I came to Bangkok on a teaching contract expecting to stay one year, save some money, and move on. Three years later, I have no plans to leave. Growing up in Lagos, I never imagined I would end up living in Southeast Asia. But life has a funny way of surprising you. After getting my teaching degree and CELTA certification, I applied to schools across Asia. Bangkok International School offered me a position teaching IB English Literature, and I accepted without knowing much about Thailand beyond pad thai and temples.

The international school system here is world-class. My school in Sathorn has facilities that rival any private school in Europe or North America. The students are motivated, multilingual, and globally minded. Many of them have lived in three or four countries before age 15. Teaching IB literature to students who genuinely love reading and discussing ideas from multiple cultural perspectives has made me a better educator. The professional development budget is generous - I have attended conferences in Singapore, Tokyo, and Melbourne.

Financially, the package is excellent. My salary is 120,000 THB per month, plus the school provides housing allowance, comprehensive health insurance, annual flights home, and a generous pension contribution. I save roughly 50,000 THB per month while living very comfortably. In Lagos, a similar teaching position would pay a quarter of this amount with none of the benefits.

Bangkok itself is a city that never stops giving. There is always something happening - a festival, a new restaurant, an art exhibition, a live music event. I live in a modern condo near On Nut BTS station for 18,000 THB a month. My commute to school is 20 minutes by BTS, which is a blessing in a city known for legendary traffic. Weekends are for exploring: Chatuchak Market, the riverfront temples, hidden cocktail bars in Thonglor, street food crawls through Yaowarat in Chinatown.

What has been most meaningful, though, is the cultural exchange. My students are curious about Africa in a way that surprises me. I have organized Africa Day celebrations at school, taught West African cooking classes, and shared Nigerian literature with my classes. In return, my Thai colleagues have taught me about Buddhist philosophy, Thai classical music, and the art of making proper green curry from scratch.

Being a Black man in Thailand has been mostly positive, though not without its complexities. Thai people are generally warm and curious, and I get more attention than I would in Lagos or London. Children sometimes want to touch my hair, which I find amusing rather than offensive. I have connected with other Black expats through groups like Black Expats Bangkok, which organizes social events and provides a support network.

The food scene alone is worth the move. From 40 THB street food to Michelin-starred restaurants, Bangkok has it all. I have become obsessed with Isaan food - som tam, laab, and sticky rice from the street stall near my school. I even took a Thai cooking class and can now make a decent massaman curry. My family in Lagos is still waiting for me to come home, but every time I visit, I find myself missing Bangkok within a week.