I have a set routine on days I go to Thammasat University. I’ve learned the local bus routes between my place and the university. I have a “designated” librarian in the Faculty of Political Science who helps me with material that I need called from other libraries. The photocopy service assistants recognise me on sight and now know that I wouldn’t understand a word they say but know what I need done. The girl at the coffee stall in front of the Faculty knows that I take my latte less sweet than the locals would.

I’ve pretty much learned the floor plans and store locations in the main (better?) shopping centres in the city. I know where all the bookshops that sell English Language books are located, including the clearance store of the main local chain. I’m slowly getting an intuitive feel for the urban geography of Bangkok as well as how it operates. I’m beginning to not register the “third worldliness” of the city and to live in it as I would anywhere else in the world.

There is a regular pad thai (Thai-style fried noodles) restaurant that I patronise in my neighbourhood - the waiters all recognise me now. There is a place I go to have steak and the stall owner/operator automatically comes and takes my order as he’s the only one who speaks (a smattering of) English. The housekeepers in my service-apartment talk to me despite our language barriers - they know that I am a university student. The receptionist helps me figure out how to get to government ministries scattered across the city - she probably wonders why I need to speak with so many government officials. And there is a rider of the local motorbike service with a swagger, attitude and look that I find quite sexy and quite attractive…! Sadly, I’ve only ridden him… err.. yes… three times, but even he recognises me by now!

Yes. Somehow, unintentionally, I have found a little niche here.