Walking around the streets here is different than anywhere I’ve ever been. This is by far the most diverse place I’ve ever visited. I can plainly see that there are Thai, Burmese, Muslim, and Buddhist people, along with foreigners from various countries around the world volunteering at one of the many local NGOs. This is only what my untrained eye can see though. According to Aun, a college age immigrant form Myanmar I met yesterday, there are 7 major ethnic groups in Myanmar and 135 smaller groups within these. There are immigrants here from all of those 7 major ethnic groups and many of the subgroups. There are also Chinese and Indian immigrants as well. If there was ever a cultural melting pot Mae Sot is it.
The market is a very interesting area. All of these cultures are mixed and there are many goods that are completely foreign to me. While in Chiang Mai I went to many markets but I’ve never seen some of the stuff that is sold here. Among the standard vegetables and fish there are live frogs in those little orange plastic mesh bags that oranges are sold in, live eels, live turtles, a variety of live fish, and what look like polliwogs. It makes for quite an interesting stroll.
While all of this diversity makes walking down the street a very enjoyable and interesting experiences there is a constant presence to remind a person why such diversity exists in Mae Sot. The beggars here are like none I’ve ever encountered. They range in age from young children to old graying adults. Many of them have missing or maimed limbs. They beg all over the city, on many street corners, and particularly at restaurants that are popular with NGO volunteers. While all of this, in itself, is not particularly uncommon among the begging population anywhere in the world there is a subtle, yet profound, difference in the beggars here. It’s their eyes. Some look frightened; this is especially true of the children. Others stare completely vacant and hopeless. When you look into children’s eyes and they are frightened it is never easy to ignore the feeling that their looks illicit. But at least fear is an emotion; one that we can relate to. When you look into eyes that are hopeless… there’s nothing comparable. The pain of years and years of war and struggle has left these people with no energy to even feel an emotion. Their eyes convey only indifference, not fear, not pain, not sadness, not any emotion that I can identify with. I’ve never felt indifferent towards my life. Seeing people that do I hope I never experience it.
Monday, August 24, 2009
I'm compelled to explain
Before I post anything else I must explain a few things. First, my intentions in coming to Mae Sot were twofold. I came to renew my visa by crossing the border and returning to Thailand. I made that quite obvious. But I came specifically to Mae Sot for another reason.
While I was in Chiang Mai I read a book, “Conflict” by Nelson Rand (his commentary is bland and unimaginative but his experiences and knowledge of history are very interesting). The book describes the little-known wars that have been going on in South East Asia for many decades. One such war is happening in Myanmar (or Burma to nearly everyone in the world not currently living in Myanmar). This war is being fought between the Burmese government and the many ethnic groups that are being persecuted and fighting for independence, specifically the Karen. The war has been going on since the current government took power, in 1962. That’s a 47 year old war happening right now! One of the consequences of this war is that it has created hundreds of thousands of refugees. These refugees flee Burma to Thailand. Refugee camps have been set up along the border to “temporarily” hold these people. The oldest and largest refugee camp is Mae La which is about 60kil from Mae Sot. Hence, why I am here. My goal is to visit Mae La.
While I was in Chiang Mai I read a book, “Conflict” by Nelson Rand (his commentary is bland and unimaginative but his experiences and knowledge of history are very interesting). The book describes the little-known wars that have been going on in South East Asia for many decades. One such war is happening in Myanmar (or Burma to nearly everyone in the world not currently living in Myanmar). This war is being fought between the Burmese government and the many ethnic groups that are being persecuted and fighting for independence, specifically the Karen. The war has been going on since the current government took power, in 1962. That’s a 47 year old war happening right now! One of the consequences of this war is that it has created hundreds of thousands of refugees. These refugees flee Burma to Thailand. Refugee camps have been set up along the border to “temporarily” hold these people. The oldest and largest refugee camp is Mae La which is about 60kil from Mae Sot. Hence, why I am here. My goal is to visit Mae La.
Friday, August 21, 2009
First 2 days in Chiang Mai
I forgot that Alana uploaded some her pictures from the first few days. We used her camera the whole time she was here but we only put them on my computer at the beginning. So this is only through day 2, but its a taste.
Our first scooter packed to the brim with street food. That's dinner and desert for 50 baht each, or $1.75, you gotta love street food.
Our first scooter packed to the brim with street food. That's dinner and desert for 50 baht each, or $1.75, you gotta love street food.
Excellent Pad Thai.
Alana loved every scooter we rented, especially numero uno.
So women can't go in all Wats, its a Buddhist thing.
Doi SuthepAlana was here...
A lot has happened in the past two weeks. School ended for starters. We wrapped up classes with a few presentations and our farewell party. Then most people on the program either headed home or headed to the islands in the south to spend their last few days in Thailand on the beach. I, on the other handed, stuck around Chiang Mai.
Alana came on the 10th and she and I have been traveling ever since. We spent the first few days in Chiang Mai. We rented a motor bike and cruised around the city. We drove up to Doi Suthep (much better than walking like I did on the 4th of July). I had never been inside the Wat and it was beautiful. We also went to the cookery school that I had been to with my class. We learned how to make Pad Thai, Green Curry, Paneang Curry, Spring rolls, and spicy mango salad. Prepare yourselves for a Thai feast when we return.
After the cooking school we caught the last bus to Pai, a mountain village in the north. We rented a scooter and cruised around in the hills all day. We saw a sign for hot springs and decided to check it out. We forgot that it had rained the night before and the path was a muddy mess. Our motor bike handled it well but it was difficult to maneuver with two people on the bike. We ended up ditching it and walking and some Israeli tourists picked us up in their Jeep, a much better suited vehicle for steep muddy trails.
We left Pai the next day heading south. Our intention was to get to the south as quickly, and cheaply, as possible. We had great luck in getting the right buses and after a 3hour ride to Chiang Mai, 9 hour overnight ride to Bangkok, and an 11 hour ride to the ferry we got to Koh Phangan the evening of the 17th, a night earlier than we had expected. We took the advice of some Germans we met on the ferry and decided to go to a beach that they recommended. We rented the cheapest bungalow we could find and enjoyed 3 glorious days on the beach. I read We the Living by Ayn Rand and laid in he sun and Alana played in the sand and found sea shells (like a cute little tyke... haha). We also rented another motor bike (Alana looooooves motor bikes) and cruised around the island one day checking out the beaches nearby.
On the 20th we packed up and headed to the pier to catch a ferry to Suratthani. A 3 hour ferry ride and a 11hour bus ride to Bangkok ended Alana and I's time together in Thailand. We got to Bangkok around 4:45am and she was on the street that is popular among backpackers so she went to find a place to stay and I headed to the bus station. I needed to get to the Myanmar Thai border by 4pm in order to cross the border and get a tourist visa (if I didn't make I would be an illegal foreigner in Thailand, scary). I caught a bus to Tak at 5:40am and rode til about 1pm and then caught an hour and have minibus ride from Tak to Mae Sot. Once I got to Mae Sot I employed a motorbike taxi to take me to the border. It was 3pm and I didn't want to take any chances by searching for a cheaper Songtheaw. I was able to cross the Myanmar Thai Friendship Bridge, pay 500 baht to Myanmar (to support the repressive military government regime), and head back across the border with a Thai tourist visa allowing me to stay in Thailand for another 15 days. (If you're doing the math and realize that I'll actually be in Thailand for 24 more days you are correct. I will have to go to the border AGAIN and get another 15 day tourist visa before I leave. Annoying, but such is life.)
Alana spent today touring the Grand Palace and walking along the river in Bangkok. Tomorrow she is checking out of her hostel and hopefully getting a more local and authentic tour from our friend AJ Davidson and then she's flying home early in the morning on the 23rd.
That's the past two and a half weeks in a nutshell. Lots of traveling, lots of motor bike fun, a little beach relaxing, and a new visa!
Sawadee Alana, It was great having you here!!!!
Alana came on the 10th and she and I have been traveling ever since. We spent the first few days in Chiang Mai. We rented a motor bike and cruised around the city. We drove up to Doi Suthep (much better than walking like I did on the 4th of July). I had never been inside the Wat and it was beautiful. We also went to the cookery school that I had been to with my class. We learned how to make Pad Thai, Green Curry, Paneang Curry, Spring rolls, and spicy mango salad. Prepare yourselves for a Thai feast when we return.
After the cooking school we caught the last bus to Pai, a mountain village in the north. We rented a scooter and cruised around in the hills all day. We saw a sign for hot springs and decided to check it out. We forgot that it had rained the night before and the path was a muddy mess. Our motor bike handled it well but it was difficult to maneuver with two people on the bike. We ended up ditching it and walking and some Israeli tourists picked us up in their Jeep, a much better suited vehicle for steep muddy trails.
We left Pai the next day heading south. Our intention was to get to the south as quickly, and cheaply, as possible. We had great luck in getting the right buses and after a 3hour ride to Chiang Mai, 9 hour overnight ride to Bangkok, and an 11 hour ride to the ferry we got to Koh Phangan the evening of the 17th, a night earlier than we had expected. We took the advice of some Germans we met on the ferry and decided to go to a beach that they recommended. We rented the cheapest bungalow we could find and enjoyed 3 glorious days on the beach. I read We the Living by Ayn Rand and laid in he sun and Alana played in the sand and found sea shells (like a cute little tyke... haha). We also rented another motor bike (Alana looooooves motor bikes) and cruised around the island one day checking out the beaches nearby.
On the 20th we packed up and headed to the pier to catch a ferry to Suratthani. A 3 hour ferry ride and a 11hour bus ride to Bangkok ended Alana and I's time together in Thailand. We got to Bangkok around 4:45am and she was on the street that is popular among backpackers so she went to find a place to stay and I headed to the bus station. I needed to get to the Myanmar Thai border by 4pm in order to cross the border and get a tourist visa (if I didn't make I would be an illegal foreigner in Thailand, scary). I caught a bus to Tak at 5:40am and rode til about 1pm and then caught an hour and have minibus ride from Tak to Mae Sot. Once I got to Mae Sot I employed a motorbike taxi to take me to the border. It was 3pm and I didn't want to take any chances by searching for a cheaper Songtheaw. I was able to cross the Myanmar Thai Friendship Bridge, pay 500 baht to Myanmar (to support the repressive military government regime), and head back across the border with a Thai tourist visa allowing me to stay in Thailand for another 15 days. (If you're doing the math and realize that I'll actually be in Thailand for 24 more days you are correct. I will have to go to the border AGAIN and get another 15 day tourist visa before I leave. Annoying, but such is life.)
Alana spent today touring the Grand Palace and walking along the river in Bangkok. Tomorrow she is checking out of her hostel and hopefully getting a more local and authentic tour from our friend AJ Davidson and then she's flying home early in the morning on the 23rd.
That's the past two and a half weeks in a nutshell. Lots of traveling, lots of motor bike fun, a little beach relaxing, and a new visa!
Sawadee Alana, It was great having you here!!!!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Arroy Mak!
As our last adventure in Thai Language and Culture class we went to a cooking school. On the way there we stopped at a market so that we could buy the ingredients. They gave us the Thai names of the foods we needed to get and we had to purchase them, speaking in Thai! At the school we learned how to make Pad Thai, Tom Yum Gou, and Sticky rice with mango. It was all delicious and hopefully I can retain my knowledge during the next month. I want to be able to share my Thai cooking skills with all of you!!!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Milk&Toast
The night before we opened we worked all day building the shop and finishing the business plan. That's Boss, Nam (facing), and Nut.
For the past two weeks my time has been consumed by working at the Milk&Toast shop in the business faculty.
The business idea was conceived by the Thai members of our group Boss, Nam, and Nut and is modeled after a popular desert food available at street vendors shops throughout Thailand. We had to write a business plan for our business (its a fun read at 37 pages, the Thai version is 80 pages). We turned the business plan in on Monday July 13th and have been running the shop everyday since. Our last day is this Friday and I will surely be reporting our profits as soon as I find out. I do know that the first day we made roughly 1,600 Baht ($48) and the second day we made about 1,800 Baht ($56).
The food is delicious. We butter one side of a thick piece of white bread and then grill it. Then we cut it into nine pieces and top it off with a flavor of the customers choosing. We have, in order of popularity, sweet milk (which is really sweet and condensed milk), chocolate, Thai green custard, and strawberry. We also sell chocolate milk, pink milk (strawberry), and sweet milk (regular milk with sweetener added). Our shop has been a pretty popular desert/snack stop for Thai students on break between classes. I've learned how to say everything that we sell in Thai so that I can take orders more quickly. It saves a lot of time wasted on pointing and gesturing to place an order. Also, I have been proclaimed (only slightly a self-proclamation) the Grill Master!! The grill is my DOMAIN!!! Which I have announced to nearly the entire business faculty.
Doi Suthep
July 4th was awhile ago but while you were all lighting fireworks, camping, and enjoying neighborhood BBQs American style I was celebrating Thai style. It is tradition at Chiang Mai University for all freshmen to walk from the University front gates to the temple Doi Suthep. The event marks the first day of Buddhist lent that lasts until Wednesday of the next week (consequently we had 3 days off, wahoo!!!). All WSU students are considered freshmen here so we had to participate in the festivities. Dressed in traditional Lanna clothing we embarked up the 16k hike with the rest of the 400 or so freshmen business majors at 8am. The hike starts as a procession marching out of the front gates of the University after doing the chant for your particular faculty. None of us know the chant so we just stood there looking like dumb foreigners. The hike follows the road that goes to Doi Suthep and the walkers take up the left lane of the road while car
s, trucks, motor bikes, and busses pass each other in the right lane. It makes for a tight fit, especially towards the top were traffic is backed up for a few kilometers. Along the way there are rest areas set up to accommodate all of the hikers with food and drink stands all over the place. After 5 hours of hiking we reached the top around 1pm, about an hour and a half ahead of the rest of the business faculty. We waited for them for awhile because the last leg of the journey is a mad dash around the last turn and then up the steepest part of the climb and it’s supposed to be done with your faculty. We got impatient though and decided to walk up the last part. The top was packed with traffic, people, and food stands but after an exhausting hike we didn't really feel like perusing and sightseeing so we found our van and headed home. I took a fantastic 3 hour nap to cap off my July 4th celebrations.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
I spoke to soon
When I said that the return visit to the doctor to get my wound cleaned and redressed hurt I was serious. It did. But it was nothing compared to the second time; which was excruciating. It had been about 30hrs since I had gotten it cleaned the day before and when she took the dressing off it was gross. Much more puss than the first time. This required an incredibly invasive swabbing to clean it out. She also had to push around the edge of the wound to get everything out. OOWWW!!
Today was my third visit to get the bandage redone and the wound cleaned. It still sucks when they clean it but it was tolerable today. Also, it is showing a little progress. It isn't very red anymore, just tender. The nice hole is still there and I may be imagining things but I think its getting smaller. Hopefully it really is getting better.... it still festers though ;)
Today was my third visit to get the bandage redone and the wound cleaned. It still sucks when they clean it but it was tolerable today. Also, it is showing a little progress. It isn't very red anymore, just tender. The nice hole is still there and I may be imagining things but I think its getting smaller. Hopefully it really is getting better.... it still festers though ;)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Festering Wound
You know the Apples to Apples card that says "Festering Wound"? That card never wins cuz it never fits any of the green cards and its just gross. But those are the words I would choose to describe what has developed on my left hip. It's grotesque. I may being erring on the side of overly dramatic but I think you get the idea.
I got two bug bites on my hip last Saturday. I would attribute them to the malicious work of a mosquito, or worse, two mosquitoes working in tandem to torment innocent sleeping young men. One of the bites started going away after a couple days. The other bite did no such thing. It started to get swollen and red, not unusual for one of my mosquito bites. Then around Wednesday I started to get the feeling that it wasn't just a bad bite that itched and hurt a little. I was able to pop it like a zit (gross I know, but it gets worse). I wasn't entirely convinced that my extremely healthy young body couldn't fight the bite on its own so I waited a few more days...
It proceeded to get worse. I went to the bar for a Thai friends birthday on Friday and I could barely sit down it hurt so bad. It got more swollen and started to develop into an open sore (I'll spare you the details about what came out of that). When I woke up this Saturday I made the decision I would go to the doctor. At this point the open sore part was about the size of a pen cap. I ended up going to the mall to see Transformers 2 (completely logical decision). The movie was supposed to get over around 5 and I was going to go to the doctor after, but the first 3 showings were sold out so we end up leaving the movie theater around 10. I was going to wait to go to the doctor until the next morning but when I got back to our Hotel I checked it out. It had grown; the open sore was now more like the size of a quarter. I decided not to wait; I needed to go right away.
I went to Chiang Mai Ram, which is the best hospital in Chiang Mai. Accompanied by my roommate, David, I walked into the hospital around 11:20. They took my information, checked my temp and put me in a room within 5 minutes. A nurse looked at the bite, clearly infected, and immediately called for a doctor. The doctor took one look and instructed me that they were going to have to drain it. I laid on my side while they numbed it, cut it open, and cleaned it out. They bandaged the wound and told me that I would have to come back for the next 7 days so that they could replace the dressing and keep an eye on it. They sent me to get antibiotics and pay and I was on my way home around 12am.
That was easily the most efficient doctor visit I've ever had. 40 minutes was all it took. It cost around $80 for the visit, drugs included. Visiting the next day to get the wound dressed was by far more painful than the initial procedure. The guy, very poignantly, shot disinfectant into the open sore. OUCH! He also swabbed it and showed me the end of the Q-tip with a little chuckle saying "look at the puss". Hilarious... if I didn't have a FESTERING WOUND!
I got two bug bites on my hip last Saturday. I would attribute them to the malicious work of a mosquito, or worse, two mosquitoes working in tandem to torment innocent sleeping young men. One of the bites started going away after a couple days. The other bite did no such thing. It started to get swollen and red, not unusual for one of my mosquito bites. Then around Wednesday I started to get the feeling that it wasn't just a bad bite that itched and hurt a little. I was able to pop it like a zit (gross I know, but it gets worse). I wasn't entirely convinced that my extremely healthy young body couldn't fight the bite on its own so I waited a few more days...
It proceeded to get worse. I went to the bar for a Thai friends birthday on Friday and I could barely sit down it hurt so bad. It got more swollen and started to develop into an open sore (I'll spare you the details about what came out of that). When I woke up this Saturday I made the decision I would go to the doctor. At this point the open sore part was about the size of a pen cap. I ended up going to the mall to see Transformers 2 (completely logical decision). The movie was supposed to get over around 5 and I was going to go to the doctor after, but the first 3 showings were sold out so we end up leaving the movie theater around 10. I was going to wait to go to the doctor until the next morning but when I got back to our Hotel I checked it out. It had grown; the open sore was now more like the size of a quarter. I decided not to wait; I needed to go right away.
I went to Chiang Mai Ram, which is the best hospital in Chiang Mai. Accompanied by my roommate, David, I walked into the hospital around 11:20. They took my information, checked my temp and put me in a room within 5 minutes. A nurse looked at the bite, clearly infected, and immediately called for a doctor. The doctor took one look and instructed me that they were going to have to drain it. I laid on my side while they numbed it, cut it open, and cleaned it out. They bandaged the wound and told me that I would have to come back for the next 7 days so that they could replace the dressing and keep an eye on it. They sent me to get antibiotics and pay and I was on my way home around 12am.
That was easily the most efficient doctor visit I've ever had. 40 minutes was all it took. It cost around $80 for the visit, drugs included. Visiting the next day to get the wound dressed was by far more painful than the initial procedure. The guy, very poignantly, shot disinfectant into the open sore. OUCH! He also swabbed it and showed me the end of the Q-tip with a little chuckle saying "look at the puss". Hilarious... if I didn't have a FESTERING WOUND!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Muay Thai
The little guy on my left has an amazingly powerful kick. He would destroy me. The old guy next to him is Mr. Badass that I practiced with.
We got to learn the basics of Muay Thai fighting for our Thai language and Culture class. It was awesome!
We went to a "gym" to get learn from some of the trainers. I put gym in quotations because it was really just an open concrete slab that had punching bags and a couple boxing rings. Not exactly a gym as we know it in the US. The trainers wrapped our fists in athletic band (mine stunk cuz it was used; gross, I know). Then we learned a punching sequence and how to protect our face while we punched. We learned two punching sequences and how to kick. Then we put boxing gloves on and the trainers got pads out and we took turns learning in the ring.
There was an old trainer there. Probably in his 50s or 60s and super strong. He was crazy. He had a couple missing teeth. A six pack. Endurance beyond belief. You're average retired Muay Thai fighter....
Of course I had to work with him. His training style was more like a game to him. He would put the pads up and have me punch, punch, punch, punch, kick, punch, kick and then as i'm getting into it he'd put the pad a little to far out of my reach and I punch and he'd bop me on the head with the pad. Over and over he did this to me. I tried to figure out how to block him but it was impossible. He was to old and wily. He gave me bloody nose and a couple marks on my forehead and he was laughing his way along the whole time.
Moral of the story, I need some more Muay Thai training. The gym is open to anyone who wants to train there and I'm so very tempted. I'd at least get in super good shape over my last two months here.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Oasis Spa
I am taking a class called Small Business Management and as a part of the class we visited the Oasis Spa. The owner spent a couple hours with us discussing the intricacies of his business and the process he had undertaken in starting it with his partner.The first Oasis Spa opened in Chiang Mai six years ago. The owner that we spoke to is a native of Thailand who worked in the medical field for ten years before deciding to open the spa. His partner is an American with international business experience. Together they noticed that there was an opportunity to start a spa in Thailand. Thailand has always been known for Thai massages, which is abundantly apparent when you walk down the street. You can stand on a street corner and see 4-5 places that you can get a massage, all offering them at prices around $5-6 for an hour (the cheapest I've seen is under $2!). Six years ago the Thai massage industry was closely linked with the sex trade in Thailand. This left a market open for a legitimate spa business that offered a luxury experience beyond anything that was being offered at the time. The Oasis Spa caters to this market exceptionally well. The attention to detail in the spa is incredible. The aromas, music, art, and the layout are all designed to maximize each customer’s experience. Everything in the spa has been hand selected by the owner for its traditional Thai qualities. The music, for example, is in the traditional Lanna style (Lanna is the former kingdom that Chiang Mai was the capitol of) and was developed by a doctor for its therapeutic effect, over the course of a year. Every part of the spa is attended to with the same attention to detail. The spas prices are also very reasonable, expensive only by Thai standards. A standard oil massage at the spa costs about $30 and we’re talking a luxurious experience.
The owner explained everything about how he started the business. Giving us details on how he selects and trains employees and how the business has expanded and the challenges that has brought with it. He explained how none of the technology on the market was quite suitable for monitoring the details of Oasis. He and his partner developed their own software keep the business running smoothly. He also talked to us about the importance of setting your business apart from the competition and marketing to the right group of people. He is an incredibly innovative and smart business man.
The success of Oasis speaks for itself. In six years of existence they have opened six spas throughout Thailand and they were just voted the best spa in Thailand. Learning from the owner of such a successful business was an incredibly valuable experience.
Check out the website: http://www.chiangmaioasis.com/En/l_cm.php
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Leadership Training
This Saturday we had a leadership training course from a former member of the Thai military. The course was relatively elementary compared to all of the leadership stuff that I have been involved with from high school to the Greek Community. He gave a lecture for most of the morning and then we went to a Thai military base. At the base we went through an obstacle course. Most of the stuff on the course was pretty easy for the group. We had to climb over walls, go through tunnels, and do a rope swing. The funnest thing we did at the base was a thing they use to simulate a parachute drop. They strapped us in a harness and attached us to a cable that was strung from the tower we were at to a field about 200 yards away. The tower was about forty feet in the air. They hooked us up and then you jumped out and zip lined down the cable. It was pretty fun.
Sunday I didn't feel very good. I felt like I might be getting the flu. Not the best thing to get in a country that is absolutely paranoid about Swine Flu. They will quarantine you if they think you have it. I'm pretty sure its just a stomach thing now. Not the most comfortable thing but I don't think I'm in any danger of dying anytime soon.
Sunday I didn't feel very good. I felt like I might be getting the flu. Not the best thing to get in a country that is absolutely paranoid about Swine Flu. They will quarantine you if they think you have it. I'm pretty sure its just a stomach thing now. Not the most comfortable thing but I don't think I'm in any danger of dying anytime soon.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
I can't graduate!!!
School has begun! That explanation point is in the spirit of complete sarcasm. School is lame, in Thailand and in the US. I only have class on Monday from 8-11, Wednesday from 8-4, and Thursday 8-11. Not a bad schedule. After only a week we've already had three group assignments and have gone on two excursions. The classes are very hands on and involve a lot of real world application. For the first time in my life I have to wear a uniform to class. A tie and collar in the heat and humidity here is extremely annoying.
I was informed by my advisor, who happens to be on the trip, that I have a slight problem with graduation. Mostly that I can't graduate at the end of this trip. That was a fun conversation. Turns out that you have to take 9 upper division business classes at WSU and I have only taken 7 at WSU. Also, I am taking a class that can count only as an I BUS class or as a general business requirement but not both. ANNOYING! After looking at the classes I'm taking and what I need I figured out that I will have taken all the classes I need but will still be missing 2 upper division classes taken at WSU. I think I've taken enough classes at WSU so I'm going to email some professors and try and get the requirement overridden. I think I'll be able to get the rules bent a little cuz if this program was ran like it has been in the past I wouldn't have a problem. Usually there are WSU professors here teaching the classes which would make the classes count as if they were being taken at WSU. This is the first year that the classes have been taught by Thai professors and I was unaware of this change when I signed up for the program. Sooooo, hopefully I'll be able to get around this little rule.
I just finished "Three Cups of Tea" and I highly recommend it. It's an excellent book and it shows how it doesn't take any special skills to change the world. All it takes is determination and a leap of faith. I'm ready to graduate and take a leap of faith. Watch out world!!
I was informed by my advisor, who happens to be on the trip, that I have a slight problem with graduation. Mostly that I can't graduate at the end of this trip. That was a fun conversation. Turns out that you have to take 9 upper division business classes at WSU and I have only taken 7 at WSU. Also, I am taking a class that can count only as an I BUS class or as a general business requirement but not both. ANNOYING! After looking at the classes I'm taking and what I need I figured out that I will have taken all the classes I need but will still be missing 2 upper division classes taken at WSU. I think I've taken enough classes at WSU so I'm going to email some professors and try and get the requirement overridden. I think I'll be able to get the rules bent a little cuz if this program was ran like it has been in the past I wouldn't have a problem. Usually there are WSU professors here teaching the classes which would make the classes count as if they were being taken at WSU. This is the first year that the classes have been taught by Thai professors and I was unaware of this change when I signed up for the program. Sooooo, hopefully I'll be able to get around this little rule.
I just finished "Three Cups of Tea" and I highly recommend it. It's an excellent book and it shows how it doesn't take any special skills to change the world. All it takes is determination and a leap of faith. I'm ready to graduate and take a leap of faith. Watch out world!!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Two weeks in
I did it! I finally created a blog so all of you lovely people at home can be updated on my adventures. The name Chief Bigstick was bestowed upon me by my fellow travel buddies because I have a propensity to find a big stick just about everywhere we go. Never underestimate the usefulness of a big stick when your hunting exotic animals in the jungle. Either I poke the snake with a stick or my finger... I opt for the stick.
The first two weeks have FLOWN bye! Nearly every day has been packed with sightseeing or some sort of adventure. To recount it all would take pages and pages. So I'll begin with this weekend. Friday we spent part of the day at a boys orphanage painting. We painted the walls of a courtyard area and also the entry way of the younger boys dorm area. All of the boys were in school so the orphanage was pretty empty making it easy for us to get some work done. On Saturday we came back in the morning to play games with the kids, have lunch, and paint a mural in the courtyard and the boys dorm. When we arrived the boys immediately wanted to play football (soccer). They had just finished cutting the grass on a big field and they were ready to go. It was so much fun playing with them... and exhausting! There was about 10 older kids playing and probably 25 of the orphans. They were everywhere. I got schooled by one kid about have my size. I challenged him and he dribbled the ball right past me and kicked it right into the middle setting up a shot. I need to practice before I play with Thai kids again. When we were done with football and thoroughly dripping with sweat (humidity and exercise are brutal) we went to eat lunch with the kids. After we ate the little 5 and 6 year old kids had a blast being thrown in the air and climbing on the guys. We were definitely their jungle gym. Then went to the little kids dorm area and painted a mural on their entry way. I painted a couple flowers and drew and airplane that looked kinda like a whale until one of the girls helped fix it up. Overall, it was an amazing day. The kids were so much fun and they loved having us there.
Sunday one of the Thai buddies took a couple of us to her grandma's home. I tried the most amazing mango I've ever eaten! It was soooooo good. They taught me all the Thai names for the fruit we were eating but I've forgetten already. After the delicious fruit we went to the nearby temple and there was some sort of a celebration going on. They had a parade led by a minature horse with a little kid decked out in all sorts of Thai regalia. They were beating on drums behind the horse and it hated it. I kept my distance cuz I was positive it was going to go into a kicking and bucking spree. Some of the people were dancing and we joined in and they absolutly loved us. The women were all older, like 50s ish, and they kept coming up and dancing with us. It was a lot of fun.
When we got back to the city we went to the legendary "Walking Street". It didn't dissapoint. The street goes on forever and it has shop after shop selling everything you can imagine: art, clothes, jewelry, food, etc. One of the stands was selling bugs... to EAT! I ate a little grub lookin guy and a silk worm. Not to bad tasting, they were cooked and seasoned so it was tollerable. I was in a pretty goofy mood the whole time we were there and everytime I heard music I would dance to it. The Thai people walking down the street all stared and laughed at me everytime. Apparently its not normal to dance in the street. I made one of the Thai buddies dance with me and she got so embarrassed. She told me she was to shy to dance. I think all the Thai buddies are gonna be a little more outgoing by the time us loud Americans leave.
Today was the first day of class. We are taking them with Thai teachers and alongside Thai students. Both the classes I had today are going to be interesting. We already have already been assigned some homework but its going to be very interesting because most of the stuff we have to do is group work and involves lots of excursions. Tomorrow we are going to the business center to learn the history of Thai business and how it has evolved. Very interesting stuff and its deffinitely information I would never be taught in the US. I'm excited for the next 9 weeks of class. Its gonna be fun!!
The first two weeks have FLOWN bye! Nearly every day has been packed with sightseeing or some sort of adventure. To recount it all would take pages and pages. So I'll begin with this weekend. Friday we spent part of the day at a boys orphanage painting. We painted the walls of a courtyard area and also the entry way of the younger boys dorm area. All of the boys were in school so the orphanage was pretty empty making it easy for us to get some work done. On Saturday we came back in the morning to play games with the kids, have lunch, and paint a mural in the courtyard and the boys dorm. When we arrived the boys immediately wanted to play football (soccer). They had just finished cutting the grass on a big field and they were ready to go. It was so much fun playing with them... and exhausting! There was about 10 older kids playing and probably 25 of the orphans. They were everywhere. I got schooled by one kid about have my size. I challenged him and he dribbled the ball right past me and kicked it right into the middle setting up a shot. I need to practice before I play with Thai kids again. When we were done with football and thoroughly dripping with sweat (humidity and exercise are brutal) we went to eat lunch with the kids. After we ate the little 5 and 6 year old kids had a blast being thrown in the air and climbing on the guys. We were definitely their jungle gym. Then went to the little kids dorm area and painted a mural on their entry way. I painted a couple flowers and drew and airplane that looked kinda like a whale until one of the girls helped fix it up. Overall, it was an amazing day. The kids were so much fun and they loved having us there.
Sunday one of the Thai buddies took a couple of us to her grandma's home. I tried the most amazing mango I've ever eaten! It was soooooo good. They taught me all the Thai names for the fruit we were eating but I've forgetten already. After the delicious fruit we went to the nearby temple and there was some sort of a celebration going on. They had a parade led by a minature horse with a little kid decked out in all sorts of Thai regalia. They were beating on drums behind the horse and it hated it. I kept my distance cuz I was positive it was going to go into a kicking and bucking spree. Some of the people were dancing and we joined in and they absolutly loved us. The women were all older, like 50s ish, and they kept coming up and dancing with us. It was a lot of fun.
When we got back to the city we went to the legendary "Walking Street". It didn't dissapoint. The street goes on forever and it has shop after shop selling everything you can imagine: art, clothes, jewelry, food, etc. One of the stands was selling bugs... to EAT! I ate a little grub lookin guy and a silk worm. Not to bad tasting, they were cooked and seasoned so it was tollerable. I was in a pretty goofy mood the whole time we were there and everytime I heard music I would dance to it. The Thai people walking down the street all stared and laughed at me everytime. Apparently its not normal to dance in the street. I made one of the Thai buddies dance with me and she got so embarrassed. She told me she was to shy to dance. I think all the Thai buddies are gonna be a little more outgoing by the time us loud Americans leave.
Today was the first day of class. We are taking them with Thai teachers and alongside Thai students. Both the classes I had today are going to be interesting. We already have already been assigned some homework but its going to be very interesting because most of the stuff we have to do is group work and involves lots of excursions. Tomorrow we are going to the business center to learn the history of Thai business and how it has evolved. Very interesting stuff and its deffinitely information I would never be taught in the US. I'm excited for the next 9 weeks of class. Its gonna be fun!!
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