Color of the Day

The Thais have predetermined colors for every day of the week, based on the Hindu God who protects the specific day. You'll find that many Thais observe the "Color of the Day," matching their color schemes to those below.

HM King Bhumibol's color is yellow, because he was born on a Monday. Likewise, if you were born on a Friday, your color would be blue.



Sunday: Red
Monday: Yellow
Tuesday: Pink
Wednesday: Green
Thursday: Orange
Friday: Blue
Saturday: Purple

Bangkok Seasons

Hottest Season- March to May
I can’t even begin to explain how hot it is during this season. You’ll find yourself only walking a couple blocks… and already looking for the nearest 7-11 for an air-conditioning break. You will sweat so much you’ll actually ruin clothes. During this season, you'll learn to enjoy the finer indoor Bangkok attractions (malls, movies, bowling) and stick to the, literally, coolest form of transportation (the sky train).

Rainy Season- June to October
They don’t call it “monsoon” season here, because technically it’s not. But either way, you are pretty much guaranteed rain, and a lot of it. My advice is buy a durable umbrella in America because when the sky opens up, it really opens up!

Cool Season- November to February
Cool season is sort of a myth to me. It’s cool enough for a Thai student to wear mittens and a jacket to school, but I still sweat teaching. There are some mornings and evenings when it’s a little cooler, like 70 degrees, but you don’t need to pack an overabundance of pants or long-sleeves.

Work Dress Codes

What to wear if you're a female
Flats or heels with closed toes
Skirts that go below your knees
Blouses that aren't revealing
Dresses that go below your knees (Warning: Many teachers only wear dresses if they're pregnant, so your students might think you're expecting.)

Female "Don'ts"
Don't wear slacks, khakis or capris to school
Don't wear tones of black for your shirt and your skirt unless you're in mourning

What to wear if you're a male
Slacks, pressed khakis
Black socks
Professional shoes
Button-down shirt
Tie
Properly shaved

What to Pack

Compiling a list of things to bring to Bangkok can be a daunting task. It's a country you've probably never visited, a culture you've probably never experienced and a job with which you've probably had little experience.



Here are the things I found important to bring:
-Favorite medicine (Your favorite brands, but all kinds of medicine are available at over-the-counter pharmacies throughout the city)
-Favorite deodorant (It's nearly impossible to find stick deodorant for guys)
-Teaching clothes
-No more than 2 pairs of jeans (It's hot and humid almost all year)
-Traveler's Checks
-Favorite sunscreen
-Bug spray with high DEET %
-Queen sized bed sheets
-"American" things for your students (the young ones love stickers)

-Guide books for any country you're planning on visiting. I highly recommend the Lonely Planet guidebooks.

-Big jug of hand-sanitizer from Target (you'll use a lot of it)

Don't overpack with clothes. Clothes are very affordable ($3-$15 will buy just about anything at the markets and bargaining malls). You'll likely double your wardrobe while you're here, so pack accordingly.