SEOUL - Gazing at the photo of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in the foyer of the Thai embassy, Phitsamai Schroeder trembled, her eyes welled up, and she crouched on the floor.
The wife of an American soldier stationed in Seoul for 19 years was among the 2,154 people who have come pay their respects to the King at the embassy in the Korean capital since last Friday, a day after His Majesty passed away.
Ms Phitsamai arrived at the embassy on Wednesday with a few Thai friends who were also married to US expats in Seoul.
Weeping as she prostrated before the King's photo, she struggled to write in the condolence book: "May I be your humble subject -- dust under your feet -- in the next life. With all the love and respect."
"It broke my heart to hear the news. I love him as he had always been trying to take good care of the people. He had reigned for a long, long time," she said.
Phitsamai Schroeder signs a condolence book at the Thai embassy in Seoul after reaching the front of a long line of mourners. (Photo by Achara Ashayagachat)
In paying homage to the late King, she pledged to be a good person.
The Chanthaburi native expects to join the nation in mourning when she returns to Thailand next month.
A short time after her visit, South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Joon-sik came to sign the condolence book, after Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and Parliament Speaker Chung Sye-kyun did so earlier.
On Sunday, Thai monks from Buddhist temples in South Korea also made merit for the King at the embassy.
Hundreds of Thais joined the solemn ceremony. Some managed to squeeze inside the embassy's premises while a long queue of people spilled onto the street, all with their hands clasped in a wai as the monks chanted a prayer inside the embassy.
This Sunday, more Thais plan to gather at Wat Bhuddha Rangsi, in a suburb of Seoul.
Anchisa Mardrungsri, 25, a master's student of international trade at Sogang University, said she is likely to miss Sunday's event because of homework.
However, she made the trip to the embassy on Wednesday.
"I was taking a language class at the time when I heard about the King's passing. I started crying. My friends were stunned seeing me all teary," she said.
When asked to explain her sorrow to so many people, the Bangkok native said words failed her.
"I check to see how people back home mourn and grieve via social media and when I come across good English-language articles about our King, I send them to my friends," said Ms Anchisa, who completes her studies next year.
Over the week, her non-Thai friends in South Korea have begun to comprehend the importance of the King to the Thai people and have helped console Ms Anchisa and help her through her grief.
"When the news broke out, our first impression was fear of what might become of Thailand now that he's no longer with us,'' she said.
"We've had him for so long, I'm worried," added Ms Anchisa, who has been studying in Seoul for about 18 months after graduating from Thammasat University's Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology.
"The role of a Thai King is perceived differently from that of other monarchs in the rest of the world," she said.
"He's not just head of the state but a unifying force in society and so it's natural for us to be concerned [when he is gone]," said Ms Anchisa, adding that Thais would hopefully come back stronger and ready for life's challenges once they have passed through this initial difficult period.
"We just have to heed the King's advice -- living in moderation and with compassion."
