my life so far, having been immersed in it since starting out at Singapore’s Brighton Montessori at the age of three. Nineteen of my twenty -two years have been shaped by the schools and university that I’ve attended. People say that third culture kids are the citisenscitizens of everywhere and nowhere. It wasn’t until I went to the UK for university that I understood what was meant by the latter…

Despite having spent the majority of my life in Asia, the feeling of being a stranger in my birth country was still surprising. It was the little things such as when native Brits would assume that I knew the staple TV show/musician/local pub they were referring to or casually used unfamiliar slang words. There were Western customs and normal ways of doing things that felt more unfamiliar to me than those in the foreign countries I had relocated to in the past. I preferred green tea to English breakfast for one.

You learn to understand people from different backgrounds, adapt to situations, remove expectations, embrace new things. Fast forward four years and now the deep connection to Manchester and the feeling of longing to return is what surprises me! The down-to-earth people, vibrant city, and independent coffee shops are among the things I miss most. It was difficult to have this chapter cut short so abruptly when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Hope to go back when it’s safe so I can see my wonderful boyfriend who I miss A LOTa lot.

The proudest moment of my time in education was graduating (virtually) with a degree in Business Management and& Mandarin, with first class honours and distinction in spoken Chinese. The icing on the cake to end this chapter was receiving the university’s most prestigious extracurricular accolade, the Stellify Award. Receiving my certificates was still brilliant, regardless of the fact a DHL mailman handed it to me instead of the School Directorthe Head of School.

Sure, I had a fair share of culture shocks when returning to the UK. Even more so when moving to China on my own – more about that to follow. But as any of us international students appreciate; the feeling is only temporary. We know it won’t be too long until that familiar sense of belonging greets us like an old friend, making a new place feel like a second/third/fourth/fifth (you get the picture) home.

A phenomenal year studying in Beijing

The most demanding but inspiring experience to date was the year spent studying abroad in China. Going to Beijing was the first major personal decision and challenge to face completely solo. It has to be said that I thought my spoken Mandarin would be good having studied it for almost 6 years… But upon landing in Beijing Capital International Airport quickly realised that I could not speak Mandarin in a way intelligible to locals, nor could I understand their native accents.

I enrolled on the 720 hour ‘Intensive Chinese Language Programme’ at Tsinghua University in Beijing, often referred to as the Oxford or Cambridge of Asia. The first month felt like it lasted a year. An unparalleled learning curve from a cultural and linguistic perspective. By the end of the two semesters, my command of the language had progressed substantially, and I was proud to pass level 5 of the HSK Chinese Proficiency test with a score of 261/300! There are 6 levels in total.

At Tsinghua, the access to insightful panels, lectures and speeches given by highly esteemed professors and experts from around the world was phenomenal. In my second semester I sought an internship at the Global Communications Office to write articles about these current affairs lectures taking place on campus. It was a personal first, writing for enjoyment rather than for an educational requirement. I developed an attachment to accurately representing the opinions/arguments of the speaker, as well as a fondness for adjusting the style of writing and selecting appropriate content in order make the article accessible for a wider audience.

Overall, my time in China was incredible beyond expectation. Personal highlights include camping on the Great Wall, strolls around the Summer Palace, boating across Longqing Gorge, karaoke in Pingyao Ancient City, and pitstops to eat dumplings at 2am on the cycle back to campus. Even the daily 8am Chinese classes hold a special place in my heart! Especially when followed by Hainan chicken rice for lunch in the canteen and a yummy bubble tea. Not such fond feelings towards the minus 20 -degree extreme winter weather… The memory of renting bicycles for my parents to tour the campus on a minus 10 -degree freezing cold day does make me smile though.

It’s incredible to be able to make friends and have contacts across the globe. The opportunity to continuously learn and explore through new people, places, and cultures is something I truly cherish. With age have I’ve definitely realised how central language is to understand and communicate with people on a deeper level. Now that I plan to work in Bangkok for a while, the Thai lessons have begun!

Starting a career in Bangkok with my first full-time job

When COVID-19 spiked in March, I hopped on a plane back to Bangkok to be with my parents and finish university remotely. Made it just in time before the borders shut! Considering the turmoil plaguing the world and seeing the majority of my fellow graduates in the UK firmly unemployed, I feltfelt extremely fortunate to find a job in Asia. The timing was ideal as the business had just begun rapid expansion. The company is called SDLT and specialises in distributed ledger technology a.k.a. blockchain.

Back in August at the start of the job as ‘Creative Media Publicist’, my technical knowledge wasn’t amazing. Six months down the line and I am becoming increasingly passionate about blockchain through regular research and related copywriting. Seems that I am realising its huge potential as leading businesses in of the post-COVID environment do so too! As creative lead at SDLT, I have been responsible for writing original technical articles, developing company branding and marketing materials, designing graphic and digital media about distributed ledger technology. Now that the domestic and international markets are ready for cutting -edge blockchain, work has been especially exciting with various press releases and networking events.

It’s been great to work in a dynamic, start -up environment within a team that is energetic and driven to the max. Flexible working habits which have become commonplace since COVID also mean I’m able to strike a great balance between professional and personal life. Many of my morning Tteams meetings on Teams have been happily spent at Luka Moto with an oat milk matcha latte in hand! Please reach out if anything I have’ve said strikes a chord with you, I’m always happy to meet for a matcha and a chat.

It’s already been such an outstanding journey to get to this point where my life as a working professional begins…!

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Looking back on the academic rigour of international education

Reflecting on my time at school in Asia, the biggest lesson learnt thing I’ve learnt is that being academically strong does not make you immune to the educational rigour systemically embedded in international schools.

In Singapore, I loved attending Tanglin and progressed to get excellent IGCSE grades during my eight years there. Teachers suggested that I would be suitable for the rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) for post -secondary education rather than A -levels, the route initially in mind. Last minute my family decided to move us to Thailand, where IB was the only option at Bangkok Patana School. Although being an all -rounder with strong IGCSE grades (6 A*’s, 4 A’s), I found the academic transition very demanding. The support of outstanding parents, teachers, and friends made all the difference!

The IB came with its own challenges, heightened by being the new girl again for my last two years of school. I struggled with maths and physics, two subjects that I had previously excelled at. On reflection, I could hav’vee been smarter with subject choices; higher level physics, economics, and business with standard level maths’ maths, mandarin, and literature was quite the killer combination. Not only for Uuniversity applications but also my energy levels!

Regardless of academic prowess, the IB taught me the importance of playing to your strengths and making balanced choices to avoid burnout. This has greatly benefitted my approach to university and work. During the two -year programme my brain held the largest quantity and diversity of information it has experienced to date, even university didn ’nott compare. The personal growth I experience throughout my time in education also went beyond intellectual development and academic success. I cCan’t believe I’m about to quote the ‘IB Learner Profile’, but it’s true. We do become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open -minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective.

Upon review it’s interesting to note that after leaving school, the greatest challenges I faced at university where not to do with the academics at all. Rather, they concerned cultural aspects of adjusting to independent life in the UK and studying abroad in China.

Throughout my education journey, I never knew what profession I would like to go into in the future. All I knew was that my heart was in Asia, so wanted to specialise in Mandarin instead of choosing a specific career path as a lawyer, doctor, or urban planner. I had also loved studying business at school. The University of Manchester offered the course best suited to these requirements, and I went with it despite unconditional offers from higher -ranking institutions like Kings College London, whose programmes didn’t have the Mandarin component. I did seriously consider abandoning the Chinese portion of the degree to go to a more prestigious university but am so glad my parents advised me to stick with it!

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Now it’s down to me!

It’s refreshing to look back and realise that the writing skills I have developed from a steady stream of academic essays can now be applied in my career.

Reflecting on the work so far with SDLT, I have written good copy that includes two of their entire websites, original blockchain insights, press releases, social media marketing posts, and materials for clients. This has prompted several realisations that 1. mMy writing skills extend beyond academic writing, 2. I enjoy writing, and 3. Wwould really like to see where a career in this could go.

So here I am writing my first personal perspective piece for Expat Life in Thailand! It’s not something I have done before and take my hat off to all the writers out there who use first person more than third. There’s considerable demand here in Thailand for quality English copy, whether that be magazine articles, blog posts, press releases, website content, social media posts, marketing brochures, you name it.

So, my plans for 2021 are to explore the freelance potential in this arena, keep learning about blockchain, dabble in an online coding course, rent my own place in Bangkok, start a food blog, and perhaps train for a half marathon. I’m also working on honing my written Mandarin so I can incorporate it into upcoming writing endeavours as there’s no doubt China will feature heavily in my future.

It’s been a challenging time as of late. I feel so fortunate to be close to my family, have stimulating work and great friends to explore the bustling city of Bangkok with.

BANGKOK: Thailand Ministers ponder the next steps to re-start it’s massive tourism industry, initially set for July 1, 2021 in Phuket. The plan may need to be overhauled as Phuket struggles to immunise the whole island in the wake of the third wave of hotspots. Phuket, prior to the third wave had already secured more than 100,000 doses and planned to receive an additional 930,000 doses by June. This would be enough for 70% of the population - the target needed to achieve herd immunity. The spike in Covid-19 cases has interrupted this plan, as vaccines must also be allocated to other provinces urgently to help fight the latest outbreaks.

Not deterred, the Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said he plans to meet next week with all relevant agencies to discuss the reopening plan, previously set for July this year. Eighteen provinces have now been declared red zones, with a partial lockdown and stay at home order. The alert warning was also raised across the rest of the country to orange, in all the remaining 59 provinces many of which had previously been green and considered safe.

Deciding to ignore expert warnings, the government allowed the Songkran holidays to go ahead, even adding an extra day. However no mass gatherings or water splashing were allowed.

(Songkran is the Thai New Year celebration which typically lasts 3-4 days, leading to a mass exodus of cities like Bangkok).

Last year, due to Covid-19, the holiday was cancelled. As a result of the holiday this year, a few outbreaks in Bangkok allowed the virus to spread widely. The Bangkok outbreaks centred on entertainment places; restaurant-pubs and nightclubs around the Thonglor area, plus a high-society wedding at a new riverside hotel, whose guest list included a number of government Ministers and prominent business leaders. The Covid virus from these few hotspots were quickly spread throughout the whole country, as people returned to their homes for the holidays. Unfortunately this was a perfect storm for spreading the virus. Up until this point, since the beginning of the pandemic, Thailand had only recorded 28,889 cases and 94 deaths as at April 1, 2021. Eighteen days later this has risen to 43,742 cases and 104 deaths. An increase in cases of 51 per cent.

During my recent visit to Hua Hin, empty beaches were very much in evidence already with the third wave leading to mass cancellations. Some resorts, previously 70-80 per cent occupied, saw domestic arrivals decimated. Already hurting from a lack of international visitors, this latest outbreak was a most unwelcome guest.

The question of re-opening Thailand to Tourism, starting with Phuket, has obviously taken a knock backwards. The Tourism and Sports Minster said, “The key determinant is insufficient vaccines, we are concerned about the re-opening timeline. We still need to discuss the vaccine administration plan. If the herd immunity goal cannot be achieved, we may have to consider opening only certain areas in Phuket,” he said.

However, to continue with the same plan, even with restricted zones, will not be easy as long as the country still has increasing new daily infections, said Minister Pipat.

“Most importantly, we still have to hear from other countries that we already started travel bubble negotiations with about their confidence regarding the same timeline,” he said.

Like Hua Hin, hotels in the North reported cancellations of more than 70 per cent with Chiang Mai a cause for concern and currently experiencing increased coronavirus cases. Prior to the pandemic, the province was a popular destination to celebrate Thai New Year.

Regrettably Minister Pipat is in self-quarantine after being in close contact with Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, who was diagnosed with Covid-19. The Minster fortunately has already received his first vaccination jab last month (AstraZeneca) and will remain in isolation until next week when all tests are complete (3 swab tests).

“The corona virus is here to stay,” said the Professor Ooi Eng Eong in the recent zoom webinar on “Covid-19 Vaccinations and Coping with Anxiety” organized by the Singapore Global Network. This was an expected but unwelcomed statement, a reality that most of us find it hard to swallow.

In any case, life since the COVID 19 pandemic has not been totally bad. We, as humans, have learned to cope, one way or another. Some good things have also come out of this pandemic.

I, for one, found out more about my neighborhood in Nonthaburi, a place that I have lived in for over 15 years but never had the chance to explore due to work and social commitments in Bangkok area. When the Thai government imposed a lockdown in April 2020, my husband and I started taking morning walks in our housing estate for exercise. At first, I would take a stick to ward off unfriendly dogs but we eventually figured out which sois to avoid. The anxiety of catching the virus made me lose some weight initially, to my great glee, but a few months later, my craving for good food surmounted to my desire to be thin. But not matter, I got into the groove of exercising and was in better health as a consequence.

For American-born Rose Marie Wanchupela, the proprietor of Rose Marie Academy who has made Thailand her home for the past 50 years, being stuck at home enabled her to relax and enjoy the ambiance of her cozy home and bountiful garden.

“After the initial lockdown ended and schools reopened and then closed down again, I was anxious about how our students would be affected,” said the former Peace Corps Volunteer who has been running the school for over 25 years. “Fortunately, they adjusted very well to online learning under the guidance of their teachers who all rose to the occasion. I am now confident that our students will succeed in learning regardless of circumstances such as what we we have just passed through.”

“Finally, I would say that it has been a struggle to fathom the millions of deaths and the destruction this pandemic has wrought upon us,” concluded Rose Marie. “To be empathetic and to carry on a normal life at the same time is a dilemma and a real challenge I face. Knowing we are all in this together is fortifying and reassuring.”

For Chinese-American Michele Chan Grover who lived in Thailand before moving to Canada, she and her Canadian husband, Paul, stayed home for most of the part since Covid-19 restrictions were stricter in Canada than Thailand.

Nonetheless, exercise was something they never neglected. Bike riding, walks and runs continued to be part of their daily lives in the summer and fall. And when winter came, skiing and walks were their regular routine.

When gatherings with family and friends came to a halt, they started Zoom calls with family and friends instead of having people come over for dinner. Zoom calls were something they had not done before, but this activity quickly caught on and became a superb and crucial technique to keep in touch to family and friends.

“When indoor gatherings were not allowed, we had outdoor dinners on our porch (just among the family) and we still kept 6 ft apart from each other,”said Michele. “We also had friends, just one couple at a time and sat in the garden, often around the fire pit, in the evenings in the summer.”

House cleaning and getting rid of unused stuff also become another routine activity.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, we went through our storage area and got rid of a lot of things — old textbooks, notes and photos,” expounded Michele. “We also did a bunch of home maintenance stuff, painting, chopping wood, going through old books, uncluttering.”

Husband Paul also found the time and inclination to learn to play the guitar which opened up a whole new world for him.

“It was something he had always been interested but never made the time,” said Michele. “He found a great website which is free and learned from a young instructor who is so good at his job that now Paul is always serenading me.”

“I myself started a drawing programme through a book which I have had for 30 years, but like Paul’s guitar, never finding the time…”

“Paul and I realized quite early on how lucky we were in spite of the pandemic,” added Michele. “We don’t have young kids and have to worry about their schooling,” Michele concluded. “We don’t have to worry about losing a job. We have a nice place to live, friends and family to zoom, have the ability to go out and exercise and be outdoors to socialize, and enough resources to keep us from getting depressed. We have learned to be super grateful.”

Danai Chandrangam, General Manager of GT Auto Co., Ltd., had this to say about his Covid experience.

“The pandemic taught me to be happy with what we have,” said the Netherland-born Thai-Dutch who made Thailand his permanent home when he moved here to work after he graduated from university. “I have come to appreciate the thoughtfulness and support I received from my loved ones during these stressful times. Life would have been a lot more difficult without their understanding and encouragement.”

“On a general scale, it was wonderful to see that the Thai people abided by the Covid-19 prevention rules enforced by the Thai government strictly and without resentment,” commented Danai. “Whether they agreed with it or not, people cooperated for the benefit of everyone around them.”

For someone who led a socially active life, Covid 19 caused a marked change in Danai’s lifestyle.

“My wife and I started staying home more. We cooked and ate at home and found that I actually enjoyed staying home and felt more relaxed. After the rules were eased, we had small gatherings with friends and family members and we came realize how important the time spent with these people are to us and we came to cherish these times more than before.”

“I became more health conscious to minimize the possibility of getting the virus infection and as a result, became heathier and did not get sick at all during the past 12 months,” added Danai.

“Workwise, it was tough,” Danai acknowledged. “I had to make many unpleasant decisions. Thankfully, most of our staff were supportive. It was a great team effort where many executives rose to the occasion and worked tirelessly to achieve their targets.”

“Another blessing in disguise was the Bangkok traffic,” said Danai with a big smile. “With people staying home more, the traffic got lighter, to the delight of many of us.”

“One regret that I have though is that my parents who live in Holland could not visit us last year.”

Danai’s Thai father and Dutch mother usually visit Thailand once or twice a year, spending a few months in the country during each visit.

“It is sad that we were also not able to fly over to see them. Of course, we stay in touch with WhatsApp and so on, but nothing beats face-to-face contact. I hope this issue will be solved by the end of this year.”

“All in all, people are more resilient that we give them credit for. Many found creative ways to make a living. They don’t give up but move on with enthusiasm, courage and hope.”

Similar to Danai, New York-born Dar Lim Chakrabandhu who has lived in Thailand for more than 30 years, said that not being able to travel overseas during that pandemic was one thing she really missed.

“But I’m basically a home body so it’s been fine for me,” said the owner of The Vintage Shop and Very Vintage Jewelry. “I have started reading daily which I used to do but didn’t have the time. I have also tried out new recipes and some gardening techniques that would not have gotten my attention before the pandemic.”

“I think it has brought me closer to friends and relatives living far away. Previously, I did not correspond with as often as I should have,” Dar Lim added. “Covid 19 sure has made me value my relationships so much more,”

“I also got around my local neighborhood and discovered some nice little gems I may not have checked out before,” said Dar Lim, who spends most of her time in Chiang Rai where her family’s Katiliya Mountain Resort and Spa is located. “We found some new businesses and cafes and restaurants that are now regular stops for us.”

As far as advice for young people regarding jobs, Dar Lim recommends that now is the time for soul searching, especially for those who are out of a job.

“One needs to decide what work would bring you joy through all of the madness going on around us. It may be necessary to learn something new or return to university for further studies.”

“During tough times there are always new opportunities if you keep your eyes and ears open,” she continued. “Right now, anything having to do with the medical field, pharmaceuticals or research offers endless possibilities. As well as work in the field of energy and products and services that have climate change in mind. Many new businesses started during this pandemic will be around for years to come.”

“No matter what the circumstances are around us, life goes on,” Dar Lim added practically. “Some couples may choose not to have children given the state of the world and that’s OK. For those who want to start a family, now may not be the time if you are having financial stress. Or if you are affected by the news each day, that would only add undue worry while pregnant. If you are anxious to start a family and are financially secure and in good health, then go for it. But remain vigilant avoiding any risks while Covid-19 is still with us.”

“I think that Covid-19 will not end but be with us forever like the flu. But we will be able to manage it through vaccines and revised inoculations as time goes on. It will be a few more years before we start to really understand this disease and have enough research to truly be confident about making predictions.”

Covid-19 has taught us to stop, step back, and look deeply into our own lives to figure out where we go from here. It also taught us to appreciate the simple things in life, be it a pleasant cool breeze that brushed our faces during our early morning walk or a nice hot cup of coffee that tasted so good because we did not rush to finish it to beat the traffic to get to work. And stay optimistic and be confident that the answers to our dilemmas will come to we when we calmly think things through.

About the author.

Netra Ruthaiyanont is currently the Marketing Director of GT Auto Co., Ltd., authorized Volvo Car Retailer. The former member of the print media enjoys writing stories about travel, education and the challenging lives of women.

On the face of it, a global pandemic should be perfect for a writer. It requires society to keep itself at arms length, maintain a respectable social distance, visit nowhere, apart perhaps from the pharmacist or the greengrocer. It should be a boon for a writer. There is a perceived wisdom; all a writer needs is an idea, a pen and lashings of solitude – right? Well, only partly right. Let me explain.

I was last in my beloved Thailand, a year ago. It was there, as I prepared for a brief visit to Europe, an expat friend questioned my judgement.

‘Flying back to London, Frank? Are you sure? This Covid thing looks worse there than here. I’d stay put if I were you.’

This was March 2020, and the early days of the plague. Thailand had been one of the first countries, after China, to report cases and some were holding their breath, waiting for the disease to grip. In England, people were only just beginning to look over their shoulders; still telling themselves it was someone else’s problem.

‘I have to get back; I have some banking to sort out.’ I replied indifferently.

All true; I was in the middle of buying an apartment and needed to sort out the finance. Something also told me I might be better off in England though; for a while anyway. Europe would handle the crisis better and once the dust had settled, I’d be back. A few short months should do it. How wrong I was; particularly because the apartment in question was in Chiang Mai…

Back in the watery sunshine of a Sussex Spring, I quickly sorted out my funding and sat down to scope out the new novel. It was to be set in nineteenth century Siam – a political and espionage thriller, with a cast of vibrant English and Siamese characters. I was excited. Then, as my thoughts started to come together, the Thai travel restrictions were announced. I convinced myself that by August all would be well, so with plot ideas rumbling around in my head, and an assortment of scribblings, I settled down to write the first chapters in England.

One of the challenges of writing a historical novel, set in a faraway country, is to deliver authenticity. I pride myself on realism, and I relish the chance to research the terrain. To be honest, the exploration is usually the best part of creating a story – that, and the sense of total immersion. When writing my earlier novels, I’d spent extended periods in some of the remoter parts of Thai border country, meeting folk who treated ‘farang’s’ as amusing novelties. I trudged up mountain trails, through dense, bird filled forests, to descend to sparkling river valleys. I always wanted a chance to experience what my characters might have felt. But now, here I was, marooned in a flat just outside Brighton, and worse, I was stuck in a cramped loft space with a view over Tesco’s carpark, with strict orders to stay put.

I reverted to the internet for company, but informative as it was, the feel, the atmosphere, the essence of the place I aspired to write about was somehow missing. I tried to imagine myself back; I yearned for the solitary veranda in Baan Nam Suaay, with its view over emerald green rice fields, the smell of lemongrass, the shack I’d rented above the western reaches of the Mekong River, the spice market in Nong Khai; I could go on. After a month of wrestling with the wrong words, I gave up on ancient Siam – nothing worked. To write about Thailand, I needed to be there. The internet and the guide books were no substitute for serendipity and boots on the ground.

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Instead, I turned my hand to writing a thriller, set in Victorian London. Suddenly, Brighton’s Covid lockdown seemed to be an advantage. It was easier to imagine the cold cobblestones of foggy London streets than the grand majesty of Wat Arun at dawn. Simpler in my mind’s eye to visualise a shrouded hansom cab against a lamp lit Thames embankment than a rickshaw bumping down a track by a bustling Chao Phraya river. But there were still distractions. I developed a new and morbid fascination for the Coronavirus statistics of death – the growing pandemic was providing plenty of those. The figures now read like a lopsided and gruesome tally from a Somme battlefield. The United Kingdom 110,000 – The Kingdom of Thailand 79. Goodness!

But, by this time, my forced isolation had started to focus my mind. Gone were the invented diversions; the unnecessary shopping trips and car rides to country pubs. I had no visitors, and when I turned my phone off, I had no calls. I became absorbed in the London of Jack the Ripper.

But then, just as my new project was beginning to show some promise, officialdom struck, and the whole equilibrium of my imprisoned existence would take a nasty jolt. I thought I had become immune to the many and sometimes charming quirks of Thai bureaucracy, but this experience left me scratching my head. The saga began shortly before I’d left Thailand a few months earlier. I had a tax bill to pay; it was connected to the Chiang Mai apartment that I was buying. The Land Office, quite rightly, wanted their money. So, I took myself to my local bank, and from my savings account, I withdrew a cashier’s cheque to cover the new demand.

At this point, almost before the ink had dried, Thailand’s Covid defences started to manifest themselves. Police barriers went up on the beach road, and there was talk of quarantine. Abruptly, the Land Office closed its doors to all comers, including me. Three weeks passed before they opened for business once more, but by that time I’d returned to England and had already started to despise the view of my Sussex supermarket. On presentation, the Land Office advised that the cashier’s cheque was no longer valid – it was past its sell by date – literally. Another would be required. No worries, I thought; irritating perhaps, but not insoluble. I contacted my branch by phone from England, a kind lady banker took on board my request and without hesitation she issued a brand new cheque on my behalf. The Land Office duly accepted it, and my tax debt was paid – everyone was happy. There was just one thing required; to tie up the loose ends. I had to cancel the original cheque, and get the sum repaid into my account. I called them once more. But this time, the transaction would not prove to be so easy.

I would need a power of attorney, the bank said. It would have to be prepared in Thai and English and signed by me (in blue ink). Then, in the following order, a notary lawyer in UK, The British Foreign Office, The Royal Thai Embassy in London and finally, once returned to Thailand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok would have to add its moniker and stamp to it. The power of attorney would have to be accompanied by a signed copy of my passport photograph page, a signed copy of the relevant visa page, a signed copy of my bank book, and a signed copy of my appointed agent’s Thai ID card. The last signature, from the bank itself, would finally enable them to return my money. With a sigh of surrender, and realising that there was no point in remonstrating, I set myself up, square jawed, to tackle the task. Unfortunately, the Victorian novel stalled as a result, as I became obsessed with this new challenge.

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Eventually the great day arrived; I had obtained all the required signatures. I shipped the papers back. But when presented with the wad of signed and stamped documents, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided that in order to process the application, I would need a second power of attorney; this to authorise my appointed agent to apply to them to legalise the first power of attorney…

I’ve tried to remain calm… but one question keeps repeating itself; it was vaguely teasing at first, gently reproachful perhaps, but with each asking, it has become ever more strident, ever more accusatory.

‘Frank! Why the hell did you abscond from Thailand in the first place? Now look what’s happened. Your tour de force Siamese novel has been put on ice, your half baked Victorian thriller is less than three chapters old, the destiny of your money is in the hands of overseas officialdom, the only people you see are hooded shapes pushing shopping trolleys, and despite your appalling isolation, you are closer to contracting Covid than ever before. What were you thinking about, man?’

There is absolutely no doubt. The glitches of local officialdom may have been mind-bendingly frustrating. But more than ever, I am missing Thailand horribly, painfully. The smell of lemongrass, the Indochine spice market in Nong Khai, the sound of bamboo on a windy day, the taste of Khaw Khaw Hmu, the borrowed shed on the banks of the brown Mekong, my battered motorbike, and even the screech of the damn cockerel that used to wake me most mornings to mark the sun rise of another Isaan day. A year has passed since my banishment, and it looks like it will be many more months before this terrible scourge is conquered. Life must go on – I will survive.

I just wish I was surviving in Buriram, not Brighton.

Frank Hurst is an English author who writes crime and adventure novels about Thailand

Website: Frankhurst.com