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 Joelle's Dispatches From thailand
Latest entry at the top, scroll down for the beginning of the trip. Follow Joelle's adventures in Thailand! Joelle is spending 9 months living with a family and going to school in Thailand, check back here for her journals.
October 3, 2007 A Time For Realization There is always a time for realization. Whether it be realization that you are going to die someday or realization that if you do eat 5 Krispy Kreme doughnuts you are probably going to gain a little pudge! This past month or so I think that I have finally truly realized that I am living in Thailand, and will be for at least 9 more months. Whenever I go to a house, nice store, or classroom it isn't odd anymore to take off my shoes before entering. Or to drink various beverages out of a plastic bag with a straw. Throughout my stay here I always told myself that I am living here, but it never truely hit me until now! I think it is because I have a regular schedule, have become rather familiar with the area around my home, and just plain feel relaxed!
Earlier this month I was invited by a university group to go camping in a national park, hike to a waterfall, and visit a small Buddhist monastery place or suan, which I will explain later. I took the invitation with enthusiam and then was quickly on my way to the national park near the Emerald Triangle. The Emerald Triangle is the borders of Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. The drive was about 2 hours from my home in Ubon Ratchathani. It was very nice to just go for a long drive and just glance at the countryside! Every so often we would have to slow down because we would see cows just walking in the road minding their own business!
We then arrived at Phu-Jong-Na-Yoi National Park! It was so beautiful with many odd looking plants and huge black rocks that looked like giant pieces of coral! There also were many cabins, a small visitors center, and an outside dining area. We got out of the car, walked about five feet, sat down and started eating lunch with this family. The family pretty much just told us to sit and eat, no matter if we were hungry or not! Honestly if you are white and you go somewhere with Thai people.. you will never be hungry! They always are giving you food! While we were eating, two huge, old, and colorful buses pull into the drive way, loaded with college students! Once everyone unloaded the bus, the hellos and the typical first questions were starting; "Where are you from, how old, your name, how long stay, school..." the usual. And let me not forget the occassional, "I love your nose!!" haha! That one always makes me chuckle!
After conversing, everyone headed up the road a little further to our hiking destination. We separated into groups each with a tour guide and then started our journey to the waterfall. As we walked, every so often we stopped and the tour guide talked about the surrounding nature. One problem... all of the talking was in Thai, and my 'nature' Thai vocabulary is close to nothing so it was difficult for me to understand. Luckly, Thai people are very considerate and tried to explain as much as possible!
We then came to a large open area with a river running down the middle. There were many Thai families eating and talking, while their children were playing in the river fully clothed. It was different to see people swimming and playing in the river fully clothed, but heck I can't blame them it definitly looked like a blast. The kids would find big rocks, half submerged into water so they could slide down into the cool water. The families all looked like they have been there for quite sometime because they had put up hamocks and laid out mats all along the open area. Everyone there looked so relaxed as our group slowly passed them by, still progressing towards the waterfall. The next part of the hike I enjoyed very much because we mostly walked next to the river, which had many interesting looking rock formations unlike anything I have seen before. The river had no small, tiny pebble rocks. There seemed to only be one big rock with some layers here and there, with small and large, deep and shallow pockets that looked somewhat like a huge lava rock.
Finally, after we walked for a good 15 minutes along this river, the trail started back into the forest and we ended up at a large platform overlooking the forest from above and then I remember turning to my right there was the sight I had been waiting for, the waterfall! It was huge and so beautiful! The just water flowed off the top and landed probably 200 feet into a large pool filled with thai people of all ages swimming in all of their clothes! I wanted to join so I decided to climb down about 100 stairs next to this cliff with many plants growing along the side and water dripping off of it as if it was raining! It was like a dream, walking down stairs, feeling the drops of water coming from the cliff and looking at my next destination, the waterfall! Once we got to the bottom I just stood there relaxed and soaked in the spray and mist from the waterfall! I took my shoes off and jumped into the water, with all my clothes on!! It was so nice to go swimming in cool water, because it made me feel like I was at home swimming in my lake! After swimming for a while my friends and I decided to go play in the river, then head back up the 100 stairs to the bus to take us back to where we first ate lunch.
That night, I went into the visitor's center and the tour guides put on an entertaining show for us! They were singing and playing guitar. They also had a game that I can only describe as being similiar to the "head, shoulders, knees and toes" song with an interesting twist. This 'song with an interesting twist' was even more interesting for the other exchange students and I because it was in thai, and many lyrics sounded similiar. The tour guides ended the night with a picture slidshow of the nature around the park.
The next morning everyone loaded up the buses again, and we loaded up in our van and drove, drove and drove! Where were we going?... I had no idea, but the scenery was very pretty! Finally we turned off the highway onto this red dirt road that headed into the forest. After about 30 minutes of dodging pot holes, we pulled up to the small Buddhist monastery place or Suan. There was an open building on the left, on the right there were two small bathroom buildings, and a kitchen area that was connected with a dinning area. Everyone got out and went over to the open building. Covering the floor was a huge piece of black, garbage bag looking, dance surface where some people were doing what looked like yoga or mind movements. There also was a large stage at one end of the large floor that had many pictures of monks and a large Buddha statue decorated with flowers and other small ornate items. Some people on the floor would sit crosslegged and slowly move their head in a spinning motion, while others would be in a stance and making interesting gestures with their hands.
My exchange student friend and I sat there looking at the people doing the yoga, then decided to try this floor thing out. One man told us to not have anything blocking our brains, and just let our mind free and our body will follow. Well the first couple of minutes, I was definitly thinking and not letting go of my mind! I was thinking, "Hmm is there a strategy for this or what?" Finally I just decided to sit down indian style close my eyes and listen to the music playing in the background and just relax. It was so nice just chilling there sitting confortably, minding my own business, listening to the music and hearing people around me moving all along the floor.
After about 20 minutes it was lunch time. Our lunch consisted of rice, and pork mixed with vegitables. Whenever I eat in a place that I am not used to, I usually always taste the food, because it can be dangerously spicy. Without thinking I just took a huge bite of rice and the pork stuff. At first it wasn't too bad the taste seemed usual but then my eyes started tearing and my mouth was on fire! Holy calamity, it was so spicy and hot! I then imediately stuffed a big spoonful of rice into my mouth, gupled down some water and regained conciousness! Some of my Thai friends noticed and asked me if the food was spicy, I didn't answer because I was still in shock mode, but I think the look on my face answered their question because they all just started laughing. Luckly, I haven't done that since!
After that one experience that I will never forget, everyone then walked back over to the large open building to listen to the head monk speak about his life. Of course he was talking in Thai, but it was so cool because I could understand the general content of what he was talking about. He talked about how he owned a Thai restaurant in Florida for 18 years and that he loves living in this monestary place because he lives off the land and nature. He talked about how he wants everyone to live off nature once in their life, and experience life without the craziness of money and work. I couldn't catch every word, but it was a big relief to know that I am really starting to understand the language. Especially since the first two weeks I honestly didn't think I could ever understand. We loaded up the cars and buses the last time and headed home. I was exhausted from the whole trip and slept the whole way home!
OTHER NEWS: School is definitly my favorite and sometimes the most boring thing I do here in Thailand. My favorite because I get to be with my friends, learn Thai, and generally interact with people. Boring because during the classes, I cannot understand the teachers so I find myself reading, studying some Thai vocabulary, or just plain sitting there and trying to understand because sometimes it gets too hot to do anything else. I am also just starting learning to write and read the Thai alphabet. This is very frustrating because the Thai language has five tones and most of the time they sound very similar, and I end up pronouncing it wrong. I know that when time passes I will get the hang of it, but it can just be very difficult.
NOW I am gonna tell you some interesting funny things that you might enjoy reading about... one day in english class my classmates had to take a test. As soon as my classmates finished the test they came up and asked me, "What are chicken pox?" I looked at them with a look thinking of, "Now why in the world would they want to know what chicken pox are?" Obeying their every demand, I explained that chicken pox is a disease that you get once in your life.... blah blah blah you know the rest. After my explaination they all started laughing at pointing at each other. I was utterly confused at this time. They explained to me that one of the questions on the test after some reading was, "What are chicken pox?" with the answer listed below... A. type of disease B. type of chicken C. type of food. They then proceeded to tell me that some of them had no idea what chicken pox were so they just selected the answer C. type of food, because they thought it might be the right answer because they definitly knew that chicken was a type of food. We all then started laughing and I figured out who had selected the "food" answer and it was just a good time that we still laugh about today!
I find it odd that Thai people love ketchup and they put it on everything, especially pizza! But then I found out that it actually isn't odd at all and that I just needed to try it, and let me tell you, tis delicious!!
Yet again, I found it odd that Thai girls, and some boys, put baby powder on their faces to "refresh" their look after class is over or after a period of time where they have perpsired a little or their face just doesn't feel "fresh". But, yet again, I tried this baby powder trick and honestly it isn't half bad... it actually works out pretty well.
Finally to end this super long journal... I am going to tell you my favorite experience so far. It is short and sweet. It is simply the feeling I get when I am talking to a Thai person and they do not give me the look of, "what the heck is this person trying to say?" they just simply smile and respond! This feeling is another addition to my life that has helped me realize that I am living in Thailand!
I still think of you all and hope that everything is going well! I miss you all and love you dearly!! Thanks for reading! It won't be that long until I write another one... I promise!!
August 21, 2007 Four Thousand Eyes!!!Hope everyone is doing well! I am doing just fine... but I do miss all of you dearly!! Thailand school-Well well well I just have to say, "Thank you very much to Thai culture!" My first day of school at Nari Nakun School was nothing like I thought it would be...well at least the majority. I never would have thought that my first class of 52 students would all cheer and yell for me as soon as I entered the small room. It was the best welcome ever!! With confused laughter I decided to take a seat in the back next to Ying, my first new friend!
The teacher then asked me to please introduce myself to the class in English(which was a relief) but very slowly. All Thai people usually have a nickname, and the nickname that was given to me was Nam-Peung or Honey. I told them my real name and the nicknames, and they mainly understood the nicknames, so now they all call me Honey.
Next the teacher asked if anyone would like to introduce themselves or just get up and talk. This one kid got up and couldn't think of anything to say, while suggestions and comments were flying through the air. Finally after about 20 seconds he ust blurted out, "I love you!" Everyone wet beliztik! (don't know how to spell that) It was so funny! This other girl then got up and said, "Welcome to Nari Nakun School! We hope you like it here, we are all of your friends and we will take care of you!" Then another boy got up and introduced himself and said,"Welcome. I am your friend!" It was so awesome! Many of them know english but cannot speak very well so to get up and talk in front of the class was huge for them! As class proceeded I got many looks, laughs, whipsers and smiles! It was so funny! Everyone around me was always saying, "honey...honey...honey!!" It was crazy!
The rest of the day was still full of look, laughs, whispers, smiles, and "honey...honey" but it was so awesome. During lunch there are many counters to choose food from, it was so hard to make a choice everything looked so delicious! And it definitly was, we seriously need to do something about the school food in the US! (no offense for those reading who enjoy Skips cooking)
My advisor told me that the next day the other exchange students and I will need to bring flowers for the directors and prepare a short introduction in Thai, because there will be a short ceremony and we will be introduced in front of the whole schoool. So there I was the next day in my lovely school uniform consisting of a long navy skirt that goes up to my belly-button, belt, a tucked in nice light blue/purple collared shirt and super-duper comfy black shoes with socks...yeah I was joking about how "comfy" those black shoes really are, they actually stink! But yeah there I was with four thousand eyes watching me, and listening to my short but sweet introduction in Thai. It really wasn't that bad, at least I think so because they all clapped at the end, and I recieved a nod from my english teacher!
Oh yeah remember that kid who told me, "I love you" well I found out that "I love you" and "Hello" is very common for Thai people to say to white folk. I don't think I have ever heard. "I love you" from so many random people. Everywhere I go and I pass people they usually get all quiet or they say, "I love you" or "hello"! It is funny. Or if I wave to them, they get so excited and wave back and smile big! It is unbelievable!
My classes are fun, except for when the teacher is talking because they talk so fast and I can never understand. And sometimes the classrooms are so hot and I get so tired that I have fallen asleep in class sometimes! If I am not asleep I am either learning thai by book or friends, or teaching english to friends! It is so fun! I am taking physics, chemistry, english, thai, volleyball, cooking, and some other classes...honestly I don't exactly know I just hang around with my class because in my school you stay with the same 52+ students for every class. Last Friday we had science day, where all the grade 5 classes, which are the last grade in high school, all have different science projects and they are all displayed around the school and everyone just walks around and looks at them. There is also this big stage area with a catwalk, where three rock bands from our school played and there was a huge fashion show. The bands actually were not that bad, and when they played the girls were so cute because they would walk up to the stage and give their favorite member of the band roses, then scream and shake their hands near their face and run away!! ahah it was so cute!! The fashion show was amazing! All of the cloths were made from recyclable materials or trash. And all the cloths were made by students, it was crazy- amazing what they came up with! Many of the models and the cloths were made by kut-two-ee or ladymen. They are very nice and funny! You could tell that everything that had to do with this science day had taken them a long time to put together! I did take some pictures with my phone so maybe I will be able to get them off of it and send them out as well!
Everyday after school I have been getting what I call "ironic headaches" I call them ironic because I am happy when I get them because I know that my brain works extra hard to listen, understand, and try to respond in the language of Thai, and that means I am learning fast!! It totally whoops me though I find myself going to sleep at around 8:30!! As of now though, I can pretty much generally understand conversations if they are slow and pretty much manage day to day lifestyle. But it is pretty nice to have other exchange students at the school because at the end of every school day it is so nice to hear english!!
That is just a short version of what has been happening this week. Please let me know if you have questions or anything...once again I want to know how all you all have you doing as well, so don't be shy! Sorry if any of you recieve two of these, I am still trying to figure out all of my contacts!! Love you all!!!!
August 16, 2007 Hello everyone,Here is a little manifesto on how life has been so far here in thailand!
So far I have managed to live in Thailand for one week. And let me tell you I still can't believe that I am here! Let me give you the low down and whats been happening so far...On the way over, my flight from Seatte to Tokyo was delayed three hours, but luckly I met up with five other exchange students on the same flight. We obviously missed our flight from Japan to Bangkok, so the six of us staying in Tokyo for the night. This was actually a huge relief because after a 10 hour flight you pretty much just want to relax and sleep, without the lovely hum and buzz of the airplane. The next day we finally made it to Bangkok, where we all met up with our families. It was hilarious because some of the families had huge signs with the names/pictures of their exchange student! I met with my family and it was such a relief to finally get to meet them.
We drove into Bangkok and then went shopping and got some dinner. My first meal was fast food, but it was really really good fast food. Bangkok is like anyother city, just rush hour 24-7 and people everywhere....always! Thai people love to shop, I think because everything is so cheap. Pretty much all the t-shirts were under 5 dollars! In one mall, all the shops were building! very small and jammed into this 8 story.
The next day we woke up and went shopping again, then took a plane to Ubon Ratchathani, my final destination. My house is extremely nice, and right next door is my "cousins" house which is also very nice. I have my own room, walkin closet, and bathroom...I may never leave!
Ok, lets talk about the food. That night we cooked with a cemented bucket with coal on the bottom, and set a triangle juice catcher bowl thing on top...this is really hard to explain, but please bare with me. You put pork on the top, then allow the pork juices to fall into the rim around the bottom that is filled with vegitables and spices. It was delicious! Sorry if that made no sense!
Every morning I wake up and go to the outside kitchen, where my grandma,AH-MA, cooks breakfast for everyone. It is usually rice with vegis, meat, and other things that I don't know how to say in english, but are extremely splendid! After that I usually just bum around with my cousin, because he speaks the best english. We go to my dad's optic shop, or the school, it kinda just depends on the day.
Thai people always make sure that you are never hungry. Every person I meet or see asks me if I am hungry or when I last ate, and if there is no understanding between the two of us, I find myself with a plate in front of me. Everything is so tasteful and delicious! Once I learn the language, I will hopefully learn how to cook.
The days go by farely slow, which has its pros and cons. Pros because in america I feel like I never have enough time in the day. Cons because I feel like I should be doing something more important, and also because I find myself just sitting there listening to this crazy 5-tonal language trying to figure out what they are saying. I am learning new things everyday, and teaching new things as well. I am also proud to say that I can understand most of what people are saying, but I just can't answer! I cannot wait until I can speak thai!!
Please let me know how all of you are doing, whether it be that you stubbed your toe or you won 1 million dollars! If you have any questions please ask! Love you all and I would love to hear from you! Chan-Luk-Khun-Kaa.
joelle
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