Dek Lek: my first week in Buriram
A night out, a new nickname, Som Tam with Pla Ra at 5 AM, and a stray dog that stole my pillow.
On my first weekend in Buriram, my friend took me out to experience the nightlife. Thank you, Eric, for showing me around—it was a special night!
Inside the club, I met someone new who turned to me and asked:
“Are you a high school student? Where are your parents?”
And just like that, I earned my first nickname in Thailand:
“Dek Lek” (เด็กเล็ก, small child in Thai).
By 5 AM, we were sitting with locals, trying Som Tam with Pla Ra, fermented fish (ส้มตําปลาร้า) for the first time. The flavours hit hard—fiery, sour, salty, and overwhelmingly delicious. The locals were heartwarming in making a lost boy feel at home.
A few days later, I went to buy bedding and a pillow—but on my way back, a stray dog ran up, grabbed my pillow, and sank its teeth into it.
There I was, tired, standing in the street, watching a dog bite at my pillow.
That first week caught me with surprise, but it taught me one thing:
Embrace the unexpected, and put yourself out there into the unknown.