Christmas Abroad: Enjoying the Thai life but missing loved ones at home

Darren Keegan, from Doon, Athlone, Co Offaly, is now living in Koh Samui, Thailand, with his girlfriend, Jasmine Derwin, from Mullagh, Cavan.

How did the move to Thailand come about?

The adventure began in July 2022, when my girlfriend, Jasmine, and I left Ireland. Vietnam had been our original plan for long-term living, and we did spend around two months travelling around the country, soaking up as much culture as possible. After some time, and several job offers, we realised we were still not ready to start working and wanted to continue travelling for as long as possible.

Myself and Jasmine had one or two friends living in Thailand, on a small island called Koh Samui, so it was an obvious choice as to where we should travel to next.

We booked a flight to Bangkok and spent a few weeks exploring Thailand before reaching Koh Samui. When we arrived on the island it became clear very quickly that this was the place where we were meant to be. It just felt right.

Koh Samui is a very popular tourist attraction, and yet has still maintained its authentic Thai heritage.

Waking up in the morning, for me, consists of watching my Thai neighbour walk her herd of water buffalo up the road to their next grazing area.

After I finish my coffee, I hop on my moped (the most popular choice of transport here) and begin my 15-minute commute to work. Along the way I observe the local monks, in bright orange robes, walking along the road, giving out their blessings to anyone who stops them.

What do you do in Koh Samui?

Myself and Jasmine were lucky enough to get offered teaching jobs in one of the local schools. It's incredibly interesting to learn about the background of some of the local Thai children who attended school, though it is not only Thai children who attend. We teach lots of Russian, Ukrainian, French, German, and American children, as well as pupils from other countries.

What were your first impressions of Thailand when you arrived?

The first thing I noticed, as soon as I got off the plane, was the intense heat. It took far longer than I could have imagined for me to acclimatise - Jasmine did a lot better at this than I.

During the hot season, it's not uncommon to be dealing with 44-degree temperatures on a daily basis. It can be very unforgiving. Of course, if you happen to be spending your free time on a beach, sipping on a local coconut and taking dips in the crystal-clear ocean, it can be extremely relaxing and enjoyable.

What are the best and worst things about life in Thailand?

I love that I've met some life-long friends here. I spend a lot of my spare time visiting friends I've met along the way for barbecues and get-togethers. It's true what they say about meeting the most interesting people when you go travelling.

What they neglect to tell you about are the periods of loneliness one experiences as a result of feeling homesick.

I was raised in the small village of Doon, a beautiful rural place in Offaly. I miss the simple pleasures of walking the roads and admiring the local farmers cutting their hay, hoping for a good harvest. I miss the smell of the air while they do so.

I went to school in Ferbane, and I miss visiting one of my best friends, Shane Dolan, and his girlfriend, Jackie Healy, who were always up for going for a walk alongside the canal or going for a spot of fishing in the Brosna in Belmont.

I had to miss out on another of my best friends' first-born child coming into the world. How I would love to visit Declan Cooper and his growing family. On a trip into Athlone, I would be sure to visit another dear friend of mine, Kevin Guinan, another man I could spend hours conversing with.

I miss visiting my mother, Bernadette Ryan, who could never do enough for me whenever I called in to her. I miss visiting my father, Colm Keegan, who like myself would enjoy a pint of Guinness and a good crack of a joke.

I miss spending time with my two brothers, Colm and Philip Keegan. Philip and I could sit together quietly or we could take a random drive through the town and visit a friend or two. Colm Jr and I worked together on the weekends as security for a late bar in Tullamore called The Phoenix. I miss the chats on the way to work and the gossip on the way home, exchanging stories of what took place that night.

So, even though I am very happy with where I am in life right now, I can never forget where I came from and unfortunately some days are harder than others.

What are your plans for Christmas Day this year?

Christmas time will be particularly hard for me this year, as my beautiful girlfriend Jasmine, who has been a continuous support system for myself and I for her, will be traveling back home to Ireland for Christmas in order to attend her brother's wedding. Though I was offered a paid ticket by Jasmine's extremely generous family, I could not accept this extravagant gift. It did not suit me financially to follow, so I will stay on in Koh Samui.

Another thing I'll miss about an Irish Christmas is waking up on Christmas morning with a sharp frost in the air, a great excuse to put on a woolly jumper or a cosy hoodie.

I love watching an open fire and hearing the timber pop while the room circulates warm air. I even miss getting my hands dirty while bringing in a few buckets of turf for the cold night ahead. I've not yet reached the point where I miss spending my summers on the bog, breaking my back to foot or draw home the turf, but maybe there's still time for that!

Is there any message you'd like to send to friends or family reading this?

If I could give one message to everyone at home, it's simply to spend as much time as possible with your friends, family and loved ones.

Try to embrace every moment, good or bad. Spread positivity. Look after each other. Laughter is good for the soul.