Friday, December 26, 2008

Christmas


Wednesday: The teachers in the English Department organized a pizza lunch to help us celebrate Christmas with some rather interesting twists to American food. The veggie pizza was absolutely delicious --corn, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes. The pictures show us enjoying the feast in the office. The second picture actually shows a bit more of the office --disregard my goofy "concentration" face, and notice the Charlie Brown Christmas tree in the background.

Thursday, Christmas day: Kirsten, Alicia, and I when to a place called Macro in search of cheese (almost non-existent here). For our Christmas dinner we feasted on toasted baguette slices, with olive oil, fresh basil, and mozzarella cheese! Oh, and homemade sangria (Alicia lived in Barcelona before, so she had the knowledge). Late in the evening, we were all able to speak with our families via telephone and skype.

Friday: Kirsten and Alicia left early for Laos! I left later in the evening. And, I'm pleased to say that after an 11 hour bus ride I am finally in Bangkok. Kali is en route, and we should be reunited around midnight tonight. Fulbright friends will be here in a few days.

Happy Birthday MOM!
Congrats on the graduation MAX!
Happy Anniversary MOM and DAD!
Happy New Year EVERYONE!

Love,
Paige

Sunday, December 21, 2008

The (In)sanity of Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Next week will be a crazy week of midterm exams. I am responsible for grading nearly 270 students based on oral presentations. This week has been crazy trying to help them prepare. Next week will be even more insane.

Just to be clear however, my sanity is not really a concern; it’s just a figure of speech. I’ve been running –my emotional and mental medicine if you will. Yesterday, I ran at night for the first time since I have been in Chiang Rai. Don’t worry mom and dad, I live at a fenced-in boarding school that is monitored by security guards. The stars were amazing, the music playing on my Ipod was wakening, and my optimism in life was refreshed. It’s amazing what such a simple activity, one foot in front of the other, can do for the human spirit.

Christmas is on Thursday! I miss my family very much. My Christmas plans include a trip to Myanmar, thanks to the kind heart of P’Tuang, to shop for cheap DVDs and red wine for the holidays. Next Friday I head to Bangkok to meet Kali –so excited! Karen, Caryn, Kate, and Zoe will also make the trip to Bangkok so we can celebrate New Year’s Eve together.

Happy holidays indeed!

Back to Doitung

Yesterday, two Israeli school administrators came to visit and observe PCC. In addition, two administrators from Mahidol School near Bangkok came to PCC. Today, P’Wan (one of the directors at my school), P’Al (a teacher in the English Dept), the three Americans (Kirsten, Alicia, and myself), and the four guests traveled to Doitung. We visited the temple, the flower gardens, and the palace. Some years ago, the King’s mother started the Doitung project. In the mountains near Chiang Rai, opium was being produced, exported, and consumed. The King’s mother created an amazing place where hill tribe people now maintain gardens, produce viable crops, make clothing, and produce other handicrafts. The palace at Doitung is the most exquisite log cabin, of Thai-Swiss influence, imaginable. Absolutely stunning –a cabin in the mountains so beautiful it would have brought my father to tears.

[photo (form left): me, Kirsten, Alicia, P'Wan]


[photo: my roommates and I at Doitung gardens]


[photo: clanking the bells again]



[photo: stray dog enjoying the sunlight]




[photo: outside of the King's mother's cabin at Doitung]



[photo: view from the balcony (off the living room) in the palace]

Camping


The second weekend in December I went camping with five Thai teachers and the Chinese teacher from PCC at Doitung (the mountains near Chiang Rai). P’Al and P’Man first took Hong, the Chinese teacher about my age, and I to Wat Rong Kun, the “White Temple.”



[photo (from left): Hong, P'Al, me, P'Man]


Camping was awesome. It was bitter cold, but very fun indeed!


[photo: P'Pai (left) and P'Dtone (right) ready for a good time]




In the morning we went up the mountain a bit further to the temple (which I now know was built sometime around 700AD –before the history of our country wow!). I rang 103 bells. And, when I say I rang them, I mean that I clanked them with a short stick as customary. And, when I say 103 bells, I mean that I lost count quickly.



You know those paintings where all you see are shades of blue. Perfectly distinguishable shades of blue, yet faintly determinable outlines of mountains –that’s what I saw. The photograph is a mere joke as an attempt to capture the beauty witnessed by my naked eye.


Chiang Mai Weekend Trip



December 5th was the King’s Birthday and also Father’s Day in Thailand. I was in Chiang Mai with Kate, Karen, and Caryn, weaving up Doi Su Tep Mountain in the back of a utility vehicle. When we got to the top, some 4500 meters from what we considered to be the bottom, we strapped on the chest guard, knee pads, helmet, and elbow pads they provided us. Karen later described us as the colorfully mismatched and raggedy-looking Mighty Ducks crew from the first movie (perhaps a reference that can only be appreciated by a few).

[photo: at the top of the mountain; pre-gear]


[photo: "ducks fly together"]

Three hours of downhill biking later, bruised, sweaty, and happy, I sat contemplating the sheer exhilaration of my first mountain biking experience. The first hill left me with the terrifying yet fleeting thought that maybe we had signed up for something other than a beginners course. Yikes! It was so intense and so hard not to give into the fear of falling. Most of the terrain was so grooved-out and rocky it was like biking downhill on a balance beam with pebbles on it. Our guide said this: “Choose your path…and then know that it’s your path to take.” His advice to be proactive and in control of my own safety and experience helped me let go of the fear. I let go, and the adrenaline took over.




[photo: after biking; lunch and contemplation]


One of the other guides at the company particularly enjoyed speaking in English with the four of us. Nooh, his nickname, was such a great soul to meet. The five of us went for dinner, drinks, and good conversation on a river bank in Chiang Mai that evening.




[photo: after biking; Me, Caryn, Karen, Kate colorful and smiling]

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Sports Day

Sports Day at Princess Chulabhorn’s College Chiang Rai:

Three days of non-stop sports at the school. Completely organized by the students! Check out the video (includes audio, same as all the videos I post).




"Chook dii see luang!" was my cheer for the week --and in English, "Good Luck Yellow!" I was on the yellow team, and am proud to announce the yellow team won first place in the parade. The red team won first place overall.

Mid-Grant Meeting

For Thanksgiving, TUSEF paid for my flight to Bangkok. The purpose of the trip was three-fold: 1) to serve as a mid-grant meeting for the Fulbright grantees, 2) to celebrate Thanksgiving, 3) to share ideas and experiences with each other (the Fulbright ETAs).


The day before our departure to Bangkok, protestors had stormed in and shutdown the main airport in the city. Luckily, Brad and I were scheduled to fly from Chiang Rai to the other airport, Don Muang, in Bangkok. Brad and I arrived unscathed, only having experienced a two hour delay before departure. Other Fulbrighters however, were not quite as lucky. Later that evening, when all ten of us had arrived, stories began to surface. Karen and Kate had to take the seven hour bus from Sukkothai, Caryn was trapped inside Don Muang Airport due to protesting masses blocking the arrivals gate’s main exit, and Zoe’s and Chike’s flight had to be assisted in landing by the air force because protestors had taken over the control tower.
[photo: near Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok]


The next day, TUSEF had prepared a trip for us to a cultural center about 20km from Bangkok. It was a really nice day which included learning about local dancing, fruit carving, cooking, herbs, rice harvesting practices, pottery making, and silk making. I also fed my first adult-sized elephant. The picture is funny to me because the Thai man taking my photograph was encouraging me to put the banana in the elephant’s mouth as opposed to putting it in his trunk. So, my face reads: “in its mouth, really?”! Just for your frivolous information, an elephant’s trunk is actually the perfect vacuum attachment –when they want food, you can actually hear the suctioning sound of their anticipation. Lunch was an “international buffet” at the cultural center. Wow! It was such great food that all of us where warning each other to save room for Thanksgiving dinner later that evening.

For Thanksgiving dinner, we found ourselves at the remarkably impressive high-rise apartment of Khun Ann, PR Officer of the U.S. Embassy and TUSEF board member, and her husband, also with the Embassy. Dinner was fabulous, as was the wine. The company was exceptional. I was happy to spend time with P’Tip and P’Kee, as well as other TUSEF staff members, in a more personal setting. When you surround yourself / find yourself surrounded by such intellectual and motivated people, conversations are almost always enjoyable and motivating.

The next day was of the bulk of our mid-grant meeting. We spend the day in a boardroom at the Q House in the financial district of Bangkok, high above the commotion of Suhkumwit Road. The meetings were both informative and inspirational. As the day came to a close, I realized that I would go back to Chiang Rai with new ideas on how to be a more effective “agent of cultural exchange.” I was refreshed. I was ready to go home with a new sense of belonging –belonging to both America and Thailand, and having the cultural knowledge to help bridge the gap.


That evening, Kate and Caryn and I meet my friends P’Ko and P’Tu in the city for Mexican food. P’Ko and P’Tu are perhaps the wittiest Thai women I have ever met. I met them through contacts of my Uncle Steven (thanks, by the way). After dinner we went to P’Ko’s bar on Khao San Road. Yep, you read right, she owns a bar. In fact, her house is located behind the bar, where her three children were sleeping while we enjoyed some frozen concoctions. Apparently P’Ko’s family had always lived in that house, and it was only in the last forty years that Khao San Road has become backpackers central. The bar was crowded and fun! Zoe and Karen also met up with us later that night.
[photo (from left): P'Ko, me, Caryn, P'Tu, Kate, at a glorious mexican food feast]

The next day I was invited for lunch by Kate and her host family (remember the home stay experience I blogged about?). We had lunch at Fuji, which officially concluded an immaculate weekend of eating!

[photo: view of Khao San Road from the second floor of P'Ko's bar]


The return to our provinces at the end of the weekend was by bus. The airports remained closed for the next six days or so.

Much love to everyone at home,

Paige

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Winter Festival



*It’s been so long since I last posted an update, that I’m not even sure where to start. The absence of details about my life in the past weeks is not due to an absence of activity. Matter of fact, so much has happened recently, that it may be hard to fully capture all of my experiences and reactions to recent occurrences. *


Let me start with Winter Festival.


Winter Festival was my first real glimpse at how events are organized at PCC. As if this school were a University, students are responsible for and run events on campus, down to the very last details. It is quite impressive when you think about all of the details that go into these events, such as food, equipment, costumes, musical performances, clean-up, schedules, and then realize that 800 teenagers are in charge. I put together a short video (2 minutes) of some of the pictures I took before dark that evening. The pictures show a large grass field, which is where the event was held on campus –in the background is one of the two male dormitories (PCC is a boarding school). For Winter Festival, the students organized a parade, a modeling show, a beauty pageant, a mascot competition, and a song and dance competition. What I found exceptional was that some male students dressed up as females for the modeling show and not one person seemed offended by the situation; not one person had anything negative to say, or even so much as a scowl on their face.  In fact, the picture you see in the video that reads “Ready for the runway,” is a student of mine in M.4/1 (10th grade). His name is Soju (which means gecko in Thai) and he is a very dedicated student,  energetic for class, and kind. The point is, sexuality is not bashed here in Thailand, it is not hated or even disliked, and students have the freedom to simply be themselves. I have actually confirmed this concept with three other Fulbright ETAs who account for similarities in their schools throughout central and northern Thailand. Each grade (there are six at PCC) M1-M6 also organized food booths and sold Thai desserts, sticky rice, and an arrangement of fried meats, eggs, hotdogs, etc –notice the sign of the group that sold ice cream at the end of the video.



Happy Holidays,
Paige

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Rice is Life

























This past week at school flew by. On Wednesday, the director of the region came to our school. In the afternoon, this director, the faculty at our school, many of the students, and the foreign teachers, harvested rice in the fields. It was ceremonious for the big boss man. In Thailand, and especially at our school, nothing is small. There were tents set up for the occasion, flower corsages were made, students and faculty presented speeches on the microphone, and of course there were more photo-ops than an evening with the paparazzi. They even presented the foreign teachers including myself with special rice harvesting blouses –have a good laugh if you will, but take a look at the pictures. It should be said however, that not only was it ceremonious for the big boss, but it was also ceremonious in my eyes to the celebration of sustainable food. “Rice is life”, I believe the picture speaks louder than words. They harvest the rice, we eat the rice (of course, I help in the eating process), and they plant more rice. It’s simple, it’s beautiful. Hey, fast-food junkies, where did your food come from?

I managed to get a few pictures of the school as well. Princess Chulabhorn's College is a special place. It's really breathtaking, and I only hope the pictures can capture a glimpse of how great it is.


What Do I Know Anyway?

In reaction to U.S. news, some of my humble opinions:

1) Election of a new U.S. President: alright, Obama. Time for change in America, great!

2) California voters ban gay marriage just months after they allow the union of same-sex couples: California, have you lost your mind? Great work taking away human rights from nearly 18,000 families! Yeah, I’m being sarcastic. In a world of war, poverty, hunger, nuclear aggression, and troubled economies, this quote from the New York Times is a complete disgrace: "A total of $73 million was spent on the race there, a record for a ballot measure on a social issue." http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/06ballot.html On a social issue? Sure, it's perfectly understandable that gay-marriage poses a greater threat to the future of our nation than budget cuts to our education system. Again, sarcasm. Did you know that gay marriage is legal in South Africa? It has been since 2006, and they are not spending $73 million dollars to reverse that decision. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6147010.stm

3) Citigroup to lay-off 36,000 employees. I’m starting to think Finance was a pretty inconvenient degree to graduate with after all.

4) Legislation stalls as Washington tries to figure out billion dollar auto-maker bailouts: Are you serious? How about, we use the money to invest in mass transit and infrastructure in cities across the country? Why is there even a debate to help companies that have lobbied for years to keep emissions standards low? California raised emissions standards to match China’s standard a few years back, and auto-makers had so much of a fit that they sued the state. Let’s keep in mind that China’s emissions standards are still among the lowest in the developed world. Get a grip Washington, let them fail; let us buy cars from auto-makers (namely foreign) with the foresight to create more efficient vehicles. Of course there will be a lot of jobs lost, but create new jobs in wind, solar, and renewable energies. Forget patriotism to the U.S. as a reason why you cannot buy a more efficient vehicle from another country. What about patriotism to a little place we call planet Earth? Remember that the SUVs of today, will be of little use in a world of dried up oil reserves, and 130 degree days. Best of luck to us all, that politicians in power understand the importance of moving our country forward, not pouring billions into old technology. Case in point...take a look at the next headline.

5) From MSNBC: Report predicts U.S. decline, Russia rise: “Global warming could be a boon to Russia while the U.S. could further decline the importance during the next two decades, says a U.S. intelligence report with predictions for the world in 2025.” These mistakes are already and will continue to yield dire consequences not only to the United States, but to the world. Wake up, stop living in denial, and make some changes.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Overdue Updates

So many experiences are part of my most recent memories, yet I fear that if they don’t spill onto the page now, they will be swallowed up by other unique experiences soon to be had in the next few months of my stay in Thailand. Where to begin? I’m not sure.

First of all, Obama! I watched the election intently on the television in the English department. I could only understand the words “McCain”, “Obama”, and the occasional mention of a U.S. state –with my slight nervousness and anticipation for the results, I found myself wishing I understood more Thai. I waited by the phone for updates from my family. I taught three classes that day, and in each one I mentioned the election, of which my Thai students were already a bit familiar. Not unlike some Americans however, the Thai students seemed to find the issues completely irrelevant. When I asked them to describe what they knew about the candidates I got the following, only the following: McCain = "fat" "old" "ugly"; Obama = "tall" "dark" "handsome." Around 10:30am in Thailand, the confirmation came through. Obama, a characteristically different man as compared to the U.S. presidents who came before him, even if only in physical appearance (although, I believe there are more differences), is to be the next president of the country I love. Basically, I am trying to say: Middle-aged white guy 0, Progression 1. The scale has been forever tipped.

The Fulbright committee in Thailand (TUSEF) had their annual board meeting a few weeks ago in Chiang Rai. To my excitement, I was invited for dinner. I arrived at the hotel, which was brand new and absolutely gorgeous, a bit early with my host teacher/director P’Tor. I was so happy to see P’Tip, the director of TUSEF. In fact, it was then that I realized how long it had been since I had been hugged. If I haven’t already described P’Tip as one of the most genuinely exceptional Thai women I have had the pleasure of knowing, it should be said again. I was delighted to see the rest of the board, P’Kee and P’Oy, and meet those of whom I did not know. At dinner, P’Tip sat me at a table with the President of Mah Fa Lueng University (located at the foothills of the mountains about twenty-five minutes from my school), the director of Mae Lao school (where Brad is teaching), and a Thai ambassador. Dinner was beyond delicious. Buffet style. Thai food, Asian food, European food, Italian food, SUSHI! Enough said. After dinner, I left with a block of cheese, some water crackers, and some pickles that the woman at Fulbright had brought for me from Bangkok. Wow!

[photo above: P'Tip, T'Tor, Me (do I stand out?)]

The Music and Lyrics group is going pretty well. Despite all of the technology glitches in the sound lab, I have managed to keep the interest of about a dozen students. The first song we have learned and continue to sing is Ironic by Alanis Morissette. Take a look at the lyrics, and you realize how many concepts in English that can be taught from just one song. All-in-all, it is a lot of fun working with these students on a more casual basis --not to mention the humor in my terrible artistic abilities. Teaching the lyrics to Ironic felt like a game of Pictionary almost…however, I’m glad no score was kept, for I am a joke of an artist.

Last weekend was low-key and enjoyable. P’Tuang and P’Dtone took me to Mae Sai for shopping near the Myanmar border. They went across to Myanmar and bought cheap DVD movies imported from China. I stayed in Mae Sai because I didn’t have my passport. I climbed the hill to the temple, took my shoes off, and paid respect to the Buddha. I went shopping. Well, mainly I walked around and listened to my Ipod. We came back to school around dinner time. Good times.

Biking to Nowhere

I bought a bicycle! For my life of few possessions, this was a monumental purchase. It is a brand new Jamis bike. It’s beautiful to me. It represents my sweat, my endurance, and my freedom from tuk tuks. I bought it on a Saturday afternoon at a place called Fat Free Bike Shop in the center of town. I knew it would be getting dark around 5:30 or 6:00pm, so I asked for a map, bought a helmet (don’t worry mom and dad), and decided to take my new bike home. So, what I know now is that PCC (my school) is 7.1km away from the center of town. The map I was provided with was a photocopied map of Chiang Rai with only a few labels in English –too bad street signs are in Thai script huh?

The woman at the bike shop explained to me which road I would need to take out of town, and then traced her finger through the air and told me to just keep riding until things look familiar, gesturing the final destination, PCC, was off the map by quite some distance. Why not optimism right? I took off. I rode over the Gok River, around a bit, back over the Gok River. I stopped and asked for directions. I tried to use common sense. After two weeks in Chiang Rai, I had only been to the center of town about three times, of which I arrived by tuk tuk lazily unaware of the direction it took to get there.

I was peddling…nothing around, no one around. Out of the corner of my left eye, I could see the sun was setting. I saw a pick-up truck, and then another, and another. Up ahead…nothing. I had no idea where home was, so I peddled up to the row of cars and trucks, to the small strip of restaurants that seemed to be perfectly tucked into the landscape. I got off my bike and tried to stretch what little Thai language I knew to explain my situation. Communication was obviously a problem, but I did actually receive one gestured offer to drive me to “jew-LAH-pborn” (Princess Chulabhorn, my school). However, the man was pointing and exclaiming that my bike would not fit in his car. I couldn’t do it; I couldn’t abandon my new bike in a place that was off my map and a complete mystery to me. I pressed on, smiling frequently, explaining “kor tort ka, poot pasa thai nit noi ka” (sorry, I speak only a little Thai) to the waitress. I sat at a table staring blankly at my phrasebook, realizing that phrases like “I just bought this bike and tried to ride home not knowing where home is, and now I’m lost” or “Would it be possible to sleep in your restaurant tonight? I’m an idiot” just aren’t part of everyday Thai conversation.

The waitress came up again, this time gesturing that I follow her. She had found someone who spoke English to listen to my pleas. After only twenty seconds of meeting him, and telling him my ridiculous predicament, he offered me and my bike a ride to PCC in his truck. Awesome! I quickly asked him if he was in the middle of dinner. As it turned out, it was his brother’s birthday. I joined the group of six or seven Thai men, and was immediately welcomed to the birthday celebration. After a nice meal, lots of “cheers”, and what I remember being two beers, the group asked if I would go dancing with them. I kindly declined the offer, and was reminded by my new friend, that he could take me home at any time. I said goodbye to the group, and took my new friend up on his offer. My new friend, Bomb (his nickname) is a kind Thai soul who spent eleven years living in New Zealand, and had coincidentally opened a language school in Chiang Rai three years ago. It took ten or twelve minutes of driving to get to the school. I said thank you and goodbye to Bomb and unloaded my bike from the bed of his truck. I was home, safe, sound, and optimistic!

_________________________________________________
The next day I downloaded Google Earth. It only took me four hours to locate the school on the map, but I am happy to report that I now know my way into town.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Language, Sports, Music...Golden!

I am sitting in the English Department right now. Right now I am sitting in a chair in Thailand. I’m having one of those “someone please pinch me” moments. The lines seem to be blurred between time, place, work, and play. One thing is certain, I feel so appreciative to be here.


During my days here at PCC (short for Princess Chulabhorn’s College, the place I am working), I help students practice their English. At lunchtime each day, I practice my Thai with the faculty in the teacher’s room. In the afternoons, I play sports with the students. Yesterday, I went running around the soccer field. After dinner I was invited by some students to play volleyball –it was tons of fun! Tonight I have been asked to play basketball with some of the students.



Basically, news travels here about the “farangs” (foreigners). In case I haven’t mentioned, I also teach with two other American girls who went to college together in Pittsburgh. So, at this point they know that Paige is the athlete who will join in with the students for any sport. The students play many sports here at PCC, but to my disappointment, only the male students play football (soccer). I have also been asked several times to play tennis and join some of the running groups here.



On Friday, I am hosting an interest meeting for a group I am creating at school. I have posted the flyers I created throughout the school. I am so eager to see who will be interested.
Also, because of this idea and my willingness to share MP3 files of American music with the other teachers (CCR is the most requested thus far), I have been asked to travel in January as a representative of PCC Chiang Rai and a judge at the annual singing competition (all songs will be in English).



This Friday, the committee working with Fulbright Thailand will be traveling to Chiang Rai for their annual board meeting. This should include 15 or so board members, some of whom I have not met, as well as a handful of other important people to the program and to Thailand. I have been invited to join them for dinner, and am waiting to hear more details. I am absolutely pumped to see Brad and hear stories about his time teaching thus far.



Well, I have one more class to teach this afternoon.

Sawatdee jaow (northern Thai dialect = hello/goodbye)

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Random Observations and Occurrences

I have been working on this blog post for quite some time now. Therefore, it may seem out-of-date. These are in no particular order, but like the title describes, they are random observations and occurrences during my time thus far in Thailand.

Stray dogs: There are perhaps six or seven stray dogs that are regulars on our street in Bangkok. At Chulalongkorn University, where we study during the day, there are another fifteen or so local strays that claim the campus. I’m not entirely sure why there is such a giant population of stray dogs in Bangkok. However, the stray dogs are something I will never forget about being here.

Yellow shirts: In Thailand, there is a specific color used to represent each day of the week. The current King was born on a Monday. Monday is represented by the color yellow. Every Monday you will find the streets glowing with yellow polo shirts embroidered with the King’s symbol.

Government protests: Not really sure what I can say at this point. They are happening in and around the Government House in Bangkok. The protests are serious and at some points dangerous. I am learning more about the history of Thai politics and the nature of these protests through lectures at Chulalongkorn University. I may go into details of what I have learned in another blog post, but for now, just know that I am safe.

Tuk Tuks: The other evening, Kate and I hopped in a tuk tuk for what felt like the last time in our lives. Without hesitation, the driver swerved into on-coming traffic during rush hour in Bangkok. Thank god we’re alive, ha! Bangkok traffic is an almost indescribable monster. I just found out that people actually refer to motorcycles as mosquitoes because they weave in and out of traffic making their own lanes.

Meeting Nick: I wasn’t feeling much like myself one afternoon, so I decided to treat myself to some sushi. I went to this great Japanese restaurant near the dorm. During my meal, I was working on my lesson plan for the next morning, when an older Thai man walked up to my table. He said he wanted to know what meal I had ordered because I appeared to be enjoying it (I had ordered salmon sashimi on rice and seaweed—and it was FANTASTIC). He then asked me a few questions about why I was in Thailand, and I learned that he had lived in Vermont while in high school during our short conversation. At the end of the meal, I was waiting on the check which I expected to total something close to 400 baht (a bit more pricey than my typical street-food dinner costing 30-40 baht). Next thing I knew, this same Thai man came up again to my table to tell me that he took the liberty to pay my bill. He asked if he could sit and chat for a minute and of course I agreed. He told me that people he met in America had been so great to him that he wanted to give back. We talked about Thailand, about teaching, about U.S. economy, U.S. politics, and the upcoming election. I walked home with a smile, I walked home with admiration, realizing (yet again) how unboundedly generous Thai people can be. A week later, I had dinner again with Nick in order to learn more about him and his story. Apparently he loves to golf and has run his family’s business for over three decades or so. Again, kawp khun ka. Thank you Nick, thank you Thailand, and thank you wonderful people who inhabit this beautiful country.

Drinking juice from plastic bags: So, imagine thin plastic bags about the size of sandwich baggies but the consistency of grocery bags with small handles. These bags are seen in the hands of locals, filled with ice, juice or coffee, with a colorful straw leaning toward their mouths. Plastic bags instead of plastic cups? This is very interesting, but not entirely confusing –the bags are made from less plastic and most likely a cheaper alternative.

Kids in pajamas, siting on the back of motorcycles, late at night at the street vendors: ummm, ok.

Cheerleaders practicing everywhere: Dancing, singing, and cheerleading seem to be very popular here.

Running around National Stadium: My running routine around National Stadium during my time in Bangkok has provided some of the greatest reminders of faith and love in humanity. Feet to the pavement, running for my health and mental clarity, I find the beautiful reminder of faith presented in the smiling face and wave of a young Thai child. I don’t run away from things or past things, I run to see things more clearly. Running face to the wind (well, actually there is no breeze in Bangkok) helps me realize that the world is the backdrop which reinforces our faith in everything that exists in and around us.

Some Photographic Reminders of Time Well Spent

Last weekend, I went on another trip to Ko Samed, this time with the entire Fulbright group. The weekend was great, yet sad at the same time realizing that come Monday I would be saying goodbye to some new friends. We laid out on the beach, ate delicious food, had a few cocktails, practiced our Thai, played card games, and all-around enjoyed another incredible weekend in Thailand.




This is where we slept for two nights. Simply Thailand.



This is where we ate breakfast.





A view from the cafe where we played card games for a few hours.






Kate in contemplation.





We are in a small boat that picked us up on the beach and awaiting to board the ferry back to the mainland.



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The previous week, while in Bangkok: Kate, Caryn, Ahna, and I visited the Grand Palace and Wat Arun (Wat means temple in Thai). It was a really great afternoon and provided for some of the most artistic photos I have taken thus far on this trip.








I miss everyone and hope that the people I love (you know who you are) are as happy as humanly possible.

Chook dii ka! Sawatdii ka.