From an outsider's eyes...

As I sat in the back of the mosque's woman's prayer room I could see what it was like for woman to pray on Friday's. Whether my presence affected the regularity of the ritual, I could not tell but everyone seemed undeterred by my presence.

Before I left, I asked Tuti for a. A long shirt (having come to hot Thailand I brought none) and b. A scarf I could borrow. Not knowing how to wrap a scarf myself--Tuti went to town and wrapped it for me. It looked beautiful, admittedly it was a little uncomfortable at first but I will not be dramatic and pretend like years of oppression were felt by wearing a scarf that was a bit 'snuggish' under my chin. In all honestly, I just don't wear scarfs. End of story--no oppression felt. In fact, as me and Tuti wore our scarves/ and she her gown, we received a bit of extra attention than before. Honestly, especially here were the Muslim is a minority the black scarf serves as a beacon--please look at me. Even when I couldn't feel more shy in my life wearing it.

At the mosque, there was a beautiful palatial like building with rounded towers of blue...that was the men's section. Aj. Pam was nice enough to show me it, I was not allowed inside which she told me was a fact that usually outraged American students she has brought to mosque before. I was not offended, it is tradition after all and I sort of expected that sort of thing. The woman's prayer room was on the side, smaller and more modestly decorated. It felt more special to me, the less razzle dazzle about a place the more deeper search one must do for a spiritual path within. All of the women were arriving, filing in slowly, and each would come in typical attire...some wearing scarves and others not. They would then wear a typical 'Malaysian' robe that covered them entirely...it sort of was partially a scarf on top and a gown that went down to their knees, usually a separate long wrap around skirt accompanied it. To see all of the women there in their time of submission to Allah, sitting there quietly with these flowing gowns was truly a sight. Others would be affronted by it and scared. But I found it simply beautiful.

The entire time, I spent sitting back...not participating but contemplating the meaning of the goings on. It was a good experience and I am glad that I went. It is nice to be able to go abroad to another country and not just explore new foods or customs but to be able to reach out and actively try different faiths.

Sukhothai Historical Park

Reflections of an old civilization.

I have a cat in my pants and many more delightful giggles

So yesterday I was sitting doing some homework with Anika and Rachel. We half worked and half talked--as most good students will do :)

One of the things that we talked about was my desire to collect the phrase, "I have a cat in my pants" in as many language possible. This childish joke was started with me and friends one day in High school when I was teaching them some key Spanish phrases.

So far my collection is:

Yo tengo un gato en mis pantalones-Spanish

Ich habe eine katze in meiner hose-German

and that was all I had at that point before our talk. Anika was kind enough to tell me it in Swedish and the three of us collectively tried figuring it out in Thai.

yargh haaard en kat e mhinah biksud-Swedish

Dii Chan/Pom mee mao nai gang gang-Thai ?

U menya koshka v shtanach-Russian (I asked my friend online)

So now I can say this clearly key phrase in 5 languages. The list is growing. In retrospect, it may seem like a pointless thing to collect, but I've noticed that the silly nature of the phrase works as sort of a unifier. No matter what language you translate it into, it is a ridiculous phrase and it can easily work as an ice breaker and a way to dip into several cultures and languages at once.

Beach Buds

Here is all of us, almost--pek is taking the picture, at the beach! It was so beautiful and fun, even more so that we got to hang out with some really cool kids ;)

Bangkok Song Tao

This is Bangkok's version of a Song Tao! Scandelous. I prefer the red one's that are out pick ups converted into a taxi than these urbana wannabes! :)

American time: LATE, Thai time:Mai Pen Rai

Concepts of time are crucial when traveling abroad. Especially here in Thailand. I never thought of myself as a rushed person or a super on time or 'anal' person. But after spending a weekend trip in Bangkok with Thai friends I realize that my concept of what 'on time' means is very different or more loosely used in Thailand.

So before we even embark on our trip to Bangkok, we sit waiting at PIH (Paradornparp International House) for some friends to finish printing out papers, then we get a call, two members of our party our at the apartments by Seven Elven but will be there soon. Our Song Tao driver out of concern for us, tells us that we have 20 minutes to go until our Bus departs, he assures us he can make it in 15min. So when time passes, they are still not there and it is 12 min to go...I start to worry. Really panic.

I felt so helpless so furious, how could they do this? I spent money on a ticket and I might miss the bus. My friends trying to smooth things out. "Don't worry, its Thai time!" and "We could always catch another bus"--The first thought made me consider, what is Thai time?

Well they came and we made our bus. Throughout the trip we were late to everything--Late leaving to the beach, late coming back from it--late going to JJ market, late coming back! Even though this weekend had its stresses, I noticed that as the weekend reached the end my frustrations and anxieties towards 'Thai Time' disappeared and I was able to enjoy myself. No matter what time we got there :)

Confessions of a non-teenage pajama queen!!!!

OMG!!!!

I have been in bed all day.
I am so bored--and yet my unacceptable appearance forbids me from going out into society. An ant walks across my knuckles as I type.
Seriously, being sick is for losers.

I cough, I hack, I sneeze, I blow my nose.
All activities I hate the most.

The longer I stare at these loney white walls, the more thinking, thinking, thinking.
You are thinking this blog entry is lame,
whereas I am thinking of the world.

You know, the one I am closed off from.
Why me? Why not them? Or even you?
I am sick, you could be too.

Being sick is for losers.
I feel hot, and dizzy, and lazy, and tired, yet awake.
All things I really hate.

I sleep all day. And am awake all night.
The next day I will feel better,
I should anyways.

Mai sabai, sick, and enfermo

I am sick. Again. My third or fourth major spout of illness since I have been here. I would like to not spend my entire time being sick but apparently fate does not agree with me. I have thought about what sort of habits I have, whether I give myself enough time to get better from previous illnesses or whether I am participating more frequently in activities that lead to my illnesses. Nothing adds up or makes sense of my frequent mai sabai state. What is interesting is the response I get from everyone whilst sick. Not that I don't have loving friends or family at home--but I have received and am being treated in such a way when I am sick that I nearly prefer it to being healthy.

Example a. yesterday at dinner in the canteen I ran into Joy-Anne, a very sweet girl who saw instantly that I was sick and with a panic stricken look on her face asked me if I wanted or needed anything. I told her I had felt like having juice and she feverishly began to rustle through her carrefour bag (having just come from carrefour she had some grocery bags) and pulled out a package of kids apple juice and gave it to me. Despite protests I found myself walking upstairs with apple juice and a smile on my face; my friends are great.

That is one of the many, many examples of generosity I have experienced while ill here. By looking at each person's reaction to my illness I can tell something about them, their culture and personality.

Example b. Tuti called me asking if I was up to eating dinner at 5pm, I first asked her when dinner ended to which she replied, 7pm. I told her I would probably eat a little before 7pm then. With a worried tone she said ok and hung up. Seconds later I heard a knock on my door, it was Tuti with a bag of chips, and a small carton of chocolate wafer cookies. She looked worried and told me that I did not look well. "Wow, Andrea you are really sick", "Yes Tuti, I am". So in the end, despite even more protesting, I ended up with an small collections of snacks. Thank you for those chips Tuti, they were delicious.

It is funny the way in times of need or during times when our friendship is tested to see how human nature reacts to the misfortune of others. Needless to say, I am very grateful to all of my friends here who have genuinely cared about me and given me offerings of well tidings. Thank you all.

Beautiful View @_@

A stunning view from our hotel. The rolling landscape was so beautiful in the setting sun.

Dear Andrew,

I know we never became good friends but I am glad to have known you. Although I am not a religious person I really earnestly hope that you are out there somewhere looking back at us from a warm place. In times like these I find that my way of healing is to think about the wonderful life someone has lived. While I do not know much about you, from deep down I could tell you were a kindred spirit.

From the moment I met you, you were very kind and considerate. You seemed to always care and think about others, which shows how endearing you really were towards others. Everywhere you went you loved to greet and talk to others, everyone was a friend. Every time I saw you, you always had a smile on your face. I hope where ever you are you have a smile on your face.

Rest in Peace Andrew,
Andrea

Blackout

So there was a blackout in PIH. My roommate and I were both looking at pictures online when suddenly the room went pitch black, our fan stopped blowing and I heard an echoing of screams breakout in the hall. Within seconds the emergency lighting had kicked in, both a little frightened by the dark abyss that was now our room and the unexpected blackout we decided to venture out of our room downstairs to see what was going on.

Down stairs many other students had also gathered. While I have on occasion experienced a blackout it was really interesting to see through a new cultural lens, how a blackout in Thailand 'went down'. Everyone was super chatty and in upheaval...It very well could have been an excuse to stop studying, but then again everyone needs a break now and then! I saw people in boxers, and in their pajamas--it was like the normal social structure that had been created was broken. Either way, the lights eventually came on...after me and my roommate were well into bed. :)

Smile :)

So here is the group of us that went to celebrate Eid Mubarak with Tuti. We took this picture before we left in our song taew. We asked kwon hee to take it, I felt so bad because he had like 4 cameras dangling off of his arm...

TATTOO COLOUR*****

So as previously mentioned in earlier blog, for the past week or so I have been experiencing a serious case of homesickness. I suppose if I were to attempt to fit it into the culture shock chart I would have called it my 'hostile phase'. Don't get me wrong, I was not hostile--merely I missed home with such aggression that it made me resent certain things about my surrounding and made it more difficult for me to accept things around me. For lack of better language, I was in a slump.

However all of this changed when a group of Thai friends asked me if I was interested in going to Monkey Club to see Tattoo Colour! Of course I was interested....they are my favorite Thai band!!! As trivial as see a new favorite band live, it was just enough of a pick me up to lighten my recently 'slumpish' mood. The entire experience was really unique. I found myself comparing the concert to any American concert I had been to. While there were some differences, I still felt the same rush of excitement to see and hear familiar someone I had come to admire and listen to nearly every day. In addition to see a rocking band, I got to know the group of people I went with pretty well too. Sadly I still don't own their CD, despite my desperate efforts!!! However I have hope for the future that I can obtain it someday.

Eid Mubarak

Swensens Ice cream!!!!!!!!!! Tuti's last day of Ramadan was Tuesday--she told me she had to pray all day and that usually the day ends in a festival, a celebration where everyone dresses up and wears very nice clothing, uses make up and eats one large celebration meal together. I wanted to make Tuti feel at home here in Thailand and I told her that I wanted to celebrate Eid Mubarak with her (name of last day of Ramadan). So a large group of us planned to take Tuti to eat her favorite food; Ice Cream.

We chose Swensen's becuase Tuti had never gone and became sold on going there when I told her about the swing benches they have. We all had an amazing time, the ice cream was delicious and it tasted better than ever especially when before embarking on our Eid Mubarak adventure Tuti thanked all of us for making her feel at home. She told us that the one thing she missed at home was gathering around with her friends and just chatting about daily average things and going out and dressing up for meals on the weekends. It's an odd sensation to think that something as simple as a group of us going out to eat ice cream helped create a safe space or a comfort zone for someone. After having suffered a really bad spell of home sickness, I was happy to help a friend out with theirs.