Bangkok

A visit to the Goethe-Institut Bangkok picturesquely situated between skyscrapers offers a surprise.

The surprise is 26 years old, named Elizabeth Kynast and comes from – of all places – Leipzig. The young lady has completed degrees in English, German and – I must make sure I spell it properly – onomastics. “I work as a volunteer in the cultural field here at the Goethe-Institut as part of the two-year-old Kulturweit project funded by UNESCO and the Foreign Office,” relates Elizabeth. She is very happy that she is properly integrated here and not given the typical trainee tasks of making copies and coffee. Within the year, she will have the opportunity to become familiar with every department.

“Although it is my first time in Asia, I don’t feel the least bit foreign,” assesses the Leipzig native. For although Bangkok is “simply overwhelming” compared with her hometown, the people at the institute – among them many Thais – have made her introduction very easy. Only the language causes her some minor problems. “It’s astonishing how little I can remember – although I quite see myself as a little talented in languages.” She will see if the Thai course can help. The language is certainly beautiful and nice sounding – as the first and last name Kantaporu Vivatanapaiboonlap demonstrates. Elizabeth also still needs to get used to the fact that she is not sure how far one can go in criticizing Thai people, as they do not like to lose face. “I hope I’ve never gone too far in that respect.”

Another minor problem for her: “I don’t like spicy food at all,” says Elizabeth. So far she’s been able to avoid it, but for that, she’s already been “out to eat insects.” “Locust is very delicious, tastes a bit like crisps,” says the visitor to Bangkok. By contrast, “ants and caterpillars are not so great,” in other words disgusting.

Her hopes for her time remaining here, besides plenty of independent work at the Goethe-Institut, include “eating my way through the extremely diverse Thai cuisine” over the coming months, learning more of the language, completing the planned photography and salsa course and also “to be allowed, as a non-believer, to spend a week or so in a convent as a Buddhist nun.” What she misses in Bangkok is chiefly “a city centre as a place to go, the pedestrian zone, streets you can walk on or reach anywhere by bike.” Sadly, cycling in Bangkok involves putting one’s life on the line.