My Thai Life

School Again

2010-05-21T10:39:00.001-05:00

So I started school again this week. It wasn’t overly eventful but because it was my last full week I will tell you about it.

On Monday I spent the day with Lucas. I met up with my friends and we talked and ate lunch but the majority of the day was with him. We talked and goofed around and worked on our Thailand project. It was fun but nothing really happened. After school Meow and I walked to the hospital. My host dad’s father is ill and about to die so Mike spent last weekend there and we went there after school on Monday and Tuesday. It was interesting to see the different system. My host dad and his sister were there taking care of him. There wasn’t any medicine or machines hooked to him. The bed was old and you had to crank it to get it to sit up. The nursing staff didn’t take care of him but the sister did (I didn’t even see a nurse on the floor). The room didn’t seem like a clean and friendly place but it worked. He looked very fragile and not all there. He never talked only looked from place to place and grunted. It was kind of sad.

Tuesday was the same as Monday. The big things Tuesday was the burning of Central World. Central World was where I spent most of my time in Bangkok. I loved it. They had the international movie theatre and the international market (with Reese’s PB Cups, imagine they burned them!) The burned several other places too. It’s really not looking good even though the government says they are getting things under control.

Wednesday Gayoon yelled at us for not going to class and gave us schedules so we had to go. I don’t know what the big deal is because I’m not going next week but whatever. I spent the afternoon with my classmates.

Thursday I spent with my classmates. It was fun but nothing exciting happened. I goofed around and teased them and they teased me. I miraculously didn’t fall asleep in any class and I went to almost every class. During one of my classes the US ambassador called so I had to run out of the room. He is a really nice guy and very easy to talk to. He asked how I was doing, how I felt, how I liked Thailand, and we just chatted for a few minutes. He told me that everything will be fine for me to fly out and there should be no reason that I will get stuck in Thailand so that was reassuring. At lunch I told Mo that it doesn’t seem like I’m leaving. I just don’t feel that things are really over and that I’m going home. After school we stopped at my host mom’s mother’s house and Meow took we around the village on a motor bike. I don’t know what it was about that ride but it finally hit me that I’m going home. I realized that I’m going to miss Thailand and I even shed a few (not many yet) tears.

Friday I skipped a lot of classes to spend time with Lucas. It was nice. I talked to him about all sorts of things. At one point I was near tears and at another we were teasing each other and being silly and at others we were serious and encouraging. It was really nice. I’m really going to miss him. He keeps telling me that he’ll be on MSN and Skype every night and will always be available if I need to talk to him but I know if won’t be the same. This year I’ve made two amazing friends, best friends, but we are so far apart I don’t know how I’m going to manage! I think I’m going to miss him and Bashayer the most from this year.

After school Meow and Mike went swimming with some friends at the Christian school (a missionary found it and they study Christianity but all the students are Buddhist so it really doesn’t make sense to me). They had fun with their friends but I forgot my suit this morning so I sat on the side. They played for several hours and then we went for a Thai BBQ probably my last.  I can’t believe things are really coming to an end! I just got home now and I’m waiting to use the internet so that I can catch up with Bashayer. I haven’t talked to her in 3 weeks and I really miss her and want to talk to her. I also need to get some pics from her so that I can work on the project this weekend. I hope to have it done by the time I get home so that I can show people parts of it at the girls’ graduation.

I almost forgot the most interesting and tiring part of the week. I’ve been waking up at 5 because we now take a van to school which picks us up at 6:15. The van is old and rather small. We squeeze in 32 students from the ages of 5 to 19. Many of the younger ones have to sit on older kids laps or all squash together in the front. Sometimes I would fall asleep on the way but that is a difficult thing to do when we are so crammed in that you can’t even move a centimeter and you are going over all sorts of bumps and making crazy turns so that just goes to show you how tired I am. I never get to bed before 12 no matter how much I try. Part of the problem is that there is someone in the bathroom until 11:20 because there is a routine. By the time I shower, brush my teeth, put on moisturizer, do my devotion and prayer, stretch, and are fully ready for bed it’s usually after 12. Needless to say I instantly fall asleep every night. Anyway back to the van. There are 32 students from about 12 different schools. We are the 9th stop and there are about 8 little kids left on the bus when we get off. It’s cool to see all the different uniforms and sports uniforms. I love riding the van because it lets me see the real Thai student way. It’s fun to watch the kids from the different school interact. Some of them are really good friends even though they go to different schools. I love riding the van and wish that we would have all year!

Sunday I will spend some time with Lucas. We will go to Big C and I will buy some food for home and I will finish buying my gifts. Then during the week I will pack and prepare to leave. One day I will go to school to say goodbye to everyone. I still haven’t heard from AFS when I’m leaving or anything so I have no details!!!! I could leave Thursday or Friday. I will post once more before I leave and after that I won’t post again until I hit the states and then I will let you all know how the flight was and a few last thoughts on Thailand.

Allyson

Countdown Begins

2010-05-15T10:20:00.008-05:00

So a lot has happened in the last couple of weeks. I won’t go all the way back but I will give certain days of detail.

As you know I was in Mukdahan for 2 weeks after my two week visit with Bashayer in Nakhon Phanom. Mukdahan is about 103 km away from Bashayer so it wasn’t any great distance. On Friday April 30th I went with my host sister, Nut, and her Uncle to visit her. Her uncle had to do some business there and invited us to join him on his trip. They told me this about 30 minutes before we left. When we got to the house we had to pack really fast. I packed in 8 minutes, the fastest I have ever packed! We then made the journey to Nakhon Phanom. He drove fast so it wasn’t a long drive. We checked into the hotel and went to sleep.

In the morning I met up with Bashayer. We got some ice cream and hung out at the hotel. We took a walk along the river which was nice. We never seem to run out of things to talk about no matter how often we are together so that was nice. At night we went to a farewell party for the Germany exchange teacher at Bashayer’s school. When I returned to the hotel I used the internet while Nut and the uncle went out. It was very late when they finally came back. I could hear her the whole way up the stairs and she then pounded on the door, staggers in fall, runs to the bathroom and throws up! She was soooo wasted! For the next hour I listened to them take turns puking until they both passed out, it was a lot of fun!

Next morning we drove back to Mukdahan.

On Friday May 7 I was finally to head back to Petchaburi. Before I did I spent some time with Nut and May, Nut’s best friend. They showed me some things in the town (I don’t know why they waited) and took me up the Mukdahan Tower (I made them walk up and down so they weren’t too pleased). It was fun to spend time with them. On Thursday I had gone to the Indochina market with them and picked up some presents so I had to spend some time packing (also because I had kind of made a mess and I had things everywhere).

The best part of the day was picking up my Thai costume!!!! On Monday we went and had my measurements taken and picked out a design. I picked out some jewelry to go with it and then I picked out the fabric. I debated between blue and red but went with blue because it just seemed to look better for me. So on Friday I got to pick it up!! It was too big at first so she had to take it in but it was so exciting. That store didn’t have the head piece though so we went to another place to buy it and they had a lot more jewelry selection and a lot cheaper so I bought everything (and more) there and returned the other stuff. When we got home the girls did my hair and had me put on all the accessories so that we could take pics! I can’t wait to show everyone!!!!!

Well that night sadly I had to head back to Petchhaburi. Nut complained and wanted me to stay longer but I couldn’t. I made the 15 hour journey back to Petchaburi and then spent 5 hours in the terrible heat running around town buying things for my host mom. When we go back to the house I crashed!

That night I had to do laundry and I want to say that no one can complain about laundry until they have to do EVERYTHING by hand! The washing, the rinsing (twice), then the softener, the more rinsing, ringing and then hanging! UGH! I was so sick of laundry. I’m dreading when I have to wash my uniform by hand every day and then iron it every morning.

Well on Sunday I met up with Lucas at Big C. I’m having some computer problems and I was hoping he could fix them, but he couldn’t so it looks like Geek Squad will get a visit from me when I get home. We also started work on our project. We are doing a presentation together of the year and different things in Thailand to give to people when we get home. Some parts are boring but there is one part that I thought of that we are both really excited about! It was an adventure to get there. I started to wait for the truck around 9 but one didn’t come. At 10:15 I wasn’t feeling good from the heat so I went in to tell my host mom. After another 15 minutes of waiting she called a friend to take me on a motorcycle. After a lot of waiting I finally arrived there. We sat in a café and worked on the computers. Well there was no plug or internet so we decided to go to the internet café across from school. We took a tuktuk and arrived at the air-conditioned place about 15 minutes later. Those 15 minutes were interesting though. We shared a tuktuk with an older woman and her 2 grandsons. Well 2 farangs draws attention especially when we are talking. I was glad that she didn’t show any recognition as to what we were talking about because it was not the best thing to be discussing in public (let’s just say he had me blushing for not the first time that day).

We sat at the internet café for 3 hours. We didn’t get too much accomplished but we got some things done. At around 4 we decided to head back to Big C for some ice cream. We walked down one side of the street for about 5 minutes and saw a tuk tuk going by so we flagged it down. The guy pulls over, gets out, walks around to us just to point and tell us there is another tuktuk about a minute’s walk in the other direction from the café! We got to Big C and got our ice cream. I called my host mom and told her to have her friend pick me up but I had to wait for him to get there so we went and looked through the market outside. When his bus came he left but I still had to wait. A blonde farang gets a lot of stares just standing around!

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I stayed in my room in front of the fan all day trying not to die of heat. Every time I would leave the room I would get too hot and begin to feel ill.

On Thursday my host mom had the day off so we went to the beach. We invited Lucas so after some confusion he met up with us (my host mom told me to tell him to meet us somewhere but when we got there he wasn’t there yet so she drove off and when he did get there she didn’t want to go back so she tried to get him to find us but he didn’t understand, not that he could have because we kept moving. Eventually she sent Mike to go and get him but she didn’t tell me and he decided to take a motorcycle to us after I told him what hotel we were next to. After some time Mike came back and we were all together). First we played in the water but then the others wanted to take a banana boat so we decided to join them. It wasn’t fun. After we finished (we fell off for the second time so we called it quits) we went to 7, dripping and covered in sand, to buy some food. We ate and talked and then went to shower. I didn’t want to shower there just change but Lucas did so I waited. When he was about done he says “This water smells like someone peed in it!” I smile and say “Wouldn’t surprise me, we’re in Thailand anything is possible!” He wasn’t happy with my comment because he kept thinking about it while he finishe€d. On the way back he said he could just picture someone putting their kid in the bin to get them clean and the kid releasing them self. The beach wasn’t bad but there wasn’t any sun (the day you want sun is the day there isn’t any) so I didn’t get tan.

Yesterday I went to Hua Hin with Lucas. I needed to go to immigration to hand in my 90 day papers so we decided to make a day of it. The woman helping me wasn’t very good and so took a long time. First she couldn’t figure out my visa (it’s a stamp because of the airport guy), then she couldn’t figure something else out, then she had me sign something wrong, and then she couldn’t find where she placed something! It was a little annoying. After immigration we walked to the highway and flagged a motorcycle to take us to the mall. We met up with a friend of his from Mexico there. First we went bowling. I sucked as usual. The first game I had a 60, second game a 48 (though I could have gotten higher but the boys played two times for me while I was talking to AFS and decided to have fun with it and so ended up getting me zeros), and the third game I got a 64. It was fun. We then went to lunch were €we met up with their America friend. The boys at 3 plates of food each and I ate one. Then we wen€t shopping. I stopped to look at something and they were causing a scene so I sent them on their wa€y and told them I’d call and find them when I was done. When I found them they were devouring a box of donuts. We walked around for a while then went and got DQ before heading home. When I arrived at Big C I had to sit and wait for an hour before they came to get me and they didn’t have their p€hones so I didn’t know if they were coming or not.
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Today nothing happened. I talked to Marieke for over an hour and then I ate lunch, read, and just tried to avoid the heat. I had to do some more laundry but not too much because I did most of it on Wednesday night. Mike was gone today at the hospital visiting his grandfather so it was just Meow and I. Dinner was early and then Meow and I went for a bike ride around town. It was nice. Tomorrow I need to work on the project, pack, and do some paperwork for AFS. Monday school starts but I don’t plan on doing too much school because Lucas and I have to finish the project before the end of the week.

Well that’s all the fun you’ve missed in the last few weeks. Hope you’ve been enjoying yourselves!

Lots of Love,
Allyson

P.S. 19 Days till I land in Wisconsin!!!!!

Mukdahan part 1

2010-04-28T01:09:00.003-05:00

So the last few days have been interesting. Some of you may not know but I had to change locations yet again. I had bought a ticket and was all prepared to go back to Petchaburi when AFS said that I had to stay in the Northeast for a little longer. Bashayer's family said they could not keep me so AFS arranged to move me about 3 hours south of her. They never called me and told me but told Bashayer's host sister P'Oui so when she said that we were going to return my ticket and started to tell us of the plan for the next day I had no clue what she was talking about. They never told my host mom in Petchaburi that plans were changed either so when I talked to her on Saturday night she still thought I was going to be back in Petchaburi on Monday. Everything has been a very confusing mess!

Anyway, Sunday was quite the adventure. I woke up at 7:30 so that I could be ready by 9 when Bashayer's family wanted to leave. After I was showered I finished packing and then cleaned Bashayer's room. I was ready to go but had a few last minute things to throw in my bags and I had to wait for Bashayer to be ready. At 8:45 her family was ready and was trying to rush us out the door. They are never on time and the one time we aren't ready early is the time they were! We quickly grabbed everything and loaded the car. We were on the road by 5 to 9.

We arrived in Mukdahan at 11:30 (we would have arrived sooner but her host dad wouldn't drive any faster than 50 km/hour the WHOLE trip! when the speed limit was around 80, well it normal is when they post it). P'Oui had called the coordinator and told her that we were there. AFS had not told her when I was coming or anything about me, they had called her on Saturday and told her that a student was going to be arriving and she was to take care of them. She was gone in a different province so she said she would try to be back by 1. So we went shopping at the Indochina market along the Mekong River. There was a lot of plastic Chinese junk and nothing overly impressive. At 2:30 we went to lunch because we were hungry and getting tired of waiting. No more than we get our food the coordinator, Ajarn Sophit, calls and tells us she is back. We quickly eat and head out. We had no clue where to go so we just drove around. We pulled into a house and I think "She's a teacher there is no way this huge house is hers!" While Bashayer just keeps saying, "Wow you're lucky!" We unload my stuff and P'Oui calls Ajarn Sophit because we did not see her. While she's on the phone she begins to laugh and signal for us to put the stuff back in the car. It turns out that was not the right place after all. Well that was embarrassing!

It took us a lot of confusion, several U-turns and many phone calls to find the house, but eventually we got there. After Bashayer's family left she showed me around and then we went to the school she teaches at. She dropped me off with some students of hers while she went and taught a girl. The girl I was with showed me around the school and then she asked me if I wanted to see a secret activity. I had no problem with this so we went. Her sister and two boys were playing cards, that's all. They said I couldn't tell Ajarn Sophit about it. They were very impressed by my shhuffling and they tried to teach me their game but I only got part.

After they dropped me off with Ajarn Sophit she showed me some scrapbooks the students made. She said she requires them to make her a book before they leave. They were cool to look at. It looked like the students get very involved here.

For dinner we went out for dinner with her husband (who is from California) and their friend Ted who is from Scotlamd. It was fun but they didn't really talk to me too much. It was interesting though to be able to understand the whole conversation!

I'll write about the last couple of days the next time I get on the computer. For now this little update will have to do.

Lots of Love,
Allyson

Songkran

2010-04-18T03:38:00.003-05:00

I am currently at Bashayer's house in the northeast. She lives on the border of Laos so when we drive along the Mekong River I get to see Laos. I like her area because it is small and quiet and she lives within bike riding distance of everything so we get to do things.

On my first day we just slept and laid around because I was tired from the long bus ride (I slept some but it wasn't a very great sleep). We talked for most of the morning which was fun. We also watched a few movies.

On my second day we rode the bikes to Tesco Lotus, their version of a Walmart, not the same but kind of close. It was a longer ride than I thought and I was very worn out by the end. I am really out of shape!

On Saturdays, Sundays, and Tuesdays Bashayer has Tae Kwon Do. We skipped Saturday because we were too tired to go and because the other exchange student from Germany wasn't going to be there. We went on Sunday night. On the way we stopped at her school director's house but he wasn't there so his wife had to do the traditional Songkran blessing. We poured water from a special dish into her hand and then she put it over our head and back and wished us a Happy New Year. We were late for class but this is Thailand so it wasn't a huge deal. It was fun to watch her do the moves. She made me do the stretches with her and that was really depressing because I couldn't do anything! I have so much work to do when I get home.

On Monday we didn't really do much. Bashayer and I hung out and had some fun doing our own thing.

On Tuesday Bashayer's sister: P'Oui, took us to buy Songkran shirts and pants. Songkran started on Tuesday but we didn't celebrate that day because her host family didn't want to.

Maybe now would be a good time to describe what Songkran is. Songkran is the Thai New Year. It last three days, from April 12th to April 15th. You buy waterguns and you wear special shirts (you don't have to but it's fun) and you sit in the back of a pick-up and you spray everyone you go by. Some people fill big barrels with water and throw it at people. The boys also take baby powder and rub it on the girls faces. I'm telling you now that baby powder BURNS! Anyway, you can't really step outside without getting wet. They do it during the hottest part of the year and you actual stay very cool. It is fun for one day but I couldn't imagine doing it all 3 days.

On Tuesday we went with the German girl, Anna. It was fun except that we stood out and so were attacked way more than the norm. The baby powder burned and you could never get it off without someone coming and putting more on you. The water would get in your eyes and mouth and sometimes it would be colored so it would make your hair and face colored. After about an hour in the car we got out and stood on the side of the road with some people Anna knew. They had 3 barrels so we always had water. There were some children so Bashayer and I had a water war with them. We were located right next to a beer stand so there were lots of drunk guys which made me nervous because they kept coming up to me and wouldn't leave me alone. The women who were there were really nice and protected us pretty well. After we finished playing water we walked to Anna's house. we took some pictures there because we couldn't take any on the street. After we got home we crashed. We were cold and wet (it was one of the only times I've been cold since coming here and it was 43 Celsius out) but something about the day just wore us out!

On Thursday I woke up sick so we didn't do a lot. That morning we had to wake up early and go to a Laos market about an hour or so away. It was gross. They had dead rodents they were selling and some other weird things. At first I thought it was cool until I realized what everything was. We didn't take any pictures of the weird stuff, we actually tried not to look at it at all. We laid around and slept for the majority of the day. At one point we asked her sister to take us out to get pictures. We drove around for an hour or so and took pictures of everything. I didn't feel well all night so we just stayed home after that and watched movies.

Friday her sister took us to a temple. It was very pretty. After the temple we went to a mountain. In order to go up the mountain we had to stop to pick her one of P'Oui's friends to drive because she was scared to drive up herself. The mountain had a beautiful view and some cool statues of the different Buddha's for each day of the week. We had dinner with her friend and then drove home. It was a long day but it was nice to get out.

Yesterday Bashayer had Tae Kwon Do and she had her yellow belt test. She passed so I was so happy for her. She will get the yellow belt in about two weeks, right before Anna leaves because she passed too.

Today we were supposed to go to the grandma's house about 5 hours away for some celebration but when we woke up this morning to get ready they told us that we weren't going. It was about 7 at that time so we went back to sleep. When we woke up no one was home so we don't know where they went. Bashayer has Tae Kwon Do tonight but other than that no plans. I don't know what we are doing this week or when I'm leaving or anything so I'll let you know when I know.

I'll put on some pics next time I'm on.

Allyson

Been Busy

2010-04-07T23:39:00.002-05:00

Sorry about not posting in a long time, I've been busy! I don't even remember the last thing I wrote about so I guess I'll just do a brief overview of the last month or so. I finished school in February and headed to the Northeast. I stayed there for 5 weeks. My family was great! I had a 10 year old host sister and a 9 year old host brother. They could be a lot of fun though sometimes they gave me a headache. :-) I spent some time with Bashayer because she was only 3 hours away. We had fun jst hanging out. We stayed up till 2 or 3 in the morning and slept until noon. It was great until I had to get into a regular schedule again!

On March 27th my parents arrived! Everyone but Thomas came so it ws nice. I spent some time getting to know the two exchange girls living at my house. I showed them arond Petchaburi and introduced them to my friends and host family. A week ago we came to Bangkok and spent some time seeing things here. Everything touristy was closed because of the Red Shirts! Things are bad here in the aspect! It wouldn't suprise me if there was a reolvolution.

Well they left this morning and I miss them a lot! I am heading off to Bashayer's house for 2 weeks tonight though so that should keep my mind off of home. I have to check out now so I'll have to write more later!

Lots of Love,
Allyson

Another Day

2010-03-05T07:11:00.001-06:00

So yesterday wasn’t anything overly eventful. I woke up and got ready and ended up running a few minutes behind because someone was in the bathroom when I first got up so I couldn’t get in right away. It was okay though because Alpha was running behind too. Everyone knows that when mom is gone kids get away with a lot of crap, well Papa let Alpha stay up past 1 AM watching a movie and then she couldn’t get out of bed in the morning and was late for school. Also she forgot to take care of the rabbit and hamster/gerbil things and the rabbit got hungry or something and started to chew on one of the hamster/gerbil things and killed it so now she is sad and I’m grossed out!

Anyway back to my day. I got to school and they gave me to this university student who is teaching some classes so that she can get practice. I spent the morning giving presentations on America to her English classes. It was fun. I smiled so much that my mouth was dry so for everyone who says I don’t smile enough they need to shut their mouths!

She took me out for lunch. It was kind of fun. It was my first time eating sticky rice in the northeast which I’ve found strange because in the northeast supposedly they don’t eat steamed rice but only sticky rice. I ate some chicken and so other things.

After lunch I was supposed to learn to make a Thai center piece but the teacher wasn’t there so they told me to take a nap. At around 3 (so after 2 ½ hours) she got back and she put me in a room with a student and then left. I watched the girl make one and tried to understand what she was doing but she didn’t explain so I was left to my own way of doing things and let me say it didn’t turn out that great. Oh well, hers looked cool.

At around 5:30 I went to a party for some teachers at my advisor and coordinators school. It was a farewell to the teachers who are changing schools and a hello to their replacements. It wasn’t fun but I met a girl from Spain who was really nice. I spent the day with her and her host sister today.

Today I woke up late, but so did they so it didn’t matter. I talked to Sarah on MSN for a little while then they picked me up and we went to the hospital for Thai massages. They were filled for the morning so we scheduled for the afternoon and went for brunch. After brunch they came to my house and we watched a movie. I had some computer problems but eventually I got it to turn on and I burned some songs for Catuxa, the girl from Spain. We then went for our massages. She got a foot massage and I got a full body. Though the full body was nice I like the foot massages better I decided.

After our massages I went to the house she was staying at and helped her pack, she was on week exchange here so she had to go back to Bangkok where she is staying. It was really nice to meet her and I hope to see her again before I leave.

End of February and Beginning of March

2010-03-03T05:18:00.001-06:00

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, I’ve been busy. As you all know I moved a week ago so that has been a big change in things. I finished school on February 19th, which was kind of sad but I know that I will go to school for at least two days before I go back to America. Before I left I had them all sign my friendship book. I took a picture of each person and put it on a page and they left me messages. I also had them all sign one of my uniform shirts. It was a nice day with my friends. You can see the pictures at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=149457&id=535566988&l=1da0c61bb6

On that Saturday I packed my things! It was crazy to see how much stuff I’ve collected this year. As I was packing I was sorting. I went through and took out the things that I don’t need any more this year and the things that I can just throw out. I don’t know what I’d do if mom and dad wouldn’t be bringing an extra suitcase to take things home!

On Sunday I went and met my advisor and P’Dai at a hotel in Cha-Am. My advisor’s name is P’Am and she is really nice. We went to Bangkok and stayed at her best friend’s house. We went for dinner at the Sizzler and then we went back and read and watched TV. In the morning we went in the city and did some site seeing. We took a boat into the city to avoid traffic. On our way to the National Museum we accidentally ran into one of her other students and his mother. We ended up spending the day with them. The museum was closed to we went to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It was nice to go a second time since I don’t remember much from the first time being that it was the day after we arrived and I was so jetlagged! We then went to another palace but we couldn’t take photos inside, but it was really nice. After that we went back to her friend’s house, buying some pizza on the way, and packed up and went to the bus.

The bus left Bangkok at 9, stopped for 20 minutes around 12, and we arrived shortly after 7! It was very long and I didn’t sleep so well. P’Am took me to my host family. I met my host mother and my host sister along with some of the shop assistants (they have a pharmacy on the first floor too). I slept and unpacked most of the day but I did spend some time with Alpha, my 11 year old host sister, playing piano, watching a movie, and learning some Thai. It was fun.

On Wednesday I went to P’Am’s school and met my coordinator and the German teaching assistant. I didn’t do much but sit around and help to grade a few papers but it was nice. On Thursday I had a Thai lesson. The problem that I have with the move is that because I don’t speak fluent they assume I don’t speak at all. They are always explaining what everything means even if I understand and they are acting like I just arrived.

On Friday I went to the welfare school to help out. The welfare school is a school for the children who can’t afford the normal school, have problems, or learning disabilities. They house over 500 of the 800 students on the grounds as well as many of the teachers. It seems to me to be a nice school. In the morning I helped out in an English class, but in the afternoon they taught me how to make a traditional Thai flower piece.

Over the weekend I spent some time with the family. Saturday was Alpha’s 11th birthday so we went to Ubon for a Japanese dinner (they took the kids to Japan last year and they fell in love with Japanese food). I bought an external hard drive and stayed up late to mess with it. Sunday I tried to sleep in but people kept coming in my room so I probably got about 5 hours of sleep. Sunday was nothing special. Monday was a holiday so they were going to take me to do some sightseeing but Papa made plans to bike ride with some friends that got moved to the afternoon so we didn’t do anything.

Tuesday I learned to do a Thai foot massage. First I got one to see how it was done! Then I had to give one, the teacher who I did it for had the boniest legs ever! In the afternoon they taught me how to carve a pumpkin and watermelon Thai style. I wasn’t very good but I tried. I laughed when I made a mistake, which was very often, and just kept saying Mi pen ri and Sabi Sabi (no big deal, take it easy)! It was a fun experience.

Today I didn’t do anything in the morning but in the afternoon I made a Thai dessert. The teacher wants me to teach her to make a few American desserts now so I have to get recipes and ingredients. I also watched some Eason dancing (Eason is Laos in Thai, because we are on the boarder there is a lot of Eason culture and everyone speaks as much Eason as they do Thai, which confuses me but I’m managing). The teacher then taught me a Northeastern Thai dance. I wasn’t very good but it was fun to try. I draw quite the crowd wherever I go in the school, when I made dessert the kitchen got really full and when I was dancing the windows where full of peepers! Even though I’m not very good at the cultural stuff, I smile and laugh my way through it and I am loving the new experiences!

Well that’s all for now. Any questions just let me know and I’ll try to answer. I’ll try to write again sooner!

Pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=152595&id=535566988&l=017881d9ee

Email:

buttonnose626@hotmail.com

Moving

2010-02-19T23:32:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow, Sunday February 21st, I will be leaving Petchaburi and moving to the north/east of Thailand for a month. The new province is called Amnat Charoen. I will don't know anything yet so I'll have to write more as soon as I can.

Love you all,
Allyson

Wedding, Temple, and the Goodbyes Begin

2010-02-15T08:54:00.000-06:00

Well I know it’s not in the title but it did happen and I think that I will just take a paragraph or two to tell about last week’s community service.

On Tuesday Lucas, Jason, and I went to the little school that we had gone to the previous week. We had prepared some lessons and divided up who was going to teach what and for how long. As we were driving there Lucas decided that he didn’t want to do anything so I ended up with double. I taught Tongue Twisters and Telling Time. We taught Modeums 1,2 and 6 (grades 7,8, and 12). I also helped Jason with his activity. Jason had created a list of various things falling under 6 categories and he would say a word and they would have to rush up to the board to choose the right category. The group that got the most points got a prize. It was fun.

On Wednesday we went to a couple of elementary schools. We taught colors and shapes, we did some fruits and vegetables, worked on the alphabet and counting, taught them “Duck, Duck, Goose” and “The Hokey Pokey”. They were all so cute and so interested in learning. They would repeat everything we said and were very good at listening.

Alright so now I will get to the title stuff.

Yesterday, Valentine’s Day, I went to a wedding. In Thailand it is customary to invite everybody, even people you don’t know, to everything. Bashayer was telling me that she went to a funeral for the cousin of her host sister’s friend’s friend. They didn’t know the person but they went anyway. The same was for the wedding. I don’t know how they knew or if they knew the people getting married but we went.

First the monks come and bless them and do some sort of ceremony, we only caught the end because we were late. Then the bride and groom sit on stools with these tables in front of them and flowers in front of the tables, while people come and bless them and pour water on their hands. They are connected by two circles of flowers on their heads. All the adults had to go and bless them and pour the water on their hands, I don’t know why.

After everybody had finished they took some pictures with people (in Thailand they take the wedding photos several weeks before the wedding). By this time it was about 12 PM and time for lunch. We went down the block (about ½ a block) and there were tents set up for us to sit and eat. They served us the same food that is served at every event (and I mean every, they never vary it up even a little). I by now know the things I do like and don’t.

After we finished eating we had to leave because Meow had an Ortho appointment and then she had to meet with Eddie (one of the English teachers) for private lessons because she did not pass her English test to go to the US next year. I ended up sitting in the English Corner reading for 3 hours because my host mom told me to go with her and then one girl was an hour late so they had to go an hour longer.

Last night after the store was closed we went to a celebration at a new temple (not that they need another, there are like 6 on my way to school as it is). For the celebration they set up the whole place like a party/celebration thing just like they did for every other party I’ve been to here (food and carnival games included). The only difference was the temple and the monks. The temple had 9 balls all around it and you had to go and put the gold foil on each one. After the ceremony they put the balls into the ground as some sort of religious thing. Then you go around and do various other religious things like give money, give some things to the monks, pray, and some other things I couldn’t figure out.

After they had done all the religious stuff we walked around and the kids played various games. They won a pink pillow playing darts (no idea what they plan on doing with it). They bought food (no surprise since Thai people are always eating snacks but never meals). We did various things for about 2 hours then decided it was time to head home.

Now the last topic spreads a little and is not totally about things that have been happening but things that have been running through my head.

So Friday was Martin (the boy from Alaska), Jason, and Lucas’s last day. It was really sad to have to say goodbye to them. I won’t ever see Jason or Martin again and I don’t know if or when I will see Lucas again. It made me really sad to realize that this year is really starting to come to a close. I have formed some great relationship, ones that I hope to continue in the future, but I don’t know if I will ever see these people again.

It’s really sad to look at everything that I’ve done this year and realize that I haven’t done much for being here 6 months. I have just over 3 months left and then this amazing year is going to be over! I have one week left of school which means one last week with my friends. Today I went to my last Monday market. Tomorrow will be my last Tuesday Pad Thai. Last week Thursday was the last time I will ever wear the gym uniform. So much has happened in the last few days and so much more is going to happen in the next few. I can’t believe it’s all coming to a close! It feels like I just got here and like I’m finally finding my place and it all is ending.

Though I am happy and excited about summer and everything it’s going to bring, I’m sad for what I am losing. As much as I hate and complain about the uniform it’s going to be weird to not have to put it on every day. It’s going to be lonely at home with no friends to laugh with or to eat lunch with. I’m going to miss them teasing me or laughing at how I pronounce words. I’m going to miss Sai running up to me after the weekend and giving me a hug and kiss on the check. I’m going to miss Mo and Boom. I love spending time with them, talking with them, and just having fun and goofing around. I’m going to miss them speaking to me and Thai and me trying to reply and the thrill I get when they say Chok Dee (good job)! I’m going to miss the lunch lady’s smile because she knows exactly what I want without having to ask (I go there every day and get the same thing). I’m going to miss the English Corner filled with all the farang; I’m going to miss talking with all the teachers and laughing over stupid things I did or that happened to me. I’m going to miss Benchama and my life here!

Bye Bye Modeum 6 and Beginning Community Service

2010-02-04T09:16:00.000-06:00

So yesterday was the farewell ceremony for Modeum 6 (that’s grade 12). They had a 2 hour assembly in the morning with a big ceremony for them. The rest of the day was spent giving them gifts, saying goodbye (even though they have exams for the next week), and using them as an excuse to ditch class. There was a group of Chinese people at the school so my class was in charge of showing them around so we didn’t have class. Lucas is in modeum 6 so he spent the day with his friends. He got decked out, I’ll have to post a pic at some point. I didn’t have much to do with it.

Well yesterday I was supposed to start my community service but Jason was sick and they didn’t think that I needed to go so they cancelled it. I did need to go but I guess what can I do. Jason was sick with a fever from many mosquito bites that made his whole foot swell to the point it wouldn’t even fit in a shoe after medicine for three days.

Today I actually did do community service. Peach’s mom is a nurse (a sex ed nurse as I found out from all the things in her office) and they were having an event at her hospital so we went to help out. We started by talking with some children about 9. Then they put us on serving duty so we went around with little desserts and drinks. We also helped to set up the food pyramid display. We did whatever they asked us to do and when they had nothing for us to do we sat and tried to figure out the Rubix cube that Lucas’s host brother bet him he couldn’t.

After the community service we went for lunch. We made it back in time for me to go to PE. Today was the first day of PE final. I didn’t know what I was doing so I just winged it. I don’t know why but I got a C. Boom said it’s no big deal because she did well and got a B. It was the beginning and she said it would get better so I shouldn’t think about it.

After school I mailed all the packages and post cards. All I have to say is that everyone I sent something to better love me because I spent my whole months money on shipping!

Well that’s all for now.

Beginning of Community Service -- FINALLY!!!

2010-02-02T09:08:00.002-06:00

So today I started, well sort of, my community service. I'll start from the beginning of today though.

I woke up at 5 to get ready because I needed to be at school at 7:30 (or so I told my host family knowing that if I told them that early then I'd be there on time). I showered and did some stuff on my computer. I got ready and then ate breakfast (the leftovers from last nights dinner) and of course I ate alone because no one here eats breakfast. We left at like 7:20 ish (told you we are never on time, I'm in Thailand I've learned how things work). We made a few stops on the way and got to school at 8. I had time to tell Lucas we were NOT going to 7/11 talk to Martin, the kid from Alaska that is here with his family to avoid the Alaskan winter, and to get all my stuff taken care of. The lady came and picked us up then and we drove to pick up another student.

The 4 of us crammed in the back seat of the truck for the hour drive to the little school. The school is 5 years old and has less than 100 students (and the lady, I think she was the director, said most students don't show up). We walked around the school and talked to various classes. Most classes didn't have teachers so the students were just doing whatever they wanted.

After the tour of the one floor classroom we went to see the scenery. The school is built on a mangrove farm. There were monkeys and those weird things that look like giant tadpoles that like climb in the mud.

The lady then said that there wasn't anything left to do at the school so she was going to take us sightseeing. We first went to a different province to get drinks and to feed some fish. Then we drove to Cha Am to look at the beach. The they took us to Hua Hin to get Pizza Hut. It was great pizza, just like at home! We loved it and ate all of it (the large was the size of a small in America). Then they came and picked us up again (they went for traditional Thai somewhere).

We then went back to Petchaburi and went to this like shop area at the bottom of the mountain and I found Petchaburi postcards something I'd been looking for, and a Thailand keychain.

Then it was back to school. On arriving at school I looked through the large amount of shoes in front of the English Corner, and what do you know, my shoes were there. I ran inside with them, with my sandals still on, and hid them before anyone would know. I STOLE MY SHOES BACK I STOLE MY SHOES BACK!

After school I worked on the project for tomorrow. Jason and I are going to an elementary school to teach so we were preparing things (I love that he only has 2 weeks to do his community service because that means I'm actually getting mine done too). My host mom came and had to talk to some of the teachers because Mike is having a lot of problems in school.

We then went to dinner where I ate Pad Thai mi khai (Thai noodles no egg) and then we went and printed photos for me. I got 130 photos for around $14 (that's just over a penny each). And because I got some many they gave me a big one for free (8x10). Then we went and picked up some stuff for the store. There were two really cute little kids in the store and it was fun to watch them.

We then went and picked up Meow and Mike and headed home. I prepared the stuff to send to various places in the world and then cleaned my room a little. I had random stuff laying all over my room that I'm not going to use here so I put it all in boxes (yes boxES)! Just the few things laying around filled 2 1/2 boxes! I'm doomed! I've hardly gone anywhere or bought anything yet. I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm going to have to send more than half of my things with mom and dad because I will probably buy more after they leave because I will be traveling!

Well now I'm exhausted from a lack of sleep (I'm a teenager who likes to do everything at night and hates mornings) so I'm headed to bed. Night to all! Chan rak mak koon (lot of love to all)!

Allyson

ChaingMai - AFS Midstay Camp

2010-01-31T08:13:00.002-06:00

So I left on Monday January 25th in the early morning for the Midstay camp. I was not looking forward to it because I thought that it was just going to be the 5 of us again. I left for the van at 4:30 AM because my host dad had to pick someone up or something like that. I arrived in Bangkok at 6:30 and sat at Victory monument and pigeon and people watched until 8 when the AFS guy came and got me. We then went around and picked up other students (there were other students!!!). It was a 30 minutes van ride to the AFS office and then I sat and waited for everyone to get there.

We had a short meeting then we were on our way. It was a long bus ride and for the first half I didn’t talk to anyone. Bashayer called and I talked with her for a while but neither one of us had too many minutes. I listened to my iPod and fell asleep. When I was awake I listened in on some of the conversations. I got an education in the problems on Italian and German school. I got to hear all sorts of complaints about host families, coordinators, and life in general. More than half of them have changed families! When you want to change families with AFS all you have to do is ask and they will let you change!

About halfway we stopped and picked up 3 girls. They sat next to me since there was an open seat. I talked with them the rest of the way. I got really close with the girl who sat next to me. Her name is Adriani from Germany. When we stopped at BigC for dinner I bought StepUp 2 for 100baht ($3.34) and we bought some snacks. When we arrived at the hotel both Ariadni and I had to wait up because our roommates weren’t arriving till 1 and in Thailand you only get one key. So we watched a few movies and ate.

On Tuesday the five of us separated from the other 60 students for our community service project. I didn’t know what to expect because the only thing they told us is that we were going to help out at a night safari. IT WAS AWESOME!!!! The first thing we got to do when we got there was feed the baby animals. There were baby black panthers, a baby tiger, a baby lion, and a baby Asiatic black bear. After we fed them we split into three groups and were assigned a leader. Bashayer and I were a group (duh!) and our leader started off really nice.

The first thing we did was go and pick up food for the ostriches. We loaded the ATV and then off we went. He took us right into the cage with all of the ostriches. We couldn’t do much because he said it wasn’t safe for us to get off the ATV but it was still fun. He collected all the eggs which we thought was a little weird. He didn’t speak much English so everything was a Thai English mix, it was fun. We asked him why he was collecting them and he said that when they get wet they don’t hatch (we had rain the night before) so he was collecting them to drain the yoke to feed the baby lion and tiger. They then use the white as pigment for clothes and things. We didn’t know what to think of it but we decided that if that is how it was there was nothing we could do about it. He also said that when it is dry they collect the eggs to put them in incubators for hatching.

After the ostriches he let us go and play with the babies. They were soooo cute!!! The baby tiger loved me. The baby lion was crabby and anytime you touched her she would growl and you. Bashayer was scared of them and so she was very hesitant about touching them and playing with them, but I went and picked up the tiger and was holding her. She asked to hold her for a picture but as soon as the picture was over she handed her back to me . I asked the guy if I could keep the baby tiger but he said no . I hope that I can play with more babies one day.

When play time was over it was time to work. We cleaned the adult lionesses and tigresses cage. We had to use a broom to clean up the poop (they don’t have pooper scoopers to do it) and then we had to spray it down and get all the dirt out and then sweep the excess water out. We helped him finish with some of his other small tasks and then it was lunch.

After lunch they invited us to watch a hyena surgery! Some of the hyenas were fighting and one got severely injured. His big toe was hanging on by only a sliver of skin and his leg was all torn up. We got to watch them remove the toe. IT WAS SO COOL! Everyone else was grossed out and couldn’t believe that I was fascinated by it. I videoed almost the whole thing (though Bashayer doesn’t think anyone will want to watch it). There are moments were I think I would make a good doctor and that was one of them, then I think of A & P and remember why I’m no longer interested (that and I love traveling and seeing the world :-D)

We then headed up to the tallest point in Thailand (or so I’m told). There is a Wat at the top so we took the long journey up. It was pretty but I’ve seen more beautiful ones closer to the ground. The view was gorgeous though. You could see all of ChaingMai.

We then rejoined the group for a traditional North Thailand dinner. We sat on the floor and ate fried chicken, sticky rice, fried sweet noodles, fried bananas, and some other things. They came around in traditional costumes and take your pictures for 100 baht, I got one. Then there was traditional dancing and some other performances. It was kind of fun.

Wednesday was fun. In the morning the five of us went Elephant riding, Oxen cart, and Bamboo rafting. The others did that the day before while we were doing community service (They also went to an adventure park where one guy broke his arm). The Elephant riding was not as fun as the first time. It felt like I was on a rollercoaster. Our elephant was crazy. (Sorry Sarah but the only place you can elephant ride is in the North I looked at it’s about 1000baht per person [just over $33]). Oxen cart riding is lame. It is two oxen pulling a cart up a hill less than ½ a mile. Our driver was cool though and let us drive while he walked and took pictures for us. The bamboo rafting was very peaceful and beautiful.

After we finished there we went and met up with the other group to go to a bamboo umbrella factory. We got to watch the process of hand making a bamboo umbrella and fan. It takes a lot of time for each part of the process. It was really cool to see how much work goes into making just one. I of course bought an umbrella and a bought a fan (I know I shouldn’t have bought both but they are souvenirs and they will be with me for the rest of my life). I didn’t take pictures of them so you will all have to wait to see them until I get home. I also had them paint a design on my camera bag for 70baht ($2) (the lady let me choose the price starting at 50 baht and it looked really cool so I gave her 70.

That night we went to the Night Market (the coolest thing ever!!!). I went with Bashayer, Jackie (another girl from Germany), and Adriani (it was her 18th birthday!!!). We had a lot of fun. I bought a 7/11 T-shirt (they have more than we have Starbucks if you can imagine that), a “Same Same. . . but Different” shirt (what they always say to us), a Thai consonant shirt (no vowels but oh well), and a Thailand shirt. I also got a purse (I’ve wanted one for a while and I’m glad I got it after what happened that night), and a few other things. We went to a European and Thai restaurant to celebrate Adriani’s birthday and Bashayer and I shared some Pad Thai and some other type of pasta thing.

They told us that we all had to be back at the McDonald’s before 11 because the bus couldn’t stop and they weren’t joking. As soon as the buses stopped (there was a red light thankfully) we all got on and the bus started to leave, some people had to get on as the bus was taking off. On the way back to the hotel I told P’Dai that it was Adriani’s birthday so the whole bus sang “Happy Birthday” Thai style and then the Germans did it in German for her. She was so red by the end :-D!

The girls then came to our hotel room and we watched movies. (the other students were out on the back patio area right below our window drinking because the AFS director said that as long as they didn’t see them doing it it wasn’t a problem!). Curfew was 1 so of course, being teenagers, we used every minute. After the girls left Bashayer and I packed because we are better night people then morning (especially her). It was 3 something when we got to bed. I got up at 6 (I’m always the first because otherwise I would never get in because she would never get up). I got up (it was dark) and stepped in a puddle of water. I didn’t know where it came from and ignored it at first but after stepping in it in several places I began to wake up enough to worry. I picked up my purse from the ground and it was dripping. I then picked up my laptop bag and it was soaking too! Our fridge broke and we had water all over! I was NOT happy. My stuff is fine but I had to let it sit out and dry and I had to put my laptop and accessories in plastic bags before putting it in the case.

After breakfast we all loaded the buses and headed for a different province, Adriani’s province. It was a 7 hour drive but I talked with my friends the whole time so it didn’t seem that long and we watched Juno and Transformers 2. When we got there we went to some historical park and then went to the hotel. We went out for dinner at this restaurant on the river (it took us 45 minutes to get there because the bus drivers got lost and only 10 minutes to get back).

That night I talked with P’Dai and the director (I don’t remember her name). Then I went and loading pictures and videos onto my computer and talked with Bashayer. We went to bed around 1 (why is it that even responsible teenagers are so irresponsible when they get together?).

Friday we all went home. Bashayer went on the Northeast bus and Adriani stayed in her province so it was just Jackie and I. It was a long day. We talked almost the whole trip and then we watch some Thai movie. There were no English subtitles or anything so I only understood parts and the acting so I feel asleep after 30 minutes; I woke to see the last hour though. We arrived back at the AFS office around 3:30 and I was supposed to have a taxi after 15 minutes but it was closer to an hour before it came and it was hot and very very humid! I met a boy from Australia, Jason, who is going to be staying in Petchaburi for two weeks with Gayoon to TA. We rode back together and talked the whole way so it seemed like a pretty short ride.

AFS told me Gayoon was supposed to pick me up so I didn’t call my host mom and for some reason she didn’t call me. When we arrived the van dropped us off at some hospital that I’ve never been too before so I didn’t know anything. Gayoon wasn’t there so we tried the pay phone but it wasn’t working and my phone had no reception. We waited for 30 minutes then called P’Dai (the pay phone worked to call her) and when we finally got ahold of her Gayoon showed up.

She said that I should have called my host mom but since she couldn’t leave me there alone she took me with her. We went to her house to drop off Jason’s bag and to pick up her son. Then we went to dinner. At 8:30 my host mom picked me up and we went home. I then went on the computer and loading some photos and talked with Adriani and Mom and Dad. Then I showered and had to unpack because the laundry was coming in the morning. It was 1 when I finally got to bed.

I woke up at 4:30 because my host mom said that I had to leave at 5:30. My host dad didn’t even wake up till 5:30 so I was up and waiting for nothing. I took the van at 7 to Bangkok and I met up with Jackie at 9:30 in front of Dunkin’ Donuts because I couldn’t find the 7/11 (the BTS has 6 different exits it’s crazy trying to figure out which one to get off to get where you want to go). I then ate breakfast and then we went shopping.

I bought a few books that Dad said I should and then we went and watched Pope Joan, a pretty good movie. I then bought some peanut butter and granola bars and Macy’s birthday present. The rest of the time we just spent goofing around and having fun. I arrived home at 8:45, ate and crashed.

Today I have like a million things to do but it already 5 and I’ve done very few. Tomorrow I have school again and I can just imagine the greeting I’m going to get after almost two weeks away. Only 3 weeks of school left. I’m done the 19th, then it’s summer!!!!! So much is going to happen this summer, I’m so excited. I only have one week of school in May so I don’t even know why I have to go. I was supposed to go and buy new school shoes today because I don’t have any because the last day of school someone took mine and left me with nothing not even a pair to say that it was an accident, but no one went anywhere so I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow.

Well life’s just as crazy for me as ever. Hope you are all well.

Lots of love,
Allyson

Pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=144782&id=535566988&l=6bdbb16114

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=144297&id=535566988&l=d3932580ba

Mo Ko Surin Island

2010-01-24T03:23:00.000-06:00

So I left Wednesday night for the South with Kun Ma, Meow, and Mike. We took a bus from Petchaburi to the bus stop closest to the island. We left Petchaburi at close to 10 PM and arrived at the bus station at 4:45 AM. I slept most of the ride so it wasn’t that long.

After we arrived at the bus station we waited until 7. We walked to a market to get some breakfast around 6. At 7 a truck picked us up and took us to the travel agency. We got our lifejackets and snorkels and then went to the dock and waited for the boat. We left around 9 and arrived at the island around 10:30. After we arrived we settled in and then went to the beach for a little while. We ate lunch and then went snorkeling.

Snorkeling was the most amazing thing I’ve done here. The water was so beautiful and all the animals. I had so much fun. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing was real. It looked like all those pictures you see, but it was right in front of me. I saw a shark and a jelly fish and some many colorful fish that I don’t even know the names of. I LOVED it!!!

After snorkeling we went back to the island and I laid on the beach and the others relaxed in hammocks. We had to stay in tents because the island we were on didn’t have any houses so we had no electricity. After dinner you shower and then either go to bed or go sit in the dining area because you can’t do much else.

Sleeping was rough because the ground was really hard. We didn’t have anything to go under us except that thin layer of plastic so we were right on the ground. I woke up very sore and tired from all the tossing and turning. I remember my host mom waking me up around 6 to watch birds (or something like that) and I remember saying something but don’t remember what I said, but I ended up going back to sleep. I got up at 8 to eat breakfast and at 9 we went snorkeling again.

We went to different spots the second day. It wasn’t as awesome as the first time, but it was still really cool. You could actually touch the coral by just letting your foot relax down! We weren’t supposed to touch it though because it would disturb the life. I came within inches of some many fish, I wanted to touch them but didn’t.

After we got back I sat on the beach. That is really all I did because I forgot pants (that’s what happens when you pack for two trips at the same time) so I could only wear my swimsuit. Even with several days in the sun I am STILL white!!! Some people came and spent like 10 minutes in the sun and were tanner than me, so not fair!

The last day we walked around the island and took pictures. At 1 we loaded the boats and headed for home. We stopped at First Beach (we stayed at Second Beach) and spent 30 minutes there. It was way nicer than ours. They had houses and normal bathrooms with nice showers. The beach had almost no trees so you could easily lay out and tan. It was very nice.
When we reloaded the boats Meow and Kun Ma were in the bathroom so they missed our boat and had to get a different one, but we all met back up at the speed boat. The speed boat held more than 60 people and we added 3 along the way, plus luggage. It was really cramped. It was an hour ride back to the mainland.

We then took the bus around 7 PM and arrived back in Petchaburi at 4 (we hung out at the bus station for a long while). The bus dropped us off a ways from the car so Kun Ma had to get a ride to the car and we had to wait. It wasn’t a long wait, 15 minutes, but the mosquitoes were bad. After we loaded everything we went into town. There were a lot of people up and around and many were already set up for the day. We stopped and got some food because we were hungry. We got home around 5:30 AM and I went to bed. Today I’ve loaded pics and videos and later I am going to pack and prepare for leaving again tomorrow.

Lessons learned:

- Living on the water has its advantages
o I met a couple who live on one of those really big fancy boats and they were really nice. They are originally from Canada. The set sail in 2004 and they haven’t seen winter since. They get to travel the world and see all sorts of amazing things.
- Foreigners are weird
o Mike was sleeping in a hammock and a guy came and started to move it slowly back and forth and make cooing type noises until he woke up and left.
o None of the children under 2 wore any clothes except may once in the 3 days
- British and French people love Thailand in January (that’s all there was really, one Spanish family, and Australian couple, me the only American, and maybe a hand full of Thais)
- The Ocean is anything but peaceful sounding at 2 AM
- No matter what you do and how careful you are, you and everything you bring is going to get full of sand
- Salt water mixed with sunscreen makes my face feel like it’s on fire
- No matter where I go the ants find me
- Check to make sure you packed everything before you leave (or make a list as Mom would tell me)

Tomorrow I head off again for Chaing Mai with AFS! I send my love and hope that you are all well.

Allyson

Links :

YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/22FlamingoGirl

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New Year, Caning, and a Religious Celebration

2010-01-05T09:17:00.000-06:00

Well these three topics have nothing in common except that they happened in the last week. I normally would start with the oldest event but it also is the middle so I’ll start with New Year.

In Thailand New Year is a big deal, almost like Christmas but not really. They have no classes but they go to school the 30th to celebrate with their class. My class had a party and we ate and played games and traded gifts. There was also a dance competition and some other activities but I didn’t see everything because I started to feel sick from being outside in the heat all day without drinking more than one bottle of water, I know stupid but whatever! The group of girls I gave stockings to for Christmas got together and bought me a Tweety pillow for New Year, which was really nice.

On the 31st I slept in!!! Well kind of, I woke up with the birds but went back to sleep and woke up and went back to sleep and repeat the pattern about a dozen times  In the afternoon Cherry and Peach came over and they went to the beach. I spent most the day reading which was better than the awkward feeling I had when I tried to do something with the girls. For dinner they had this boiled thing but they put egg in and it was all over everything so I just ate dessert and an apple with peanut butter! After dinner they went out the patio and played games while I sat there and eventually I read after getting bored with just sitting there. When they went in to watch TV I went to my room and read until it was close to midnight. At midnight I went and sat with them and counted down. After we wished each other a Happy New Year I went and called home and talked to Sarah for a while. The next day I woke up and loaded pics to facebook (the link is under the blog “Links”) then called home at their New Year to wish them a Happy New Year. All in all it was rather boring, but whatever I brought in the new decade in Thailand so that counts for exciting!!!

Now the caning. In the last two weeks I learned that they take a bamboo stick and hit the kids on the hands with it. Apparently, Meow and Mike got it done several times for being late and so we had to try and be on time, but Mike is rarely on time! So for every day they are late it gets harder. They also had a hair check yesterday and the kids that didn’t have the right hair style got hit and had one day to fix it or they would get it harder. Needless to say that after school yesterday we went and got Mike a haircut, the boy had a surprising amount of hair.

Last topic is the religious ceremony that took place at school today. There were no classes so that the students could sit and listen to the monk’s all day. I listened for most the day but my legs got cramped and kept falling asleep so I missed the last hour and a half. Even though I didn’t understand what they were saying it was really awesome to listen to. It was kind of like a singing, chanting type of thing that was really amazing. I wish I could explain more, but it really is something you would have to hear. All the students had to sit there but Lucas and I could be in the English Corner, though I didn’t go till late afternoon but he sat there most of the day.

Well that’s all that has happened in the last week really. The only other thing that is new is that Lucas is going home in the next week or two due to his stupidity! I am going to miss him though and wish he didn’t have to go home.

Well till later then I guess!
Lots of love,
Allyson

Links

2010-01-01T01:43:00.002-06:00

YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/22FlamingoGirl

or

22FlamingoGirl

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Bashayer and Christmas

2009-12-29T08:17:00.004-06:00

Sorry for the long time between posts. At first I had nothing to write about, then when I got something I was so busy that I didn't get the chance. 3 weeks ago was exams and also a horrible week for me. I am not going to go into detail but it was a rough week. Then on the 20th Bashayer came to stay with me. I picked her up in Bangkok at 7:30 AM and then we went to some street markets for breakfast and to look around. My host mom left us in Siam, the large mall center in Bangkok, so we went to the international market and to a movie. We got to see the first half of Whip It before realizing that if we didn't leave we were going to be late for the van, we had to get home before 6. We ended up being late anyway but at least we tried to get there on time. That night we went for a walk on the beach and we talked about a lot of stuff. It was nice to have someone I could talk to and share all my problems with and who would understand. We ended up going in earlier than we wanted because we were being eaten alive by mosquitos.

Monday we had school and so she got to meet all my friends. It was a little weird for me all the attentiont they gave her, but it was alright. She immediately liked Sai and she liked my other friends too. School is school so we didn't have loads of fun, but I think she liked it.

Tuesday we had English with this one teacher who doesn't know anything, but she is really nice. In the afternoon we have 6th and 7th period free because boys have military training so the teacher took us to the palace of Rama V. After school went went the the big palace in Petchaburi and then ran errands with my host mom. After we got home we helped to cook and then spent the night together having fun and talking.

Wednesday nothing special happened. After school we went gift shopping because I had to Preaw a gift since I drew her name and I still had to get Bashayer's gift so went to this one shop and I made a cool key chain for Preawa nd then Bashayer and I decided to make eachother bracelets. It was a lot of fun, but took a long time and so we couldn't go out for dinner like they wanted.

Thursday was Christmas Eve and the next day we were planning on baking so my host mom dropped us off at Big C to buy some things we still needed. After we got home we prepared everything for the next day and then helped cook. After dinner I opened a few presents. I opened the things from Macy, which were amazing thank you! and the pacakge from Germany, love the shirt and already started the jam thank you! I also opened Rummikub from Mom and Dad and taught Bashayer. I also traded gifts with my friends and got a pretty picture frame from Kaw. It was a fun day.

Friday was Christmas and so I was full of energy. I went to assembly and it was cool. The Chinese, English, and French students did some little pieces for Christmas. After assembly we went to class and I gave my friends their stockings, they were so excited it was really cute. After lunch Bashayer and I went to the bakery to cook, we asked if we could use the oven and they said we could so we were excited. We made brownies, pimpkin pie, and cookies. The brownies turned out well and we gave them to the teachers who all said they were good. The pumpkin pie was good, in our opinion, my host family didn't like it much. The cookies didn't turn out so well, they got over done. After school then we went to the market and bought the last several things for the dinner we were making. We then went home and cooked. We made pork burgers, mashed potatoes, corn, baked beans, and canned peaches. It was fun to cook with Bashayer and to teach her how to bake and cook, she doesn't do any of that in New York so it was all new for her. After dinner I brought down all the christmas stuff and we opened presents while I video chatted with home. It was fun. After that we stayed up late and talked and had fun.

Saturday Bashayer and I took the tuk tuk thing to Petchaburi and climbed the mountain. It was a lot of work, which was good because we ate way too much the day before. I got sunburned, but for the first time ever it turned tan after it went away. On the mountain we saw a lot of foreigners, the most I've ever seen in Petchaburi before. I also lost two bottles of water to the monkeys. After the mountain Bashayer dropped her camera and broke the screen so she wasn't in a good mood after that. We also got lost looking for the school. We had to stop and ask the police directions to the school, which after getting them made me feel stupid because I knew exactly where to go. We then went and waited at the school for Peach to pick us up, she was going to her grandparents which is five minutes from my house so she offered to give us a ride to the house. After we got home we goofed around the rest of the night and just had fun.

We didnt go to bed till 1 and we got up at 3 to go to Bangkok. My host dad had to go to school on Sunday so we went to Bangkok too. We got there at 6:30 and had nothing to do so we went and ate at Dunkin' Donuts and then went and sat in front of Siam. We both started to fall asleep there so we decided to go to Bon Au Pain and get some more food. I got an amazing Peacan Roll and she got a chocolate croisant. We sat on the upper floor on the couch like bench. After we finished eating we decided to sleep until 10 when the mall opened, so we slept in the restaurant for 2 hours or more. We left when this one lady kept staring at us. We then went to the mall and checked out what movies were playing and when. Paragon didn't have New Moon so we walked to Central World. New Moon was to play at 1:50 so we decided to go to Sherlock Holmes and eat before seeing it. The movie was really good and then we went to eat at this steak place. It had really good food. Then we went and saw New Moon, which was amazing!!! Then we went and tried to get Bashayer's camera fixed but the people who fix the cameras were on vacation till after New Year so we left. We took the van back home and arrived at the same time as my host dad so that was convenient.

On Monday we didn't do much of anything. We goofed around and stayed up late talking and spending the last of our time together. Tuesday we left school at 12:30 after changing and headed for Bangkok. We arrived in time to get some ice cream from Swenson's and to get Bashayer some dinner (she had to carry on because she wasn't going to get any anywhere else). We underestimated the amount of time to get there and ended up being 20 minutes late and missing her bus. They were able to squeeze her on the bus an hour after her original time, but she wanted to come back with us and stay for New Year. We had it all worked out with everyone but Gayoon and so her host sister called Gayoon to try to convince her to let Bashayer stay, but Gayoon said no so she had to go. She arrived this morning at 7:30 after a 14 hour bus ride. She said that when she got off the bus she was shivering because it is cold in her Province, meaning in the 60's!

Well I'll do an other post soon about today and the New Year but right now I'm tired and I have to get up early tomorrow to go with them to temple to give food to the monks for New Year.

So till 2010! Happy New Year!

Lots of Love,
Allyson

P.S. I am posting photos and will post the link soon.

Consitution Day

2009-12-09T08:25:00.000-06:00

December 10 marks the Constitution Day which is held annually to commemorate the advent of the regime of Constitutional Monarchy in Thailand. Previously, the government of Thailand was an absolute monarchy until June 24, 1932 there was a transition to constitutional monarchy led by a group of young intellectuals educated abroad and inspired by the concept of western democratic procedures. The group which was known as "People's Party or Khana Rasdr" was led by Luang Pradit Manudharm (Pridi Panomyong). To avoid bloodshed, King Rama VII graciously agreed to abolish absolute monarchy and handed over the country's first "Permanent" Constitution. In fact, King Rama VII (King Prajadhipok) had prepared, even before being asked, to hand over his powers to the people.

Last Couple of Days

2009-12-06T08:43:00.003-06:00

So on Wednesday I decided I was going to try and speak some Thai with my classmates, well it turned into them not letting me speak English anymore! It wasn't so bad on Wednesday when Mo was there because she could help me. On Thursday and Friday she was gone. She had a speech competition (which she did really well in, took first place), so I was left to fend for myself. It wasn't so bad, a little confusing, but it was fun. I got to talk to some of the girls in my class that I hadn't before and I sat with a different group of people at lunch. I'm really getting to know the kids in my class more and more and I like them even more the better I get to know them!

On Thursday we didn't have class until 4th period so we sat in the Library and they made me practice me Thai reading for three periods. I thought my brain was going to explode by the end! After lunch I went and sat with some of the girls and we talked. At one point they decided that they wanted to play with my hair because it was pretty so they did my hair. I also gave them my camera to take pictures and they had lots of fun. After they finished my hair (which looked really cool) we had PE. My PE is self-defense, totally not me. It turns out I'm pretty good at it because I was taking on ever girl in my class (I think they are all really weak because I hardly had to try to break their tightest grip). It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. I learned the word for hurt because I was very sore after class.

Friday was another language challenge but it went alright. 2nd period I have Art and they teacher is so cute. She doesn't speak a lot of English but she tries. Lucas is also in that class and she really likes us. Every week she gives us fruit or candy. This week she gave me a big bag of Glass Mangos. She said that Lucas and I are her son and daughter, it was really cute. 7th period I have Social Study with Peach and Lucas and Lucas and I were talking. We weren't being very loud or anything but apparently one of the girls in the class didn't appreciate our noise and so she called Peach a really horrible name and Peach cried for a good part of 8th period. I felt horrible that I had caused it, but she wouldn't let us comfort her or do anything.

Well also this week I figured out my community service. I will be volunteering in a Kindergarten once a week and doing projects with them, so if someone has a Christmas project let me know because I need ideas.

I have spent the weekend playing phone tag with Bashayer trying to plan her trip. Everything is almost settled, but I still have to try and get a hold of her tonight. This weekend was also Father's Day. Father's Day is on the King's Birthday because the king is the Father of the country. They don't do anything for their fathers except sometimes they give them flowers, but Meow and Mike didn't. At night they have fireworks and they do a song and have some performances to honor the king.

Well that's really all I've been up to lately. I changed some settings because people said it was hard to comment, so it should be easier now.

Pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=127891&id=535566988&l=7de7523a83

Lots of Love,
Allyson

Thai Thanksgiving

2009-12-06T08:22:00.004-06:00

So I want to start by apologizing for the long gap between posts. I have been so busy with everything lately that I barely have time to think alone before I'm heading to bed. I'm not complaining though, it's kind of nice. Anyway last Thursday was Thanksgiving so I had a Thai Thanksgiving. They don't have an oven or turkey so I had to talk to mom about what kind of things I could make. In the end I made sweet potatoes (which are different than American sweet potatoes), potatoes (no cheese or sour cream, but I like potatoes so it didn't matter to me), strawberry jello with bananas, and fried chicken.

After school I went to the market with my host mom and we bought everything I would need. We couldn't find some of the things right away, but I didn't let it discourage me and eventually we got the things we needed. When we got home I changed out of my uniform and got cooking right away. I made quite a mess, but it was fun. I had Meow help me and in time we got it done. It took a long time and I felt like a chicken with it's head cut off running everywhere. Mike was eating everything before I could get it on the table.

They were all a little shocked when I said we were eating the American way so we didn't have rice. Everyone loved it and they made me make the chicken again on Friday night.

I made them do the "Thanks" and they didn't really understand, but it was cute.

A FEW Things I'm thankful for:
My American Family for all the love and support they give me
My host family for taking me in and supporting me and taking care of me
My friends for always being there for me
My skating, because I love it and I know how much it costs so I'm thankful for being able to do it
All the Opportunities in my life and all the blessings I've been given!

Thank you to everyone who loves me and prays for me! Just knowing that you are there and supporting me means sooo much to me! Thank you to everyone!

Saturday November 21st, 2009

2009-11-21T07:19:00.000-06:00

So let me start with yesterday. I woke up and read (nothing special). Then I had a little grill circle (my host aunt brought one of those things like at the restaurant for us to use). Everything was good, then Meow put an egg in the water so that everything in it was covered, she wasn’t thinking. I ended up only eating bits of pork after that, but it was still good. Then my host aunt bought me watermelon, like she usually does. After lunch I watched Legally Blonde one and two with Meow. When she had to go and water the trees I went and read until it was time to make dinner. After dinner I went on the computer for a little while before I helped my host mom in the store. The lady who normally comes and prices everything and washes dishes and the does the floor didn’t come so she had us kids helping. I got to use the price machine to put the stickers on everything. They would tell me the prices in Thai so that I would get used to hearing them (I only messed up once). After we finished in the store I helped cut things for today. Then I finished watch Legally Blonde 2, showered and went to bed (even though everyone else was up, it was after 12 so I went to bed).

I will like to take a moment now and talk about Mike. He is EXACTLY like Sarah! He is ALWAYS on either the computer or TV, he only does his chores part way, he lies about how much screen time he’s used, he makes more work for the rest of us, and he is always eating snacks even when my host mom tells him he can’t. It’s funny how many similarities they have. He doesn’t bug me though because he doesn’t speak enough English, but he bugs Meow all the time. I have to say that at least Sarah would read sometimes and she did her homework more often than Mike does and a little better quality. Mike is always ‘forgetting’ about his homework and so my host mom is always getting calls from his teachers complaining. He is now on ADHD meds, but only 20 mg (I’m on 80 and he’s worse than me!) and they will stop selling them in Thailand come February so my host mom can’t buy him any more. He is always playing with something and can never sit still of be quiet for more than a few seconds at a time, which is really annoying. Most of the time I can tune him out, but there are moments were I would like to shake him, like when he eats! Well I’m done complaining for now, I’ll continue with my day.

Today I got up at 6:30 and showered. I then came downstairs and helped prepare food for the day. I grilled the hot dogs while Meow went and got those donut things for breakfast (probably as healthy as eating McDonald’s for breakfast but taste WAY better). I ate them with PB for some protein, had a yogurt and some of the instant stuff. I then grilled some shrimp and helped pack everything up. On our way out, I forgot to grab a pair of shorts so that ruined my day!

We drove for a while and then arrived at Kaeng KraChan National Park. It is the largest national park in Thailand. It is located in Petchaburi and on the border of Myanmar/Burma. It is absolutely gorgeous! We drove around and got out at several places to take pictures. After a while we went to this place with little blow up boat things. We had to wait for Peach and Lucas to come so Meow and Mike went swimming. It looked like so much fun, but I didn’t have shorts for if I got wet so I couldn’t do it. I laid and tried to get a tan of some sort (tried being the key word there). In the sun I was so white that it hurt my eyes to look at my legs (go ahead and make fun). Everyone here thinks I have beautiful skin and wishes they were my color, but I wish I could tan!

At about 12 we went and had a picnic by the car. Thailand needs to learn about paper plates and cups because my host mom brought actual dishes from the house to use. While we were eating I figured out how to do self timer on my camera and took several pictures of us eating (I was so excited). The shrimp turned my fingers orange and the corn had so much water that I was dripping everywhere! The fried rice had some of their super small, super spicy peppers in it and I didn’t know until I bit one! It was definitely interesting, half of my mouth was on fire and nothing could make it go away, so I just continued to eat. Everything was good despite the little problems.

After we finished eating we went and sat under a shelter to wait. I decided to try some more tanning and went and laid on a mat in the sun. Many people walked by and commented or wanted to take pictures because no one in Thailand tans! I put on like 3 layers of sunscreen so I didn’t burn today, thank goodness.

Finally they showed up in the boat and we were off. It was fun. I wish I could have gotten in the water and swam with them. At one point we stopped and they ziplined into the water and then they did this bridge walk and all jumped into the water and I really wanted to join them! When we finished with the ride (it was like 2 ½ hours long) we went and ate ice cream. After that we left the park and headed for dinner.

We stopped near the house and ate some noodles, but I didn’t put anything in them so they had no taste. My host dad bought me some meat balls made from pork. They were probably one of the spiciest things I’ve eaten here, but I didn’t complain. I ate all 10 of them without commenting, but when they wanted to buy me more I said that I was good!

Now we are home and I’m working on homework. I have to hand write everything here. I typed my report so now I have to go and hand write it, then practice my letters and maybe get to some math. I don’t know if we are doing anything tomorrow so I want to get as much done today as I can. I started to write out my report but my hand got tired, that’s why I’m writing this.

Well today was a day of regrets because I didn’t do the things I wanted to. I hope that I get the chance to go back and do them!

Wednesday November 18th, 2009

2009-11-18T07:44:00.001-06:00

So the last several days I did nothing, really, not even homework. Today was an eventful day though.

Last night, more this morning really really early actually, there was a shooting star. I stayed up all night to watch it. I read until midnight when I decided to shower to waste some time. Then I tried to understand some Lord of the Rings, Meow and my host mom were watching (it’s my host mom’s favorite movie), but I didn’t get it so I went to my room and watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s. When I finished watching my movie I decided I could lay down and sleep for a little while, 30 minutes. It wasn’t much of a sleep, I barely fell asleep before I had to get up again, but it was better than nothing I guess. At 3:30 my host dad, host mom, Meow, and I walked to the beach. We grabbed some chairs from one of the places on the beach and sat and waited. It was really windy, which made it a little hard to breathe, but it was really nice. We watched the star, it appeared every 10 minutes, always from somewhere new and going a different direction so you had to constantly be looking for it. I tried to get a picture but it moved too fast and was very small. At 5 we went back to the house where I finished getting ready for bed and then crashed!

I woke up this morning several times, but officially at 11:15 when Meow knocked on my door at told me Gayoon was making a surprise visit in 20 minutes. I was glad I showered at night so I didn’t have to worry about it in my short amount of time. She came and talked to my host mom and then she talked to me. She said that I needed to be more involved and to make more friends and be more ‘open’ or she wasn’t going to let Bashayer come in December! I can’t stand the way she talks to me or the way she just makes assumptions. I just nodded and tried not to say anything so that I wouldn’t ruin my chances of Bashayer coming any more. We then went out to lunch, where nobody talked to me. We were there for almost two hours and nobody said anything to me except to ask if I wanted some of the squid because they noticed I wasn’t eating it.

After we finished eating Gayoon left and we went back to the house. I took a nap, having not gotten a lot of sleep, and then I read. I wrote my report for my Thai class and my poem and I am going to have Meow help me translate it so that Mo doesn’t have to (I don’t want to give her more work than she already has, I feel bad about that and Meow has nothing to do). I helped my host mom cook dinner, actually helped tonight! She showed me how to make it and then she had me make one of the portions and by the fourth I did it all on my own! After dinner I finished working on my report and started working on a Literary Analysis (I don’t want to get rusty with them having to take AP when I get home).

Well that’s all that’s happening with me right now,! Hope you are all having a great week!

Lots of Love,
Allyson

Sunday November 15th, 2009

2009-11-15T08:13:00.000-06:00

Today was a highly unmotivated day. I mainly read and did nothing. I got the Christmas package ready to mail out tomorrow and I read. I played tennis for a while with Meow and Mike and I talked to home for a while this morning.

There was no breakfast this morning so by lunch I was starving. When I started to eat lunch I realized it had been 23 hours since I had eaten last, no wonder I was hungry!

Tennis was fun but I sweat a lot! The bugs were really bad. As soon as we stepped onto the court the mosquitoes started attacking us. Someone had left some bug repellent on the court so we used that, but they still ate me! On the way to play tennis we bought some potato like snack thing and the other two were arguing about them. Sometimes I am glad I don’t understand Thai because then I don’t have to listen to their stupid arguments or get involved.

So right next to the tennis court there is a building that is kind of like a concession. Well there was a lady there today and Meow said that she lives there because she is homeless. It was not a good place for her to live and I felt sorry for her.

The bottom of our driveway had a huge dip to the road so they fixed it today. Whatever they used smelled like manure and it made everything around smell like it too. I could smell it in my room and it was not pleasant!

Well tonight I want to load some pics onto my computer and finish up my last piece for the box. If I get the chance I will add some pics to Facebook. I am not motivated to do anything today so we’ll see. I wanted to work on my homework today but that didn’t happen, maybe tomorrow will be better!

Well that was my boring day. Maybe tomorrow will be more interesting to read but I doubt it!

Allyson

Saturday November 14th, 2009

2009-11-14T08:09:00.001-06:00

Today was a lot of fun!

I got up 15 minutes later than I was supposed to and as a result was running behind. I took a quick shower and did my make-up fast. I had some instant mush stuff for breakfast and burned my tongue from eating it too fast. I then went and waited for the car. While we were waiting my host mom was showing me things around the area. She showed me the mango trees on the sides of our house and then we walked across the street to some vendors to see the drying mini shrimp (they look like someone ground some pork or something). The car drove past the house so my host mom and I had to run after it, I must say it was pretty funny. My host mom told the driver to drop me off at Big C and then I was off for the day.

I arrived at Big C at 8:10 and called Peach. She was just leaving her house to go and pick up her cousin. I sat in front by the highway and waited, in the sun. They arrived at 9 and she couldn’t find me. Through the use of cell phones and KFC she found me and we were on our way.

We then drove to pick up Lucas. Once we picked him up we drove to Hua Hin. We went to the mall and looked around for a little while. We wanted to get DQ but they weren’t open yet so we went and looked at Tesco Lotus, a large grocery store like Walmart. We spent like 30 minutes looking around. I bought some granola bars so that I have a snack for school. After we left Tesco Lotus we went up stairs to a café for breakfast and so Peach could have her French lesson (she has a private teacher who meets her there).

When we had finished eating Lucas, Ann (Peach’s cousin), and I went and walked around the mall. It was fun even though we didn’t do anything. At the end Lucas went into the arcade and played a driving game that he was really bad at. Then we went back to the café to pick up Peach.

Once we had Peach we did some more shopping and some more arcade games. Lucas bought a new phone for over $300 and he played with it for the rest of the afternoon. I bought a watch for 159 baht (so it won’t last) because mine leaves a greenish brown residue on my wrist if I sweat (which of course I do).

After we left the mall we headed to the beach for lunch. We went to Cha-Am beach for fresh seafood. While we were waiting for the food we walked on the beach and talked. I have so many secrets and it’s driving me insane. Everyone keeps telling me their secrets and they all involve people I know so it’s even more difficult to keep them secret.

The food was really good. We had a shrimp soup, a sweet, shredded, fried fish thing, and something spicy and many other things. I tried everything and found that it was very good. They didn’t offer me the spicy thing so I asked for it and they were shocked that I could eat it. Lucas says he can’t eat anything spicy and doesn’t even want to try so he missed out.

After I finished my third helping I went down to the beach with Ann. We were talking and looking at seashells when she found a shell that a crab had vacated. We went down to the water and started to look for these mini crabs. They were so cute! They were smaller than my pinky finger’s nail. We collected a lot of them and put them in a cup. Towards the end Peach and Lucas came and joined us. Peach and Ann dug a hole in the sand and put the crabs in it. Then they buried them, which I thought was mean until the crabs started to all appear out of the sand.

Once we finished playing with the crabs we walked along the beach and looked at sea shells. There were tons of jellyfish washed up on the shore so you had to be careful where you stepped, some of them were barely visible unless you were looking for them. There were some children who were playing with some of the mini shrimp my host mom had showed me in the morning so we went and looked at them. We played for a long time on the beach, probably over an hour and a half.

After we left the beach we drove along the ocean back to my house. On the way back we stopped at Peach’s grandparent’s house. Her family is so big. Next door to her grandparents was one of her aunts and they had the cutest puppy (they have little dogs as pets but that’s it). We walked along the road a little and met some of her other family (her dad had 9 brothers and sisters and her mom had 7, it was her dad’s side of the family).

After we left her grandparents we continued on to my house. When we were around the corner my host mom called. We told her we could see the house. They all came in because Peach wanted to see Meow, but no one knew where she was. Peach called her and found out she was at the market. They stayed and talked for a while and then they left to take Lucas home.

After they left I talked to Meow a little and then I went to read and cool down. It’s now 8:45 so I guess I’m not having dinner, glad I bought some granola bars earlier! I am going to use the internet for a little while, try and catch one of my shows on YouTube and do a little Facebook, and then head to bed because I’m tired from two nights of 6 hour sleep. Tomorrow is a day of homework and relaxing, at least I think, I should ask if they have plans.

Well until later,

Allyson

Friday November 13th, 2009

2009-11-13T08:06:00.001-06:00

Today started out rough. I couldn’t get out of bed after being up till midnight, but it didn’t matter anyway because I still had to wait for my uniform to be delivered. The guy was running late so I didn’t even get dressed till 7:15. I ate in less than 5 minutes and then headed to school.

My first class was Thai. The teacher is really nice and she tried to including me as much as she could, which included giving me homework. I have to write a poem and a book report before next Monday and then Mo has to translate it (I feel bad for her). I was hoping to use an old piece from America, I brought my USB with them on it, but I don’t think any of them are good enough or easy enough for Mo to translate. I wrote a part of a poem, but I don’t know if I will use it yet. I was hoping to use my book review from history last year as I guide as to what I need to do but that is the one document I don’t have, of course, so I’m going to have to wing it.

After Thai was Art with Peach and Lucas. Peach was supposed to be translating but she was busy drawing a face. The teacher is really nice. She came over and showed me what we were doing and tried to explain what we were doing. Before I left she gave me a passion fruit, I don’t know why, and gave Lucas so cookie thing. I got full marks on my bird drawing, thank goodness, but I had to present to the class about it and I didn’t know what to say so I stood there and blabbered and smiled my way through it.

After Art was Social Study. They had a test today so I read. After the test the girls went to lunch and I went to the English Corner because I was supposed to have a Math lesson. Michelle forgot and went to lunch. I sat there and read until 5th period. I ate lunch with Peach and Lucas since the girls already ate. After I finished eating I tried to find the girls but I couldn’t. One of the girls in my class told me that they had a test next period so I didn’t need to come, so I didn’t see the girls again.

My 7th period is Social Study with Peach. When I got there the teacher wasn’t in the room so we were sitting outside where there was a breeze to keep us cool. The teacher came and got on his motorbike and left, it was very strange. We goofed around and talked for about 20 minutes. The teacher came back and then made them change classrooms, don’t know why. They then had less than 30 minutes of class (they got out early). They are learning about political systems. When class got out Peach stayed to take some photos for a class, but I headed to my Thai lesson.

My Thai lesson started out with me learning Thai but ended with me telling her about American holidays and traditions. We talked about Easter and Thanksgiving and about food. It really was a waste of time, but she is nice and just curious so I told her what she wanted to know.

After school I had to wait till after 5 for my host mom to come and get us. Meow had taken off with a friend of hers and Mike I had not seen. I packed up my stuff and grabbed Meow’s bag, so I had a lot of stuff. Meow came as we were about to go and look for Mike. Mike was practicing his Thai flute in the music room. After that we headed for home.
On the way home Peach called to see if I could go with her tomorrow to Hua Hin. My host dad said that Meow can’t go but I can. He doesn’t think she cares about school enough and that she is always wanting to travel and spend time with her friends and not study. She was very upset the whole way home and was arguing with her mom. Is it bad to go if she can’t? I don’t want to miss out on an opportunity, but if it makes her bitter is it wrong to go? I hope not because I said I would go, but I feel that Meow isn’t pleased that I can go and she can’t. She says she is going to wait up for her dad and try and convince him to let her go, but if she can’t go, then what? I hope everything will work out.

Tomorrow I’m leaving early to meet Peach at Big C and then I’m headed to Hua Hin for the day. I don’t know when I’ll be back, so I’ll update when I get the chance!

Lots of Love,
Allyson

Thursday November 12th, 2009

2009-11-12T09:41:00.000-06:00

Today I was supposed to get up and go running with Meow at 6, but thank goodness neither one of us is responsible enough to go to bed at a decent time and neither one of us is a morning person. I turned my alarm off so I’m glad I naturally wake up at the time I’m supposed to get up. I didn’t need to shower because I showered last night so I quick brushed my teeth and washed my face and got out so my host mom could shower.

School was homeroom and then Social Study again. After Social Study was English. Most of the time I don’t pay attention in English, so when the teacher called on me to read something I was lost. I don’t have a book for English so I had to borrow Mo’s and thank goodness she was paying attention and could tell me what I was supposed to do. After I finished reading they discussed a little and then Boom practiced her speech. She is so good at Chinese, she had the whole thing memorized!

Third period I didn’t do anything but read. Fifth period was another English but I didn’t get called on. I sat next to some different people in that class because I went to the building without Boom and Mo. They had me copying their writing and they liked to try and talk with me. They seemed very nice. Lunch was the same old same old. After lunch was PE, but no one showed up, not even the teacher. We sat there and read and did homework. There was a nice breeze (which is rare) so I wasn’t hot. They didn’t go right to class when the bell rang, which is still strange for me. We showed up like 10 minutes late but the teacher still wasn’t there. They did their bows and then the teacher showed up. The lesson was strange, the parts I caught at least. The teacher was using an elephant to explain something and she kept rubbing it and pulling it in weird ways. For homework they had to do draw a fish and use it to be the arrows for their points of something, the girls couldn’t explain the reasoning.

I had Thai last and that was fun because I got to start to read. It was funny and I had a crowd around me by the end of the period. I like my Thai classes and I’m learning really quickly. She gave me the book for the night to practice my reading so after dinner I practiced with Meow, and she didn’t laugh (a first for her, whenever I practice anything around her she laughs at me).

After school we were supposed to play tennis but we went and had lunch at a small restaurant across from the school. When I went to a stand to buy a drink a boy from a different school tapped my elbow. His name is Mek and he said he had heard about me (I don’t know how). He was in the US last year in New Jersey. We talked while I got my drink and then we exchanged phone numbers. He seems really nice, I wonder if he will actually call me.

After we finished eating we got a ride from Peach’s mother the 2 blocks to the tennis court. When we got out Meow had the Kleenex bow and had to run back and give it to them. We didn’t want to play so she went and bought some snacks (even though we just ate). We sat and read until my host mom came and got us. We didn’t do any errands except for stopping at the Big C mall and getting make-up for my host mom. I got ice cream from Dairy Queen while I waited (their largest size is smaller than a small in the US! ). After that we came home and I worked on some writing and art then had dinner and practice reading. I helped Meow with her math a little (they don’t do graphing so I don’t know how they want her to solve the problem, I’ve always been taught to graph it). Now I’m blogging. After I’m done here I still have to shower, finish my art, do my devotion and prayers, and then try to get some sleep. It’s 10:45 PM so I hope I’m not up too late. I’m glad tomorrow is Friday so that I have the weekend to sleep, and no school next week!

Well it’s late and I’m tired and have lots to do yet. I’ll write again soon!

P.S. Today marks the third month I've been here!

Wednesday November 11th, 2009

2009-11-12T09:12:00.001-06:00

Well I’ve been so busy I’m writing this on a day late so I don’t remember everything. This is going to be a short piece because this is all I remember.

I had Social Study first, after homeroom. Nothing exciting happened, it and economics class. After class the girls stopped a teacher and tried to convince him that their upcoming test should be open book. He left before they could convince him so a few of them chased after him while the rest of us went to music. Lucas has that class with me so I sat in back with him and we talked. They were giving presentations so there wasn’t much we could do. After class Boom talked to the teacher and he said that if we wanted to learn to play the instruments we could come in after school once a week and learn. Lucas has to check with his family as to what day works best, then we will begin.

Third period I was supposed to have Thai but Gayoon said something about not being able to change my schedule without talking to her (though I’m not changing it, I’m fixing it in places that it doesn’t work, it’s hard to explain I guess). I ended up sitting there and reading because Ti is too shy to do anything, again it’s complicated.

Fourth period was supposed to be English but it got bumped for the day for another Social Study class. We got done early so we had no line for lunch and more food to choose from. After we finished eating we went to the Chinese room, it’s air conditioned, and Boom practiced her speech and I helped Mo write hers and then we listened to music. We had 6th period free instead of 8th for some reason. Seventh period was health. They watched a movie on drugs, I couldn’t watch because they kept injecting mice with things and I just couldn’t watch it so I read.

I then went to the English corner not knowing whether I had math or Thai. Turned out I was supposed to have both. Michelle came over for math and Ti came over for Thai and Lucas came over to give me pics from Peach’s party. I had so many people who wanted me it was a mess. I worked it out and ended up with a Thai lesson. I learned the vowels (all 32 of them).

After school I walked with Peach and Lucas to get some food. Lucas had found a rubber band and kept flicking me with it so I chased him around the school. We both eventually decided that it wasn’t worth it and stopped. We got some food and then I went back to the English Corner to wait. Mike was having a private lesson with Eddie and Meow was somewhere. My host mom picked us up and then we did a few minor errands before heading home.

At home I did some studying and then we ate dinner. Nothing exciting happened last night. So that’s all for the day.

Tuesday November 10th, 2009

2009-11-10T08:23:00.001-06:00

Third period was English, so Mo and I talked and made the best of that boring class. I find it interesting how many mistakes are in the handouts the teachers give the students, and they never realize it. As boring as the class is, I learn some things because they translate a lot of the words as assignments and during class so I can sometimes pick up some words.

Fourth period began with me talking to Michelle, the guy from the Netherlands. He scheduled me for two math classes a week and gave me an online website I need to work on, on nights he doesn’t give me homework. After I finished with him, I had my Thai lesson. I learned the remainder of the alphabet (except vowels)! I now know all 44 letters! I’m so happy; I’ve been practicing them tonight and saying them over and over so that I can remember them for tomorrow. I have some tricks for a few of them, like one is Saw Cera which sounds close to Sarah, La Ling (ling is monkey) looks kind of like a monkey if you use your imagination, and some others. Ti always laughs when I tell her my tricks, but they work. My only thing about learning the letters is that they are affecting my English writing because some of them could be fancy ways of writing some of our letters, I don’t know if this is good or bad yet.

After Thai I had lunch with the girls. For dessert we had fruit again. I had banana with syrup. After lunch was break, because the boys have military training after lunch on Tuesdays. We went and sat in the Chinese room and read and talked and did some work. Boom worked on her speech with the teacher (she is giving a presentation for a competition in Chinese and Mo is doing one in English). At eighth period I got stuck talking to Lucas and never made it to Thai dance, not that I know where it exactly is.

After school I played tennis with Meow and then we ran errands with her mom. I have now taken to going with my host mom rather than sitting in the car. I enjoy do the errands because you get to meet all sorts of people and they all are very nice. Today one lady gave me a free water, which was really nice. We stopped and got ice cream. It was very different than American ice cream but it was really good. I got mine with some of the donut thing I like and some sweet rice. When we went and bought fruit someone asked my host mom who I was and she told them I was her daughter, that was the first time! It was a little strange at first, but I like it.

After we picked up Mike we headed home. I read for a while and then we ate dinner. We had garlic broccoli and spicy pork (which I didn’t find spicy, but it wasn’t that good either). Then Meow, Mike, and I ate a huge bowl of mango. I learned that eating too much mango leaves a bad taste in your mouth, but I drank some water and continued. After dinner I worked on my Thai letters. Now I’m blogging and waiting for the internet. When I get the internet I am going to work on my math. After math I’m going to go over my letters again and then shower and go to bed.

Side notes:

One of the things I like to do now is to look at the license plates and to say the letters. It is a little silly, but I like to do it because it’s fun to realize I know the letters.

I will try and update on the nights I do my math course or at school before I go to class. I don’t want you guys to miss anything or to stop reading.

Well that’s all for now. Have a good day,

Allyson
Today was not overly exciting, but I am proud of what was accomplished. I woke up and got ready and everything was normal. Today they had homeroom first period so that they could pay their tuition. Each student had to pay 2000 baht (totaling $2747) for the semester. After we left homeroom, the class went and sat in the pavilion area and decided they didn’t want to go to class, all except my friends. Because my friends went to class everyone else had to so that they wouldn’t get in trouble. They had Physics, so I sat and read and occasionally listened.

Monday November 9th, 2009

2009-11-09T08:19:00.001-06:00

Woke up and got ready on time this morning, but we left the house 15 minutes late. We arrived at school about 8:10 though because my host mom drove very fast. I went to the English Lab but barely had time to say hello to Lucas and Happy Birthday to Peach before it was time for Homeroom.

Today in homeroom they turned in their progress reports, which are in folders and just sheets of paper. They talked a little and got some hand out and then we left for math. I don’t know what they are learning in math right now, but I know that because math is not their focus they are behind where I am so I just sit there and read or practice my letters. A good portion of the class was gone today I noticed (like 10 of the 45). I don’t know where everyone was, but them being gone didn’t make things any quieter. After math they stayed in the classroom to finish their homework, but we got kicked out by the next class so we went and sat outside the teacher’s office so they could finish and turn it in. After they turned in the homework it was almost time for English. Monday is the one day they have English with a foreign teacher. His name is Adrian and he is from Canada. He is very nice, but almost everyone thinks he is a bad teacher. He doesn’t always show up to class and when he does he doesn’t do a lot of teaching. Today they were learning the four types of sentences (statement, command, question, exclamation) and all he did was give examples and then hand out a work sheet. Most of the kids in my class don’t care to do the work so it takes them all period to do, but my group of friends finished it in less than 10 minutes. He came over and talked with us and was saying how nobody in the class liked to work except our group, but he didn’t do anything to make them work either. He said that he can’t even use the motivation of failing them to get them to do the work because Thailand has a no fail policy. He seems like a nice guy, but I can’t really say anything about his teaching yet since I’ve only had him for two classes (supposed to be three but he didn’t show up last week).

After English I was supposed to have a Thai lesson, but Ti never came over for my lesson so I worked on my art. At the end of the period I went and met the girls for lunch. For dessert we went and got fruit. I got mango and pumello (I think that’s the name of the big green thing) with syrup. I didn’t get a spoon so it was really hard to eat the pumello.

After lunch we went to Thai. The teacher seems really nice. She apologized several times for the fact that she couldn’t talk to me because she doesn’t know English. Mo translated for us and so I told her that it was alright and that I hoped in time to be able to communicate in Thai. I tried to listen to the class, but about half way through Mo nudged me and told me that even they couldn’t understand what was going on so I would be better off reading.

After Thai was Botany. There were people missing from our group so I got to plant too. We took 6 pots of dirt or compost and 3 pots of rocks and woodchips and 3 pots of new dirt and put them all on the ground and mixed them up. I tried to not get dirty, but after a few minutes I realized it was inevitable and just gave in. We broke off 3” sections of some type of plant and put 20 of them in each pot. The hardest part of the project was trying to squat on the ground in our skirts and not show anything, at least my group is all girls and the three boys were really far away so it wasn’t as big a deal. After we finished the teacher talked a little and then we were done for the day.

Mo, Boom, Paw, and I went and sat in the little kid cafeteria and read and did homework until the end of the day. At the end of the day I went and packed up my things and left them in the English room. I gave a note to Mike to give to Meow saying I was going with my friends to the market and would be back by 4:30 when she said we were leaving. Mike never gave the note to Meow, but oh well everything worked out in the end.

At the market we bought some food and drinks. Mo got some fresh orange juice and I tried it, it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t very pulpy and it tasted pretty good. We ran into Peach towards the end and she said that my host mom told Meow that we were going to her party after all (we were supposed to but my host dad said we couldn’t). At 4:30 I went back to the English Corner, but Meow was nowhere to be found. At 5 she came running in and panted that we had to go. We grabbed one of the cars and headed to the restaurant. We ate at one of those grill things again. Lucas and I had so much fun. They had beef there so Lucas and I ate a whole bunch of it. I didn’t have my camera because I didn’t know we were going so I used Lucas’ to take pictures and will get them from him as soon as I can. As I was going up for dessert they told me I had 5 minutes before we were leaving. I quickly shoveled in my dessert and took more pictures while my host mom waited to go. She parked very far from the restaurant so by the time we got there I had a side ache from shoveling in my dessert.

When we got home I finished my art project (the bird looks good but the basket of rice doesn’t look like rice at all). I am going to use my internet time in just a few minutes, the last until Friday night so you will have to wait for updates.

Side notes:

So all weekend I’ve been going around the house singing Christmas songs. I know it’s a little early for it, but wrapping presents and thinking about Christmas is making me miss it already. I think that someone needs to send me a CD or two with my favorite Christmas songs and some classic ones so that my host family can listen to how they are actually supposed to sound not my horrible renditions of them!

So apparently I do this thing with my feet at dinner time, I don’t know what it is, but it makes Mike upset and so he won’t eat at the table. He is always eating in front of the TV and computer (I think it’s just a good excuse to spend more time on the TV and computer but whatever). They tried to explain what it was that I’m doing, but I don’t understand. They are very sensitive about feet here. Meow and my host mom understand that other cultures aren’t the same so they don’t mind, but apparently Mike and my host dad do. I don’t know what I’m doing, but now I am very conscious of my feet.

So I counted my ant bites tonight. I have 13 on my right foot alone and 14 from my knee down on my right foot! I don’t know why they like me so much. Meow said that when she was in my room that she never had a problem with ants, so it’s just me! I really do hate ants!

Sunday November 8th, 2009

2009-11-08T08:07:00.001-06:00

So today was nothing exciting, but it wasn’t boring. I got and went on the computer. We ate leftovers for breakfast as usual. After breakfast I read until 12:30 and then showered (if you wait till then you usually have water). After that I worked on my art homework and read some more. At 3 I decided to clean my room. I packed up the gifts into a box (I hope the missing gifts fit into the little open space because I don’t want to have to use a bigger box). I swept the floor (which I only get to do so often) and collected enough hair to cover a small kids head, I’m losing hair like crazy here! I changed my sheets, for the second time since arriving here, and I cleaned up everything and made it look nice. After I finished, Meow, Mike, and I went and played tennis. I have tons of embarrassing photos to post when I get the chance. I was sweating so bad by the end, I was happy when they said it was time to go home. For dinner I had more of the balls of fish and some other fish thing and noodles (same as lunch). After dinner I read some more and now I am on the computer. After I am done on the computer I am going to practice my Thai letters for tomorrow’s lesson and then go to bed.

Some side notes:

After Monday I won’t have internet except on weekends because the doctor told Mike he shouldn’t use so many screens because of his ADHD (they decided to test him when they learned I had it and learned about it). My host mom said it would be easier for him if Meow and I had the same restraints. She said that I could have 30 minutes every night, but I feel that I should have the same as the other kids so I am not going to use the internet except on the weekend. On the weekend I have two hours. I will check my email at school, what that’s all until the weekends. I will have the computer for homework.

So I have so many ant bites on my legs, that it looks like I have hives or something, it’s ridiculous. I probably killed 100 in my room while sweeping today, I didn’t leave any alive that I saw. They are crawling all over everything, including my medicine. I HATE ANTS!

Well I guess that’s all I can think of for now. I will post again tomorrow but after that I won’t have the internet except on weekends so I will post my week on the weekend. Have a good day!

Allyson

Saturday November 7th, 2009

2009-11-07T20:50:00.000-06:00

Today (actually yesterday but whatever) I spent the day with Meow and her friends. I woke up at 7 and got ready. At 8 I came down and helped my host mom prepare breakfast. At 9 I went and waited for the car (one of those with the back end open for passengers) to come and pick us up. At 9:30 the car came and we headed to the school. At the school we met up with Cherry and Cherry’s boyfriend (didn’t even know she had a boyfriend until Friday because they have to keep it a secret from their parents because they are allowed to date). We bought a few snacks from the 7/11 and then went to the mall to watch a movie. The movie they wanted to see was no longer in theatres and the other one wasn’t out yet. All the other movies were too late so we just walked around. We went up stairs to Big C and I bought some workout clothes (figured I need some if Meow wants to keep working out). After that we went to Swenson’s and I got a Banana-Nana sundae with peanut butter and caramel praline ice cream. I finished my ice cream really fast so I had to wait for the others. After the ice cream we walked around and looked at cell phones because one of the girls wants a new one. The ones they were looking at were over $300, but they said that was reasonable! (Apparently the iPhone cast over $1000 here!)

Around 12 we headed back to the school. We ate lunch at this little place across from the school. I ate “American Fried Rice” but it wasn’t really American. It was rice with ketchup, raisins, baby corn, and peas. I got a piece of chicken and three mini hot dogs to go with the rice. While I was eating I watched golf, that’s what was on the TV, because no one talks to me (I think that if I spend too much time with Meow and her friends I will lose my voice from lack of use!). After we finished eating we went to the 7/11 again so they could get some snacks. We then went to the school (across the street). There were so many people there, I was shocked! None of the people that we were waiting for were there though (at least I guess) because we sat by the English Corner for like an hour. They goofed around and I read. After that we went to the little kids cafeteria (they have a separate lunch room for the younger kids) and met with some of Meow’s friends. No one talked to me so I sat and read some more. They talked for more than an hour, but finally they got up and started to walk away without even telling me anything.

After that we went to Fern’s house, a friend of Meow’s. She lives in a military village because her parents are in the military (at least her dad, I don’t know about her mother). They all talked and laughed, but no one talked to me so I sat and tried to watch a movie that was on TV but I kept missing things because they were so loud. Eventually they decided to take a walk to the playground down the road. We sat there and they goofed around. Meow stole this one boy’s bike (he is always around, mysteriously appearing wherever Meow is and talking to her) and rode it around with Cherry. I sat with Fern, one of Meow’s friends and her sister, but no one talked to me so it was kind of boring. At about 4:30 they decided they were going to go and buy a gift for Peach for her birthday (which is Monday). I stayed at Fern’s house because they were taking one of the motorcycle things. I watched Nancy Drew and ate some dried bananas and some seed like thing that Fern’s mother gave me (I didn’t know what it was but I didn’t want to be rude so I ate it anyway).

At 6 my host dad came and picked us up. On the way home we stopped and picked up these donut like things that I really like (I can’t remember what they are called). Through Meow my host dad asked me questions and we actually had somewhat of a conversation! When we got home I helped to make dinner. Dinner was Curry. It was spicy, but only mildly so (had they given it to me when I first came I would have died). After dinner, Meow helped me wrap all of my Christmas presents. I was glad for the help even though we really didn’t talk and she was slow, it was nice of her to help. We finished around 9:15 and I went on the computer. I was really tired so I didn’t blog until this morning. I slept well, except that at 6 I had to get up and close my windows because the birds were annoying. I woke up around 8:30, but just laid there until after 9. Now I’m writing this and waiting for breakfast and the internet (Mike’s on so I don’t know when I’ll get it and be able to post this).

Some side notes:

There is this girl in my class called Sai (which means sand) and I call her the “I love you” girl because she is always saying she loves me. She is really nice and helpful, but it is a little weird that she is always saying she loves me, though to them it is normal.

Weather is very sporadic here. It was kind of colder on Monday and Tuesday but now it’s getting warm again. Yesterday we had clear blue skies all day and then all of a sudden it started to pour last night. You never know what it’s going to be like so you always carry and umbrella and a sweater.

I decided that I am going to get a haircut because there is no way I’m making it a whole year without cutting it. It looks like a mop. It has no shape and is driving me crazy. I’ve been putting it in a pony or hair clip everyday in order to make it manageable.

Well I know there are like a thousand side notes, but I can’t remember them right this minute so this is what I got for now!

Till later,

แอลอิสสัน ดันแคน

Friday November 6th, 2009

2009-11-06T08:38:00.001-06:00

So today started out with me over sleeping. I turned off my alarm and fell back to sleep for 30 minutes, and only got up because my host mom knocked on my door. I wasn’t the only one who over slept though, both of the others over slept and ended up without breakfast. Breakfast was the leftover noodles from last night’s dinner. We quick hurried out the door and actually made it to school on time.

I waited in the English room for an extra 20 minutes because assembly ran over, but then Sai came and got me. We didn’t have class this morning because there was no teacher (it turns out it’s Chinese so I’ll have an extra free period there where I will do Thai with Ti). Since there was no teacher we went to the library. I sat with a group of girls from my class that I really don’t know, but they were nice and tried to help me learn some new things and to talk to me.

Second period I had Art with Peach. They were handing in bird drawings, but I get an extra week since this was my first class. Next week we are going to learn to draw flowers. The teacher seems really nice and she tries to make sure I feel included and comfortable. Some of the kids in the class are really good at drawing, I am going to look so pathetic next to them, but I think it is going to be fun anyway.

Third period I had social study with my class. We got out early so we went to lunch because they have a free period for meetings (they have to have meetings once a month so they have to have a period set aside for them). For lunch I ate some spicy chicken and some vegetables with pork. For dessert I had the Thai dessert that I had the other day with the ice.

After lunch we went up to our classroom for 6th period (we ate 4th period) and we sat and waited. I studied for most of the period, read for a short time (like 3 pages) and then helped Mo to color some things for math. When it came time for class we found out we had to move rooms. We had English 6th period which is really easy for Mo and I so we were talking. I guess we were talking kind of loud so the teacher called on us and made me read and then made her translate. It was really cool to listen to her translate. She was so fast at it most of the time, but sometimes she would accidentally say an English word and everyone would laugh. After we read some of the kids were trying to get the teacher to make me translate, thank goodness she didn’t fall for it. I said I wish I could translate any of it, so Mo decided to teach me some of the words in the section. She taught me for the remainder of the class.

After English I had Social Study with Peach. She had some packet she was working on so I sat there and studied Thai. After she finished we went to the canteen (cafeteria) to get some food. I got some hot dogs wrapped in bacon and then deep fried (talk about fattening) and then some egg roll like things also deep fried. I also got some mango. I then headed up to my Thai lesson.

In my Thai lesson I learned some body parts and then went over my flashcards. I decided that since I keep getting the same ones right that I should remove them and replace them with new words. I will work on going through them on Sunday if I have free time.

After school Meow and I were supposed to play tennis, but we really didn’t want to so we played for only like 10 minutes and then went and got some food. I got some cookies and some dried bananas and a water. While we ate we watched some people play and she helped me translate some phrases I wanted to learn. We decided around 5 to play for a little longer. We only lost our balls once (well me once her three times). My host mom came around 5:30 and we played until about 5:45. We then went and picked up Mike from school (he was retaking his Math exam because he failed, they have a no fail policy). After that we quick went to the store so I could buy some things for school and some wrapping paper so I can send the package home next week.

For dinner we had some noodles (like Ramon but Thai company). They gave me the non spicy and I told them they didn’t have to worry about me and to not make anything special for me. Meow said she put in peppers into mine and thought it would be spicy for me, but I didn’t even realize they were in there until she pointed one out to me. She said that next time she would give me the ones she eats since I didn’t have a problem with mine. I’m so proud of myself for being able to handle the spice!

After dinner I cleaned my room and sorted through the presents. I have everything in piles but still need to wrap them. When I picked up Tom’s from Srunya ants crawled all over me and like an idiot I put it on my bed instead of the floor so now I will have ants crawling on me tonight and biting me! I’m highly unmotivated to do much of anything tonight, but the gifts are all over my bed so I guess I have to deal with them in order to go to bed.

Tomorrow I’m hanging out with Meow. Should be a fun day, or so I hope. Well I can’t think of anything else to add for now, but I’m sure I will tonight like I always do. I have a mental list of things that I’ve forgotten all week, but I never do add them so I don’t know why I keep thinking about them. Well that’s all for now!

Have a good weekend everyone! Will try and write again tomorrow.

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Side note: Ma can mean: Mother, Horse, Dog, or Come and I can never say it right
Kluay can mean : Banana or FU, and apparently I keep saying the bad one, I think I will try to avoid that word

P.S. I created a picture wall with pics from home so if you want you can send me (via mail, it’s hard to print anything here) pics of what you’re up to or what I’m missing! Thanks!

Thursday November 5th, 2009

2009-11-05T08:45:00.000-06:00

I don’t know how long this post is going to be because I was working on making flashcards and lost track of time so I lost 30 minutes of time. I ‘m going to try and type fast and fit everything in, but we’ll see. Well since there isn’t a lot of time I will get started right away.

Woke up this morning at around 5 because I was really, really hungry. I laid there and waited for my alarm to go off, unable to sleep from being too hungry. I got up and washed my face and brushed my teeth. I then headed back up stairs to put on my uniform. I then remembered I had gym today so had to switch outfits. Then we had breakfast. Breakfast was the left over fish balls from last night (I don’t like fish balls they really taste like undercooked, fishy fish). I had some of the Cream of Wheat mom sent so I had something more in my system and a yogurt. After breakfast I finished packing my things and we left, only 5 minutes later than we wanted to. We stopped at some store or something for Mike and Meow and I waited in the car for like 20 minutes. After that we went to school, but we took the long way so we got there as the anthem was playing. I then went to the English Corner to wait for the girls to come and get me, not knowing that there was not assembly this morning. They came and got me before I had even settled in. We had homeroom this morning and they got a note about tuition (I didn’t know they had to pay tuition until this morning). After that we went to Social Study.

During Social Study and English I practiced my letters. I wrote each of the first twelve letters 81 times. Third period I sat in the English corner, then I was supposed to have English but the girls never came to get me so I continued to work on my letters until lunch. At lunch I had noodles, but I should have put in some of the chili flakes because it really didn’t have any taste. After lunch was gym. I HATE gym here too, but I did what I had to because I don’t want to have to take it at home. I had to do sit ups and pushups today. I got 25 sit ups in a minute and 22 pushups (I thought the pushups were good, for my weak arms). I didn’t do so well but at least I tried. During gym some of the girls were teaching me the vowels and some new words. I love my class, they all are so nice and all are trying to help me learn. I am so happy that I chose to be in this class!

After gym was Religion. I think it’s cool to go to religion to watch them. At the beginning of class they bow and do this chanting thing then meditate for a few minutes and at the end they do something similar. I think it’s cool to learn about it and to see it.

After religion I had my Thai lesson (the teacher’s name is Ti). I love my writing lessons, they are always so much fun. Ti is so awesome. She says that I am learning very fast. Today she taught me 13 letters: yaw ying, daw chat da, taw pa tak, taw tan, taw nangmontoe, taw pu tao, naw neng, daw denk, taw tow, taw tung, taw tahan, taw tong, naw new. The new letters are sooo hard to write, but I have all weekend to practice because I don’t have class again until Monday.

After school I went and played tennis with Meow. We finished at 5 but my host mom wasn’t there so we walked and found a pay phone (our cell phones were in the car). My host mom was doing her errands so we had to wait for 30 minutes. My host mom bought us a snack for the ride home so I tried it without even knowing what it was. I still don’t know what it was that I ate, but it was good, I even had a second. Once we got home I helped to make dinner. I cut the pork and carrots and then helped her to cook it all. Dinner was good, we had something new, Chinese noodles. After dinner I worked on writing my flashcards for the new words from today and for my letters and vowels.

So that was my day. Nothing too exciting, but I was busy. Tomorrow is even busier, but it’s the last day. I guess I will make it through the first week alive and still as excited about things as when I started, so that’s good.

Well I guess that’s all for now.

Till tomorrow,

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Wednesday November 4th, 2009

2009-11-04T08:08:00.000-06:00

Chan chue Ploy ka!

Alright so first I will start with the day and through that I will tell you what that means.

I woke up this morning at 4 something and couldn’t fall back to sleep. I laid there and laid there and then my alarm went off at 6 and I was like “Ugh, I totally need to get some more sleep!” I got up and got ready for the day as usual. At breakfast I talked with my family about my nickname. Ploy was the only one I could remember so that is the one I went with. We left for school at normal time and arrived there at normal time, but I didn’t go to school right away.

I went to the doctor this morning. I have an infection of my baby toe. The hospital is so different here. First when you walk in you have to stop at this little stand and get a mask to cover your face so you can’t spread germs. Then you go to a counter and they take your hospital card. Since I didn’t have a card I had to fill out a form. It was funny to watch the lady behind the counter try and do the math to figure out when I was born. I eventually did the math for her, it was simpler. After that I went up stairs with my host mom to her office. I am now going to describe what the hospital looks like on the inside. It is white cement walls with hard plastic chairs in various places to sit. There are some doors here and there and then in the middle is some escalators to take you to the second floor. The floor is tile. The hospital is not warm and friendly like ours. They also don’t have many computers, most everything is paper. Now back to my experience.

When the doctor was taking patients I went downstairs with my host mom. We got my little book and went to weigh me, I couldn’t avoid it. Then they took my blood pressure using one of those machines that are usually at the stores. I then had to go and sit with this nurse at a desk and she used this like laser thing to take my temperature (it didn’t even have to touch me). She asked some basic questions like where the problem was and how long I’d had it. I then went and sat by the doctors door and waited. When they told me to go in I was expecting something like in America, but it was a small room with paneling for walls, tile floor, and only a bed and a desk. I sat down in a chair as indicated by the doctor, handed him my book and then took off my sock and shoe. He then shined a flashlight on my toe, asked if it itched, how long I had it, and then said I had an infection. He then wrote out my list of meds (yes ‘LIST of meds’) and gave it to my host mom. We then went and to the pharmacy which was on the opposite side of the large room. My host mom paid for the meds, took the list and gave it to one of the pharmacists and then pressed a button on a machine to get me a number. She was too impatient to wait for the 10 people ahead of us so she went in back and did it herself. I now have to take two pills at breakfast, one at dinner, and one before bed and put on a cream twice a day.

After the doctor I went to school where third period had just started. Fourth period is English (which is taught in Thai). On my way one of the girls from class grabbed me and dragged me into class so I had to throw my shoes down right next to the door. After class my shoes were gone! We found a spare pair of shoes in the hall, but they were way too small. I wore the shoes anyway so that I could go to lunch. When we got to the cafeteria Mo asked the kids in our class if they had my shoes. No one knew anything so we went and got our food. Just as we were heading back to our table someone came and gave me my shoes. Apparently one of the girls had left her shoes on the first floor and forgotten that that is what she did so she took mine thinking they were hers. After lunch I took and put the other shoes back where I found them. For lunch I ate those spicy noodles I had the other day, but this time I finished them and my lips were normal before five minutes had passed!

After lunch we had social study. During class I worked on writing my name. I wrote it 85 times today because at the doctor they needed me to write it and I couldn’t (and everyone here writes it wrong), so I decided it was time I master it. After social study was health. We had a different teacher this week and I don’t know why. They watched some movies on drugs and alcohol and then she let us go early. I then went to the English Corner for my Thai lesson with Gayoon. It turns out Gayoon isn’t giving me a lesson anymore the new girl is. I had a lot of fun working on the next six letters today. I know you don’t care what they are but this is my journal so I’m going to say them. They are Ngaw Ngu, Jaw Jing, Chaw Ching, Chaw Chang, Saw Sue, Chaw Chu. I then had to show my skills by writing them all as she said them, not in order. Then she quizzed me. I really wish I would have done the homework, it would have helped so much. I guess I will do it tonight!

After school I sat and waited as usual. Mike was supposed to meet Eddie, one of the American teachers, but “forgot” and went to the hospital so when my host mom came she had to talk to Gayoon about him. After they finished we ran some errands. Meow and I went to pick up the pictures and then we started back to the car, but then we decided to go and look at video cameras. The cheapest camera was smaller than dad’s and was about $350!!! There is no way I’m buying one here, it would be cheaper to have mom buy me one and send it, then I would save like $200 or more! When we went back to the car my host mom was waiting and then we got some treats for a snack. We then went to a small children’s clinic (it was like a shop front with a little room off to the side. It looked nothing like ANYTHING we have in the US. We went there so Meow could get her Hep A vaccination. After that we headed home.

I quick changed and then Meow and I went to the 7/11 so I could take out some money and then we were going to steal one of the Logatone flags, but they already threw them out. I wanted to go yesterday but it was raining. I was disappointed! After that we came back to the house and messed with pictures, she wanted some of mine and I wanted some of hers. Then we had dinner where I learned that some foods shouldn’t be mixed like Thai food and yogurt covered cranberries your stomach doesn’t like that combination! Now I’m blogging and loading pics to facebook. Then I’m going to write some letters and head to bed because tomorrow they want to leave 40 minutes early for school and I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.

More pics for those not on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=123049&id=535566988&l=e1d1832aa3

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=122045&id=535566988&l=3f7102e229

Till tomorrow,

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Tuesday November 3rd, 2009

2009-11-03T08:39:00.000-06:00

Alright well today was a little crazy, but good. I think though that I will start with last night.

Logatone Festival: Yesterday was the official day of Logatone and there were only two places in all of Petchaburi province that had celebrations, Had Chao Samran and Cha-Am, so everyone close by came here. There were people everywhere, it was insane. There were some fireworks and tons of those balloon things. When we got to the beach you couldn’t find a place to sit. My host dad had gone early because he was judging the beauty contest. The rest of us went later. When we got there Mike kept wandering off and it got really annoying chasing after him because my host mom didn’t want to lose him. We got there and we watched a part of the beauty contest then we wandered around. Mike bought some fried bugs, apparently they are one of his favorite foods. I told them that I would try anything they wanted, but I drew the line at bugs! I couldn’t believe he ate them all! After a short time my host mom got tired so we went back to the house so she could change shoes and rest for a minute. We also grabbed our Godangs (the flower and banana leaf things). When we went back to the beach we bought one of the balloons and then went to release it. Mike was in charge of lighting everything, but he wasn’t very good with the lighter and it was very windy so he continually burnt himself. We started by trying to light the Godangs, but they wouldn’t stay lit for more than a second or two in the wind. We eventually gave up on lighting them and Meow went and put hers in the ocean; it didn’t go for than a few feet before currents brought it back to shore. Once she got back to where we were standing they decided to try to launch the balloon. It was so funny watching the two of them try! They didn’t know what they were doing and they couldn’t get it to light and when they did Mike would burn himself and Meow would not be holding the top properly (at one point she let go to answer her phone). Some stranger had to help them because they were really pathetic. There were people lighting off fireworks not more than five feet behind them and they kept getting closer and closer to them, so I was a little nervous about that. After almost 15 minutes they finally got it into the air. After that I decided to put my Gadong into the ocean. I wanted to keep mine so I put it in and expected it to come back like everyone else’s, but of course mine had to be the one that kept going further and further out. It eventually came back far enough for me to grab it, so for now I’m keeping it. After we finished releasing them, my host mom went to listen to the concert and Meow, Mike and I went off to explore. We met up with some of their friends and just wandered around and took pictures and ate. It was a lot of fun, but I was really tired! We returned back to the house around 12, but then Meow and my host mom and I walked to the river to release my host dad’s and my host mom’s Godangs (I released my host dad’s because he was too tired to come). After showering (which was necessary because I was covered in sand), I did my devotion and went right to bed because I was too tired for anything else!

This morning we were supposed to leave 30 minutes early of school, but of course I knew that wouldn’t happen. We left about 10 minutes before normal and we stopped at the store, but it was a really quick stop and they didn’t get anything. We were at school right at 8, so at least we weren’t late. I went to the English Corner as always to wait for the girls to come and get me, but they didn’t until almost the end of first period. We then went to Physics, where I didn’t understand anything but the signs are the same (like F = force) so I caught some of that. They then had English, which is taught in Thai (I know, very odd). After English I had a Thai lesson with the new Thai assistant in the English Corner. She is teaching me to read and write. I learned the first six letters of the 44 letter alphabet. Even though it means nothing to you I am going to say the names just to show you how confusing it is: Gaw Gai, Kaw Kai, Kaw Kwat, Kaw Kwai, Kaw Kone, Kaw Rak-con. I don’t know how they are read yet, but I can write them all and identify them. My homework for tonight is to write them all 100 times, but I’m too tired (I might do it tomorrow during Social Studies). After my Thai lesson I had lunch, I was sooo hungry (breakfast was 4 mini hot dogs and some rice). After eating the main meal I decided I wanted to try the Thai dessert, which is ice with different candies and syrups. I got Taro, corn (it’s a sweet here), some green noodle like thing, and banana, with a red sauce and the sweet sauce. The first bite tasted like cough medicine, but I was determined to eat it all and after about ½ way it didn’t taste like cough medicine anymore, and I actually began to like it. After lunch we went up to the library and they worked on homework and goofed around. They decided that I have to have a Thai name so they spent like 40 minutes trying to come up with good things for me. They gave me a list to look at tonight and if I don’t choose they are going to nickname me “Farang” which means foreigner and guava (it’s strange but true that it means both things). I keep forgetting to ask my host family about the names, I’ll have to do it before I head to bed. I decided at 2:45 to head to the English Corner so that I could find someone to take me to Thai dance, but no one was around so I missed another class (I’m beginning to think I’m not going to learn any Thai dance, or very little). After school I read. Gayoon talked with Meow about something until my host mom came and then she talked to my host mom for like 30 minutes. Once we left the school they took me somewhere to print some photos. After that we ran a few errands and then picked up Mike from his after school school. We then went home where I’ve been reading and doing things until now. Now I’m writing my blog and preparing to head to bed.

Well that was my day, or what I can currently remember of it in this half stupor I’m in!

Oh yah I forgot that I got my iPod to work again. I took it to school today because the girls said they might be able to do something. I tossed it on the table (not as gently as I normally would, but I was annoyed with it for not working) and then after that it worked! I have it fully charged now, so I’m really happy! I’m going to buy my video camera now, well if I can find something reasonable here.

Now that is really all I can remember for today.

Monday November 2nd, 2009

2009-11-02T07:32:00.001-06:00

So I made it through the first day of this crazy week, and it wasn’t fantastic! I had a great day. The beginning wasn’t so great (getting out of bed is always the hardest part of the day). I got up 15 minutes late, someone was in the bathroom so I went back up stairs and then I was running even more behind. Last week I got scolded for wearing even a little make-up so this week I’m not going to risk it (maybe next week) so that saved some time. I threw everything into my bag and went downstairs for breakfast. They were having eggs, but they had some garlic pork for me. As soon as we had finished eating we had to leave. My bag is so heavy, if I don’t get a backpack soon my left arm is going to fall off! On the way to school there was a traffic jam so we took a 10 minute detour to get to school and ended up being 15 minutes late again (just one day I’d like to be there before the ceremony begins). By the time I sat down and had the computer turned on my friends were coming to get me for home room.

Homeroom is very interesting. It is basically designed to check and make sure everyone is following the rules. The lady in charge first made all the girls put their hair down and get in line. She then ran her hands through their hair to make sure it was not layered and then she checked for signs of hair dye. After that they had to be checked for nail polish and nail length. There are only three boys in my class of 30 or 40 so they can get away with most anything. Once everyone passed or failed the check we left for math. I am doing an independent math so I truly don’t have to go but it was better than sitting in the English Corner plus then I got to spend free period with them. During Math some of the girls tried to talk to me but I couldn’t understand them and it was very frustrating. I understood some words but I couldn’t figure out what they meant. During free period they helped me by writing the Thai on my flashcards. I also learned their names. The girl who went to Texas is called Mo, then there is Fern, Kow, and Pow (I think that was her name, but I can’t remember for sure).

Third period is English, but the teacher never showed so it was another free period. Fourth period is Chinese for them so I have Thai, but Gayoon was gone so I couldn’t ask her who my teacher was so I talked to Mom instead. Fifth period is lunch. I had some sweet noodles and some chicken with rice. After lunch was supposed to be Thai but the teacher was gone so we had a free period. We went to the library and they worked on homework and I practiced my writing.

7th and 8th period was Botany (I couldn’t remember what it was in English until after we got there). They had a test the first half and then the second they just had to write their name on a pot for next lesson when they plant some shrubs. We were done 40 minutes early so we went to the cafeteria. I watch Boom do her homework, I wish I could write like she does. Later Mo joined us and we talked. At 4 when school was out I went to the English Corner. Meow came in after a few minutes and told me she was going somewhere until 4:45 and I was supposed to wait there. At one point I had to go to the bathroom so Peach decided to go with me and one of her friends wanted to come, in the end five of us went (girls go in groups here too). Meow came back early and my host mom came and got us.

After we left we ran some errands. There were so many pretty pieces (I forget what they are called, I’ll ask before I finish this blog), I wish I would have bought one. They are for Logatone festival tonight. We release them into the water. They are banana tree pieces and leaves with different flowers and in the middle is a candle. My host family has a few here so I am going to take pictures before they put them in the ocean.

Once we got home I changed and went on the computer to use my Rosetta Stone. Tonight we are going to the festival at 8:30 and won’t come home till after midnight and I have to get up early tomorrow because Meow wants to stop at a store before we go to school, so we have to leave 30 minutes early. If people thought I was tired today (which they did, many people commented that I didn’t smile today) then tomorrow I’m going to be a walking zombie.

Sometime today Gayoon must have talked to my host mom because she told me that Gayoon said they have to speak Thai to me. All night she has been giving me instructions in Thai and is completely surprised that I understand what she wants me to do. I am having a great day with understanding, I think it’s because I’ve been doing it all day so my brain is in that mode. I like it; it makes me feel good about myself! I like it even more when I can respond in Thai, which I sometimes can!

Today was a great day, I hope tomorrow is just as good!

(Sorry about not putting on more photos, didn’t get the chance tonight with leaving for the festival so early)

Sunday November 1st, 2009

2009-11-01T08:26:00.001-06:00

Wow it’s weird to type November into the date, it seems like 2009 just started and it’s already only two months from being 2010, this year has gone by soooo fast! Anyway, that has nothing to do with my blog, it’s just a random thought of mine (I seem to have a lot of those today, like right now I’m wondering where my pony went it was right next to me earlier today).

I guess I will start with the festival from last night. It was nothing like I was expecting, not that I knew what to expect but still. It was basically some stands like at the markets, selling clothes and shoes and jewelry and then a whole bunch of tents with food like at the birthday party I went to for the police guy, except this time I had to pay. I got a strawberry smoothie, but it was really bitter and salty so I stopped drinking it after ¼ (it was only like $.10 so it wasn’t a big deal). My host family bought a whole bunch of food, Thai love to eat! They bought some mini crabs, some squid thing, some salad (I didn’t like the dressing on it), some shell thing (it was really chewy so I didn’t eat too many), and some noodles. There was a concert, some famous Thai singer (I didn’t know them so you definitely wouldn’t!) and a whole bunch of screaming, drunk people. The ocean was a lit up so that was really pretty, but I couldn’t understand the concert and no one was talking so I was kind of bored and got really sleepy really fast. We returned home around 11:30 so by the time I showered, did devotion, and a little stretching I was so out of it I fell asleep before I could do any Thai flashcards.

I really wish I had my hair tie, my neck is so sweaty it’s making my hair wet. I’m going to go get my back up quick. Ok back. In that short journey I saw what my family is up to. Here is what everyone is doing:
My host dad is getting dressed and preparing to head to the festival. Meow is doing homework and watching Celebrity Apprentice II (I totally got both of those words spelled wrong, thank goodness for Word or no one would be able to understand a thing I’m writing). My host mom is in her store. Mike is watching TV in the store and eating a half a watermelon (I mean he has a half of a watermelon in his hand and he is eating it with a spoon!). The helper is finishing put things away in the store and then she has to mop the floor before she heads out. The helper’s son is watching TV with Mike. I’m writing this blog and trying to block out all the random thoughts running through my head right now (like I could go for a bowl of Fruit Loops right now). I totally just decided to load my pics from the last day onto my USB so I can put them on my computer, don’t know why I decided to do that now, but whatever!

Alright I’m going to try and stay on topic enough to say what I did today. Today was a much more interesting day than yesterday. To start I woke up before 7 (probably because I left my windows open and so I could hear everything that was going on outside!). I got out of bed around 7:45 and decided to shower in hopes that there would be enough water to shave (I shave once a week because of lack of water, sometimes only once every two weeks). There was a slight amount of water and about ½ through it shut off! I was more than a little annoyed! I finished my shower and got dressed. I then went on the computer until about 9:45. My host mom told me around 9 that I should make some breakfast for myself. She left out the container of instant mush (I don’t really know what it is but it like oatmeal but mushier). I tried to make it but it didn’t turn out well, thank goodness my host mom came into the kitchen to make herself tea. She fixed it, but she added salt to it even though I told her not to. I had to add a lot of sugar to counter act the salt and to make the mush taste like anything. At 9:45 my host mom, Meow and I left. They asked me last night if I wanted to go to the store with them today and I said sure, knowing that it would be way better than sitting at home! On the way to the store we stopped at the temple. There was some big ceremony going on and there were tons of people. There was a huge selection of food, so we ate some breakfast after my host mom gave some money, and then talked with some people. I don’t know how my host mom is related to so many people, but we are always running into someone that Meow says is her aunt (I wonder if it’s a cultural thing). Before we left the temple we went and watched the ceremony that they have to do before they can give the offerings to the temple. They have to dance around the temple three times in a big procession, it was kind of cool.

After we left the temple we headed to Big C, which is kind of sort of like Walmart, to get the computer hooked up with Wireless access (even though we don’t have wireless). I bought some shampoos, conditioner, toothbrush, and nail-file (my nails seem to be getting weaker while I’m here and it’s bothering me). I need deodorant so I went to get some and they have this small, small, small collection of antiperspirant spray stuff and the cans looked travel size (they like mini things here). They didn’t have any deodorant and I’m like almost out, so now I’m doomed to stink for the rest of the year, yippee!! I thought I might have some luck my lotions then, I was wrong. The only lotion that I could find was whitening lotion and I don’t think I need to whiten my skin any more than it already is! My luck was not with me!

After Big C we went to Makro, which is kind of sort of like Sam’s Club. My host mom bought 2 ½ carts full of stuff for 8,294 baht (I don’t know that in dollars right this sec, sorry). By the time we finished the shopping it was almost 1 and I was ready for lunch. To my surprise lunch was a scheduled thing. My host mom had a lunch meeting with a company who wants her and the other pharmacists who were at the lunch to buy their medicines (one was Glucosamine, which mom takes). When we arrived everyone kept asking if I could speak Thai, I was so embarrassed that everyone kept asking and even more embarrassed that I couldn’t that I almost cried! They had squid and fish for lunch, so I mainly ate vegetables. One of the guys was really nice and ordered me some fried chicken and some fruit. I ate papaya for the first time today, it tastes like some medicine the doctor used to give me when I was little but I ate a lot of it anyway because I didn’t want to be rude (Meow has never tried papaya in her life and wouldn’t today). When they were giving their presentation the waitress came and gave us a dessert menu and I got this really good rice and sweet sauce thing. After the information part they did some questions and Meow answered one right so she got some of the pills they were trying to sell. Later they played charades and Meow made me go up with her (as a prize she got some more pills). When we were leaving they asked us to wait a minute so they could do a drawing. They took everyone’s names from when we entered and put them in a bucket. My name was drawn so I got the prize! It ended up being an abs workout set that I wouldn’t mind using but the instructions are all in Thai so I have no idea what to do!

After lunch we went back to Big C to pick up the computer. I almost forgot that the first time we got parked in. In Thailand when you run out of parking you just park your car in front of the other cars, but perpendicular to them, and you leave it in Neutral so they can move it when someone wants to get their car out. Well the person didn’t leave their car in neutral so the security people had to move a whole bunch of cars in order for us to get out. On our second trip we were the ones parking someone else in, but they didn’t have to move our car because we were in their for a very short time. We got back to the house a little after 5 so I decided to go on the computer and read some of the other students’ blogs (I’ve been reading some of the other YES abroad student’s blogs so see what they are up to). My host mom came in a told Mike to come help her wash her car, but he didn’t go. She couldn’t get either of the kids to help her so I went out and helped. Meow finally came out in time to clean the rugs, but then we were done.

After the car was clean I read a little and then Meow came and asked if I wanted dinner because no one else was going to eat. I told her I had to eat, so I ended up eating alone (which worked out because then it was easier to pick out the squid). Now I’m blogging, but I don’t know what I’m going to do after this. I don’t think we are going to the festival tonight because everyone is very tired. Tomorrow we are going because my host mom’s favorite singer is performing. I think I will try to shave tonight and then head to bed so that I’m well rested for my busy day tomorrow.

Lots of love to all of you who are now 13 hours different than me! Have a good day.

Saturday October 31st, 2009

2009-10-31T08:45:00.001-05:00

Happy Halloween everyone! Hope you have an enjoyable day.

My day was good, but uneventful so far. I woke up at 6 to go for our walk but no one was up so I went back to bed and slept on and off until 9. I got up and went on the computer then I helped my host mom in the kitchen. She had me cut up a whole bunch of pork, I really hate cutting up huge chunks of meat!!! While I was cutting we heard some drums and they kept getting louder so my host mom went to check what was going on. She came running back and told me to go out front to see. There was a parade going past our house to the beach for the festival!

For breakfast we had garlic pork and some beans in a really good sauce. After breakfast I read and watch ANTM and Vampire Diaries. I then went to turn on my iPod and it wouldn’t turn on so I went to charge it but it wouldn’t respond so I plugged it into my computer and it wouldn’t respond so I plugged it into the wall and decided that maybe it just needed some time! It’s been plugged in for 8 hours and it’s still not responding, I guess that is going in the package for home to so mom can take it to BestBuy and they can mess with it!

At 2 we had lunch which was so fish, pork, and noodles. At 5 Meow, Mike, my host dad, and I went and played some tennis. It was fun, I got some really funny pictures! After tennis we came back and I read while I waited for dinner. For dinner I had the leftovers from lunch. They gave me some Thai melon and a sweet sauce and I told Meow that if I didn’t like it that she was going to eat it, she said she’s never tried it and she doesn’t want to because it doesn’t look good (I don’t know how she is going to survive next year, she is like a 1000 times worse than me!!!). I liked the melon and sweet sauce so it didn’t matter. After dinner I read for 30 minutes and now I’m on the computer.

At 9:30 we are going to the festival. Festivals are held at night here because it’s a lot cooler. I don’t know what it’s going to be like but I’m excited! It is tonight, tomorrow night, and Monday night and we are going all three days. It’s like 2 blocks from my house, I can see it from the end of the driveway, so I’m really looking forward to going! I’ll write about it tomorrow!

Have a great day everyone! Lots of love!

Friday October 30th, 2009

2009-10-30T09:14:00.000-05:00

Today was pretty fun. I woke up at 5 something but went back to sleep. My alarm went off at 6 but I didn’t get up until 6:30 so I was running behind. I had no clean uniform so I had to wait for the laundry until 7:10 quick change and pack everything up and eat. I was eating 10 minutes before we walked out the door, but I wasn’t the only one behind, Meow and Mike couldn’t get out of bed this morning either. We left the house almost 10 minutes late and we had to stop at the store to get a Thai flute for Mike (which he played on the way to school, most annoying). We were 15 minutes (almost 20) late for the ceremony so Meow and Mike had to fill out some form for the school. I went to the English Corner. I didn’t do anything first period because the class had a test, so I sat in the English Corner and read. They were running on a special time schedule today so I ended up being late for my second period. I had to perform a play, I was the narrator actually, for my English class (this was the last time I was going to be in that class because next week my classes change). As soon as the play was done I had to rush back to the English Corner because I was leaving.

Today I went with a group of volunteer students from New Zealand, Germany, and Finland as well as some former exchange students from my school (like Boom). We went to a bakery and got to make some desserts, and eat some! I talked with the boy from New Zealand, he was really nice. After we finished baking and eating we went for lunch. We ate Pad Thai for lunch. While we were waiting for the others to finish they taught me this song for the parts of the face. After we finished we went back to school where I had to wait for Gayoon to unlock her office where my things were so I didn’t go to class. At 7th period I went to Social Studies with Peach, but they were doing some newspaper things so I read. At the end of the class I talked with Peach and she agreed to help teach me to read and write. After Social Study I had Thai with Pa Taw. She talked with me about all sorts of stuff and when the conversation went to whether I’ve ever eaten crocodile (she heard somewhere the American’s eat crocodile) and decided to take out my flash cards as a hint that we should actually do a lesson. We worked on the flashcards and I got 56/117 right (last night I only got 41/117), I would be a lot better if I could remember any of the months!

After school I sat and read for a little while before Meow showed up and we left. We walked to the train station and then tried to call my host mom but she had her phone off so we had to walk to the hospital which was about ½ mile from the train station. She had just left, but we sat there for a while until we got a hold of her somehow and then we walked back to the train station to wait for her to pick us up. Once she picked us up we went to the end of the month market. It was crazy there and I kept getting shoved around and separated. After they bought the few things they needed we went to dinner across the street. I looked at the menu and saw some sort of Sausage Steak and was curious what it was so I ordered it. It was so small and came with fries and a salad with this really gross dressing on top. I didn’t eat a lot so I’m still hungry! After dinner we ran a few errands and then headed home. I changed and then Meow was flipping through the channels and found America’s Next Top Model so we watched that. After that was over I read for a little while and then Meow and I decided to take a walk on the beach. Tonight was the first night since I left home that I saw the moon, I was so excited! On the way back from the beach Meow was telling me about winter and she asked if I was getting any cooler, I told her no! She told me that some people die from the winter here, I said that they would never make it one day at home then!

Tomorrow starts the water festival, so we will go to that in the evening. In the morning at 6 my host family and I are going to walk on the beach, then I’m coming back and going back to sleep! Since I know I won’t be able to sleep again after waking up I’m going to bed as soon as I finish writing this and I shower! I have pics from today but I didn’t load them onto my computer yet so I can’t post them, sorry.

Talk to you all soon and for those who won’t check in again until Monday, have a great weekend!

Thursday October 29th, 2009

2009-10-29T09:35:00.001-05:00

So I’m predicting my death for a week from tomorrow just an fyi!

I should probably explain that, but just thought I’d throw it out there for starters.

Last night was the first night in two weeks that I slept through the whole night and I didn’t even take a melatonin! I woke up and got ready, I was even ahead of schedule this morning and had time to read! For breakfast we had some leftovers from last night’s dinner and they all had some eggs too. After breakfast we headed to school. On the way to school we stopped at a bus stop because my host mom’s mom was there and so we picked her up to take her wherever it was she was going. We then took a detour to school and stopped at a stationary store so that Meow could get her books for school, which she didn’t find, but I found some notecards there so I was very happy.

We arrived at school 10 minutes late for the ceremony. I went to the English Corner and read and talked with Peach while I waited for the ceremony to end and for the girls to come and get me for class. The first class was Social Studies and I didn’t pay any attention to what was going on because I was making flash cards, I know I should have waited until free time but I was excited and wanted to get going! After Social Studies we had English which was really funny because the English wasn’t always right and some of the things the teacher was telling them were off (she was a Thai teacher not a foreign teacher). After English they had Chinese so I went to the English corner to wait for lunch. I was really hungry so I went to the Cafeteria and got some fruit and a donut and sat and talked with some girls from one of my classes. After that I went back to the English Corner to wait for lunch.

At lunch I went to one place and they had nothing left so I went and stood in line at another place and they had nothing left so I went to a third place and they had plenty left, why I didn’t go there first I don’t know, wasted a ton of time! I got some noodles and pork but didn’t realize it was spicy until I started eating it. I didn’t have any water which was the main problem. I ate almost all of it but couldn’t finish because my lips were burning, had I had some water I probably could have finished it but we were sitting on the other side of the cafeteria far from the water lady! When I returned my dished I got some water and some ice cream and my lips quickly went back to normal. We sat around and ate some candy and talked before they headed off to their class.

They came back from PE early. They were all red and sweaty because they had to run 3 Kilometers in under 13 minutes! I said that there was no way I was joining their PE class because they said that today was only the beginning! We sat and talked and I worked on more flashcards. When the bell rang we didn’t move, so we ended up being late for religion. In religion they had a practice quiz and some notes then they had a little bowing thing to Buddha and then we were released early. They went off to take a Chinese quiz and I went to the English Corner to hang out with Peach. Gayoon came back for a little while and she said that tomorrow I am going with her to hang out with 70 AFS students and make some dessert thing in the morning, so I’m excited.

At the end of the day I had to do a quick practice with my group from English for a play we are performing tomorrow. Meow left and went somewhere. I was done at 4:20 but I didn’t know where Meow was so I had to sit and wait. At 4:40 Gayoon came and talked to me and we put together my schedule for the semester (this is a permanent one so I shouldn’t have to worry about sitting around bored anymore). She left at 5 and only one of the secretaries was left and she was packing up. At 5:15 I got kicked out of the English Corner and I still didn’t know where Meow was so the secretary called her. At 5:35 my host mom came and picked me up! We then went and ran a few errands and picked up one of the books Meow needs for school. After that we came home, it was about 6:30.

My host mom asked me to help make dinner and Meow was in charge. She told me to cut some lettuce so I did and she said it wasn’t right so I cut it differently (she was being picky!). After that she didn’t know what I should do so she had me set the table. Then her and her mom switched jobs and she went to run the store. I had nothing to do so I sat there. At one point they switched back and Meow was trying to make the dinner. My host mom came running into the kitchen saying something in Thai because Meow wasn’t doing it right and so was going to ruin dinner. After that my host mom cooked the meal. She had me bring the bowls back into the kitchen so she could put the food on them. Then we ate. Mike took a few bites then left, he said it wasn’t good. I ate all of mine except the tofu. I really liked it (we had Pad Thai). After the main part I had some fruit and realized how finicky Meow really is. She wouldn’t eat any part of an apple if a seed or any dirt had touched it, she had to cut it away! She is so weird when it comes to food, I don’t know how she eats anything, she is going to die next year in America!

By the time we finished dinner and cleared the table it was 8:05 so I read a little before coming on the computer. Now I’m finishing the computer and then going over my flashcards then heading to bed.

Before I go I should explain my prediction. My schedule is as follows:

Monday: Math (Thai), Free, English, Free, Lunch, Thai (Junior Thai like we have English!), Botany (Thai)
Tuesday: Science (Thai), English, Thai (personal lesson), Lunch, Cooking (Thai), Thai Dancing (Thai)
Wednesday: Social Studies (Thai), Thai Music (Thai), Computers (Thai), English, Lunch, Social Studies (Thai), Health (Thai), Thai (personal lesson)
Thursday: Social Studies (Thai), English, Social Studies (Thai), English, Lunch, PE, Social Studies (Thai)
Friday: Thai (2 periods of Junior Thai!!), Social Studies (Thai), Computers (Thai), Lunch, English, Social Studies (Thai), Thai (personal lesson)

I again predict my death for the end of next week!

The difference between me and a Thai, even one who won't go in the sun and bleached their skin! It's really pathetic that I'm this white after almost 3 months of sun!

The fruit from last night

Pad Thai before it is mixed

Pad Thai after it's mixed

My nightly plate of fruit that I eat more than 1/2 of by myself!

Wednesday October 28th, 2009

2009-10-28T09:40:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning at 2AM because it was raining really hard. When I woke up it was all dark, all of a sudden with a bolt of lightning and some thunder the porch light went on right outside my window (we never turn that one on so it was even stranger). I got up to close my drapes and found that it was raining into my room from the other window so I quickly closed the windows (as quickly as I could being the fact the rain kept coming and the wind kept blowing them open). After I finally closed the windows and drapes I tried to sleep again, but it took a long time. I finally fell asleep to wake up randomly at 4! I never do get a full night’s sleep, it’s so annoying! (I talked with Paul, the teacher from Australia, and he said its normal after a few months to start waking up at random times again. He said that after a month of so it will pass and I will be able to sleep again. I hope that it comes sooner though, I’m really sick of being so tired all the time!) My alarm went off at 6, but I couldn’t get myself to get out of bed until 6:30 and then it was only by reminding myself that I was excited for today!

We were late for school as we usually are. We arrived in the middle of the national anthem, so we had to stop and wait at the entrance. After we could move again I went to the English lab to wait for Boom to come and get me for class. I should probably explain that whole thing. On Monday there was a new guy in the English Corner and he came and talked to me. I don’t know who he is, but he said that Gayoon brought him in the assist her and that he was supposed to help me. We talked about school and what I like and don’t like about it and decided that I should pick a class to join so that I can make friends and be in some Thai speaking classes. I talked to Boom, the girl who went to Chili last year, and she said that I could join her class. Today was my first day with the class, that’s why I was so excited for today.

Back to today now. Once Boom came and got me we went to Social Studies, which turned out to be some sort of Economics/Politics class. The whole class was in Thai, the teacher can’t speak any English so the girls had to translate whenever he talked to me. I was given a packet just like everyone else, a packet written in Thai! I took one look at it and freaked, it was complete gibberish! I tried to focus on the teacher as much as I could so that I can try to pick up some things, but it was hard to keep focused when I didn’t understand anything. I was so shocked in class when everyone was talking and the teacher didn’t even care. Another thing that shocked me was that they don’t text in class, they call people in class!!!

When Social Studies ended I went with one of the girls, she went to Texas last year (I feel horrible because I spent the whole day with her and don’t know her name!), and we went to Thai instrument class. When the teacher came in we all moved so that we could face him, we were all sitting on the floor facing the windows not his desk. The whole class they just talked with him, I guess he’s funny because everyone kept laughing. He kept making comments that I was staring at him and that I scared him, the girls translated for me. I guess here they don’t always look at the teacher, something that I never thought about I just did.

After Thai instrument class they had Chinese 2, which is way more advanced than I am so I went to the English corner. After Chinese 2 they had English with a Thai teacher, and I don’t need any English help so I stayed in the English Corner. I ate lunch with my new class, some noodle thing that I really didn’t like but I ate because I knew that I wouldn’t be eating for a while. After lunch we went to Thai History. The teacher speaks a little English, but he mumbled so much I couldn’t understand him so the girl who went to Texas had to help me. I tried to pay attention and I understood some of the city names they were saying, but that was it. After History we went to Health. In Health we have to make a magazine, which looks like a lot of fun.

After Health we had a free period before the end of the day so we went to the Cafeteria. I ate some ice cream and they helped me with my Thai. I can now count to 100 and if you say anything in the hundreds I can tell you what it is in English though I can’t say it yet.

After school I went to the English corner and hung out with Peach for a little while before Meow came and got me. We then walked to the hospital and played tennis. When Mike showed up and let him play and took a rest. When Meow decided to be done my host mom wanted to try, it was so funny to watch, she would just swing and spin herself. After tennis we ran so errands like always then came home. For dinner we had shell thing, some cabbage and pork, and some purple and yellow corn. After dinner fruit was brought to the table, but I thought it was eggs because that’s what it looked like. My host mom said it was fruit and that it was very good. I tried some and it actually isn’t bad, not my favorite fruit but I liked it so I’m glad I tried it. After dinner I did my math homework (I’m working on logs, yippee!) and read for a little while (I finished Angels and Demons and now am reading DaVinci code). After I finish writing I’m going to shower and get to bed because I’m exhausted!

Hope you are all well!

P.S. I’ve decided that both journaling and blogging is annoying since I say the same things in both of them so I’m going to blog as my journal since that’s the one that people are reading and only journal when I’m not able to blog. I’m sorry if some of this is a little personal or feely but since it’s a journal now it’s going to have most everything!

Birthday, Day trip, Spicy, "Athletic?!?!"

2009-10-27T08:36:00.000-05:00

Okay so this is just a little update of the last couple of days so it won't be too long I hope. I'll start with Mike's Birthday. His birthday was on the Thursday 22nd but we didn't celebrate until Saturday 24th because Meow came home from the South on Saturday. We went to my host dad's parents house to celebrate. My host dad's sister and her kids were there, but I never met the kids I only saw them popping in and out of the house. Before we had cake Meow and Mike and I walked around the neighborhood taking photos. Some of the photos I felt really stupid taking with people around, but it was fun and we ended up with some really cool pictures (and some really stupid ones). My host mom bought a cake since they have no oven. They put the candles in and everyone had to count them to make sure there were 13. The lighter wasn't working so we only got one candle lit so we had to use the one candle to light the others. Once the candles were lit they sang their happy birthday song to him (it's in English but it's not the same as ours). He then made his wish and blew out the candles, he didn't get them all out but they don't have the tradition of "How many girlfriends" so I guess it doesn't matter (though he'd have three). After cake, they took some family photos and then we packed up and left, no presents or anything like we do it was really simple. After we left the grandparents we went to a beach with some statues in the water. They tried to tell me what the statues were, the only part that stuck was that the big lady was a sea monster and the little thing on the rocks was her husband who had run away. There were a ton of people on the beach and I realized that they don't wear swim suits to the beach, they go fully dressed into the water (at least around my house, I'm sure beach resorts are different). After the beach we drove home and spent the night doing our own things. I almost forgot, on the way home we drove behind a herd of cows that was being moved so that they could eat, that's something you wouldn't see in America!

Pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=119863&id=535566988&l=696d334bbb

On Sunday we all took a day trip to the city of Cha-Am which is about 50 minutes from Petchaburi. We left around 12 and headed to an old palace. The palace was on the beach and the whole place was absolutely gorgeous. Meow wore shorts so she had to wear this wrap thing so that she was properly covered (I saw several women taking them off or 'fixing' them so that they weren't serving the purpose anymore), we also had to take off our shoes as custom and we could only go up so many people at a time because it was made of wood so they didn't want to risk having too many people up at once (my whole family went up and we left some couples below). I couldn't take pictures of the inside but I got the outside. It was White and Blue and went right to the beach. The gardens stretch the whole place with lots of fountains and little rest areas. After the palace we went to Hua-Hin which is another city about 5 minutes past Cha-Am. At lunch everyone was staring at, but I'm beginning to get used to it. After lunch we went to this place called PlearnWan which is like this little place with shops, but that's about it. I thought it was funny that on this wall with different movie people they had Prince Caspian and Nicholas Cage, I always find it funny how much America is over here and in the most random places and things. The traffic was crazy and there were police everywhere because the 15th ASEAN summit is being held in Hua-Hin so delegates from all over Asia were arriving.

Day trip Pics: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=120465&id=535566988&l=6004044f53

So now I'm going to go a little out of order but I hope I don't confuse anyone. Tonight for dinner my host mom made some really spicy food. I've been doing well with spicy and am starting to get used to it so my host mom thought it would be okay to try me. I took one bite and was okay, took another and it started to get hot, the third bite and I was a goner! I ate a fairly large portion and then my host mom put more on my plate. I only had one small glass of water with it and my lips only burned for 20 minutes after (my tongue was fine before I left the table) so I would call the dinner experiment a success! I'm proud of myself for making it through the meal, though I did discover that spicy is a very good lipstick :-)

Now for the last topic I have to start from the end of Sunday (like I said a little out of order). Meow decided that she gained a lot of weight over break (I think she's fine but whatever) so she is dieting. She also decided that she is going to exercise now, no big deal except that she is dragging Mike and me into it too. On Sunday we stopped at a sports store on the way home to buy Mike new running shoes. Sunday night they all went running (I was falling asleep at the table so my host mom told me that I should go to bed). Yesterday Meow and Peach went running around the school (lucky for me that I didn't know they were going to so I didn't bring anything). Well today I couldn't escape! On Sunday my host dad decided that he was going to buy two tennis rackets and some balls for us to use. I've wanted to actually learn to play tennis for a while but never did,but this is so not the time to be learning new sports! Today after school we walked my host mom's hospital where there is a tennis court and met up with one of my host mom's friends who was going to teach us the basics. Now everyone should know me well enough to just picture me trying to play tennis, now through in the fact that I don't speak the language and the teachers doesn't speak English! Another thing going against me besides the obvious fact that I am NOT athletic is the fact that I didn't have anything but my uniform to wear because I didn't bring any exercise clothes here so I had to wear my uniform and I got a blister on the heel of my right foot. I had quite the audience and group of helpers by the time we called it quiets. I barely did anything but lose the ball. Meow and I probably spent more than half of our time looking for our balls (the good thing was that we started with 3 balls and left with 7). When the teacher went to play a game for herself Meow thought it would be a good idea for us to try a game! I don't think you could call a 'serve' (a really bad serve to say the least) a game (we did have a couple of occasions when one of us would get lucky and hit it back but nothing major). I am totally not athletic beyond skating, I am truly an Ice Princess and nothing else. As if today wasn't enough humiliation for a while, she wants to go again tomorrow! (I know you are all laughing at me by this point, I was laughing at myself too so don't worry! I told my host mom someone should be filming it.)

Well that's my little update for now. Wish me luck with this new athletic thing, she's talking about lifting weights too, which I don't think will be bad. The only thing good about this whole thing is I'm going to keep in shape for skating when I get home, well as best as I can at least!

ChaingMai

2009-10-21T08:14:00.000-05:00

So last week I went to the north of Thailand with Srunya, our exchange girl from 5 years ago, and her family (her mother, father, and younger sister Pim). We left on Wednesday October 14th. It was a long drive there, 13 hours in the car, though we did stop occasionally. We left their house at 7:15 (only 15 minutes later than I was told). At around 8:30 we stopped for breakfast, I had boiled rice which is a very common breakfast thing in Thailand (or it must be because that is always what I’m offered for breakfast). While we waited Srunya and Pim played checkers with beer bottle caps and a piece of cardboard for the game board. They played it in a way that I’ve never seen it played, so it was interesting to watch. After we drove for several hours we pulled over in Ayuthaya, which was the capital city over 300 years ago, to buy a very famous dessert. The dessert was made up of sugar noodles (which have the texture of hay) and something like a pancake. Once you got past the texture of the sugar noodles, it was very good. We stopped two other times in various locations along the road (they have stand in the middle of nowhere where sell things) and bought 14 of those large green things that remind me of giant green grapefruit and guava. Besides the few bathroom breaks we had we didn’t stop until we got there at 9. After we arrived at Srunya’s friends house we ate dinner and they all talked until after 10:30. After that I went to bed because it had been a very long day.

Thursday October 15th, 2009

For breakfast we had boiled rice. After breakfast we headed off for the day. We were staying at Srunya’s friend’s house in the mountains, it was so beautiful, so the day’s activities were in the mountains not in the city. The first thing we did was go to a monument for an old king from over 300 years ago. The kings loved roosters so there were over a 100 plastic roosters surrounding the monument. After we left the monument we went to some caves. It was fun to explore the caves, though it was just as hot underground and in the dark as it was outside and we had to fit through impossibly small spaces. We took a ton of pictures because Thai people love to take picture with everything and everywhere. When we finished spelunking we went and RODE ELEPHANTS! Srunya didn’t want to go with me because she said she was too scared so Pim went with me. It was awesome and the view of the mountains was so amazing!!! I don’t know why Srunya was scared because I loved it! After our ride we were given bananas and we fed them to the elephants (even though the elephants had been eating the whole trip). I hope that I get to ride an elephant again, it was so much fun. We returned to the house after that and ate lunch, they wanted to take me to some fields but it was raining so we had to stay at the house. I studied some Thai and then Srunya said we should take a short nap, which turned into a 2 ½ hour nap (it would have been longer but her mom came and got us to tell us it was time for dinner). For dinner we had shrimp and a famous northern Thai sausage. When I went to take the sausage they all looked shocked and Srunya told me that it was spicy, but I ate quite a bit of it and I didn’t think that it was very spicy at all, so I’m proud of myself. After dinner I didn’t do anything special.

Friday October 16th, 2009

We had breakfast at 8, more boiled rice, so that we could finish up the activities in the mountains before we headed into the city. The first thing we did was go water rafting. The view was so gorgeous, the mountains are amazing (I know I’ve said that so many times in this but it’s hard to describe them!!). They had an extra stick (that is what they use to paddle) and so Pim was playing with it, though she was making things harder for the man steering and getting us all wet. Eventually she stopped and we all took pictures with the stick. After we returned back we said goodbye to Srunya’s friend’s dad who had been our tour guide and then we headed to the city. The first thing we did in the city was track down our hotel, which was fun because we had to pull over every five minutes and ask someone to help us, and took us like 30 minutes to find. After we had settled into the hotel we went to the zoo and aquarium to see the famous pandas. It was a little disappointing because we only got to see the baby on a TV screen, but the adults were so cute, I just wanted to cuddle them! We had a police escort through the zoo so we never had to wait around for anything (we don’t know why he was so nice to us but we didn’t complain). The aquarium was cool, but nothing really special like some of the other ones I’ve been too, but the zoo was one of the most AMAZING zoos ever! I was a little disappointed because we didn’t get to see many animals because they really didn’t want to, but I got to see the flamingos so I was happy about that! The zoo itself was part of the mountain, so that was really cool. After the zoo we went to a market and bought some Northern food for some snacks and I bought a ton of desserts. We then went back to the hotel to wait for dark when we could go to the night market. When it was night we went to the night market and I bought some really amazing souvenirs and actually found a Thailand spoon, something I’ve been looking everywhere for! I tried some Guava juice, which was so disgusting I couldn’t finish it so I bought some water instead. I also bought some banana and chocolate pancake like thing that was really good (I later realized that we never ate dinner and all I’d eaten was some snacks and desserts! Oh well!). When we finally returned to the hotel it was close to 11 so we all went right to bed.

Saturday October 17th, 2009

We ate breakfast at the hotel. They had noodles and boiled rice and other Thai food, but they also had Pancakes and bacon and sausage so I had a little of both types of food. After breakfast we headed back for Bangkok. After a long period in the car we stop at a hot spring. They had a pool that you put your feet in, so we sat there for a while. The water was so hot that just setting your toe in it for a second felt like it was burning! After the hot spring we drove for another long period of time then stopped at a waterfall (it cost 10 baht for Thai’s and 100 baht for foreigners, which I thought was ridiculous). The waterfall was amazing (wonder how many times I can say that word, I think I will have to look up synonyms before I write again). I first got full of mud, then I fell into the water so I was really wet (I never stayed dry or clean for very long on the whole of the trip). We took a lot of pictures at the waterfall too, and then we continued on. We arrived back at their house at around 12. After we got back I got ready for bed, but then had to take and burn all of my photos to CD’s using Srunya’s computer because that piece on mine is broken because of the thing with Bashayer! I finally got to bed at 2 but couldn’t sleep until after 2:30 and then woke up at 7.

That was my trip to ChaingMai, I hope I didn’t forget anything but I can’t be sure because after the first two days I didn’t write in my journal so I am having trouble remember everything. I hope that you all enjoy this piece, I don’t know when I will post again. School starts again on Monday Octover 26th, so I will be busy again soon. I am still free this week for those of you who want to try and catch me!

ChaingMai pics on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=118731&id=535566988&l=72ed36080c

COC Camp

2009-10-18T08:21:00.000-05:00

As you all know I have been on break since the 25th of September. I have posted a small piece about some of my previous activities, but as I have been very busy and have not always had internet I have been unable to post anything else. This is the first of two posts that I will be doing, the second will be coming either tomorrow or the day after (depends when I find time to finish it). This first post is about the Cultural Orientation Camp that I went to for AFS. It was from the October 9th to October 13th. I am going to try to give you details about the events, but I’m sure that I will forget things (I will look at my journal to try to remember everything) or won’t explain things fully so feel free to email me with questions as I now have internet every night again.

October 9th, 2009
I spent the morning with Bashayer, my friend from New York who is also on the scholarship and lives in the north. She was staying at a hotel not far from the place I was staying so I met her at 8:30 and we spent the day together. The first thing we did was go get some food. Her sister told us to go to a 7/11 so we went to try and find one. The first one we went to had nothing so we continued knowing that there was definitely going to be another somewhere close by. We walked through a market and I tried to convince her we should eat at one of the little road side places but she was afraid we would get ripped off so we continued to look for a 7/11. We finally bought some food at our 3rd store, a pancake with custard inside, a piece of sandwich cake, some butter cake, and some banana muffin thing (I also got a yogurt for some protein so don’t worry mom it wasn’t all junk food). After we returned to the hotel we sat down in the lobby and ate while we watched a movie. There were some children there and they thought that the two of us were very interesting so they kept playing by us and watching us, it was really cute. We left the hotel at 11 to head to the AFS office, and after traffic we arrived there around 1. We set our stuff in the office and then headed for lunch. They told us there was a place just down the road, so we walked and we saw this little place on the left but Bashayer’s host sister said that wasn’t it so we kept walking for about 15 minutes before turning around and going to the place that we had seen before. We ate some noodles and I got to practice my chopstick skills again (they are getting better I can actually get the food to my mouth sometimes now). They didn’t have water but they had this really gross tea that Bashayer and I tried to drink but couldn’t get more than a few sips before giving up. We went back to the office to wait because no one else was going to be there until 3. We sat and watched a movie and drank some hot chocolate (they had some in the back of the office and they told us to help ourselves). At 3 we had some meetings and then we headed to the hotel which was about a 5 minute walk but it was pouring and we didn’t know when it would stop so we had to take some cars. They put Bashayer and me in a room together, so we were happy about that. Once we got settled in we all met on the main floor to eat because there was a small café there. I didn’t like what I got much, but I ate it all anyway. After dinner it was free time so Bashayer and I talked and read until like 11 when we decided we should shut up and go to sleep because we had to get up at 7:30.

October 10th, 2009
Getting up was a little difficult because I was still tired and I’m not a very good morning person (though I think that I’m much better than Bashayer). P’ Dai, the AFS leader, came at about 8:45 to give us breakfast which was a banana muffin, some muffin that I don’t know what it was but it was really good, an apple, and some apple juice which tasted funny but I drank as much as I could being the fact that my straw was broken. It was about a 2 hour ride and I read the whole way. Just before we got to the resort we stopped at a store (Tesco Lotus) and I bought some oreos and I found some Fruit Loops and I bought a pair of plastic shoes for the mud for later (100 baht). Once we got to the resort we settled into the house that we were at with the three others and P’ Jar, and AFS returnee who was helping out (she stayed in St.Paul, MN). We ate lunch which was fresh seafood and then we headed out for our activities. We took a ride in one of the Trucks to the river and then we took one of those really long boats with the roof to the along the river into this little spot in the forest that was filled with monkeys and mangroves. We got out of the boat and into the mud. It was fun because the mud kept slipping under our feet or we would go lower into the ground (it probably sounds gross to most of you so you will have to trust me that it was a lot of fun). We used our feet as shovels to make a whole for the mangrove trees we had to plant for our community service project. After we finished we went back to the boat and we sat on the front and the guy poured water over our hands and feet so that we could wash up (his aim was bad and my shorts got soaked). After we were all clean we went out to the ocean, which was connected with the river, to do some water skiing. Their water skiing is very different than ours, it is a board with a rope to hold on to and it is connected to one of those long boats (I don’t think they have boats like what we know because in everywhere I’ve been I haven’t seen one anywhere). I didn’t want to water ski, but I didn’t want to be the only one not to so I did. We all got off the boat and jumped into the water. The current wasn’t really strong but you couldn’t stand in one place for very long. I was the last one to go and it was a lot of fun, I’m glad that I did it. After the water skiing we went back to the resort and went canoeing. Bashayer and I weren’t very good at first but that was partially because I had a bad paddle so she had to try and do everything herself. Once I got a good paddle it was fun. We talked the whole time and were probably out there for an hour and a half or more (we didn’t have a watch) and by the time we got in everyone else was back at the house cleaning up and relaxing. For dinner we had more fresh seafood and it was really good. The bugs got really bad at the end of dinner so we all had to head inside for the meetings. We had a Thai lesson and I was very embarrassed because everyone knew way more than me and when they were asked questions they could answer and I just sat there and looked like an idiot! I was most embarrassed when P’Dai came over by me and asked if I even wanted to learn Thai, that is when I decided that I’m done with the English and that as soon as I get home I’m telling my host family that there will be no more English! I’m done relying on it, I want to learn Thai and I’m not going to until I stop speaking English and start speaking Thai.

October 11th, 2009
Nothing was on time, but what can I expect nothing is ever on time (not even movies, I went to a movie and was 10 minutes late and they said that the movie wasn’t going to start for 15 minutes after when I arrived!!!). We had a lot of meetings and discussions and I think that they were very helpful for some things. I paid closer attention to the Thai lesson and wrote down everything that they were saying so that I can study it. After the meetings and the Thai lesson we had lunch and then a 15 minute break before we made a dessert. They had already made the dessert but we took and put banana leaves together with these little stick things and then put the coconut, flour mixture inside and closed it with more sticks and placed it on a grill. I didn’t like it much but I ate it anyway because everyone else was eating it. After we finished making the dessert we cleaned up and went to Ampawa, the floating market I went to with my host family a few weeks back. The water level has risen a LOT since I was there! They bought us some ice cream and some other food for later in the evening. There were a lot of people there and I kept getting separated, but it was fun. When we got back we had dinner and then had free time which meant that Bashayer and I read while the other girls did their own thing.

October 12th, 2009
We packed up our stuff and headed to a golf resort to help with the YES Thailand Selection camp. When we got there we checked into our rooms, Bashayer and I were together again, and then went to lunch. We talked with Patch a little, our leader from DC. After lunch was free time for an hour before we had to get together to prepare our presentation about America for the students. I was given the topics of Host Family and Culture Shock, which was really easy for me to talk about for 5 minutes, I hope that they understood me they seemed to understand because I could see their faces comprehending different parts of what I was saying. After our presentation we had a 3 ½ hour break until dinner. After dinner there were some ice breaker activities which were cool to watch though I wasn’t very good at some of the things we were supposed to be doing. At night Bashayer and I watch movies and just hung out until we both fell asleep in the middle of Sweet Home Alabama.

October 13th, 2009
We were supposed to get up at 6:30 because breakfast was at 7, but I turned the alarm off and fell back to sleep until 7:10 so we didn’t make it to breakfast until 7:45. At 8:30 we had to go and say our goodbyes and then at 9 we were leaving. With 5 minutes left before we had to leave I went to download Bashayer’s pictures and because I was in such a hurry I didn’t pay attention to what I was doing or to her disk and it got stuck in my laptop because it was too small. We spent 15 minutes trying to get it out, using tweezers (which were too big because the space was too small to even be able to open them) and the little hook from a pair of nail clippers, nothing worked. When we got to the van we told P’Dai and everyone tried to get it out. We spent probably 45 minutes trying to get it but nothing worked! They dropped Bashayer and I off and Srunya picked us up (Bashayer was going to spend the rest of her time with me before she had to leave for the bus to take her home). When we got to Srunya’s her sisters all tried to help get the disk out and finally we did usually something similar to a crochet needle, I was so happy! After we got it out we went to lunch at one of the stands next to Srunya’s house. We ate noodles, they were really good; I had a little of everything so that I could try it all, some things I like and others weren’t very good but I didn’t mind them that much. After lunch we went back to Srunya’s and watched some TV shows on my laptop until 2 when we went to get ice cream. I had a huge sundae for 100 baht, it was soooo good! After the ice cream Srunya took me to get a foot massage because my foot keeps cramping. It was wonderful, though my foot still hurt a little afterward but nowhere close to what it was! While I was getting my massage Bashayer and I talked and she showed me pictures of her home and the city, I can’t wait to go and visit her in the summer it looks so pretty. When we got back to Srunya’s, Bashayer’s sister was waiting for her and so she had to leave. After she left I spent the rest of the night trying to load my pictures onto my computer, but something must have got messed up when we were getting Bashayer’s disk out because my computer wouldn’t let me, so until I can figure something out you guys get no more pictures, sorry!
Well that was the COC camp. It was a lot of fun and I loved hanging out with Bashayer, I wish she lived closer to me! I got a lot out of the discussions we had with the leaders. I hope that by the next time we get together (in March) I will be able to speak just as much as the others, that is my goal! The next blog I do will be about ChaingMai, my trip to the North! I love to hear from all of you, so write me!

Pictures:
I don't have pictures of every thing because I didn't want to take my camera on the water for those activities, Bashayer has photos but I couldn't get them yet so you'll have to wait for them.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=118492&id=535566988&l=6ccd975c5b

Little Update

2009-10-04T00:05:00.000-05:00

This will be a short little update of the past three days which have been spent in Bangkok. I am going to start with today just because it's easier.

Today I woke up at 7:30 and read while the others got ready and then I got ready myself. We were supposed to leave at9 but of course we didn't leave on time. Its was 10 when we finally left the apartment and headed to the school to drop off one of the girls for class. After we dropped her off we stopped at the cafeteria and ate some breakfast which in my opinion was lunch food because they don't have an breakfast food here everything can be eaten whenever. After that we went back to the apartment because one of the girls forgot something and stayed a little while so they could watch a TV show. I am currently sitting at an internet cafe in the middle of Bangkok with Meow and two friends of hers waiting to go and see a movie and maybe get Thai massages after that for only 200baht which is just under $7!

Yesterday we actually left the apartment on time (9:30) and took the girls to the school and had breakfast. We then went to the ice rink, which took a while to get there because first you have to take the BTS (skytrain) several stations and then take the Metro for a while and then walk for a little while and no one knew where they were going and it was everyone's first time with the Metro because they all ride the Skytrain. I couldn't skate because the skates the gave me were falling off my feet and I was sliding around in them and they were falling apart so I didn't want to get hurt and thought it was smarter to just watch. After skating we went to Starbucks and then back to the downtown to shop. We shopped for several hours but all I got was 6 books(HP 4, 2 Poirots, Angles and Demons, and DaVinci Code). We went back to the apartment and rested for a while then went out to see what movies were playing so we can go today. After we looked at movies we went and looked at the clothes markets on the streets and I bought a really cute pair of shorts for $3.40 (100 baht). After that we went to the 7/11 and bought some food for dinner and went back to the apartment heated some water and cooked these cups of food that we bought, kind of like Raman in a cup. We then sat around and read or watched TV until 10:30 then got ready for bed though I was the only one who went to bed.

The first day we were picked up at 11:30 (they first said 12 then called and said 11) and headed off. We stopped in town to eat before heading out and then drove for a little more than an hour and a half. We sat in traffic for 45 minutes to make the last 5 minutes of our trip to the apartment. We settled in and then went shopping, though I didn't buy anything it was fun. For dinner we walked around and looked at all the option. I saw the Subway sign reflected on a window and was very exctied so I ate that while they all ate KFC. I sat and talked with this girl from Arizona for a while while she waited for some people to come and get her. She was really nice. She is in Bangkok on business for the Clinton Foundation she said so she was telling me about it. After dinner we shopped some more and then went to the apartment to just relax. We could't get the AC working so someone came and showed us how and then we all froze all night not knowing how to control the temp.

So far it is a lot of fun being here and I am enjoying spending time with everyone and seeing everything, though they probably think that I am very clumsy because I'm always tripping because I'm looking around and not watching where I'm walking. Well it's time for me to head off!

Talk to you all soon!!

Facebook pics

2009-09-30T09:33:00.000-05:00

I know that some of you don't have me on facebook so I am going to try to see if this allows you to look at my pictures, I hope it does. Someone should email me and let me know if it does or doesn't. My email is buttonnose626@hotmail.com

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=109291&l=f620280d27&id=535566988

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=113933&id=535566988&l=2f1fc57421

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=102738&id=535566988&l=ad8097104a

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=114388&id=535566988&l=ee7f7796e3

Food- 1

2009-09-30T08:44:00.001-05:00

Many people have asked me what I eat here so this past week I started to take pictures of everything I've been eating, which draws a lot of attention and laughs, but I've been doing it anyway. Here is some of the interesting things I've been eating this week:

My favorite thing here, GUAVA!

This Macaroni dish that my host mom made. I didn't think that I was going to like it because you make it with Ketchup and corn and peppers and stuff, but it was REALLY good!

There are always many options for dinner and this is two from the other night. The one with the nuts was REALLY spicy so I got about one bite and had to stop and the one with the tofu (which I don't like) gives me a stomach ache every time I eat it so I was glad that we had Macaroni too.

This is the Sundae I got at Swenson's after school last week, the American flag was an added touch!

These little cake like pastries, they were pretty good, they use different flowers and leaves to give them color and taste so the taste is very different than anything we have in America.

I went to a party and at parties the serve a lot of different food, many courses, so here is the menu:

Appetizers

This really spicy pork and onion dish, it was really good, but when I was finished I couldn't feel my lips!

This is what the fish looked like before. . .

and after everyone ate, everything is gone except bones and head, needless to say I didn't join them in this!

I decided not to eat this when they started to play with the head and open and close it's mouth like it was talking. Someone even ate the tongue!

The fried rice I ate so much of!

Pork and Chicken soup with bamboo, I don't like bamboo and the chicken wasn't very good but I ate some it anyway.

Dessert was this amazing rice pudding thing with a paste like thing on top and a sauce on bottom, I love it, made it in cooking and now eat it whenever I get the chance!

I have more food, but like this post says, #1. Some another day I will share more with you.

Dinner, Zoo, Beach

2009-09-28T08:12:00.001-05:00

Sorry I didn’t write last week, but nothing exciting happened until this weekend. I have been doing some things to write other blogs, like taking pictures of foods and writing about when I ate in my journal so that I can write a piece about that. I also decided that I am going to take my lap top with me while I travel so I will write posts on Word and when I get the chance I will post them to my blog, sometimes one sometimes more.

So this weekend was definitely eventful. I wrote 10 pages in my journal about it and I’m sure that I still missed parts. Well I’ll start with a brief summary of the week leading up to this most eventful weekend.

Monday: I went to school and sat in the English Lab all day. It was exam week so there were no classes and Lucas (the boy from Brazil) and I have no exams so we just got to sit around all day! We went to the 7/11 three times that day, they probably thought we were insane! There were some boys who came into the English Lab at one point and they were supposed to be taking an exam, but they kept staring at me and Lucas just laughed! I talked with Macy on MSN for awhile, which was really nice! I miss her and so I like to hear from her when I get the chance.

Tuesday: I stayed home because only kids Mike’s age had exams so everyone that I spend any time with was gone. I talked with Tom for a while on MSN which was nice because we don’t get to talk very often, but he wasn’t very nice to me, not really shocked by that though. Spent most of the day doing nothing really, was rather boring, but I managed.

Wednesday: I went to school. Meow and her friends had a break from exams at 10 so that is when we ate lunch. I worked on a poster that I had to do for one of my English classes after that, but I got sick of that and Lucas and I went get ice cream from one of the places in the cafeteria. We only went to the 7/11 once that day, but I bought a water there and two at school before that, so I couldn’t avoid the school bathroom. I broke down and I went, though if I never have to again that will be okay with me. I guess I will describe it for the pleasure of those who get a laugh out of my horrible bathroom experiences: It is this small room, the door doesn’t lock well, the floor is wet so you have nowhere to set your bag, and directly in front of you is the like toilet seat thing with two pieces on the side for your feet. Directly next to that is like this tile tub filled with water. You place your feet on both sides of the toilet thing and you squat down, most uncomfortable. There is no toilet paper unless you bring your own (thank goodness for Charmin ToGo) and then in order to flush you take the water from the tub and pour it into the toilet thing until it is clean. It is very odd and I would not mind if I never have to have the experience again, oh and there is no soap so I’m glad mom sent me the bar of soap! Now on to happier times, after school my host mom took us to get ice cream at Swenson’s. The ice cream was okay, I had a brownie thing with peanut butter cup ice cream at the bottom (nothing tasted like home, but it was okay). They put this really cute American flag in mine, they are for this American Sundae thing they have, but Meow asked them to put one in mine. I kept it and put it in my journal.

Thursday: Stayed home again because of little kid testing. I slept until 8:50 which is the most I’ve ever slept since I arrived here. I finished my poster for school, which took a long time because I had a lot of writing and stuff to do. I packed for Friday night because Meow and I spent the night at an apartment. Other than that, I didn’t do anything amazing.

Friday: School was normal. Bashayer called me and we talked for like two hours! I can’t wait to see her at the camp in a few weeks! Meow was supposed to get me from the English lab at 3 and didn’t come until 4:30 and never called to tell me anything. The movie that we were supposed to go to was at 4 so we ended up missing it, which was okay because it was a horror and Peach told me it was really scary (and it was in Thai so). After she picked me up she took me to one of her friends house and she went to have her teeth cleaned or something like that. It was one of her friends birthday so we ate cake, it was good even though it tasted completely different than American cake. After we finished there we went to dinner. I ate a lot, even the shrimp that still had the eyes and guts and everything! I decided that it was better if they didn’t tell me what I was eating, which worked out because they didn’t know what anything was anyway. I put pictures of it on facebook so you will have to look because it’s too hard to describe how we cooked it. After everything, I went to Cherry’s apartment (Meow’s best friend) which is close to the school. I realize now how spoiled I really am. They have no shower there, only the garbage cans with water and a toilet like at school. They didn’t have any beds either, only really hard cushion things that Meow and Cherry told me to sleep on and they slept on the floor. I didn’t sleep well because Meow and Cherry talked until after 1 and then I woke up at 3:30 and never went back to bed (I had to get up at 5).

Saturday: The zoo was really fun, I got to hold a snake, pet an elephant, and see a really fun Acrobatic show. I was supposed to wear my gym uniform, but in the end I decided to only wear my shirt and to tie it with a pony to make it look decent if I was going to be in any photos. The zoo was small, but it was fun. I liked the reptile house with all the different snakes and lizards and stuff. The elephant show was AMAZING! They were so beautiful. They did some of the most amazing things, like one could keep the beat of music with his front foot, and one could walk on his two back feet and stand up like a human. The acrobatic show was cool; they kept flinging themselves in the air and doing all sorts of really awesome stunts. The day was fun, but I was really tired and went right to bed when we got home, only to wake up at 3:30 with a horrible nightmare!

Sunday: I went to the ocean with my host mother, sister, and brother. We drove about 20 minutes to this harbor and then walked through the harbor. There was this path just outside where the harbor ended that we took. We followed the path for 30 minutes (with pictures stops) along the most beautiful green water I’ve ever seen. We saw tons of jellyfish and crabs and other animals; they said that the young live there before heading to the ocean because the water comes right from the ocean to that river. At the end of the path were these two rundown buildings that they said were some princess’s a while ago. Straight ahead of the buildings was some rocks and the ocean. The ocean was so blue! I sat on the rocks and watch as the waves beat against them for about 10 minutes, then I was really wet, and went back to the others (they were sitting in the shade so that they didn’t get dark). I got sun burnt from that short amount of sun and I got stung by a bee, though I didn’t feel anything major (it got caught under my shoulder strap and so I felt a pin prick, readjusted my bags, felt it again, lift the strap and saw a bee there). After that we went and ate lunch at this beach restaurant. I didn’t like the food much, but I ate it anyway. There were chickens in the back by the dishes and that was rather gross to me, and there were lots of dogs and puppies. This one dog kept looking at me like Daphney does when she wants my food. After lunch we dropped Mike at home and went to visit Meow’s grandpa (I thought it was my host dad’s dad until my host mom brought out photos of herself so I don’t know who’s dad it is), he is very ill and they don’t think that he is going to make it much longer. The mother doesn’t speak English so while they visited him I sat and zoned out. Before we left they showed me the trees and bushes and watermelon field that the family farms. I got bit by this ant and it hurt a lot more than I thought it would. After that, we didn’t do much, just came back to the house, Meow went and got her hair cut, and then ate dinner and went to bed.

So, this is the gist of my week. This week is nothing until the 2nd when I go to Bangkok with Meow. I am home alone with Mike because Meow has special exams today and Science camp the rest of the week (that’s what I understood at least). It has been raining a lot lately, like right now it’s pouring (not that it ever rains lightly here). It was sunny for a few hours earlier, but that didn’t last. Not much to do, been writing today and will probably write some letters tomorrow so that I can send them all out before I leave.

Hope that you are all well and I would like to thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to read my blog, I’m sorry for the time that I put in between posts, but keep checking in because I will try to post at least once a week, and for those who don’t have me on facebook I’m working on finding a way to let you see my pictures too so as soon as I figure it out I will let you know.

Random Events of the Week

2009-09-20T20:28:00.000-05:00

Alright, no specific topic for this post, just random events of the week.

Monday was a good day. I added some more classes (though I don’t know why since last week was the last week of the semester and everything changes when we get back). I had baking which I was excited about, but no one speaks English so it was a little challenging especially since I can’t hear the bell in the Kitchen and I didn’t know when the next period was supposed to start (I had English 4th period but they bake from 1st-4th so they weren’t going to be leaving). I managed to make it to class just after the bell rang. I had to take the exam (I don’t know why since it doesn’t count), it was easy since it was English and so I finished in 10 minutes while the others took the whole period. I basically sat and read and waited for class to end, running on small errands for the teacher (Paul) a few times but not really doing much else. I wanted to try Chinese, so Lucas and I went to 6th period Chinese (1st level). The kids just started to learn Chinese in June and they already can understand what the teacher says and they can read most of it and it’s all in Chinese!!! I don’t know how they do it, but they said that I would take private lessons to catch myself up! After school my host mom came and had to talk to Mike's teachers about his poor grades, she cried the whole time, so I felt that it I should probably tell her about the fact that he was failing a class (I overheard him being told on Friday while we were waiting for her to pick us up), I really felt bad about telling her, but I figured it was important so I did. It was not the happiest nights and I spent the night reading while the others studied. For dinner we had Octopus, which wasn't horrible, but I could go the rest of my life with never eating it again!

Tuesday was another day like Monday where nothing exciting happened. There was an exam in my English class so Lucas and I sat in the back room and read and played scrabble (which didn’t go so well since I know so much more than him, but it was a good time waster). I was supposed to go to Thai dancing, but I couldn’t because I only had one shoe. In Thailand when you enter a building you have to remove your shoes and leave them at the door. I have always been a little nervous that someone was going to run away with my shoes even though they had my name on them. Well, I was pretty certain it was an accident since only one shoe was missing and that it would show up eventually (which it did), but until it did I couldn’t go anywhere so I was pretty much stuck in the English lab and couldn’t go to dance, which was a little upsetting. We had some really good garlic pork for dinner. After dinner the others did homework again and so I spent the night reading.

Wednesday I was supposed to have cooking but that didn't happen because they were wrapping classes up because of the end of the semester. I didn’t have Thai either because Gayoon was gone, so I sat all day in the English Lab doing nothing! After school I thought my shoes were gone again, but someone had just put them on the other side of the hall. For dinner we went out to eat, which is very different than home. All of the restaurants are outside and you can only order from a small selection of things! My host mom bought me two bowls of noodles without me knowing, I ate them both to make her happy, but when she tried to get me another I told her no!

Thursday I had no classes. After school we went to the store and I bought a translator, but I still can’t figure out how it works. When I type in a word it just gives me the English definition and not the Thai translation, and the manual is not divided into parts and labeled so I have to read the whole thing to find what I’m looking for. At least my host sister put it in English so I know what everything is.

Friday I had English and got my exam back (I got one wrong, but it truly should have been right so whatever). After we got our exams back we divided into groups and started to work on the plays we have to perform for second semester. I am the narrator, the only speaking part, which I shouldn’t be but it’s the only thing I can do since I don’t really have the resources to bring anything in or to do much else. I didn’t have Thai because the teacher is in charge of preparing exams and so she had to do that. I talked with Flannery (a girl from Indonesia) for a long time about so much stuff! I think I will post parts of what we talked about later!

Saturday I read most of the day, but we ate a traditional Thai breakfast which was really good, and traditional lunch (which was gross and they kept giving me more), and for dinner we had a Japanese thing which was really good (it was breaded vegetables and shrimp, I can’t remember what it’s called).

Sunday was hot, but it really wasn’t as bad as it has been in the past. I talked with my host mom for a while and played checkers with her and watched some TV, but mostly I read! I didn’t like last night’s dinner at all, so I didn’t eat much, but I ate some. I went to bed early and woke up this morning at 6 even though my alarm wasn’t set until 6:15 (it seems that I wake up at the same time every day! Thanks dad, I get that from you!)

This week is the last week of school for a month! I won’t be writing to you guys from the 2nd to the 19th, so if you want me you should catch me before that! I also posted my address on the side for those who are interested in writing me letters, I love to get mail and will write you back as soon as I get the chance!

Cultural Note: The Thai King is in the hospital after serious fever and fatigue! He is the oldest monarch, out doing the Queen of England by one year!

What is their concept of time?

2009-09-18T00:40:00.000-05:00

The Thai concept of time is one of the most annoying things I have ever had to experience! The people here are very laid back and carefree. The do not stress details or anything at all really, when stress comes their way the just freeze up and can’t function anymore. So, because details aren’t important, they are never on time for anything! They run things on their own time and don’t really care about others involved. They don’t communicate plans effectively either (which is very frustrating).

I will give an example of their time oriented ways. When I went to Bangkok to meet with Srunya a few weekends ago, we were supposed to leave at 7 but last minute my sister decided that we wouldn’t leave until 9 so we weren’t going to arrive until really late. When we finally arrived, she was not going to call Srunya to check anything, but I told her she should. Before we separated I asked her when I was supposed to meet her and she did not know, so I was kind of left to just guess as to when we were meeting. When we finally met up with her I asked her when we were supposed to take the van back to Petchaburi, she said that she didn’t know and that we would figure it out when we it was time. When we finally got back to Petchaburi I asked when my host parents were going to pick us up, she didn’t know, she said she would call them and they would come whenever they came. It was the most frustrating thing not having any definite plans or knowing what was going on!

Another example is at school. Classes never start on time and it is not important for students to be on time, because teachers are never on time. The teachers then hold the children for up to 15 minutes into the next class period so that they can finish their things, which puts the other teachers behind. Nothing ever runs on time here! If someone says to meet them at 12 you can usually wait till about 12:15 to head there and maybe they will be there. I have basically given up trying to figure out when things are going to happen and asking for plans because I know that they will not happen the way that they say or that they won’t know what the plan is.

I never realized how much Americans care about time before. I knew that we hate it when people are late and that we are always making definite plans with solid details, but I never really thought about it. We are very detail oriented people because causes a lot of stress in our lives, whereas here they don’t do stress so they are a lot more laid back.

In this case, I guess I will just have to say “It’s not good. It’s not bad. It’s just different!”

What is school like?

2009-09-15T22:43:00.000-05:00

School is very different. To start there are 3000 students here, grades 6 to 12. They have 8 buildings spread out throughout the block, and they aren’t in any order (I think that they built them in various places and numbered them as they built them never taking the time to put any order to it). When you enter the school through the main entrance to the right is a statue of the founder of the school and you must ‘wai’ (the bowing custom) to it and to the left is security which you also must ‘wai’ to. The first building to the left must be the administration, but I’m not sure. There are two places where every student must swipe their name tag in front and it has an electronic sensor that tells the school that they are there. If you do not swipe your card a message is sent to your parents that you are not at school, if I didn’t come to school mom would receive a message my host mom said!

At 8 o’clock every morning they have an assembly to raise the flag and to do some talking of some sort, I don’t understand what they tell the students so I go to the English Lab. As they raise the flag the national anthem is played by the band and one of the students leads the others in singing it, which is pretty cool. Sometimes the assembly last until 8:45 but most days it finishes at 8:30 which is when classes are supposed to start.

I love lunch here because it reminds me of a food court. There are 16 different shops to choose from and each one offers many different options so that if I only went to the same place every day, I wouldn’t have to repeat the exact same meal for at least a month if not more! I love that they have an ice cream place and a fruit place and a Thai dessert place too because I can always get something interesting to eat after my main course! The water is 5 baht and you can buy it all day. You can also get soda or some like juice like thing at a different place, but they fill the whole cup with ice before putting anything in it so by the time you take two sips it is all gone! Lunch can be purchased from 3rd period to 7th and after 7th you can buy the sweets and the fried things as well as water, but that’s it. The bakery is also open 3rd period to the end of the day, so sometimes I go and buy things from there.

My school has one of the top English programs in the nation. They have only native speaking English teachers in the English department (though for the students who English is not their main path they have Thai English teachers), they have one man from the Netherlands who speaks very good English so he is the only one is English is not his native language. The teachers are all really nice (well most). They are all very helpful to everyone and really try to make me feel comfortable. I enjoy talking to them because they understand where what I’m going through and they had the same culture shocks I did. They are all great and try to help me in whatever way they can.

My classes are very interesting, well most of them are. Thai cooking and Baking are challenging because no one speaks English, but I think that is kind of fun and that I will really enjoy that in the long run because I will learn a lot in those classes. This week is the last week of classes for the semester and next week all of the students have exams so I will be all alone in the English lab because no one has any free time (well the teachers will be in and out, but there will be no students). I plan on studying Thai everyday for at least an hour or two on my Rosetta Stone and maybe an hour or so in one of the books or packets. I really want to learn to speak because I have been here one month (Congrats to me I made it a month!!!) and I still don’t know any more than when I first came, so I am very disappointed in myself! When second semester arrives I will take some more classes and I think that I will take some of them in Thai so that I am forced to pay attention and to learn what is going on rather than sit in an English class where everything is so easy!

After school is fun because there are always food carts lined up along the school and we can go and get food and on Mondays there is always a market in the field across from the school which is filled with food and clothes and jewelry (and people) so it’s fun to go and explore. We can’t eat inside the English Lab (though I sometimes have snacks in here) so when we get food we sit out in front of English building at the picnic tables and eat and talk there. School gets out at 4 and I usually have to wait till around 5 for my host mom to pick us up, but sometimes she is earlier and once or twice she has been later.

The worst part about school here is the uniform. I don’t have anything again nice uniforms, but these are absolutely hideous and so unflattering. Mine shirt (which is a very light almost white blue with puffy pleated sleeves) is too bad but if I got a size smaller than I couldn’t move my arms because the sleeves would be too tight! The skirt is supposed to be worn above the belly button, but I got mine big enough that I could wear it just above my hips and if I lose any weight I can wear it around my hips like I like. The shoes are uncomfortable and give me blisters on my heels and the socks are the kind that you roll down not the ankle socks that we all wear. There is a belt that you must wear with the skirt, but there is no belt loops so you have to use butterfly clips, one on the right side and one in the back, in order to keep it in place (the one in the back is uncomfortable if you lean back). Then either we have to have our hair cut to right about the ear lobe or we have to pull it back into a pony and put a ribbon around it (they are nice to me and don’t make me pull my hair back). You can’t wear make-up or jewelry, though I wear my bracelets, watch, and necklace. The gym uniforms are terrible too and you have to wear them all day even if you have gym second period. The gym uniforms are navy blue sweat pants with two white stripes down each side and the school logo on your left hip and those elastic pieces you put around your feet to keep them in place. The shirt is a middle shade of blue and is very stiff (it is a pull over your head dress shirt type thing) and very uncomfortable to wear for any length of time. The shoes for that aren’t so bad, but I wear my running shoes because the gyms shoes have no arch support and are not good for my feet. So all in all the uniforms are horrible and I can’t wait for a three week break from them and for summer to come so that I can be done wearing it forever!

Well, now that I have written a two page (on Word) paper for you all to read with your busy lives, I think that will about do for this topic. I have a list of topics that have been mentioned to me that I will try to touch on at least two to three times a week. If there is anything you are interested in let me know and I will add it to my list and if you have any questions on something I write just let me know through comment, facebook, or email (buttonnose626@hotmail.com).

This Week's Adventure

2009-09-11T08:30:00.000-05:00

Monday: The day started out annoying because with everyday my host family wakes up later and later which puts me farther and farther behind, because the lock the door to the outside where we hang our towels and once they get up and get theirs, I must wait for them to shower before I can. After taking a really quick shower, I ate the last of my breakfast food and hurriedly finished getting ready for school, which included finding out that my computer case was too small and having to maneuver the computer in a way that would make it fit! When it came to second period, gym, I packed everything up and headed to the gym area where I figured I was going to have to wait for everyone since I arrived on time (here the teachers don’t care about time, they hold the students for up to 15 minutes into the next class period so the students are always behind). I waited for about 5 minutes then grew antsy and decided to go see if anyone from my class was by the English Corner because I knew from the week before that they had to walk right past there in order to get to class. As I was walking back I saw a large group of them talking and heading towards the pavilion area so I followed them and when they all sat down I realized that there was no class! So I went to sit in the English corner again until 4th period English. English was kind of boring. They were reading the Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe and writing down words they didn’t know to look up for homework. After class the teacher told me that because that assignment didn’t work for me, I had to DRAW a movie poster about the story. I had no idea though that describing poster board to my host mom was going to be so difficult, she still doesn’t get it and I need it so I can do it this weekend because it’s due Monday! After 4th Period is Lunch and then another free period before I have Thai Cooking. We made Jello which was really cool and this class has several English speaking kids, so it was A LOT more fun! After school my host mom picked us up and we ran errands until pretty late and then came home and had dinner.

Tuesday: The morning started out the same except that I didn’t eat breakfast because there wasn’t any so by the time I got to school I didn’t feel very good, but I managed. Second period I had English with the 6/6 kids (seniors) which was ok, but I don’t like the teacher at all so it wasn’t the best class. After English, I went and sat in the English Lab until Peach came and invited me to come to her class with her and watch a performance by some of the children (on the way we stopped at the Minimart, which is a small place for the students to buy snacks, and we bought donuts). After the performance we had lunch, which I was very happy about! After lunch I had nothing to do, but none of the other girls in the upper grades did either because on Tuesday’s the older boys have Military training. Eighth period I had Thai dancing, which was so awesome to watch but sooooo hard to do! I am glad that I am in that though I don’t know if my wrists are!  After school was the same as every other day so nothing interesting happened.

Wednesday: The school day started with going to Social Studies with Boom, where I didn’t understand anything! After that I had a free period and then Thai cooking. In Thai cooking we made something very similar to Rice Pudding, it was very good! We finished early so I went to the English Lab where I talked with Gayoon (my coordinator and the head of the English Lab) and added a few more classes. When she returns on Monday from her conference in Bangkok we will officially add them. After Thai Cooking is lunch. I had no classes in the afternoon because Gayoon left for her conference. Other than the normal after school routine, nothing happened.

Thursday: I had Social Study again with Boom first period and then I had English with the teacher from Wisconsin. After class he was talking with me and he said that he has over a hundred books and if I wanted he could bring some in and I could take my pick of them. So next week he is going to bring a few in I think. Fourth period I was supposed to go to English with Boom but I was doing something and hadn’t packed anything up and I didn’t want her to be late because of me so I told her to go and to not worry about me. Her 6th period gym was cancelled because the teacher was absent and my 7th period was cancelled because the teacher was gone (which I wouldn’t have known except someone translated the note on the door for me). So I went back to the English Lab where Peach caught me and asked me to go and watch her play! I am glad that I did because it was very funny! I would try to describe the play, but too much would get lost if I did so sorry, but I can’t. Also that day I tried to go online and download some of my favorite shows, but all of them won’t let me because I am not in America! It was a rather boring and long day!

Friday: I had English 2nd period which was rather lame because they were just finishing the Tell Tale Heart and discussing some of the words from their lists. After lunch I had 6th and 7th free and Thai 8th so I waited in the English Lab yet again! I was excited for Thai, ready to learn something, but as usual the teacher talked to me about my American life and hardly said anything to me in Thai, maybe a total of 10 words which I can’t remember because she said each once and that was it! I went back to the English Lab after class and packed up my things expecting that my host mom wouldn’t be too long, then I went with Peach to buy some food. After we returned, I ate and waited for my host mom to come. She didn’t arrive until 5:30 so it was a very long wait with just my host brother (who doesn’t talk to me) because Meow went to a dinner with Rotary. After she picked us up we went to buy dinner, but for the first time since I met him, Mike didn’t want to eat. We stopped at several places none of which we went to because he didn’t want to eat. I ended up eating dinner alone tonight and am now waiting for the internet because Mike is on it! This weekend I have no plans and so I will be stuck here the whole weekend reading I guess!

P.S. Sorry that I didn’t write this week, I will try to write more next week!

Markets today

2009-09-05T08:27:00.000-05:00

Woke up at 4 so that I could be out the door before 5 to head to Bangkok for Meow's meeting thing. Had to sit through 5 hours of people speaking and me not understanding, but I didn't complain because I know how important it was that we were there. After that, I was starving from not eating breakfast (they don't eat breakfast here so it's not a problem for them, but it is for me) but we still had to go an hour to the market and then find somewhere to eat. I made it, but I didn't like what we were having so I ate a lot of the pork thing and noodles. After that we walked around and stopped and ate some of the market food. I ate Guava (I love that stuff!!!) and the others ate shrimp and oranges. After that we walked around and I got to see the floating markets. They said it was the largest floating market in Thailand, so that was cool. We had a group photo taken and my host dad gave it to me, so that was really nice. He also bought me a really cool key chain and so did Peach, which was very sweet of them. On the ride back we watched some sort of horror film that I hated, hope I don't have nightmares from it! I couldn't stop watching though, because I wanted to know what was going to happen next, stupid movie! Got home and watched Wedding Date and now I am waiting for dinner. I plan on calling Great Grandma tonight, but if she isn't there I will get up early and call. Tomorrow I'm home all day, so I'll probably get through another book. Going to ask Meow to look for the last Twilight in English tomorrow when she is in Bangkok since she has to go to a book store anyway. Hope she finds it, I really want to know how things end, the suspense is going to drive me insane!

Next weeks schedule

2009-09-03T08:59:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Boom, a really nice girl at school, I will have more classes next week because she is going to let me shadow her! Here is next weeks schedule:

Monday: 2nd PE, 4th English, 7 and 8 Thai Cooking (that I will understand!!!)
Tuesday: 1st Science, 2nd English Conversation, 3rd Health, 4th Chinese (Yep I'm going to attempt it I'm that crazy), and 8th Thai Dancing
Wednesday: 1st Social Study, 2nd Math, 3rd and 4th Cooking, 6th English, 7 and 8 Thai with Gayoon
Thursday: 1st Social Study, 2nd English, 3rd Chinese, 4th English, 6th PE, 7th Gift Making
Friday: 1st English, 2nd English, 3rd Thai (12th grade Thai, no idea why I'm going to that, but whatever!), 6th Social Study, and 7 and 8 Thai with Paa Taw (the head of the language department)

I have lunch during 5th Period so that is why I never have classes then. Im very excited for next week! I just hope that she doesn't get sick of me! I'm so worried that I will be annoying and she won't want to be around me anymore!

Just a day!

2009-09-02T08:03:00.000-05:00

Today was not a great day and I knew it was going to be this way from the moment I woke up at 3:30! I finally fell back to sleep about 30 minutes before my alarm went off, so getting up was REALLY REALLY rough! After I got up the morning just went really slow but yet I couldn't seem to be on time. When I got to school the internet was down and then the power went out. It was out for a while and there was nothing to do. When it came back on I got scolled for playing Solitaire something I have been doing since day one, because it is against the rules to play games which no one bothered to tell me. After that I had Thai Cooking, which I was excited about until I got there and NO ONE spoke English. Some of the girls spoke very small broken English which was really hard to understand so it was very frustrating, and then the recipe is in Thai and so I can't really do much. After class I was supposed to meet Peach, but she wasn't there so I was waiting and feeling really stupid just standing around for 10 minutes. Lunch was good, ate like a big but was still hungry which is sooo weird. After lunch I was going to go to class with Peach but it was a double period and I had Thai during the second half so I was stuck in the English lab. During Thai I couldn't remember anything which got really frustrating so I was glad when she took us to the library. In the library I met a really nice girl who went to Chili last year. She is going to take me to her English class tomorrow so I'm excited and she said that I can come to her Thai Cooking class on Mondays 7th and 8th period and she would help me. After school she took me and Lucas school supply shopping, which was really nice of her since her mom was waiting. Tonight I was hoping that my laptop would arrive, but it didn't and I am getting really anxious since it was supposed to be here Monday. I am planning on going to bed early since I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. I hope that tomorrow is better!

The Weekend

2009-08-30T20:36:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I went to the palace on the hill! You cannot drive up there so you must climb and it was the most difficult thing I've had to do in a long time if not ever! The path is very uneven and very hard to manage because it is always twisting and turning and going up and then down and it is very steep! I can't believe that I made it all the way up and then all the way down! I drank 3 bottles of water and was still thirsty! I was sweating so much that my clothes were soaked and so was my bag! It was not even hot outside, so I can hardly imagine doing that in their summer!!!

The palace was beautiful, but I could only take picture of the outside because they don't let you take pictures of the inside here! Of the temples and palaces that I have been to I have only been able to take pictures in one, and I don't even know if that was aloud!

After the palace we went to eat. Their restaurants are nothing like ours! If we had anything like theirs it would be shut down in a matter of days by the health department! The meat was good, but the other things that they ordered were spicy so I really didn't eat that much, but I drank several glasses of water! When we had finished eating we ran some errands and then went back to the house! I read until 6 and then made dinner! Meow helped me because I could not find everything in the kitchen! It was interesting with the tuna, but it was ok! It could have used some more garlic, but I was afraid of putting in too much so I didn't put in enough! After dinner we were going to watch a movie, but they couldn't get the TV set up in time (they moved it upstairs for more convienence). I talked with Grandma for a while and then I went to bed!

Sunday I didn't do much. I read until 11 when I finished my book and then I ate some oreos. After eating the oreos I killed a ton of ants in my room and then went and watched National Treasurer 2 with Meow. After that I wrote my letters to put in the package to send home! Around 5 we ate dinner, which was the leftovers from the night before, which were cold because they do not have a microwave. After that I finished writing my letters, and then watched the end of the Prince and Me 2 and then read the children's books that mom sent me with Meow and Mike to help their pronunciation. After that I went and sat in Kun Ma's shop and we worked on Thai until I was so confused that I had to stop for the night! I talked with mom and dad for a while on MSN and then called it a night!

Today I mailed my package to home and then came to school. We were late so we had to stand in a special area instead of with everyone else, but we were not the only ones who were late so it wasn't that big a deal. I am now in the English lab waiting for second period when I have Rhythm which is some sort of gym class! I have nothing third period and then I have some English fourth and then I am done for the day! I asked Meow if I could go to some of her classes with her this afternoon since I had so much free time and didn't want to just sit around and do nothing. She told me that I should go with Peach, so I will have to talk to Peach when I see her I guess!

I hope that I can find the correct buildings in order to get to my classes! There are so many buildings and I don't know which is which, so I am going to get completely lost! Oh well, maybe some one will take pity on me and help me out! I'll let you know how things turn out and what the heck Rhythm is!

Last Day of Sports Week

2009-08-28T09:20:00.000-05:00

Today was the last day of sports week! Not many people were outside watching the events though because it rained all morning and sprinkled this afternoon so everything was muddy! Meow got 1st in her 3 Kilometer race! The Blue team won everything, which I predicted! I was ok with the Blue winning they are my future classmates, and I liked their color best!

I played a game today, Hello Kitty something, and it is very similar to Monopoly so I was telling the girls all about American games and they want to see if they sell them in Bangkok so that I can teach them! I hope they can find them because I think that it would be fun to play with them!

Not much else new today! Hoping to sleep in tomorrow! Going to make the pasta for my host family (was going to tonight, but Meow was gone and begged me to wait until she was home)! Going to watch night at the musuem with Mike and Kun Ma tonight, hope I don't fall asleep watching! Other than that, nothing is going on!

Parade

2009-08-27T09:27:00.000-05:00

Today I went to the most amazing parade! Everyone was dressed in some sort of costume! I loved all of the traditional costumes from around the country! I took lots of pictures and videod almost the whole thing, so as soon as I get my computer I will put those on there too! The parade had like 1000 people in it, so they all had to wake up at midnight in order to be ready! They also decorated the stands on the field for each color and some of them were AMAZING! I loved the blue's because they made it look like the ocean and the orange's was like fire and the Green's was all about going "Green" so they were really awesome to look at!

Some of today's events were: Tug of War, Sack races (I didn't know that was a sport, but it was really funny to watch the boys!), 50M and 400 M dashes and 1200M, and Three leg races. They also have this really funny 50M race where there are 4 people, 3 are backwards and one forward and they have to run together with a pole between their legs, it was so funny! Many of the events were really amusing!

It was so hot today that during the parade I felt really sick! I hope that tomorrow is cooler because I want to watch Meow run! Today several people passed out during the running events, and I was the only one surprise or phased by this! Tomorrow I think many people will pass out because they will do the long distance runs, like Meow who is running 3 kilometers (I don't know what that is in miles, but it sounds long)!!!

Spent most of the day reading because it was too hot for much else! I read 350 pages today, if I keep this up, I will have read everything imaginable by the end of the year! I will have to stop soon because I will have run out of things to read until mom and dad send me more!

Sports Week

2009-08-25T08:07:00.000-05:00

Sports week is really fun, I think that we should have one in America, or at least at Port! I have watched so many interesting things! I have taken many pictures and will post them as soon as I possibly can! Yesterday I watched Volleyball, which is played so differently here, and Footsaw, which is soccer but with less people on a concrete court (so it's smaller with smaller nets and stuff, but same rules), and some basketball which is pretty much the same thing, and some pin pong. Today I watched more Volleyball, some cheering (not a lot, but some), the others watched Badmitton, but I was too hot to go which is a little upsetting, but maybe tomorrow they will play again and I can watch! I also watched some Dancing and that was really cool! Some of the teams are really good at different events and they are really fun to watch! I liked today because everyone wore their color and so it was fun to see how everyone grouped together even though they had friends on different teams and how they cheered for various teams! Tomorrow is another day and I think that that should be interesting too!

For the last hour I sat and talked with Peach while Meow and some of her other friends went and drooled over some guy! I like Peach, I think that she is the most mature of Meow's friends and she is easy to talk to. Yesterday at the market she helped me to find things and then bargained the prices for me and got me really good deals! I was so grateful! I don't have many people to talk to yet, but I'm glad that I have at least one person to talk to! I know that in time I will meet more people and then I can talk to them too!

Tonight I am going to call Bashayer and I am so excited to hear how everything is going with her! After that I might have some more Thai/cursive lesson with Meow and then I will head to bed because I only at 5 hours of sleep for the last 2 nights!

Keep in touch everyone, I miss you all and love hearing what you have to say or what you are interested in hearing about (that one not many people tell me even though it is important because I know that I forget about things or don't think that some things are important that you might!!!)! Let me know if you have any questions or anything, I check in several times a day, due to the fact that I can't possibly sit outside and watch the sports the entire day and once I start classes I have an extreme amount of free time!

Today

2009-08-23T09:47:00.001-05:00

Today was a good day! I spent the day with Srunya and her two sisters! We went for pizza and then shopped at an international market and I bought many different juices and some pasta and sauce to make for my host family! I hope that mom will send me the recipe for my favorite soup so that next weekend I can pick up the stuff for that and make that for them! After the store we went to the Hard Rock Cafe and I bought gifts and stuff, I can't wait to send them home! After the gift shopping we went into the restaurant and I ordered a Hot Fudge Brownie Sundea for myself and tried to eat it all, but it didn't work! Srunya ended up helping me and even then we didn't finish it! I took many pictures to send home! After that we were supposed to go a party thing, but it was already over! So we went shopping because I still had some gifts to buy, which I didn't end up getting but oh well I will get them at the market tomorrow! We went to a book store and I bought 3 books for me to practice writing in Thai so I'm excited to get started! I also bought a normal book in English for myself and so that should be good! After that Meow met up with us and we went back to the original place and Srunya took us to the Van because I had to much stuff to take the skytrain back!!! The bus ride was good, I listened to my iPod and then almost fell asleep! Now I am heading to bed because I have an early day tomorrow, even though Kun Ma said that I don't have to go to school I will because otherwise I will sit around the house bored and that is not good, especially when I am homesick! So, I guess I will not have access to a computer until tomorrow night since I don't believe the English room will be open this week! I hope that I don't die from the heat and the sun of this week, but I bought plenty of liquids so I will hydrate myself, but the sun I can't do anything about! Well if I survive tomorrow I will let you all know what happens!

Homesick!

2009-08-21T19:40:00.000-05:00

I'm very homesick today! I don't know what to do, but I'm hoping that some of today's activities will take my mind off of things! I woke up at 5:50 and couldn't stop thinking about being at home today for everything that is happening! I can't believe that I'm not there! I hope that I feel better later because right now I feel terrible!

Scehdule

2009-08-21T01:05:00.001-05:00

Today I got my schedule! Here is is:

Monday: PE 2nd Period; English 4th Period
Tuesday: English Conversation 2nd Period; Thai Dancing 8th Period
Wednesday: Thai Cooking 3rd and 4th Periods; Thai 7th and 8th periods
Thursday: English 2nd Period; Gift Making (whatever that is) 7th Period
Friday: English 2nd Period; Thai 7th and 8th Periods

Everything in between is free time! It will be a little boring for the first half, but they will add classes after I have learned more of the language! I told them that I don't want to be too overwhelmed so they put me in the highest level of English classes and I am taking Thai with Lucas seperate from the other students. I am taking some cultural classes because I want to learn the culture since that is what I am here for!

I have to head off to Thai in just a minute in some building I have no idea where it is! So I hope that I find it!!!

Oh My Goodness!!!!

2009-08-20T23:50:00.001-05:00

They were not kidding when they said that people here would want their picture taken with me! They are giving some sort of tour at school today I guess! I am sitting at the computer when in walk three men with cameras! They hand their cameras to eachother and go and stand behind me! And one at a time they take their pictures! I had no idea what was going on! About three minutes later in walked about 30 more people who all do the same thing! The guide asks me my name and where I am from and while I am talking, people continue to take pictures of me! It makes me a little uncomfortable, but I don't think that there is anything I can do about it! This is probably not the last time that this is going to happen either!!!

Lunch

2009-08-20T03:10:00.000-05:00

Today I went to lunch with Gayoon and Chris (an English teacher from Holland) and Lucas. It was fun because we got to leave the school grounds!!! The food was ok, and I ate what I normal have been eating! The restaurant was nice and the people there were nice too. Gayoon said that she goes there often and so she gets a 10% discount, so she paid (don't worry mom I thanked her)! I don't know what is for dinner, but I hope that I like it, but if I don't I will try to eat as much as I can anyway!

HOT HOT HOT!!!!

2009-08-20T03:03:00.000-05:00

I decided to go outside with some of the kids from my class! They are preparing pom poms for next week, so we went to sit in the soccer field. As soon as I stepped outside I began to sweat! I told Lucas that it is too hot to be outside but he said "Mai pen rai" (Nevermind). I said ok and so we went. We were out there about 5 minutes before we were both sweating so bad that it was running down our arms and legs and faces. We continued to stand out there and to try to deal with it, but it is very hard. After about 30 minutes, I gave up and came back in because I smell really bad now and can hardly stand to be around myself! I don't know what I am going to do next week when we are outside all day! I think that someone needs to invent a stronger deodorant! FAST!!!!

School

2009-08-19T00:59:00.000-05:00

In just a little bit I will have my first Thai lesson! I met with my classmates today and had lunch with them. They all spent a year abroad last year in France, German, Italy, or the United States so they understand what I'm going through. They are very nice and they helped me order lunch, so that I was completly lost. After Thai I will go to an English class, just to sit and observe I believe, I'm not sure if I will actually help or not but I guess I will know shortly! I am excited to actually be doing something! Problem is after those two hours I get to come back to the English Lab and sit until 5! YIPPEE!!!

Dumb Allyson/Dumb Jet Lag

2009-08-18T20:23:00.000-05:00

So I woke up and turned off my alarm looked at the time on my phone and decided to turn on the light and lay back down for a few minutes because no there was no point in getting up yet. I got up at the 30 grabbed my stuff and went to get in the shower. Kung Ma said, "You have not showered?" I told her that I would very quickly. I got in and quickly got out. I brushed my teeth and finished getting ready in the bathroom and headed back to my room. I combed my hair and decided that I had a few minutes and would lay down and wait to put on my uniform. At about 5 to I got up closed the windows and got dressed. I packed up my bags and finished preparing myself for the day. Before I packed my cell phone I checked my email. I remeber looking at the time andx thinking that my phone was weird because it was not 22 at night and so Mike would have to fix that later. I put on my watch and the rest of my jewelery and headed downstairs for breakfast. I saw Kung Pa in the shop which is weird because he is usually gone by the time that I wake up and doesn't return home until 11 every night. I did not see Kung Ma so I went into the kitchen to help myself to some cereal and yogurt. As I'm eating my cereal I realize that the others are not down for breakfast so I look at my watch. IT IS 11:15 NOT 6:15!!!! I quickly head to the kitchen to clean up and as I come out Kung Ma comes out of the bathroom. I tell her that I am confused and that I don't know what is going on. She tells me that it is night time and that I should go to bed. So I headed back to bed, changed back into my PJs and opened the windows. I felt so stupid! By the time that I feel back to sleep it was after 12!

I woke up at 4:30 again and by the time I fell back to sleep then, my alarm was going off, but I decided since I had already showered that I did not need to again and so I would just lay there for a while!

I was on time this morning, actual early because we were supposed to take the school van to school so we had to be ready at 6:30. At 6:30 we went out to wait for the van, but it did not come so at 7 we went back to the house and Kung Ma had to take us. I had to be at school early today so that I could introduce myself, which I did. I was so nervous, I am so glad that I had the book because I forgot everything when I got up there and saw all of the people. They gave me very beautiful flowers and welcomed me to the school, which was nice.

Now I am waiting in the English room to meet with the head of the Gym department, I don't know why I have to meet with them since the only PE class I am taking is Thai Dance, but whatever I guess I will. so far today does not seem any different than the other days, but I do believe that I have Thai with Gayoon and the Brazilian boy today.

Well, I will let you all know if anything changes!

Tomorrow

2009-08-18T04:21:00.000-05:00

I was just told that tomorrow will be the day I have to introduce myself in front of the whole school! I'm so scared! I am going to forget everything! HELP!!!!

More Bathroom Mayhem

2009-08-18T02:40:00.000-05:00

So this morning I woke up and the shower was working fine, so I went and got my things and went to get my towel from the drying line outside, and the door was locked so I had to wait. When I had gotten my towel, and went into the bathroom and got ready to take my shower. I stepped around the wall and tried to turn on the water and there was none left! I didn't know what to do because Meow was down stairs showering and Mike and Kung Ma had to shower yet too! So I put back on my clothes and went downstairs to wait. I finally got into the shower about 30 minutes later and it was freezing! I quickly showered and brushed my teeth and then went up stairs to get dressed!

Later I went to the bathroom and I went to flush the toilet, and it wouldn't flush! I told Kung Ma and she said that it was because the water was low, something I would have never thought of. So I had to take the water from the buckets and pour it into the back of the toilet until it was full, flush, and do it again! It was very weird! By the end my socks were soaked and I was appreciating the modern toilet and plumbing even more!!!

School

2009-08-18T02:06:00.000-05:00

Today I signed up for classes, but I did not go to any! I sat through another class with the teacher from Ohio and I met with some advisors to discuss my schedule! I signed up for Thai cooking, Thai dance, Thai (private and class), and Library helping, and private lessons in Pre-Calculus with the Australian teacher. I will also take the highest level of English and English communication, so I am mostly in Modeum 6/6 classes (which is their way of saying grade 12). Meow will be upset that we aren't together, but she takes lower English classes and all Thai classes and I want to take cooking and dance which are Modeum 6/6 classes. I still have several hous to sit here before Kung Ma picks us up (it is 2:11 and she isn't picking us up until 5!!!)!

Today I also gave part of my presentation to an English class, but I talked to much (I could have said more but I had to talk slow and in simple English) so I only got through the first half which was okay because that covered the government, Wisconsin, Port and Wisconsin Rapids, and our school, which for that group was all they really wanted to know!

I hope that tomorrow I will begin classes, but I can't until I meet with someone special Gayoon said, so I hope that I meet with him in the next several hours, otherwise it is another day of sitting around in the English Lab!

Last Night

2009-08-17T20:16:00.000-05:00

Last night I helped to cook dinner. We had fried chicken and plain lettuce! Then I talked to Srunya! I am going to spend the day with her on Sunday! She told me we would go get pizza and ice cream and maybe even go shopping, even though I won't buy anything because I don't need anything!

After talking to Srunya, I taught Kung Ma and Mike Crazy 8's and even though they didn't fully understand how to play even after several games, it was fun! Tonight they want to play checkers, but I don't really know how because I only played with Thomas when I was little and everyone knows that he only teaches enough so that he can win :-) !

Today I hope to actually start school, but I have not seen Gayoon yet, so I'm not sure what is going to happen! I hope to take some easier classes so that I don't get too frustrated. When I told Srunya that I was going to be taking school in all Thai see laughed and said that she was in the same boat, but then I reminded her that she spoke some English and she could read and write when she came! She said that that was hard for her so she can only imagine what I am going to be going through! Yippee!!! I hope that the others are doing well! Bashayer seems to be happy which is good and I don't know how anyone else is doing!

I will keep you all posted on how things go today if anything is different!

Sending lots of love from far away!

Allyson

AHHHH!!!

2009-08-16T09:36:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I start school! I'm so nervous! I have to introduce myself infront of 3000 kids in Thai!!! AHHH!!!

Thai Bathrooms

2009-08-16T06:43:00.000-05:00

The Thai bathroom is nothing like in America! It is called a Water Room which is exactly what it is! From the moment you step in you become wet! There is water all over the floor because that is what they do! Instead of doing things the way that we do when using the bathroom, they throw away the toilet paper because it will clog their pipes! They also spray water on themselves to clean themselves after using the rest room! I have not yet been to school, but they tell me that all it is at school is a little hole with place to put your feet and you stand! There is no toilet paper at school so Mom is going to send me Charmin ToGo! At home there is no soap so after you go to the rest room you can't wash your hands, GROSS!!!! (I'm so glad that I brought hand sanitizer!)

When you enter the bathroom this is what it looks like: You take a step down and straight ahead is the sink and off to the right is the toilet and to the right of that is the yernal (probably didn't spell that right, but the computer is not good at English spell check :-)!!) Next to the toilet area is a tile wall and in front of that is two garbage bins filled with water and small buckets sitting on top! Because they live so far from the water tower, unless you get up really early, you must take and pour the water over yourself and shower that way! It may sound simple to you, but trust me it is not!!! The water gets all over everything and so there is nowhere dry to put your towel and clothes or anything else that you bring to the bathroom!

The water is not good and it makes my face hurt! Also it makes brushing you teeth difficult because you have to you bottled water to rinse your tooth brush and everything else! When you are finished with your bath you are cold, which is good because you start sweating the second you step out of the Water Room! Everything about the bathroom is different, which can become very annoying! I am starting to get used to the system, but I think that it is going to take more than one day even though we shower at least twice a day!

I really miss Western Bathrooms! I guess that I am quickly learning to appreciate everything that I have because I am luckier than many other people!

There is only One Rule to Driving in Thailand

2009-08-16T06:32:00.000-05:00

There is only one rule to driving in Thailand and that is THERE ARE NO RULES!!!!

They drive like maniacs! They drive in the middle of the road or on the other side with oncoming traffic! They don't care about the people on the streets, they get within inches of hitting them! They weave this way and that! There is no speed limit and so they drive however they like and they never use their signal! Oh and did you know that a Stop light is a suggestion!

They have many mopeds here and the drives are crazy! They donot care about anyone else on the road except themself so they weave in and out of traffic, don't stop and just don't care about anyone or anything! The girls ride on the backs of the bikes side ways and don't hold on to anything and with the weaving I don't know how they don't fall off! They don't wear helmets, I don't even know if they know what those are!

Every aspect of Thai driving from the moment I got into my first vehicle in Thailand has been nightmarish! Driving anywhere scares me! They drive on the other side of the road (sometimes) and so everything is already a little backwards for me, but in all the places I have been to, I have never seen such horrible driving! The streets are smaller than in Europe and they are crowded with people who don't care that cars are coming and people park where ever they like, even if it is behind another car! I watch today several times as people would have to move other peoples' cars in order to get out! I don't know how people manage, but if this was the way the US works, we would all be dead!

My personal suggestion for everyone is to avoid driving in Thailand, leave it to the professionals!!!

2009-08-07T13:28:00.001-05:00

Today starts my journey. I have packed my bags and am heading to Minneapolis to the airport.