Leaving Everything Behind, and Learning to Begin Again

Remark: In loving memory of little Minnie, whose warmth and gentle spirit filled every frame. These were the last photos taken with Inge before Minnie’s passing, a beautiful reminder of the love they shared.

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When Inge Scheel first walked into Shama Ekamai Bangkok with her little black poodle, Minnie, she was stepping into more than a new apartment. She was stepping into a completely new chapter of life.

“I used to be an anaesthesia nurse,” she said softly.

“I left my job before I came here. So yes, in February, it felt like entering a completely new life. In Denmark, I was used to working and spending time outdoors every day with my horse, Søren. Suddenly, everything changed.”

Letting Go of the Familiar

Born and raised in Denmark, Inge was accustomed to crisp air, open fields, and the rhythm of caring for patients and animals. After years of living abroad in Chile, Spain, England, and the United States, her husband’s work in renewable energy brought them to Bangkok in February 2025.

But this move, she explained, felt different.

“We had visited Thailand before for holidays,” she said.

“But living here is another story. It’s a totally different life. At the beginning, it was very difficult for me. I left my children in Denmark, my horse, my work, my friends, and my family. Everything.”

Even daily routines felt unfamiliar. “At first we stayed in a hotel in Ekamai,” she said. “But it was noisy and not very clean. You couldn’t just take your dog anywhere. I even regretted bringing her.”

Used to a life filled with purpose and people, Inge found the transition deeply unsettling. “I’m an extrovert,” she smiled. “A very sociable person. But yes, an extrovert who had to leave everything behind and move to a completely new country in the East.”

Discovering a Place That Feels Like Home

Everything changed the day she visited Shama Ekamai Bangkok, a serviced residence designed for long stays.

“The first time we saw this place, it immediately felt right,” she said. “It’s about a hundred metres away from the road, so it’s peaceful and quiet. The design, white, bright, filled with natural light, reminded me of Scandinavian design. And I really need natural light.”

More than the design itself, it was the warmth of the people that won her over. “When I take Minnie outside, instead of five minutes, it takes half an hour because I end up talking to people,” she laughed. “Everyone here is so friendly.”

Before long, she found a sense of community. “We have a WhatsApp group,” she explained. “If something happens, like the internet going down, people write there. We also organise dinners, coffee meet ups, and trips to Chatuchak. Friday evenings by the pool are cosy. We just bring our own drinks and chat together. It’s lovely.”

Sometimes, those gatherings become something even more meaningful.

“We even have Friday night ladies’ dinners,” she said with a grin. “Ten or twelve of us go out together while the men have their own dinner elsewhere. We talk, laugh, and really get to know one another. If I didn’t have this community, I think I’d feel lonely. Maybe even depressed.”

Redefining Work and Worth

Although she no longer works in hospitals, Inge has found new meaning in her everyday life. “My husband has a demanding job,” she said.

“He told me he couldn’t do this without me, that what I do is just as important. Keeping our family connected, looking after our home, staying in touch with our friends and children back in Denmark, that’s a big responsibility too.”

Still, adjusting to an entirely different pace of life has not always been easy.

“In Denmark, everyone works, men and women alike, and when people meet you, the first question is always, ‘What’s your job?’ Suddenly I felt like I wasn’t doing anything. I wasn’t helping anyone.”

But over time, Inge has learnt that happiness depends less on where you are and more on how you choose to see things.

“Happiness is all about mindset,” she said. “I could sit here and compare everything to what I used to have in Denmark, but that doesn’t help. So I tell myself that was lovely, and now this is my life. I will make this lovely too.”

Home Is Where You Feel Safe

For Inge, home is no longer defined by geography, but by peace of mind. “I love living here,” she said. “I feel safe. I feel happy. I can sit outside and hear the birds. When I walk inside and see people smiling and saying hello, it’s wonderful.”

Inge came to Bangkok searching for a sense of belonging. At Shama Ekamai Bangkok, she found not only a residence, but also a circle of close friends and the courage to begin again.