A life shaped by language barriers
KK is originally from the south of Thailand. When she got the chance to study at a university in the north — over 1,250 km away — everything changed. The dialect was completely different, along with the culture, the food, and the way of life. It wasn't easy, but it was just the beginning.
From Thailand to Europe
As an exchange student in Poland for 10 months, the world flipped upside down. Everything was completely different — culture, weather, food, and especially the language. It doesn't matter if you can speak English or not; if you know nothing about the local language, daily life becomes a real struggle.
Then came Portugal — yes, another language. KK stayed for 4 years, studying for her PhD. She attended Portuguese classes when she could, but her studies and thesis had to come first. Looking back, she feels she lost the opportunity to truly connect with the locals and blend into the community.
The kitchen idea
KK now holds a PhD and thought a bright life was waiting for her — a good job, a well-paid salary. But reality hit hard. She kept receiving sorry, regret, and rejection emails, one after another. The most common reason? She can't speak German yet. Even though Switzerland is multicultural and multilingual, and knowing English is already a good start for finding work, in the small city where she lives it's still very difficult — especially with the limitations of not being able to look for a job far from home. So now she is a full-time mom and housewife.
But the passion to work has never left her. Today she lives in Switzerland, where there are 4 official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. She's in the German-speaking part. Yes, another language to learn.
One day in the kitchen, KK and her husband were discussing how hard language learning really is. And what if you don't know English at all? That would make it even more difficult, since English is usually the bridge that connects you to another language faster.
That conversation is where “Sawasdee — Learn Thai” was born, with original support for 12 languages so that learners everywhere can start without needing English first.
Full of love
Now KK pours all of her experiences and knowledge into this project, with the passion to help people who are struggling to learn Thai — to take their first step with fun, confidence, and a solid foundation in what matters most. She sits at that tiny kitchen desk, always cheered on by her husband and their lovely son. This little office is full of love, and that is how she produces Sawasdee — with her whole heart, for every Thai learner out there.
