Friday, June 30, 2006
Teaching...
So just finished "helping" a Pratom 3 student prepare for the Provincial English Speech competition that is taking place next week. And by helping the teachers expected us to pick the student from the whole grade. (We picked a girl named Nim) Then compose the entire speech, teach it to the student (since she doesn't even know the alphabet how in the world would she be able to read it!) and ensure that on July 13th they will be able to get on a stage and speak proper English. Ya right. Its 3/4 of the way to a disaster already. I don't know how this is helping the students at all, but its typical of the style of learning most Thai kids go through. The teacher will dictate, the students repeat exactly what they hear, and you end up with conversational english that sounds like, "i'm FINE thank YOU and YOUUUUU?" or "My NAME izzzzzzzzzzzzzz........"
The rest of the week has been ok, went to Nan for dinner twice, got to go to Tescos and stock up on VCDs, and had some fun English lessons that I disguised as art projects. On Monday afternoon, the ducks protest turned out to be part of an national anti-drug campaign. So the students had big banners, and we paraded around the village behind a pickup with a megaphone telling people not to smoke or drink. All of this in the middle of the day. Anyone who has been/lived in the tropics knows the stiffiling heat and humidity that comes the hour before the daily afternoon thundershowers....try marching around in that with 600 kids - NOT FUN.
Miranda and I just found out that instead of taking the bus to Bangkok on Wednesday night, Uncle Jai and his family want us to come with them in their car. They're going down to Bangkok to pick up their daughter who is a nursing student. So its going to be 8 of us in the van for 10 hours....should be a good story.
Nothing exciting going on this weekend, maybe some friends from Nan will come by on Saturday and we'll watch some VCDs...
The rest of the week has been ok, went to Nan for dinner twice, got to go to Tescos and stock up on VCDs, and had some fun English lessons that I disguised as art projects. On Monday afternoon, the ducks protest turned out to be part of an national anti-drug campaign. So the students had big banners, and we paraded around the village behind a pickup with a megaphone telling people not to smoke or drink. All of this in the middle of the day. Anyone who has been/lived in the tropics knows the stiffiling heat and humidity that comes the hour before the daily afternoon thundershowers....try marching around in that with 600 kids - NOT FUN.
Miranda and I just found out that instead of taking the bus to Bangkok on Wednesday night, Uncle Jai and his family want us to come with them in their car. They're going down to Bangkok to pick up their daughter who is a nursing student. So its going to be 8 of us in the van for 10 hours....should be a good story.
Nothing exciting going on this weekend, maybe some friends from Nan will come by on Saturday and we'll watch some VCDs...
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Just Another Manic Monday....
So after that redic weekend. I didn't have any energy to plan the weekly lessons for my classes. "Eh...I'll wing it" I thought. Then at 8:45 I notice the kids aren't at their normal assembly and the teachers are all bustling around the room. So I ask what's going on? And THEN I get told that its some big holiday today and there are no classes, only (and this is a direct quotation) "A history catwalk where we watch." So whatever that means, at least I don't have to teach!!
It ends up that all the students/teachers go to the auditorium and the Pratom 5&6 kids dress up and do these routines and skits. No idea what it was all about still. But everyone was going crazy! There was a aerobic-dance show to start the morning off. Then a bunch of kids came up and had the awkward experience of presenting their memorized speaches. Then there was sort of a fashion show of boys in makeup with some mermaids and a tiger. Then the kids all watched a DVD and sang-along with it.
Then at lunch I ask if we are teaching in the afternoon, and literally another direct quote. "Ummmmm no maybe yes we will march through village to protest ducks. You march with me"
So, i'm just waiting to see what THAT is going to reveal. I TOTALLY agree with Heather's observation about just going along with things and not asking questions to maintain your sanity! If I keep getting answers like these ones - I dunno how long I will last!
OH! And I'm very excited because I just booked my flight to Koh Samui for my Super-Fabulous-Tropical-Beach-Paradise 22nd birthday party! In the spirit of Julia's birthday in Paris, I'm hosting a party in Thailand - come if you're in the neighborhood: July 6th! I've already got 3 confirmed guests from Vancouver, 2 from Vancouver via Taipei, and 2 from Samut Songrkram (lol other GAP volunteers)
Jungle Trekking and Rafting
You know it was a good weekend when come Sunday night its painful to take your shoes off...
After a mediocre week at Sriwiangsa teaching, Basically all the teachers in Nan met up in Nan city for a weekend of adventure. 7am we piled into a 4WD and drove up north to one of the National parks to begin our Jungle Trek. For the next 6 hours we wove up, down, in, out, through, over the jungle-draped hills of northern Nan. It was incredible being surrounded by huge bamboo trees, Palm trees, banana plants, and insects the size of small rodents. A lot of the teek trees had orange-monk robes tied around them, as the locals use this tactic to prevent deforestation. By making the tree a Monk, it is impossible for anyone to kill it without serious rammifications. The trekking was nice when we were under the jungle canopy as it remains quite moist and cool, but once we got into the clearings it was 45* + humidity and it was just sweat-city. We drank over 3L of water and I was still dehydrated afterwards. We ended up at a hilltribe village which is basically in the middle of nowhere and consists of one street built vertically along one of the hills (not like there is any flat land around here) Cooled off with some pineapple and orange fantas before we headed back to Nan. As soon as I got to our hotel I showered and then passed out. I was so dehydrated I couldn't even stomach any water. It didn't lead to a fun night, with pain radiating from every part of my poor heat-stunned body.
But at 6am the next day I felt ok enough to go white-water rafting! After a breakfast of chocolate, chips, redbull and tylenol, 9 of us piled into one pickup truck and drove an hour to Mae Charim park where we did a 2 hour raft through the same mountains we trekked over yesterday! Lots of rapids where it seemed that I was always the only one to get soaked or be in danger of falling out (I was warned about sitting in the front....so I did it!) We drove back to Nan in the same pickup truck - and Miranda and I took the bus back to Wiang Sa (after a few lemon djroy drinks in a bag of course) where we literally steped in the door and a huge thunderstorm errupted. Let me tell you the last thing I wanted to do after such a activity-filled weekend was mop up my bedroom after it flooded. After that we settled in to watch some of our favourite english VCD's and after only one huge dinosaur/lizard scare we went to bed early..... As much fun as this weekend was, there was one downer to it all: My streak of not wearing socks came to an end. From May 4th to June 24 I did not let anything enclose my precious Thai toes....oh well here's to a new streak ;)
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Tale of Two Thailands...
Chaing Mai reminds me a lot of a city like Kelowna B.C. Its dominated by the local gangs. Everything from restaurants, transportation, and clubs/bars are owned and operated by them. But its also just a nice secondary city that has all the convienences of a big city, without the urban sprawl, pollution and general big city problems of Bangkok. But its also naturally beautiful. Its an old city with the reminants of the old fort walls and a moat still marking the boundaries of Old Chaing Mai. And set in beautiful surroundings with the cool (30*C) climate of the mountains surrounding the city, and its a jumping off point for so many people to go on treks, or other outdoor adventures.
So us folks from Nan arrive in Chaing Mai, refreshed after 6 hours of lots of cookies and cream soda complements of the Green Bus co., to the swarm of Sangathew drivers looking to con us poor farangs 'Fresh off the Bus'. There were 8 of us, and we had a guesthouse already booked, so we were having nothing of the scammers and got a ride in the red sangathews nice and cheap. Only had to go to one other guesthouse because the driver 'accidentily' took us there. ps. accidentily means he wanted commission.
The 6 other GAP volunteers met us, who are also ready for a vacation from Thailand, which is what Chaing Mai is. You can go months without having to eat/speak anything Thai. We bought english books at the many book stores, went for late night snacks at a chilli fries restaurant on the corner, watched the world cup games at the English Pub, drank at the UN Irish Pub and danced after hours at Spicy with all the other Farangs in Chaing Mai. It was actually really nice being a tourist again. I think that is why i'm starting to enjoy my time here in Thailand so much more. When I get tired of the 'local experience' of being the only white person in a small town, I can escape and blend back in to the Backpackers on Khao San rd. And then come right back to Wiang Sa when I start to crave bamboo sticky rice and som tam.
We rented motorcycles in Chaing Mai and that was so so so much....SO MUCH FUN! Mine was neon green. Asia is made for motorcycles and it is just so much easier to get around on them. Traffic is no problem because you dart onto the sidewalk, or make your own lane. And you dont have to deal with bargining to go everywhere, and being a Farang you can basically drive right into a bar and park beside your table. 3 of us girls decided to rent them for a day to drive up to Wat Doh Sithup which is 45 minute drive through the mountains. Such a beautiful wat with 308 steps up to the actual wat that is perched overlooking the Chaing Mai valley. We were up there the same day as Prince Albert of Monaco but didn't see him, or become one of his wives..... Then on the way down stopped at some glorious waterfalls and the Chaing Mai zoo. That night Maeve and I didn't feel like going to dance, so we did a 3 hour midnight drive around the city. Saw a lot, and ended up at a locals Karaoke bar, thank GOD Maeve can sing, as her rendition of Celine Dion's "Titanic" won the crowd over! We also went to a local Muai Thai boxing competition about 20km out of town. We hitched a ride with a local boxing school and ended up in a big dirt/mud field with a huge ring set up in it! Very cool to actually watch little kids kick each other. Apparently the retiring age is around 18 years old!!! I'm glad I got to see it, since it's defenitly a Thai thing (especially for free!), but don't expect me to be signing up for classes any time soon!
Then had to get up at 8am to go to the train station to book my ticket and sadly return my bike. Got a little lost on the way but that's 1/2 the fun! Had a fun night at the Chaing Mai night bazaar. Claimed to be the biggest night market in Asia. It was pretty big yes. Some great deals too! But lots of the same old crap like Beer Lao shirts, thai silk scarves, counterfiet everythings, etc. Decided to mix up the transportation a bit and take the overnight train to Bangkok so I went to the train station a bit early to makes ure I got a ticket, and ended up meeting the nicest monk ever who told me all about his life in Thailand, and how I should stay up north and not go to the islands, and that the monk life is defeintly the way to go. He was very interesting, and so generous! Always offering water/snacks/friends business cards/herbal pills. It must have looked funny to have a white girl talking to a monk in a dark train station! Hard to remember all the customs I had to adhear to like not pointing my toes at him, not touching him (a 3 day clensing cerimony would follow!), and not passing anything directly to him but placing it on the floor for him to grab.
Nan Ed. Dist.1 M.5 English Camp: LONG LIVE THE KING!
Here is the English Camp post with the pictures (hopefully) working this time!
On June 5th at 11am Miranda and I were told we were going to Nan that day to talk to the director of the school district about their english camp. At 2pm the same day we found out that us (and the two other GAP volunteers in Nan) would be running a 4 day English Camp for M.5 students (grade 10) starting tommorow. That's the way things are done around here!
We went back to Wiang Sa to pack up our stuff and the next morning headed to our hotel in Nan, and then to the Non-Formal education centre that we would call home for the next 4 days. As you can see, even the banner introducing the camp was misspelt - so we had a lot of work on our hands.... It was actually really fun though. The kids had a higher level of english than I was used to, so we could play games, sing songs, and do activities that had some meat to them. The section I was teaching was called "reading and writing" so we got about 80 old magazines, mostly National Geographics from the 1980s, and the students chose an article they were interested in, had to read it and then write a summary. Some of them were incredible, but when it came time to read their summaries to the class it was evident where their english needed help. Their pronounciation was awful, But it was actually helpful to identify where the attention was needed and at the next english camp we're going to focus a lot on speaking. One of my students chose an old edition of the economist to write his summary on. He ended up writing about an article on gay marriages in California...yikes! So cute when he would come up to me and ask me definitions of "Govenor of California" and "jurisdiction".
The camp was more fun than work for the students though - during meals and at free time we would chat with them about everything, and they got to meet tons of other students from the province. We played games that involved covering everyone with baby powder (teaching students ON, IN, LEFT, RIGHT words....put the baby powder in your left hand and then on your partners head) Us teachers defenitly were the first to get covered, Jeeze.....as if I couldn't get any whiter!!!
The last night of English Camp was a talent show, and in Thailand that means its time for the Lady Boys to shine. There were about 5/6 at our camp, and went crazy. We had a Miss. Thailand show where they dressed up in drag and did a beauty pagent, there was a lot of Thai dancing and singing, and our Thailand Idol competition provided more than a few future RuPauls!!!
After 4 HARD and exhausting 16 hour days, and with our completion certificates, pocket money, and gifts from the teachers in hand, we decided we not only needed a night on the town but some good ol' western food. So we met up with another 2 English teachers who are teaching in Nan and basically ran the English camp for a couple days (also they're Canadian!) - and had superb Pizza/Pasta dinner (again Julia's eating Thai food in Greece and i'm eating Italian food in Thailand.....)then went out. It was so fun - first time i've been out out since Bangkok! We went to this Thai coppertank style bar that was all bamboo, with a live band that was basically the Thai-Bon Jovi. Bought our Sangsom whiskey bottles from the stores accross the street for 1/2 the price and brought them over to enjoy. Then took motorcycles over to ChannelX nightclub - pronounced in thaienglish "cshanex" - fun place to dance, but it made the PIT Pub look like Crush Champagne Lounge.... and had a great time dancing to thai music and basically getting stared at all night. But nothing i'm not already used to
Stayed out pretty late that night, which didn't bode well for our 9am bus to Chaing Mai the next morning, but we made it to the bus station where I had a nice nap on the plastic chairs. Luckly we shelled out the extra 50 Baht to get an 1st class aircon bus, I don't think I would have made it.
On June 5th at 11am Miranda and I were told we were going to Nan that day to talk to the director of the school district about their english camp. At 2pm the same day we found out that us (and the two other GAP volunteers in Nan) would be running a 4 day English Camp for M.5 students (grade 10) starting tommorow. That's the way things are done around here!
We went back to Wiang Sa to pack up our stuff and the next morning headed to our hotel in Nan, and then to the Non-Formal education centre that we would call home for the next 4 days. As you can see, even the banner introducing the camp was misspelt - so we had a lot of work on our hands.... It was actually really fun though. The kids had a higher level of english than I was used to, so we could play games, sing songs, and do activities that had some meat to them. The section I was teaching was called "reading and writing" so we got about 80 old magazines, mostly National Geographics from the 1980s, and the students chose an article they were interested in, had to read it and then write a summary. Some of them were incredible, but when it came time to read their summaries to the class it was evident where their english needed help. Their pronounciation was awful, But it was actually helpful to identify where the attention was needed and at the next english camp we're going to focus a lot on speaking. One of my students chose an old edition of the economist to write his summary on. He ended up writing about an article on gay marriages in California...yikes! So cute when he would come up to me and ask me definitions of "Govenor of California" and "jurisdiction".
The camp was more fun than work for the students though - during meals and at free time we would chat with them about everything, and they got to meet tons of other students from the province. We played games that involved covering everyone with baby powder (teaching students ON, IN, LEFT, RIGHT words....put the baby powder in your left hand and then on your partners head) Us teachers defenitly were the first to get covered, Jeeze.....as if I couldn't get any whiter!!!
The last night of English Camp was a talent show, and in Thailand that means its time for the Lady Boys to shine. There were about 5/6 at our camp, and went crazy. We had a Miss. Thailand show where they dressed up in drag and did a beauty pagent, there was a lot of Thai dancing and singing, and our Thailand Idol competition provided more than a few future RuPauls!!!
After 4 HARD and exhausting 16 hour days, and with our completion certificates, pocket money, and gifts from the teachers in hand, we decided we not only needed a night on the town but some good ol' western food. So we met up with another 2 English teachers who are teaching in Nan and basically ran the English camp for a couple days (also they're Canadian!) - and had superb Pizza/Pasta dinner (again Julia's eating Thai food in Greece and i'm eating Italian food in Thailand.....)then went out. It was so fun - first time i've been out out since Bangkok! We went to this Thai coppertank style bar that was all bamboo, with a live band that was basically the Thai-Bon Jovi. Bought our Sangsom whiskey bottles from the stores accross the street for 1/2 the price and brought them over to enjoy. Then took motorcycles over to ChannelX nightclub - pronounced in thaienglish "cshanex" - fun place to dance, but it made the PIT Pub look like Crush Champagne Lounge.... and had a great time dancing to thai music and basically getting stared at all night. But nothing i'm not already used to
Stayed out pretty late that night, which didn't bode well for our 9am bus to Chaing Mai the next morning, but we made it to the bus station where I had a nice nap on the plastic chairs. Luckly we shelled out the extra 50 Baht to get an 1st class aircon bus, I don't think I would have made it.
Monday, June 19, 2006
sorry.....
I hate technology...
I just put up a few posts about my last week or so of traveling in Thailand, but of course the computer lets me upload the pics then 5 minutes later wont show them. So I have no idea what is going wrong let alone how to fix it. I'll see what I can do later tonight. For now - look at the pretty words instead ;)
I just put up a few posts about my last week or so of traveling in Thailand, but of course the computer lets me upload the pics then 5 minutes later wont show them. So I have no idea what is going wrong let alone how to fix it. I'll see what I can do later tonight. For now - look at the pretty words instead ;)
Back in Bangkok
Phewf. A little country girl from Wiang Sa like me just can't handle the big city life of Bangkok anymore i'm pretty sure.
I spent 2 full days in Bangkok trying to remember what its like to live in a city. Went down there from Chaing Mai and was really surprised to see how good my Thai has gotten. I'm the first to admit its limited to "shopping and eating vocabulary" but knowing the numbers, how much, too much and no way can sure get you far when bargining for stuff! I spent a whole morning trying to get to the travel clinic, which is only 6km away from Khao San, but that's about 30 minutes in Bangkok's eternal traffic jam. Only to find out that they are out of the vaccine that I reserved a week ago. Sigh, I'm going to keep trying up here, maybe the hospital in Nan can get it. But i'm avoiding mosquitios like the plague right now. Decided it was way to hot in Bangkok, and didn't get an Aircon room at my guesthouse so hopped over to a 5 star hotel and hung out in their lobby reading my books, and then went up to their rooftop pool for some sun. Quite nice! Met Maeve and Ece who were in town for dentist appointments at Siam Paragon shopping centre, "The Pride of Bangkok". Where I watched those two shop-a-holics spend more on clothes than i'm spending my whole 4 months in Thailand. Fun afternoon though. We went out to some bars that night, and I had some incredible street pad thai on the way home.
The next morning I woke up extra early to go to McDonalds!!! Haha not exciting you think? Well I was there to meet two of my best friends from Vancouver! So exciting! Megan's just arriving from her 6 months working in Australia, and Heather is starting her 2 month SE Asia backpacking trip! So exciting to be back with those girls again!!!!! We had a jam packed day of sightseeing and catching up on gossip as its been over 2 years since we've been all together! We battled the intense heat that covered us in sweat head-to-toe 24 hours a day and took a crazy tuk-tuk that kept popping wheelies over to Wat Po (the largest reclining buddha in the world) and wanted to go to the Grand Palace, but since its the king's 60th Coronation weekend there were royalty everywhere (about 15 different countries were represented I think?) and the place was closed down. Over to MBK shopping centre where we searched for bargin counterfiet stuff. Lost my cell phone in the cab which sucked, but got a new one for pretty cheap. Then back to Khao San for dinner/drinks and some nightmarket shopping!! We had the sweetest guesthouse room WITH AC! (such a luxury) that was more Canada's Next Top Model style than America's...but nonetheless it was cheap and cool!
The next morning I introduced them to the best banana pancakes in Bangkok at the New Siam guesthouse...and we split ways. Those stupid girls get to go on a 5 day diving trip to Koh Tao and me, well back to Wiang Sa. I went to the bus station and just missed a bus to Nan, so waited about 6 hours in the terminal where, SURPRISE! I was constantly stared at. But got a decently cheap ticket on the overnight bus to Wiang Sa. I went to the platform and while I was waiting I was *ta da* Upgraded!!! To a VIP Bus!! It was incredible. First the decore was like combining Julia's Delta Gamma Sorority and velvet Elvis paintings from the 70s. Pink velvet everywhere. BUT the seats reclined into proper beds, we got neck pillows and blankets, meals, snacks, water, juice, english movies...I didn't want to get off! Which was evident when they had to wake me up at my stop. oops. So 6am I'm back in Wiang Sa, walking down the highway fending off offers for rides on motorcycles, watching the sun rise. I'm happy to be back, even happier to be eating Uncle Jai's pad thai!!!
Monday, June 12, 2006
Western Detox
Ahh just waiting to catch my overnight train to Bangkok - thought i'd pop into this pub that has not only milkshakes (!!!) but free internet. sweet. I've had a crazy weekend that when I write about it will remind you more of Aarons SE Asia blog than mine probably (hehe ;)....lots of partying, dancing and late nights, fun motorcycle adventures, and stories that involve OTHER WHITE PEOPLE! Haha, Chaing Mai is interesting - you can't go 2 steps without hitting an English Pub, or an American Pizza place....
Alright off to Bangkok where i'm meeting up with MEGAN and HEATHER!!! So excited for some TB2BThailand adventures.
Alright off to Bangkok where i'm meeting up with MEGAN and HEATHER!!! So excited for some TB2BThailand adventures.
Monday, June 05, 2006
On Monday's we Wear Yellow
We just got our "Kings 60th Celebration of his Ascention to the Throne" Yellow Polo shirts. SO HOT right now in Thailand. Yellow is the new black. I even went to the Nan market wearing it and I swear I got better prices on my Lemon Djroy (more about those magical drinks later)
Its kinda funny how big of a deal we are in this town. Its not weird anymore when someone calls our cellphones and says "hello" and that's it, you try to continue the conversation but the only english they know is Hello, so that's all they say. Or when we are sitting on our deck there is a steady stream of visitors who just come over and stare at us. Its almost getting normal, although I am thinking of having my first child in Namibia to get away from the scrutiny.
Speaking of getting stared at - I went to the huge Sunday market by myself! And sorted through the general crap to find lots of nice lacoste tshirts for $2 and a fabulous huge straw hat that is better suited for working in the rice paddies, but I think I'll wear it while biking around in the 45*C heat....(not to draw anymore attention to myself) I also have a new favorite edible treat. Slurpees in a bag. Well not really slurpees. They take sweet lemon tea and some crushed ice and put it literally into a small plastic bag, throw in a straw and BAMMO! You have the genius of Lemon Drjoy!! So great on hot days! That with the 1/2 chopped pineapple costing only 20 baht (36 baht = $1 CDN) I'm living a nice life up here.
This last weekend was really fun. The teachers took us on another surprise-demand trip to Nan that included going to Tescos! (basically the British Wal-Mart) So exciting. I even saw 2 other white people there. Then to a temple that gives you your fortune, but I don't know if its just the english translations that they wrote on them, but they're all horrible! Mine said,
"Like rowing a boat upstream your life is going to be very difficult with insurmountable obstacles. No legal success in the future. Future children will be male. "
After a lot of "phssss no worry Lau-la, it nothing" from the teachers we cheered up with noodle/crouton ice cream at the night market. On Saturday the other 4 GAP volunteers from Phrae (2 hours away) and Nan (30 minutes away) came to hang out in Wiang Sa. We did A LOT of bike riding to and from the bus station to pick everyone up. 6 white people biking through town sure makes a big scene. It was so fun catching up with other english speakers again - we even got to watch some English VCD's! It was fabulous. Uncle Jai and Pa Pian made an amazing dinner of Khao Pad (fried rice) and chicken, and Pad Thai the other night..mmmmmmmmm. The other volunteers were saying how lucky we are to have such a big house, COUCHES, and awesome food ;) On Sunday we tried our luck at finding some sort of breakfast food in town that did not consist of noodles or rice. Could only get a few apples and these thai style doughnuts. Not bad, but not good. When we got home there was a lady waiting for us to GIVE US MASSAGES at our house!! So great. And only 50 Baht/hour - $1.25 CDN (most massages are at least 200 b/h). In Thailand its legal to work up to 10 hours a day, so I figure 9 straight hours of Thai massages wont be too much to ask in the future ;) She said she would come by anytime we want. Ahhhh heaven, thai massages on-call.
All this week the Provincial Director of Education asked us to help run an English Camp in Nan (the city) for 16/17 year olds. We don't know much except we show up and run a few stations where, "You sing song play game fun fun." And we all know how much I love singing infront of 100s of people! I've learned that teaching English is really nothing if it isn't a lesson in humility! But at least there will be other English speakers there. There is this one woman who is about 50, from Oklahoma. She's been a missionary in Thailand for 30 years now, and I don't think I have heard anything funnier than her speaking Thai with a Southern US accent. Priceless!! A few girls from Princeton just arrived for a 1 year internship at a school in Nan, and there are some other Canadians helping out at this camp. Should be a fun week since Miranda and I have been put up in a hotel in Nan - and teaching lessons from 8am until 9pm at night!!! Then next weekend its off to Chaing Mai for lots of shopping, watting, and river boat cruises!!!
Its kinda funny how big of a deal we are in this town. Its not weird anymore when someone calls our cellphones and says "hello" and that's it, you try to continue the conversation but the only english they know is Hello, so that's all they say. Or when we are sitting on our deck there is a steady stream of visitors who just come over and stare at us. Its almost getting normal, although I am thinking of having my first child in Namibia to get away from the scrutiny.
Speaking of getting stared at - I went to the huge Sunday market by myself! And sorted through the general crap to find lots of nice lacoste tshirts for $2 and a fabulous huge straw hat that is better suited for working in the rice paddies, but I think I'll wear it while biking around in the 45*C heat....(not to draw anymore attention to myself) I also have a new favorite edible treat. Slurpees in a bag. Well not really slurpees. They take sweet lemon tea and some crushed ice and put it literally into a small plastic bag, throw in a straw and BAMMO! You have the genius of Lemon Drjoy!! So great on hot days! That with the 1/2 chopped pineapple costing only 20 baht (36 baht = $1 CDN) I'm living a nice life up here.
This last weekend was really fun. The teachers took us on another surprise-demand trip to Nan that included going to Tescos! (basically the British Wal-Mart) So exciting. I even saw 2 other white people there. Then to a temple that gives you your fortune, but I don't know if its just the english translations that they wrote on them, but they're all horrible! Mine said,
"Like rowing a boat upstream your life is going to be very difficult with insurmountable obstacles. No legal success in the future. Future children will be male. "
After a lot of "phssss no worry Lau-la, it nothing" from the teachers we cheered up with noodle/crouton ice cream at the night market. On Saturday the other 4 GAP volunteers from Phrae (2 hours away) and Nan (30 minutes away) came to hang out in Wiang Sa. We did A LOT of bike riding to and from the bus station to pick everyone up. 6 white people biking through town sure makes a big scene. It was so fun catching up with other english speakers again - we even got to watch some English VCD's! It was fabulous. Uncle Jai and Pa Pian made an amazing dinner of Khao Pad (fried rice) and chicken, and Pad Thai the other night..mmmmmmmmm. The other volunteers were saying how lucky we are to have such a big house, COUCHES, and awesome food ;) On Sunday we tried our luck at finding some sort of breakfast food in town that did not consist of noodles or rice. Could only get a few apples and these thai style doughnuts. Not bad, but not good. When we got home there was a lady waiting for us to GIVE US MASSAGES at our house!! So great. And only 50 Baht/hour - $1.25 CDN (most massages are at least 200 b/h). In Thailand its legal to work up to 10 hours a day, so I figure 9 straight hours of Thai massages wont be too much to ask in the future ;) She said she would come by anytime we want. Ahhhh heaven, thai massages on-call.
All this week the Provincial Director of Education asked us to help run an English Camp in Nan (the city) for 16/17 year olds. We don't know much except we show up and run a few stations where, "You sing song play game fun fun." And we all know how much I love singing infront of 100s of people! I've learned that teaching English is really nothing if it isn't a lesson in humility! But at least there will be other English speakers there. There is this one woman who is about 50, from Oklahoma. She's been a missionary in Thailand for 30 years now, and I don't think I have heard anything funnier than her speaking Thai with a Southern US accent. Priceless!! A few girls from Princeton just arrived for a 1 year internship at a school in Nan, and there are some other Canadians helping out at this camp. Should be a fun week since Miranda and I have been put up in a hotel in Nan - and teaching lessons from 8am until 9pm at night!!! Then next weekend its off to Chaing Mai for lots of shopping, watting, and river boat cruises!!!
