Let’s take a break from work for a day because every year on the 30th of July, besties all around the world celebrate International Friendship Day.
Bluebik celebrates International Friendship Day by sharing funny and heartwarming stories from 3 duos who began as work besties but evolved into much more. Let me tell you, they have gone on adventures far beyond Chong Non Si BTS station, where our office is located.
Without further ado, let’s hear from them now!
Mamai HR & Nok HR
The Dermal Filler & Mala Hot Pot Duo
How did you two get to know each other?
Mamai : I came across Nok on my university senior’s Instagram. I knew that she worked at the same company as him and graduated from the same faculty, but with different majors. One day, that senior asked me whether Bluebik was still recruiting for an HR officer and recommended Nok to me. Unfortunately, at that time, we were not recruiting. However, about 3-4 months later, Bluebik decided to hire more HR officers. It was then that Nok immediately came to mind, so I asked the senior for her CV. As luck would have it, Nok had the experiences we were looking for, so I reached out to her. From that day onwards, we have never gone a day without talking to each other. It feels like destiny.
What do you enjoy doing together?
Mamai : Honestly, we do everything together – going to the office, enjoying buffets, visiting cafes, attending concerts, taking upcountry trips, going to clinics for vitamin drips and dermal fillers, heading home together, and occasionally going to the gym, though that’s a rare occurrence. What impresses me the most is how she encourages me to take better care of myself. She introduced me to lash extensions – now I know that having full lashes is enough, and I can skip makeup. I also know that no matter how busy you are at work or how much you eat, dermal filler injections will always keep your face looking bright. Fillers will always have your back.
Nok : When we go out together, our typical choices are either going out to eat or pampering ourselves with beauty treatments. Mamai never gets tired of eating. She knows all the best places and is a seasoned reviewer, especially when it comes to mala hot pot, which is her favorite. One day, my Bluebik friends and I planned to go rock climbing. I tried to persuade her to join us, but she said she was tired and needed some rest. However, the moment I mentioned that we would have mala after rock climbing, she immediately changed her mind and agreed to come along. Surprisingly, she didn’t show up at the rock climbing gym; she went straight to the mala restaurant (laughs).
What are the pros of having besties at work?
Mamai : Nok is always as bright as a ray of sunshine. She’s like a cute little sister that I can’t help but want to pinch affectionately. On days when I feel exhausted, she’s like a petrol station, always fueling me up with energy. We can read each other’s minds just by looking into each other’s eyes. We know all the gossip and take turns spilling the tea and screaming together. No one understands us like we understand each other. Having Nok around is one of the reasons why I’m happy here at Bluebik, even though we may have our moments of misunderstanding or playfully pinch each other on the back.
How does your bestie empower you?
Nok : Mamai boosts my confidence. She’s my biggest cheerleader. Whenever I achieve something noteworthy, she’s right there supporting me. For instance, if someone compliments my talent, she’ll respond with, “Yes, Nok is talented.” And even if I make a mistake, she still says that I do well (laughs). But in all seriousness, she gives me advice on how to do better next time.
What do you think your life would be like without your bestie?
Mamai : I’ll wilt like flowers without water, wrinkle like clothes without ironing, and can not spark a fire like a lighter without oil. It’s like having a Thai BBQ without pork belly – something is missing. My Instagram story will be empty and lonely. I’ll be lost and incomplete without her. Together is undoubtedly better.
What do you want to do together on International Friendship Day?
Nok : I want to take her on a relaxing trip, just eating and sleeping the way we like to do. No need for too many activities, or else my bestie will get tired, and I’ll get tired too (laughs).
Ton BD & PimPat BD
The Weather-proof Cafe Hopping Duo
How did you two get to know each other?
Ton : We work together all the time.
What do you enjoy doing together?
PimPat : Almost everything – office activities, daytime hangout, or besties’ night out. He took me to Silom Soi 2 to show me a whole new world. I got to see drag shows, learn new vocabulary and make new friends. Every time we go there, Ton is like an MP. Everyone knows him and says hi to him all the time.
Ton : We love going to cafes and restaurants, and we also enjoy going on trips together. One time, we were heading to a cafe. After getting off the BTS, we waited for the e-TukTuk to pick us up. Suddenly, the sun disappeared, and it started raining heavily with strong winds. We all ended up getting completely soaked, but that’s not the end of it. When PimPat got off the e-TukTuk, she slipped and lost her shoes in the flooded water. Everyone stood there laughing before rushing to help her out. The best part is, once we finally got inside the cafe, the rain magically stopped. It felt like someone was playing a prank on us.
PimPat : This kind of funny and clumsy thing always happens to me – getting lost, tripping over myself – and Ton is always there to make fun of me (laughs).
What are the pros of having besties at work?
Ton : I’m not lonely or sleepy because I always have someone to talk to.
PimPat : We always have each other’s back. We can talk to one another about anything and everything and just scream together.
How does your bestie empower you?
Ton : She’s my cheerleader and she always listens to my rants about everything, including personal stuff.
PimPat : Same, better than going to therapy.
What do you think your life would be like without your bestie?
Ton : Lonely, boring, and dull.
PimPat : Lonely, sad, and dull like going through a heartbreak.
What do you want to do together on International Friendship Day?
Ton : Let’s go cafe hopping like we usually do. Wait, or should we go to the temple instead to change things up?
PimPat : We should totally go to the temple. It feels like our luck is connected. When yours is good, mine is good. When yours is bad, mine is bad (laughs). It’ll be great to seek some extra luck together.
Tul DX & Bun DX
The “You go, I go” Duo
How did you two get to know each other?
Bun : We know each other from university since we were in the same major, same faculty, and part of the same group of friends who always hung out together.
Tul : The first time I met Bun, he was a man of few words. When I asked him questions, he barely answered in sentences. I thought to myself, “Does he even want to get to know me?” But once we worked together on group projects and started to get close, that’s when I realized he’s not a man of few words at all. He can talk, and he can talk a lot if he wants to (laughs).
What do you enjoy doing together?
Tul : Actually, we love hanging out with a group of friends. Our main activity is eating yummy food, but sometimes we go on road trips together.
Bun : We do like to try out the best restaurants. Often, we venture to new places, and yes, we do get lost quite a lot (laughs). But it’s all good fun because we go together and have enjoyable conversations along the way.
What are the pros of having besties at work?
Tul : No matter how heavy our workload is, just seeing each other at the office and talking about silly things is always fun (laughs).
Bun : It’s nice that we can talk to each other about everything, not just about work.
How does your bestie empower you?
Tul : We have been close friends since our university years and been through thick and thin together, from completing our thesis or going through important phases of our lives. We empower each other by being there for one another and sharing our experiences and perspectives on life.
What do you think your life would be like without your bestie?
Bun : I might not have accomplished a lot of things if I hadn’t made it through tough times with him by my side, giving helpful advice.
What do you want to do together on International Friendship Day?
Bun : We might travel together or try out new restaurants. It’s always nice to spend time together and have fun.
Tul : We might go to the office and go party afterwards (laughs). Honestly, I think we don’t have to do anything special on International Friendship Day. It should be a day we recognize how friends empower each other and stand by each other through happy times and hard times. Being friends is not just for 1 day, 1 month, or 1 year; it’s caring for this friendship and treating each other with consistency for a lifetime.