Same same, but different....the Thai phrase of choice to describe most anything! What on earth does it mean????
After settling into my new apartment and doing a bit of exploration around my town, Alana and I packed up and headed to Ko Samet, and island 3 hours from Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand.
Travelling in Thailand is somewhat like closing your eyes and throwing a dart, hoping it ends up where you want it to. If someone asked me how to get from Bangkok to Ko Samet I would have no idea how to direct them. We took a bus from Bangkok to another bus in Rayong to a Sung Taw (a covered truck) to a boat to the island. I have no idea if these buses have numbers or specific routes as there are very few actual bus stops, just hand-painted signs on the side of the street. When we reached the dock to take the ferry from mainland to the island we were all exhausted and ready to end our travelling.
At the dock our friend Allison, another teacher on our program, ran into a Thai teacher from her school on vacation with her family, and she offered to take us on her chartered speedboat to the island. Needless to say we were extremely grateful!!!
We arrived on the island without a hostel thinking we would just wonder around and find a cheap room. Upon hearing we were "homeless" Pammy (the Thai teacher) becomame very concerned and offered us one of the beds in her bungalow. To clarify, a woman who had never met Alana or I and had only briefly known Allison wanted to give us a bed in her bungalow while she, her husband, and her three grown sons slept in one bed. Obviously we thanked her dearly for the boat ride and the offer but refused, insisting that we could easily find a room on our own. I think she may have been slightly offended that we did not accept.
We walked into town to look for lunch and a place to stay and found both in one adorable bar/restaraunt. We ended up staying in the guest room of this restaraunt owned by a bubbly Finnish woman who had recently moved to Ko Samet.
Ko Samet's nighlife, which all takes place directly on the beach, is famous for its extensive fire shows. A troop of shirtless, sweatly Thai men light things on fire and spin and twirl and throw them about. The shows were incredible and by the second night, after befriending the fire twirlers, with no training to speak of, I was dancing on the beach swinging two balls of fire around my head.
There are no rules in Thailand!
After a relaxing weekend on this amazing island that ended with a $6 hour-long Thai massage on the beach we headed back to Prapradaeng with our new Thai friends, Gift and Arm.
I spent my Halloween weekend in Bangkok exploring the Chatachuk weekend market, which is immense, and dance party-ing on Ko San Road. Although Halloween is not really celebrated in Thailand, Alana and I sported sea-creature hats, the octopus and the shark, and everyone LOVED them.
School starts tomorrow and I am pretty unprepared. Due to the slight language barrier between myself and my coordinator I am unclear as to the ages and english level of any of my students. Oh well, I guess I will find out tomorrow.
Wish me, and my students, luck!
10/31/10
10/20/10
The Land of Smiles
Sawatdeeka from Thailand :)
As Dr. Pimsleur, the voice of my Thai on tape tells me, a smile is an important part of this Thai greeting and he is right. Thailand really is the land of smiles!
I arrived in Bankok last week for week of Thai lessons, teacher training, and eating copious amounts of delicious Thai food. I was confined to the hotel for most of the week but I did venture into the hectic city a few times to go to the market and explore Bangkok's night life. Although its crowded, polluted, and traffic jams are unbelievable, Bangkok is an incredible city with interesting people from around the world.
For the final night of orientation we left the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and journeyed three hours west to Kanchenaburi. When I emerged from our double-decker bus I felt like I was in another world. The sun was shinning and the jungle surrounded me! Street signs warned travelers of unexpected elephant crossings and water buffalo roamed freely. First we visited the bridge over the River Kwai for our dose of historical education and then dined on some amazing food! The following day was full of exciting adventures. In the morning we boarded bamboo rafts (survivor style) and rafted down the river as our guides sang traditional Thai folk-songs. The water was clear and beautiful and diving in felt amazing after sitting in the oppressive Thai sun. After our trip down the river we mounted delightfully large elephants and trekked through the jungle as our guide wove crowns for us out of leaves and twigs.
I left Bangkok yesterday and am writing from my new home, Prapradaeng, in the Samut Prakan province. Prapradaeng is a beautiful little town located about an hour outside of Bangkok. The city sits directly on the river that runs through Bangkok, nestled under a beautiful bridge.
I am living in a studio apartment, Alana is one floor above me, with a private "bathroom" and air conditioning. I put "bathroom" in qotes because it is one of those shower toilet rooms, where you can't leave toilet paper in because the it would get drenched by the shower that covers the toilet in water everytime you turn it on. The sink is outside on the balcony!!! It is a very nice apartment though, I am lucky to even have air conditioning (which seems to be my best friend these days).
I have an extra bed....its open for visitors!!!
Our apartment is part of a larger gated complex with a laundry facility, corner store, small resaurant, and of course karaoke bar!!! To get into the building you have to scan your thumb on this crazy machine!
Navigating our new city has been a bit of a challenge but Alana and I have found landmarks that make it easier. Our favorite is the sparkly Buddhist temple which looks like a glitter store got turned on its head and shaken until every inch of the structure reflects sunlight.
We are the only foreigners in Prapradaeng. I feel like such a celebrity. Little children point and laugh and tell us we are beautiful. It's awesome!!
School doesn't start back up until November 1st so I have a bit of time to get to know my new home. I am going to be teaching 4th, 5th, 6th, and 9th graders English. I guess they came to their senses and found someone else to teach Science because they told me I didn't have to....lucky for the children!!
I'm off to do some more exploring and practice my Thai.
I am sending hugs and kisses from across the globe!!!!
As Dr. Pimsleur, the voice of my Thai on tape tells me, a smile is an important part of this Thai greeting and he is right. Thailand really is the land of smiles!
I arrived in Bankok last week for week of Thai lessons, teacher training, and eating copious amounts of delicious Thai food. I was confined to the hotel for most of the week but I did venture into the hectic city a few times to go to the market and explore Bangkok's night life. Although its crowded, polluted, and traffic jams are unbelievable, Bangkok is an incredible city with interesting people from around the world.
For the final night of orientation we left the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and journeyed three hours west to Kanchenaburi. When I emerged from our double-decker bus I felt like I was in another world. The sun was shinning and the jungle surrounded me! Street signs warned travelers of unexpected elephant crossings and water buffalo roamed freely. First we visited the bridge over the River Kwai for our dose of historical education and then dined on some amazing food! The following day was full of exciting adventures. In the morning we boarded bamboo rafts (survivor style) and rafted down the river as our guides sang traditional Thai folk-songs. The water was clear and beautiful and diving in felt amazing after sitting in the oppressive Thai sun. After our trip down the river we mounted delightfully large elephants and trekked through the jungle as our guide wove crowns for us out of leaves and twigs.
I left Bangkok yesterday and am writing from my new home, Prapradaeng, in the Samut Prakan province. Prapradaeng is a beautiful little town located about an hour outside of Bangkok. The city sits directly on the river that runs through Bangkok, nestled under a beautiful bridge.
I am living in a studio apartment, Alana is one floor above me, with a private "bathroom" and air conditioning. I put "bathroom" in qotes because it is one of those shower toilet rooms, where you can't leave toilet paper in because the it would get drenched by the shower that covers the toilet in water everytime you turn it on. The sink is outside on the balcony!!! It is a very nice apartment though, I am lucky to even have air conditioning (which seems to be my best friend these days).
I have an extra bed....its open for visitors!!!
Our apartment is part of a larger gated complex with a laundry facility, corner store, small resaurant, and of course karaoke bar!!! To get into the building you have to scan your thumb on this crazy machine!
Navigating our new city has been a bit of a challenge but Alana and I have found landmarks that make it easier. Our favorite is the sparkly Buddhist temple which looks like a glitter store got turned on its head and shaken until every inch of the structure reflects sunlight.
We are the only foreigners in Prapradaeng. I feel like such a celebrity. Little children point and laugh and tell us we are beautiful. It's awesome!!
School doesn't start back up until November 1st so I have a bit of time to get to know my new home. I am going to be teaching 4th, 5th, 6th, and 9th graders English. I guess they came to their senses and found someone else to teach Science because they told me I didn't have to....lucky for the children!!
I'm off to do some more exploring and practice my Thai.
I am sending hugs and kisses from across the globe!!!!
10/6/10
I got my lunch all packed, my (rain) boots thai'd tight, I hope I don't miss my flight!
In exactly one week I will be departing the U.S., alongside the lovely and incredible Miss Alana Miller, to spend a year teaching in Thailand. Armed with a minimal (soon to be improved) knowledge of Thai, a trusty guidebook, an arsenal of bug-spray, and a whole lot of excitement I will be ariving in Bangkok for a week-long orientation. Then I will move about an hour outside of Bangkok, to Prapradaeng, where I will be teaching English and science to 5 to 12 year old students at a private Buddhist school.
If you are laughing at the prospect of me teaching science, don't worry, I am as concerned for these students as you are.
Next time you hear from me I will be enduring the balmy heat of Thailand's monsoon season, eating incredible food, and sticking out like a sore thumb!!
If you are laughing at the prospect of me teaching science, don't worry, I am as concerned for these students as you are.
Next time you hear from me I will be enduring the balmy heat of Thailand's monsoon season, eating incredible food, and sticking out like a sore thumb!!
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