EXPERIENCED BY KATHARINA SCHIMPS

IF YOUR DREAMS DON'T SCARE YOU, THEY ARE TOO SMALL

Dare to do things that scare you.

That's me

Hi, my name is Katharina and I study Graphic Design and Communications in Austria. As a part of my studies I have to do an 8-week long internship (I did 9 weeks tho) and I had the chance to do it in beautiful Thailand.

While desperately looking for an internship abroad I stumbled upon The Board Factory and I immediately was thrilled. An opportunity to do an internship and go abroad and learn to surf? How amazing is that?! A few days after sending my application, I received a message about my internship, and even though the 9 weeks I would be able to stay were shorter than what Martin would’ve liked, he was willing to take me. I was stoked, also a little scared as I had never left Europe before and this was going to become the first big, long trip I’d done all by myself.

When I got off the plane to Phuket I was greeted by a very friendly taxi driver who took me to my new home, where Nong took me in and showed me my bungalow. She is so sweet. After that I met the other interns, but I was too tired to go and do something with them.

When I got up the next day, which was a Saturday, Marie took me to get a scooter (which failed) and then we went with the others to Phuket together and had a great time.

On Sunday we went to the beach for a surf. Rouven taught Marie and me the basics, and we did our best to make him proud. It was very exhausting, and didn’t go too well, but we had a lot of fun.

When Monday came around it was time for my first workday.

Working at The Board Factory.

I was here for Graphic Design and Marketing. But Martin invited me to share with him all my interests and he would try to come up with a project, so I could work on something I’d actually love doing. I mean, I don’t study Graphic Design because I don’t like it, but the possibility to work on whatever I want was enticing. Anyhow, I started off with designing a brochure and pretty soon I was also working on the website and entrusted with the newsletter, and I also could work on my own illustrations for boards!! This job was far more than I ever expected an internship to be! I sometimes learned by doing and that’s just perfect for me, I loved the challenges that working at The Board Factory held!

Living situation.

When I first arrived I was taken to grey bungalows, where I lived next to Marie and Nong for a few days, until Marie moved to the Yellows. I lived for 2 weeks in the Greys and after Denise left, I moved into her Yellow. The Greys are about 8 mins to the factory and about 15 mins to the beach on a scooter. The Yellows are closer to the beach. They’re about 5 mins to the factory and the beach.

The Yellows have a small kitchen-sink-space, a big bathroom, and a terrace. The beds are super huge and comfy. Also the view from the bungalow is just amazing and the terrace is perfect for a morning cup of tea or an evening tea-party with friends. I know this sounds a lot like advertising it on air-bnb or something, but it really is that cool here.

Leisure Time.

When I have time off, I like going to the beach, either for a surf-sesh or just a swim or float on my inflatable unicorn. There are also markets near-by where you can find everything from food and fruit to clothes and shoes. Also, Takua Pa has a very cute Sunday Market!

With Thailand being one of the countries that has the most holidays, I had some long weekends where I could travel and explore Thailand even more.

On my second weekend, the first long weekend, Denise and I went to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, Thailands North. The North of Thailand is just as wonderful as the South, but it really is different. You should go and see for yourself!

When in Chiang Mai, we went to what felt like 100 temples. The thing about the temples there is that they just don’t get boring. Every temple looks different and feels different. But they all have on thing in common: friendly people wherever you go, which make the places even more magical.

We also took a Thai cooking class, and now we can finally cook all those delicious Thai meals at home! Thai Style!

On another weekend we went to a surf competition in Kata Beach. (Marie has an awesome video on that, if you are interested.)

The next weekend we spend a day in Krabi, where we found a nature trail through mangroves that had a real magical feeling to it.

Where I still want to go.

If you have to chance to stay longer than two months, I would highly recommend you stay longer. Stay as long as possible. Thailand has so much to offer, and you won’t be able to see it, no matter how long you will stay (unless you decide to stay forever, maybe). But here’s some things that I didn’t get a chance to see or do but if you can, you should:

Go hiking in Krabi, go snorkelling, visit James Bond Island, camp on the Samet Nangshe Viewpoint, go to as many National Parks as possible!, also Bangkok and…. honestly this list could go on forever and ever and ever and ever….

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya by Aaron Thomas

Kho Phi Phi by Humphrey Muleba

Bangkok by Florian Wehde

Khao Sam Roi YOT National Park by Peter John Maridable

What else I want to mention.

My phone died after 3 weeks of being in Thailand and there was no way of resurrecting it, I had to use another phone, with terrible camera lens quality, that’s why I have only very few photos of Thailand left with me.

Also, I am usually not much of a comfort-zone-leaver and the thought of going abroad for longer than a week was a little scary at first, but this experience give me so much more than I could’ve ever expected, so many positive memories. I grew personally so much and I made such wonderful friends.

Frankly, it is magical to work where others go on vacations because you can combine doing what you love with enjoying the beauty of Thailand.