Chapter 23: Thailand

new pictures are posted to the right under blog roll: New Years vacation pictures and New Years Continued

We continue to drive and drive all day…seeing various sites along the way…the Thai music has not stopped and would be bearable if it were not vibrating the seats. I no longer have a smile on my face. Last night we arrived at Loei University…grateful that the “showers” or water buckets were inside this time and that there was a room to sleep in. bed frames on the floor but still a room. Three sides were opened windows but still a room. With nothing to do, I pulled out my computer and started showing the teachers my pictures and videos, which they absolutely loved. There it was a priceless moment sitting there in our pajamas talking about boys and hearts. The moment was broken by the cold and another sleepless night. I was woken an hour early to walk to the markets with the fellow teachers….I could see my breath and only had gouchas and a jean jacket to protect me from the cold. This was one instance where grandma definitely wouldn’t approve. I grabbed my blankets and wrapped in them on our walk at 5am. No markets were in site and neither was warmth. I was miserable…I think all of us were…until audame aupan (the thai teacher) started busting out her English directions I had taught her weeks prior. Turn left…go straight…it was something. Back at the bus and one of the students finally lent me a jacket and her blanket on the bus. I bared the cold for 5 more hours until we went down the mountain into the sun. Enough with my complaining…right now that’s all I want to do though. There was some comic relief, however, and a brief glimpse of happiness as we pulled into a winery…but no time to taste. More random stops…some at markets, temples, a river, another winery…finally time to head back. Another 8 hours of blasting Thai music and kids jumping and dancing in the back of the bus. Somehow I managed to sleep through part of it. One more stop before Uthai- Moo Ga Ta (translation: pig plate)- Thai Style bbq. Ok almost home 9:30pm…Thai music still in vibration. I either wince for the next hour and feel each pound on my temples increasing my week long headache…or I embrace it. That’s what life’s about right…embracing…so I jumped up out of my seat, stripped off my jacket and danced for the next hour at the back of the bus with all the students. They went absolutely nuts and loved every second I think. They even put in an English cd for my pleasure. So the trip ends in high spirits and on a good note…me jamming and dancing my heart out to “beautiful girl” and “umbrella” with 30 screaming Thai girls. I was even able to get an English lesson out of it and taught them the correct lyrics to “low”. The trip ended with a laugh and I realized this will probably be my last student fieldtrip. I think Ill manage the others on my own…

Ok so that was Koh Samui. My trip was planned to end here..after 4 short days…but unfortunately we ran into a small problem. And when I say unfortunately I say it with much sarcasm and in reality it was thankfulness. ... [Continue reading this entry]

After a night like that..I needed a few days off…vacation can be tiring after a while. I traveled to Koh Samui (an island next door) a day later with two girls. One would think taking a short ferry ride there ... [Continue reading this entry]

First let me say Sawatdee Bi Mai 2009!! I hope everyone had an enjoyable and memorable one. I know mine was. As the crazed teenager that I was, I have attended many parties in my time (sorry mom), but I ... [Continue reading this entry]

Let me first begin with my first day back and work my way to the beginning…because this is one memory I will never forget. Right now I am in Loei- a province in the Northeast of Thailand, right along the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Christmas Day- I awake early from sleeping (if you can call it that- trying to sleep with 300 screaming highschool students and soccer matches going on until 3 in the morning) on the floor with 30 students to my left ... [Continue reading this entry]

after many requests...ive posted my address.  Not saying that you have to send anything...but if you wanted to/if you had any love for me what so ever...all is welcome.  20 Moo 2 Donkloy, Nongkhayang Uthai Thani 61130 Thailand Also, new pictures are up under the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Wonkapkoonpawja The literal translation in Thai is a celebration in thanking God. Kapkoon (thanks) Pawja (God). I find this interesting because Thanksgiving is not considered a religious celebration in the States. There are many meanings of Thanksgiving, many that I realized ... [Continue reading this entry]

In celebration of the King’s birthday and our annual sports day, I traveled south during the week holiday. My first stop was Bangkok. I traveled there with a few other teachers and students to visit the palace. The King presents ... [Continue reading this entry]