The Color Palette of my Internship in Bangkok

GRIP: Digital Marketing Intern at Glow Digital Agency in Bangkok

When I first arrived in Bangkok, everything was red. The heat, the traffic, the crowded streets. In other words, it matched how I felt: excited, overwhelmed, and a bit unsure. I was tempted to just hit my brakes, but the words “tomorrow” kept turning into “today” so fast. Each day meant figuring something new out, whether that was learning how digital marketing agency life worked, deciding which foods to eat, understanding how campaigns came together, meeting new friends, sitting in on my first client meetings, or simply finding the right train platform.

Wanting to make the most of my experience abroad, orange quickly made its way into the picture. I spontaneously walked into cafés, tried new experiences like Muay Thai, cooked traditional Thai dishes, and became more confident supporting my team at work. These were the moments that started to make Bangkok feel less like somewhere I was visiting and more like somewhere I was living.

Yellow filled in the spaces between workdays. Every weekend felt like another opportunity to see a different part of Thailand. Some days took me to temples filled with centuries of history, while others took me to cities like Chiang Mai to discover that khao soi is my favorite meal. There was always something to do and something new to see, which was one of the best parts about living in Bangkok. I also found myself paying more attention to café branding, restaurant menus, storefronts, and advertisements just as much as the destinations themselves. Marketing was everywhere and I loved it.

My experience would definitely be incomplete without green. Between work and weekend trips, some of my favorite moments were the quiet, mundane ones. Walking through parks, trying sweet treats at cafés (like matcha), or simply being surrounded by nature always gave me a chance to pause and take everything in. These moments reminded me that living abroad wasn’t only about seeing as much as possible, but also about taking a break long enough to appreciate where I was.

Blue was the finishing touch. Halfway into my internship, I found myself looking at Bangkok differently. The skyline that once felt overwhelming became normal, and even the Grab motorbikes that once felt exhilarating became just a part of my everyday routine. Bangkok hadn’t slowed down in any way, but I had learned how to move with it. I stopped relying on my phone to get everywhere. I knew which train exit to take and which streets led me where. I had also become more comfortable presenting ideas, collaborating with my team, and approaching marketing from a completely different cultural perspective. It reminded me of when I first moved to Philadelphia for college and how fast a place can change from unfamiliar to familiar without a second thought.

Framed with indigo and violet to complete these past two months, thank you to Bangkok, Thailand, for all the colors, and thank you to GRIP for helping me paint this unforgettable chapter of my life.