Bangkok is a massive city- in fact, its one of the largest in the world with over 13 million people. The city doesn't sleep and there are people milling about at all times of day but even so, the traffic is horrendous! I am so glad they have a good mass transportation system that can navigate one-way-or-the-other around the mess. Otherwise, the city would be miserable.
I have been thrown right into teaching and will start this weekend with 6, 1.5+ hour classes. This may not sound like a lot but to a new teacher, there is a lot of planning that goes into every lesson. I have been at work everyday just preparing for the weekend. I have also been trying to find a place to live which is quite a bit overwhelming because not only do I not know the city, but I don't speak the language. I think I am going to find some short-term accommodation while I figure it out and not stress about it too much.
Today was interesting... I wanted to pick up a package my Mom sent me from DHL. It got commandeered at the airport and I had to go there (which is 45 minutes away from anything) and clear customs before I could receive it. It ended up taking me 3 hours in total! I had to go through no less than 8 security check points and even received a clearance badge for the day. The funny thing is that they didn't take my mace. Hehe. I'm not sure if the Thais know what mace is because I accidentally flew with it once without a problem as well.
I have wondered around the city trying to learn and figure it out and am just overwhelmed with curiosity and excitement. I really do love it here! I know I will be happy living here for a year and look forward to getting used to it.
In the meantime, I want to go ahead and list my top 10 curiosities about BKK:
1) How do they fit 7 people in a Tuk-Tuk? (Think pedi-cab but motorized and with 3 wheels- it's small though!)
2) Why do the girls wear huge heels if they're going to walk all day?
3) Is it really humanly possible to eat something that spicy without sweating, crying, or both?
4) How many "Nana" couples can you spot in one day? ("Nana" means older farang man with a younger Thai lady.)
5) Where did the cement on my shoe come from? And more importantly, did I leave a footprint?
6) Where is the mother of that unattended kid begging near the subway?
7) How are you not sweating in this sweltering heat?
8) What exactly is that you want me to eat??!?!?!?!
9) Is it really that terrible to eat McDonald's?
10) What part of "kor toyt ka, mai ow ka" (I'm sorry, I do not want) don't you understand?????
Hope you are all well. I miss and think about you a lot!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
CELTA
Phew!!!! I finished my CELTA course today and I passed! It was a lot of hard work but I am glad that I did it. It definitely helped prepare me and I was even able to secure a job before I finished the course. We had a big party last night with the students where they brought us local food, danced, gave us gifts and we gave them certificates. I actually ate a fried cockroach which I've never done before. It wasn't that bad but I don't plan on making it a habit...
I accepted a teaching position in Bangkok at International House (www.ihbangkok.com). They actually put on the CELTA course so I know that the school is well-run. My biggest fear has been accepting a job where they school doesn't deliver on their promises (or payment) so having this peace of mind is invaluable to me. I am going to be paid 35,000 Baht/month for the first two months and then it increases to 40,000 Baht/Month. That may sound like a lot but it is actually $1,026 and $1,173/month. Surprisingly, it puts me in the middle class here in Thailand!
I am excited but also sad to leave all of my friends here in Chiang Mai. We have grown really close, having spent so much time together over the past month. I have actually cried a few tears just thinking about it. I am avoiding the task of packing because the reality of the move is a bit scary. I don't really know anyone in Bangkok and I will have to create a life of my own, in a foreign place where I don't speak the language. I'm sure I'll be fine- Bangkok is a very international city where people speak English a lot- but the customs are different and they hike up the prices for Farang so I will have to get used to that and figure the city out.
It's still really hot but the rainy season starts soon which should help the weather cool down. I am excited for my last weekend of freedom before I start work. It has been a 3 months since I have worked and I really enjoyed my holiday. But, it's time to start making some money again. :)
I love and miss you all and will blog again once I'm in BKK. XOXO
I accepted a teaching position in Bangkok at International House (www.ihbangkok.com). They actually put on the CELTA course so I know that the school is well-run. My biggest fear has been accepting a job where they school doesn't deliver on their promises (or payment) so having this peace of mind is invaluable to me. I am going to be paid 35,000 Baht/month for the first two months and then it increases to 40,000 Baht/Month. That may sound like a lot but it is actually $1,026 and $1,173/month. Surprisingly, it puts me in the middle class here in Thailand!
I am excited but also sad to leave all of my friends here in Chiang Mai. We have grown really close, having spent so much time together over the past month. I have actually cried a few tears just thinking about it. I am avoiding the task of packing because the reality of the move is a bit scary. I don't really know anyone in Bangkok and I will have to create a life of my own, in a foreign place where I don't speak the language. I'm sure I'll be fine- Bangkok is a very international city where people speak English a lot- but the customs are different and they hike up the prices for Farang so I will have to get used to that and figure the city out.
It's still really hot but the rainy season starts soon which should help the weather cool down. I am excited for my last weekend of freedom before I start work. It has been a 3 months since I have worked and I really enjoyed my holiday. But, it's time to start making some money again. :)
I love and miss you all and will blog again once I'm in BKK. XOXO
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Hang Dong
I am staying at a hotel/resort in a town outside of Hang Dong (yes, that's the name), which is outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Chiang Mai is the second biggest city in Thailand and some say the cultural center. It has a bit of Austin flavor as there is a river in the heart of the city, lined with cool clubs and amazing restaurants. There are a lot of outdoor pubs with hanging lights and it has a generally laid back atmosphere. I haven't been able to explore as much as I would like because the course is so intense, but what I have seen, I have really enjoyed. I am staying in Chiang Mai proper the weekend after my course is over, and one of my new friends is going to take me to a lake where people hang out, drink beer and relax (like the greenbelt). I'm also going to see the Pandas at the Chiang Mai Zoo and I am so excited! There are rumors that the female panda might be pregnant!
The course continues to be very intense but I am learning so much and I am happy that I am taking it. I was able to get out of the grounds last Sunday and went for a walk. I guess I was excited because I didn't stop walking- I explored over 9 miles and was gone for more than 5 hours! I ate pizza twice because I had an intense craving for western food. I had a prisciutto and arugula (or rocket as they call it here) pizza which is my absolute favorite and it was delicious. I will say that Thai food is very good and I don't really tire of it... I just need my pizza fix every now and again. I found a go-cart track where I raced a couple of 7/8 year-old kids. Let me just say that they don't have governors on their go-carts here and those suckers go FAST! I got my ass kicked by the kids because I was too scared to go that fast. I had some amazing ice cream, found some good wine and had an all-around great day. It was so nice to see something new... I've felt kind of stuck here. It would have been perfect if I hadn't gotten huge, 1 inch blisters on both of my feet. They are just now starting to feel ok, but it was totally worth it!
Tomorrow is Friday and it is the end of my third week in the course, which means I only have one more left! Then, it's off to Bangkok to find a job and a place to live and really start my new life in Thailand. It is going to be weird because I have grown accustomed to my new friends and fellow teachers whom I see everyday. Not knowing anyone in as big of a city as BKK is a bit daunting but I know I will meet people at my job and hopefully have someone to hang out with! I am also looking forward to finding some place to volunteer. The Thai people are so warm and accommodating that I just can't help but want to give something back. I miss the street food from Bangkok as well. I know that's weird but it's definitely the best bang for your buck, quality and price-wise, of any food I've ever encountered.
One more lesson to part with: instant coffee is all they have here and Folgers is considered premium. I thought I was a coffee snob before I left, but I think Thailand will change that. Just. Need. Caffeine.
Love you all!
The course continues to be very intense but I am learning so much and I am happy that I am taking it. I was able to get out of the grounds last Sunday and went for a walk. I guess I was excited because I didn't stop walking- I explored over 9 miles and was gone for more than 5 hours! I ate pizza twice because I had an intense craving for western food. I had a prisciutto and arugula (or rocket as they call it here) pizza which is my absolute favorite and it was delicious. I will say that Thai food is very good and I don't really tire of it... I just need my pizza fix every now and again. I found a go-cart track where I raced a couple of 7/8 year-old kids. Let me just say that they don't have governors on their go-carts here and those suckers go FAST! I got my ass kicked by the kids because I was too scared to go that fast. I had some amazing ice cream, found some good wine and had an all-around great day. It was so nice to see something new... I've felt kind of stuck here. It would have been perfect if I hadn't gotten huge, 1 inch blisters on both of my feet. They are just now starting to feel ok, but it was totally worth it!
Tomorrow is Friday and it is the end of my third week in the course, which means I only have one more left! Then, it's off to Bangkok to find a job and a place to live and really start my new life in Thailand. It is going to be weird because I have grown accustomed to my new friends and fellow teachers whom I see everyday. Not knowing anyone in as big of a city as BKK is a bit daunting but I know I will meet people at my job and hopefully have someone to hang out with! I am also looking forward to finding some place to volunteer. The Thai people are so warm and accommodating that I just can't help but want to give something back. I miss the street food from Bangkok as well. I know that's weird but it's definitely the best bang for your buck, quality and price-wise, of any food I've ever encountered.
One more lesson to part with: instant coffee is all they have here and Folgers is considered premium. I thought I was a coffee snob before I left, but I think Thailand will change that. Just. Need. Caffeine.
Love you all!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Mozzies
Everyone in Thailand calls mosquitoes 'mozzies.' I have no idea where it comes from but I have picked it up, mostly to just seem cool. A few of them got in my room the other day and waged war on me in the middle of the night. It turns out that I am severely allergic to the mosquitoes here and I look like I got in a fight... that I lost. My left ear lobe is really swollen, I have a huge bump on the back of my neck and no right ankle due to the swelling from almost 10 massive bites. I am self-medicating with benadryl and hydrocortizone so I have been groggy as hell to boot. But, I have managed to pull through and am still on top of my course-work and am starting to have some fun teaching. I just hope my body gets used to the mozzies soon! (Just so you know- I don't have a fever and I'm not sick so there is no dengue fever or malaria to report, as of yet.)
The course is quite challenging and carries a high work load but I imagine part of the difficulty is because I'm coming of a 2 month holiday where I didn't have to do much of anything... Except have fun, and that's easy! It's hard but I'm learning a lot and I'm so glad that I'm doing it. Going into a teaching job completely unprepared would be miserable because I would have no idea what I was doing. I'm slowly picking up techniques and gaining confidence which makes me happy!
I am lucky enough to have a girl in my class that has been in Chiang Mai for 18 months. She took us out on Friday night to two really cool places! One was called 'Fabrique' and it had outdoor tables on grass with bean bags and two dance floors- one with dance music, the other with hip hop (where I heard some JT!)- and it was a lot of fun. I didn't get to bed until 5 am and my personal opinion is that not closing clubs at 2 am is criminal. We're all drunk anyway and nothing good happens after 2 am!
There is a lady in my course that swears she has never been drunk... Little does she know that we are now all on a mission to change that! I also don't believe anyone that claims to have never been drunk at some point in their life. I think that they just weren't as drunk as everyone else!
Life is a bit boring here but I am settling into my daily routine... I am working out regularly and eating quite well. It is also nice to sleep in the same bed every night. I am looking forward to my move to Bangkok which happens in 3 weeks. I am excited to explore the city more and to really settle down for a while. Also, the weather is starting to cool down which has been welcomed on my part. Even though I have now been in tropical weather for months, I still have no tan to show for it. I guess it's official- I only have two colors and it's white and red. :)
The course is quite challenging and carries a high work load but I imagine part of the difficulty is because I'm coming of a 2 month holiday where I didn't have to do much of anything... Except have fun, and that's easy! It's hard but I'm learning a lot and I'm so glad that I'm doing it. Going into a teaching job completely unprepared would be miserable because I would have no idea what I was doing. I'm slowly picking up techniques and gaining confidence which makes me happy!
I am lucky enough to have a girl in my class that has been in Chiang Mai for 18 months. She took us out on Friday night to two really cool places! One was called 'Fabrique' and it had outdoor tables on grass with bean bags and two dance floors- one with dance music, the other with hip hop (where I heard some JT!)- and it was a lot of fun. I didn't get to bed until 5 am and my personal opinion is that not closing clubs at 2 am is criminal. We're all drunk anyway and nothing good happens after 2 am!
There is a lady in my course that swears she has never been drunk... Little does she know that we are now all on a mission to change that! I also don't believe anyone that claims to have never been drunk at some point in their life. I think that they just weren't as drunk as everyone else!
Life is a bit boring here but I am settling into my daily routine... I am working out regularly and eating quite well. It is also nice to sleep in the same bed every night. I am looking forward to my move to Bangkok which happens in 3 weeks. I am excited to explore the city more and to really settle down for a while. Also, the weather is starting to cool down which has been welcomed on my part. Even though I have now been in tropical weather for months, I still have no tan to show for it. I guess it's official- I only have two colors and it's white and red. :)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Teaching
I'm finally in Chiang Mai for my course after a month of intense traveling. I didn't stay in one place for longer than 4 or 5 days and although that sounds unsettling, it was really quite the opposite. I became comfortable with the idea that every day held a new experience and each moment was to be taken advantage of. The thought of staying in the same place for 30 days has hit me in a surprising way... Perhaps it's slowing down and having a moment alone with my thoughts, or perhaps it's the fact that this new life I have chosen is now a reality. Honestly its probably both, but I have found that this time for reflection has helped some of my fears come to light and now I can deal with them. Kim has been amazing through all of this- compassionate and understanding but firm with her needs at the same time. She has all of my admiration and deserves everything I could give her and more. I can't wait for her to be here in Thailand!
I am feeling excited about my course and becoming a teacher. The hardest thing for me to deal with is feeling unprepared and incompetent going into each day. I taught for the first time tonight, even though the course started yesterday, and it was quite the challenge but also a lot of fun! The kids are wonderful- eager, patient and understanding of the fact that we are new teachers and won't get it perfect right away. It was interesting to see techniques that work, or don't, and I have found that I will have to become a lot more dramatic and animated. Who would have thought I could find a profession that required more of these things from me??? I felt like I did horribly but everyone said I looked relaxed and they had no idea that things didn't go as planned. I guess I fooled them! :)
I have had a great time so far and can't believe that I have seen and done so much already. Climbing the Harbour Bridge in Sydney is probably my favorite thing that I have done so far. The view was gorgeous and as I reached the summit, a huge rainbow appeared just over the Opera House. It was perfect! I met so many nice people, ate amazing food, drank great beer (and I swear there's more alcohol in it) and fell in love with Sydney's culture. I plan on going back some day but for now, I am excited to learn more about Eastern culture and "The Land of Smiles," as Thailand is known, and to just enjoy my new home.
I'm sending you all hugs and kisses! XOXO
I am feeling excited about my course and becoming a teacher. The hardest thing for me to deal with is feeling unprepared and incompetent going into each day. I taught for the first time tonight, even though the course started yesterday, and it was quite the challenge but also a lot of fun! The kids are wonderful- eager, patient and understanding of the fact that we are new teachers and won't get it perfect right away. It was interesting to see techniques that work, or don't, and I have found that I will have to become a lot more dramatic and animated. Who would have thought I could find a profession that required more of these things from me??? I felt like I did horribly but everyone said I looked relaxed and they had no idea that things didn't go as planned. I guess I fooled them! :)
I have had a great time so far and can't believe that I have seen and done so much already. Climbing the Harbour Bridge in Sydney is probably my favorite thing that I have done so far. The view was gorgeous and as I reached the summit, a huge rainbow appeared just over the Opera House. It was perfect! I met so many nice people, ate amazing food, drank great beer (and I swear there's more alcohol in it) and fell in love with Sydney's culture. I plan on going back some day but for now, I am excited to learn more about Eastern culture and "The Land of Smiles," as Thailand is known, and to just enjoy my new home.
I'm sending you all hugs and kisses! XOXO
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Oz!
So, I'm now in Sydney and Parker has gone home after our trip in Thailand which was amazing! Parker is so chill and relaxed that he was the perfect person to travel with. We almost always wanted to do the same things so it worked out very well. We went on a few boat tours and explored several islands. It involved some of the most amazing snorkeling of my life. I ended up getting scared because of all of the fish that were swarming around me. I had to get back in the boat when I saw one poop right in front of me... It was really strange because we then made eye contact and I didn't know quite what to do.
Anyway, we never made it out of the airport in Bangkok because of the protests and violence going on there. We decided to stay in Phuket a bit longer instead which was a blast. We were able to celebrate "Songkran" which is the Thai New Year and it is honestly an all out water fight. There is a road that is kind of like 6th Street or New Orleans were the Farang engaged in a fierce water battle. Parker and I both made the mistake of wearing jeans that night which wasn't fun at all. The next day, we were able to celebrate with the Thais and they were much nicer and it was way more fun. Apparently, Songkran is a festival inspired by the annual cleansing of the image of Buddha in order to get rid of impurities. Thai people wash each other with water, put paste on your face and wish each other good fortune for the year. It really was quite the experience!
I am now in Sydney and I love it here! It is such a laid back city and the people are extremely nice. I am fortunate enough to have a friend that took me around all weekend to the sights and out to the cool clubs. She knew people that could get us into all of the swanky, hip clubs so I experienced "the scene" in Sydney. Lots of pretty people and party excess but good times none-the-less. I am taking today to recover because I just can't hang with the Aussies- they really can drink! I am staying in a hostel here because it is SO expensive in Sydney and the girls in my dorm make me look lame by comparison. They keep showing up around 6/7 in the morning with stories of almost getting arrested, various hook-ups and just general drunken debauchery. It is funny because I am the quiet one here. If only they knew how many beer bongs I did at my going away party!
I am gearing up for my return to Thailand in order to start my course. I am both nervous and excited because it is going to be challenging but I am ready to engage my mind again and start this new path in my life.
I must admit that I am getting homesick and I miss my girlfriend, family and friends. I am sending you all my love!
XOXO
Anyway, we never made it out of the airport in Bangkok because of the protests and violence going on there. We decided to stay in Phuket a bit longer instead which was a blast. We were able to celebrate "Songkran" which is the Thai New Year and it is honestly an all out water fight. There is a road that is kind of like 6th Street or New Orleans were the Farang engaged in a fierce water battle. Parker and I both made the mistake of wearing jeans that night which wasn't fun at all. The next day, we were able to celebrate with the Thais and they were much nicer and it was way more fun. Apparently, Songkran is a festival inspired by the annual cleansing of the image of Buddha in order to get rid of impurities. Thai people wash each other with water, put paste on your face and wish each other good fortune for the year. It really was quite the experience!
I am now in Sydney and I love it here! It is such a laid back city and the people are extremely nice. I am fortunate enough to have a friend that took me around all weekend to the sights and out to the cool clubs. She knew people that could get us into all of the swanky, hip clubs so I experienced "the scene" in Sydney. Lots of pretty people and party excess but good times none-the-less. I am taking today to recover because I just can't hang with the Aussies- they really can drink! I am staying in a hostel here because it is SO expensive in Sydney and the girls in my dorm make me look lame by comparison. They keep showing up around 6/7 in the morning with stories of almost getting arrested, various hook-ups and just general drunken debauchery. It is funny because I am the quiet one here. If only they knew how many beer bongs I did at my going away party!
I am gearing up for my return to Thailand in order to start my course. I am both nervous and excited because it is going to be challenging but I am ready to engage my mind again and start this new path in my life.
I must admit that I am getting homesick and I miss my girlfriend, family and friends. I am sending you all my love!
XOXO
Monday, April 13, 2009
We're Fine!
Just a quick post to let everyone know that Parker and I have decided not to go to Bangkok. We are staying in Phuket instead so that we can avoid the protests. We are having fun and enjoying the trip so far! :)
Love you.
Love you.
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