Bangkok, or as Thai people say Krung Thep, means the City of Angels. After spending three months in the city that never sleeps, interning at the JW Marriott Bangkok, I would like to share with you my experiences of living and working in such a dynamic metropolis.
A Homecoming – so to speak.
It was a homecoming for me because I grew up in Thailand and spent the first 18 years of my life there. My family still lives there, so the surroundings weren’t entirely new to me. However, this was my first time experiencing Thailand in a professional capacity, and I realised how different it was to change my perspective on this country.
Navigating the City
I lived about 20km outside the city center, which made my daily commute one of the most challenging parts of the experience. Without traffic, the drive to work would take me about 30 minutes. Rush hours were not to be underestimated. They turned my commute into a one- to two-hour journey. Timing was everything – leaving the house 10 minutes earlier or later made a big difference to your estimated time of arrival.
My workday started at 8:00 a.m., so my wake-up time was 5:30 a.m. which meant that I had to leave the house latest by 6:50 a.m. to avoid heavy traffic. My workdays ended at 6:00 p.m. On heavy traffic days, getting home could take up to two hours. I soon learnt that on some evenings when the traffic is bad, it’s more enjoyable to grab a drink with colleagues after work and wait for the traffic to ease.
My internship
My time at the JW Marriott Bangkok was SUPER fun. I truly couldn’t have asked for a better internship experience! Thai people are so warm and patient. From the moment I arrived, they welcomed me with open arms and made sure I was integrated into all the fun programs they offered for their employees.
The HR department organized several programs and activities. I took part in the volleyball and basketball competitions, which allowed me to expand my network in the company. By the end of the internship the HR department organized a small outing with the team, by which they invited me to join – kind of like a farewell trip combined, that made me feel very appreciated.
Through this internship, I gained valuable insights into the managerial side of the hotel industry. The hands-on experience, along with uplifting and motivated people made working there a lot of fun!
Exploring Bangkok
In my free time, I liked to explore the Bangkokian neighborhood and try out new brunch spots. My favorite activity of all was café hopping! There are so many hidden gems here, and my favorite district to explore just that is at Talat Noi.
I also enjoyed spending time with my work colleagues and friends after work. Whether it was grabbing a drink, having dinner out going out to a party, there was always something to do in the big city. That is something I appreciated about Bangkok. My colleagues were also always up for a spontaneous plan, which made my time there even more memorable.
Reflection and Gratitude
All in all, my three months in Bangkok were amazing. The city’s laid-back culture and the people’s “take life as it comes” attitude is something I appreciated big time and is what made this whole experience so memorable. I am incredibly grateful to the JW Marriott team for creating such a wonderful experience.
If you ever have the chance to intern or work in Bangkok, I encourage you to take it! You will not only gain professional growth, but also new perspective of how you perceive certain habits once you’re back in Switzerland.
If given the opportunity, I would absolutely go back and intern again!
Vanessa Gähwiler is a tourism student at Fachhochschule Graubünden. She gained valuable insights into the managerial side of the hotel industry during her internship at the JW Marriott Bangkok. This work experience was part of the "Culture and Foreign Language Field Experience" module in the Bachelor of Tourism Programme. Vanessa received a "SEMP" grant from Movetia for her internship. For more information, contact the FHGR's international office.
So great to read about your experiences in Bangkok, dear Vanessa. Valuable life experiences and above all a lot of fun.