The UK is often associated with its football team and accent, and it has always been a dream of mine to visit one day. As an Asian girl, UK culture has had a significant impact on my life. I remember my brother and I trying to emulate Adele’s accent, which was a lot of fun. Growing up, I watched UK shows such as Harry Potter, James Bond, Game of Thrones, and of course, Mr. Bean. These shows are a big part of my childhood memories. Social media has only increased my desire to experience the UK firsthand. In my mind, the UK is like the southern part of Thailand because of its frequent rain and the busy yet unique lifestyle. The architecture is reminiscent of jazz music – old but timeless.
In the next few weeks, while I am in the UK, I am excited to explore the city of London and fulfil my childhood dream. My plan is to visit Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant to taste some classic British dishes like fish and chips. Then, I want to take a stroll around Oxford Street and experience what it’s like to be a British local for a day. Of course, I can’t miss the opportunity to visit some of the famous palaces and witness the King’s Guards parade. Lastly, as a die-hard Manchester United fan, I must visit their football field to complete my trip to the UK.
Last year, I had the opportunity to make friends from the UK. I hope we can catch up and talk about what’s happened since we last met.
This is my first time travelling to Europe, and I’m excited but also a bit nervous. I’m going with some friends, and we’re hoping for a warm welcome from the University of Westminster when we arrive in the UK. This isn’t just a sightseeing trip for us; we’re actually going to attend a conference and represent Kasetsart University in Thailand. We’re looking forward to making new friends, learning about all the topics presented at the meeting, and understanding the differences between Thai and UK education so we can discuss them together. As Thais, we’re also curious to know what British people think about us and how much they know about our country.
I am hoping that when my friends and I return to Thailand, we can happily share our experiences from our trip to London. This trip has given us the chance to enhance our communication skills, especially our English language proficiency. We truly appreciate the collaboration between Kasetsart University and Westminster University and hope that such opportunities are available to other new students in the future. Lastly, since I don’t know when I will have the chance to visit the UK again, I hope that this trip will always remain remarkable in our hearts.
Suphanarpha Boonkant, Faculty of Social Science, Law, Kasetsart University