Thanksgiving in Thailand: NO potatoes!

I have just come back from the PIH thanksgiving dinner. It was interesting to say the least.

So the evening started out with everyone dressing nicely. I certainly did not put an effort to but I did wear the same blouse as Tuti. So we all gathered around 5:30 downstairs, there were a lot of people a lot! It was the most full dinner I have ever seen at PIH. So we get there and see the tables all set up with table cloths and candles. The place looked really nice and festive!

So we all sit down for announcements, and a very lovely presentation on Thanksgiving by Emily and Sarah. We then get a speech from the president--which was very informative and thoughtful. It worried me and at the same time reinstated reality for me, as far as the dangers and reality of the danger in Bangkok coming possibly to Chiang Mai. It was a bit of a harsh opening to a celebration meal.

So we finally get to dinner and the line is long, reallly long! So after about 20-30 minutes of waiting we get there and there is Turkey!!! I can't believe my eyes, I am ecstatic. We get down the line and there are veggies, mac and cheese even stuffing...wait where are the potatoes? I don't see them. I start hyper ventilating, its not thanksgiving without potatoes! and then...(dramatic drum roll)...

Mee pumpkin pie, chai mai?

Mai mee, sid lao!

ahhhhh.

In the end, I enjoyed the conversations we had but it only made me more nostalgic for home and greenbeen casserole. ^^

Aloo Mutter

This dish is so delicious. I meant to take a photo of the one that I ordered, but me and Tuti devoured it within minutes! I completely forgot to take the photo. Lol.

Aloo Mutter

So tonight I caved in. Yes! and I ordered Aloo Mutter. Aloo Mutter is an Indian dish that basically consists of peas and potatoes in curry. At home me and my friend used to always go out to 'Bombay Grill' our favorite Indian place.

I think it is funny that now in my time of complete homesickness, not to mention my anxious stage (the closer I get to being home)that I am craving Indian food. Even though neither of my parents are Indian and I am not ethnically Indian, I had this craving for something familiar and delicious (aka not PIH canteen).

How strange that I should find comfort in a cultrual dish that is not from my own culture. Anyways, it is ahroy mak mak and I suggest anyone who has yet to have tried it--do!

Rong tao

I love this tradition. Taking your shoes off before entering a wat, room, store sometimes. It is practical and symbolic. A sign of respect and clean...shoes are dirty, you walk in them every where outside, makes sense. This was outside a famous wat on our Sukkhothai trip. I am pretty sure this picture was in Lampuhn.

PI Jeaw. The song tao driver. The Buddhist

So I asked Pi Jeaw if I could interview him--originally for my Lexia research paper, but I thought it was an interesting experience that I would write about it for my 'interview a Thai' blog.

So I called him, and just calling him and explaining that I didn't want a ride, but to talk to him proved to be quite the ordeal.

"Hello Pi Jeaw, do you think I could interview you sometime, when you have time".

"Uh, where are you?"

"PIH"

"Where do you want to go??"

"Nowhere, I want to talk to you, an interview--is that ok?"

So we discussed what time would work for him and he said he would be free at 8pm. So I thanked him. Afterwards I realized what a great service he was doing me, and for free...gas costs money! Not to mention since being here in Thailand Pi Jeaw really has been a very reliable and friendly driver to me and my friends. So I panicked and looked for some token of my appreciation. I had no food or sweets on me, so I thought I would make something crafty. I made a thank you card, but decorated and crafted it elaborately. Then I thought to sneak in gas money inside.

So 8pm rolled by and I met Pi Jeaw downstairs. From the beginning he wanted to know if I would interview him in Thai, I told him that I couldn't but that we would take it slow and if he couldn't explain something he could write it and my research assistant could translate for me later--plus he could feel free to use his electronic dictionary. He seemed nervous but willing. So I launched into it, and while his answers were short, I could usually coax out his meaning and with the help of his dictionary, some of the larger vocab was understood. Overall I learned some interesting things about his views on Buddhism which will add greatly to my research.

After awhile, the mosquitoes got really frisky with our ankles and were biting non stop. So I suggested that we move to the study room, inside and mosquito free. He liked that suggestion, so we moved. It was much quieter in there than just sitting in front of the 'front desk'. I finished the interview, thanked him and gave him my card...he seemed please with my decorating and then opened it to find money slide out. Instantly he refused to take the money politely. I tried insisting, "Really for gas. Gas money! Gasoline can be expensive". But he still would not have it. Instead he told me, "No, next time you need my service you call me and I will come. Pay me then". So I assured him that money would be his the next time I rode with him. That and he requested another English lesson at some point to which I agreed to do.

We then said our goodbyes and concluded our interview. I really enjoyed speaking with Pi Jeaw he is a really insightful person, who when overcomes his shyness has a lot on his mind.

Thailand's Burning Flame and MICKEY!!!

Here is a sculpture that I am submitting as my final project for my Thai art class. This is before I painted it a royal gold, sadly I did not take pictures of it after s is it was painted. The flame is a 3D version of a traditional Thai pattern which is suppose to represent a flame (or as my Adjan later told me a tree branch..go figure), anyways and the MICKEY tv which can turn into into other Disney characters is meant to represent globalization in Thailand (the flame).

Teaching Assignment:1

So I finally taught a 'class' for our ICU class. I have to admit that I was nervous about the whole thing and was racking my mind for what they would possibly have us teach our students. I was thinking, what could I teach--sure English is my native language but I am the last person who should be molding future minds and potentially telling them something wrong.

Our teaching lesson was to be on Payap's alternate campus (the one across from McCormick Hospital) and our students were Divinity students. So we (me and Angela were teaching together) got a little lost trying to look for the dorm where we were suposse to meet. Finally we found it and our students approached us, at first glance I thought they were the teachers since both were older looking, until they asked..."So how do we do this? Should we just have a discussion?". We agreed that a discussion would be a good idea, since clearly (after greeting them and introducing ourselves)we could tell the were quite proficient.

Over all, the conversation we had ran fairly smoothly. There were times when I had to remind myself to speak slowly, since their comprehension was not at par with a native speaker. Their vocab was really good and the topics we discussed were well ranged from airport travel to life altering decisions. In the end, I felt that the 'lesson' or conversation session went really well since we were all really relaxed. I think the relaxed feeling created a really comfortable environment and gave them an opportunity to really utilized what they had learned.

Loy Kratong--Fire and Water

So I went to the first night of Loy Kratong last night, it went a little like this....

BOOM! ZIIP! SpLAt!

(Shrieks issuing from fired at girls, the mumble of Thai being spoken, laughs, horns and the zooming of motorbikes)

I really liked it. IT was exciting and terrifying at the same time. It was like everyone was kid these three days out of the year, and they went out of their way to make sure they celebrated it right. Amidst the chaos of concerts, venders, farang, highschool boys and girls firing firecrackers at each other there were calm Buddhist rites being carried on. Namely the lighting of a floating floral/incense/candle arrangement, where one was suppose to make a wish and pray over before lighting it and launching it to float freely in the water. There were some other minor traditions there, such as releasing confined water dwelling animals (i.e. snails, eels, fish, turtles) into the river, signifying their rebirth.

Overall the whole experience was really unique and something that reaffirms my joy that I came to Thailand to study abroad.

Tropic Thunder=total blunder

So me, Angela and a couple of Thai friends decided to go out to Robinson's to see a movie. I was so excited--my first movie viewing in Thailand; the previews, popcorn, soda, excitement and entertainment rolled into one!

It actually went more like this:

So first we meet a friend who we didn't know was coming until last minute. He ended up being a very polite, nice guy. We get to Robinson's and eat an early dinner knowing that the movie would run until late. So after purchasing our tickets we wait for the few minutes before the film. Then finally it is time and we sit down in our theater, awaiting the movie. Quickly the advertisements start rolling and among them is the King's anthem which I was well prepared for having heard about it. So I stand up for it and the movie clip playing was very well done but a little too propagandist for me.

So that is all well, but from the very first seen taking place in 'picturesque'
Vietnam, we are introduced to a group of quirky actors who all coming from their various fields of celebrityhood to make this 'horrid' remake of a Vietnam war movie which within the first 5 min shows guts flying, choice words being spurted and strong themes. While I would have been slightly uncomfortable seeing such a movie, it was even more horrifying being with Thais (known for their more reserved side) to watch such strong themed and inappropriate-joke laden film.

After watching it, our friends had some questions for us, either some explanations of jokes that didn't translate or some slang. We didn't really discuss the culture differences or similarities of the films, but it was clear with the jokes where they needed explanation that there needed to be a background knowledge of American culture in order for the joke to come across as funny. It is also interesting in that way to see what we as an entire culture would find amusing and why, when explaining it, you start to question why you thought it was funny.

Overall going to the movies was fun, funny, horrifying and in no way lacking in popcorn and culture crossings.

Hijab

Me and Tuti all dressed in our Hijab--ready for mosque. I didn't know how to wear a head scarf, and I knew I had to cover my head for the mosque. So Tuti lent me a scarf and she helped tied it up for me.

GORILLAZ...in Thailand

I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag
I'm useless, but not for long
The future is coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on
It's coming on

.....

Every sprouting tree
Every child apiece
Every cloud you see
You see with your eyes
I see destruction and demise
Corruption in disguise
>From this f******' enterprise
Now I'm sucking to your lies

Randomly while helping a friend move into their new dorm room, I had the Gorillaz's Clint Eastwood stuck in my head. So for the next few days I listened to them on repeat. It wasn't until after looking up the lyrics to the songs I had been singing blindly for the past couple days that I realized how within them I could describe some of my experience here in Thailand. Within the first verse I feel like the conflicting nature of being unhappy (due to missing family back home) yet being glad (to be in an amazing country) perfectly describes the conflicting feelings I have.

And then in the second later verse I relate to those powerful words, although I didn't go on the Mae sa trip to the refugee camp. From the stories my friends have told me and the reality check I have had in general towards poverty and corruption in Thailand is like an awakening. It is not as if these themes are uncommon to me, I see these in America also but it is as if I am slowly transitioning from happy removed 'tourist' to observable inhabitant. I leave in about a months time, but it has taken me all of this time here to start to see some of the issues and problems here in Thailand. Despite my sudden state of awareness, I am in no way any less disenchanted with Thailand. The opposite in fact, I feel as if being here has encouraged me to contribute to some future change. Change as in a better Thailand, and even when I go back home change for a better America. Which considering the recent election results is soon on the way with Obama leading.