After getting my teaching degree I decided to move to Thailand to teach English. I had never been on a plane before, let alone in another country! It was a thirteen-hour flight and sleeping was uncomfortable, but I enjoyed every minute because I felt very grown-up. I felt like a world traveller.

I had a warm meal and as many drinks as I wanted on the plane. I was speechless, but I wanted to act cool so I just smiled at the air hostess when she asked me, “Beef or chicken?” just like in the movies. When I arrived I stayed at a cheap hotel, but I knew I had to find an apartment quickly before I started teaching at Bangkok Patana High School. I was searching online for a place to stay and Mansion Sarasinee was a great place to start. It had what I needed, nothing more and nothing less. The reviews were good, until I scrolled down to a very nasty review with a zero star rating, which read: Whatever you do, DO NOT STAY HERE.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, but I ignored it, it was just one review after all. I saw a photo attached to the review, but it was blurry and tilted to the side as if the photographer was falling when it was taken. I could see a bed, a cupboard and a big strange dark shadow that was shaped oddly like a giant human figure.

“Well that’s creepy,” I said aloud to no one, and closed my laptop.

The price and location was perfect, I phoned the landlord immediately.

The next day I got my things and met with the landlord who kept reminding me, “you don’t get your deposit back if you leave before your six months, okay? Understand?” I nodded and was polite but slightly annoyed that she insisted on repeating this line to me.

I have heard a lot of stories about foreign teachers in Thailand who cause trouble with landlords over deposits, but I was not one of those people, I was determined to make this work. I entered my new room at number four-three-two and started unpacking my things. As the landlord left she said, “Remember you don’t get your deposit if you leave!”
I closed the door a bit harder than I should have and plonked myself down on a chair. I looked around and I felt proud that I had found this place for myself and by myself. There was a little kitchen with a microwave, bar fridge and a single gas stove plate. The bathroom had a shower and toilet, small enough to accommodate a single person. There was a spacious bedroom with a little balcony and a comfy bed just as advertised. For a moment I thought I recognised the bed from the photo in the bad review I saw last night, I shivered slightly. Even though temperatures in Bangkok were normally thirty degrees, this room felt strangely cold. Home sweet home I guess.

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