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And other life lessons from Thailand. A blog :) |
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** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Mai Pen Rai and other life lessons from Thailand. is a blog that I started for the 30-Day Blogging Challenge. I hope it takes off and becomes something a bit bigger though :). Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think! Yera |
| "Tell us about a family visit; either you visited them or they visited you. Recently or long ago. Good...or bad." This past Christmas, my parents came to visit me here in Thailand. I had a wonderful time showing them around my "home" town and taking them on a tour of Bangkok and some of the beaches down south. I'll avoid getting into all of that detail though -- there is just one aspect of their visit that I want to focus on. Have you ever had one of those experiences where you have two completely different lives? My life here in Thailand seems so distant and separate from my life at home -- having these two worlds collide was a strange thing indeed. To have my parents meeting local families that I've developed friendships with was weird. As much as I enjoyed having them here, it almost felt as if they were invading this second reality I had become a part of. I eventually got over the strangeness and thoroughly enjoyed my time with them. But. It was definitely something that I have never experienced to this extent before. |
| Ok, well -- I'm still around today and this prompt sounded like a lot of fun, so here goes. "Tell us about the area you live in." The town I live in is a quaint little village at the foot of the Phanom Dongrek Mountains. At a high enough altitude to be safe from the floodings that frequent Thailand, we were barely touched by the disaster that happened only a few months ago. High up on one of the neighboring mountains is something people here call, "The White Buddha." This is the largest sitting Buddha statue in all of Asia. To reach the foot of the Buddha requires climbing the 1,250 steps up the mountain. A tiring task, but worth it for the incredible view. Our little town resides in the shadow of this great work of art and it is quite often that we are graced by the sight of the striking orange robes of monks at work early in the morning. Coming from the deserts of California to these verdant mountains was an incredibly drastic change. The trees here come in shades of green that I only dreamt of back home. Vibrant flowers are scattered around our town in every color you can imagine -- especially orchids. The Thai people love orchids. Along with these flowers come a plethora of butterflies as well. White squirrels dance along the power lines, and monkeys frequent the temples here. It is truly a magical place to live. The houses aren't too different from Western style housing, however, in the front yards of Thai houses are ornate shrines known as Spirit Houses. The wonderful aroma of incense accompanies the atmosphere around these houses, and soda bottles and various Thai foods are left to satisfy the needs of the spirits who reside in them. It is rare to see many cars around my town. Motorbikes frequent the streets. The driving is hectic and crazy here when compared to driving in the States, however, I've found that a sort of rhythm and structure accompanies the supposed chaos. It took some getting used to, driving on the left side of the road -- but now it seems completely natural  .While the food is incredible and the scenery is nearly unbelievable, the people are what truly have me in love with this country. As a farang inhabiting their world, I may be the recipient of many uncomfortable stares -- but a simple smile will break the tension immediately. As I attempt to speak Thai to those I come in contact with, we may share a laugh at my terrible pronunciation, but friendships are quickly formed and negative thinking quickly forgotten. The night markets here are something I will miss terribly as well. Wandering down the aisle of vendors, you will see a large variety of fruit that, upon arrival, appears to be unreal. There is the dragon fruit that is a vibrant pink and looks a bit scaly. Rambutan, who's name means hairy, is a red fruit which is, in fact, quite hairy looking. Then there are the mangoes and the durian. Wonderful pineapple. And the mangosteen. Mmmm...  The markets sell just about anything you could possibly need, and on special occasions, baby elephants may be led among the aisles. Fish, eels, crabs, frogs, and turtles are gathered in buckets -- an occasionally fish flopping out and into the road in an attempt to find freedom. Women sit and bash them on the heads, chopping them up while still alive to hand to customers to bring home and cook for their families. Games of football (soccer) and sepak takraw (a mix between hackey sack and volleyball) can be watched along the roads. Students from preschool until University can be spotted in an instant -- donning the government-specified white and black uniforms. Farmers are seen transporting fruits and other goods in the sidecars of their motorbikes. And many of those seen wandering outside are covered as much as possible (in spite of the heat) to hide from the sun. Because. You know -- dark skin is so terribly unattractive. (Sarcasm). Anyway. That's just a little glimpse at my village. Life in Thailand varies greatly from place to place, as even Bangkok is filled with everything from the extreme upper-class to cases of intense poverty. I live in the happy medium -- big cities are a bit too crowded for my taste, but we still have our decent share of comfort. Unfortunately the insects/snakes/scorpions find that true here as well  . |
| Ok. Since I didn't have time to blog about my week -- I'll use this time to do so. I would like to reflect on someone else's blog entry, however I haven't had time to read any the last few days. I'll use my time tomorrow to do that and catch up on all of your exciting lives . Anyway. Koh Samet has to be one of the most amazing places I've been. An island just off the coast of Thailand, it has the whole package -- beautiful beaches with turquoise water and white sand, adorable little bungalows right on the ocean -- dirt cheap, and green jungle edging its way onto the shore. Perfect place to chill on the beach, drink some cha yen, and rent a motorcycle to do some exploring. Apparently it's also quite the party spot as well. I am not much of a partier. I suck at dancing. I don't drink or smoke hookah -- or anything else for that matter. Partying just really isn't my scene. But I do have to admit, being sober at a bar right on the ocean in the middle of a bunch of farang who are drinking far more than they would at home is highly entertaining. So is being hit on by people from a plethora of continents . And! I'm still in touch with one of the Cambodian fire dancers from that night. But that's an entirely different story. . .  Ah. Life in Thailand is good indeed. Oh. And did I mention this trip cost approx $60 USD? That includes travel expenses, hotel, food. . . You name it. Someone remind me of why I'm going back to America again? |
| Day 09 of the 30-Day Blogging Challenge "You are about to die, but have the chance to speak to one person before you pass. Tell us about that conversation." And we had done so well keeping away from morbidity. Thanks a lot whoever wrote up this prompt . Just kidding. Emotions are ok. Sometimes.As I hinted at already, I'm not huge on emotions. I'd rather not talk about things that involve crying or sadness or painful subjects. I'd rather make a joke and laugh about it. These last few weeks in Thailand have been mostly just constant goodbyes. Something I hate. Something I'm not good at. Something I've been trying to avoid. How much more would I avoid it if the reason for goodbyes was my death? Yeah. You can probably figure that one out. So. Let's not talk. How about we just go watch a movie or sky dive or do something that involves less talking and more fun, na?
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| And the speed-blogging continues! Tell us what you would use your 3D Printer for: around the house, in your life, let your creative imagination loose! Um. . . Really? We have to use a printer to make things like doorstops and bathroom hooks now? No thanks. I'd rather go outside and pick up a semi-presentable rock to hold my door open. Or spend the $1.50 to buy one. I doubt I could come up with enough things to create that would justify spending $1,000 dollars on a 3D printer anyway. If I had one though, I would definitely create my own files and would make lots of creepy replicas of people and characters and place them around my house. Or as lawn ornaments or to give away as gifts. I imagine these wouldn't be very large replicas, as I'm sure there is a size limit on the things you create  . I'd love a little plastic Avengers team. (Oh wait, thats what action figures are for).Frankly, I think its a wonderful invention for people who have to create prototypes and the like -- but as for me, if I'm going to have to run to the store to pick up chunks of plastic to feed my printer, I might has well just pick up the doorstop/bathroom hook/etc. I needed in the first place.
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| Uh oh. It seems I've missed quite a few days of blogging on my excursion -- which I guess will have to wait until Sunday's entry to talk about. Here goes speed-blogging: "Cyberwar - Should governments be using it? WIth all the breaking news about what has been done to Iran lately (and Israel's admittance of using cyber-hacking techniques), how do you feel and what if other countries started using it against your country?" Well, I always hate it when people are ignorant about the current happenings of the world -- however, I have to plead ignorance in this case. I've heard things off-and-on about the use of cyberwar, and it bothers me -- but it seems the world is going to hell anyways. I don't think there's much we can do to stop it. A lot of Thai people don't seem to concern themselves with the happenings of the world. Especially in a little town up in the mountains where I'm living. The general attitude is mai pen rai. . . No worries. There's nothing I can do about it anyway. I really think I've adopted the Thai way of thinking to some extent. I just want to enjoy life and help as many people as I can in the process. Naive? Maybe, but -- there's no use stressing in something I can't do anything about.
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| "What is the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? This could be a moment, a place, a movie scene - - Talk about something that has inspired you." I don't have a lot of time to blog today, although there are many beautiful things I've encountered. Especially here in Thailand. I could talk about the sunflower fields stretching over the expanse of land before me, as far as the eye can see. I could talk about the floating lanterns that grace the sky during the Loy Krathong festival - rising steadily towards the heavens until they burn and fall in a flurry of ashes. I could talk about the joys of teaching and the feeling of tiny fingers grasping my own. But I won't. I don't have time. I'll just ramble a bit and try to stay on topic .Thailand is blessed with nature that comes in the most vibrant colors. The trees are greener than any I've ever seen. The flowers come in neon shades that simply blow me away. Then there are the butterflies and the flowers and even the fruits. If you want to see something truly unique and breathtaking -- check out Indian Rollers. When perched, these feathery wonders appear to be a dull brownish-grey color -- nothing that would ever catch your eye. But just wait til they take flight. These birds are blessed with the most vivid colors I have ever seen. It gives me chills to see them soar as I walk to work in the morning. Look up a picture -- It truly is a wonderful world we live in. Aside from these things -- I think selflessness is one of the most beautiful qualities that can be seen in a person. I'm always touched by stories of self-sacrifice. As a Christian, I believe this stems from our core story of salvation and Jesus' death on the cross. As tragic and horrifying as the story is -- there is nothing more beautiful to me. Earlier today, I started free-writing about beauty in order to spark some ideas. Here's what I came up with: Beauty is the tuning of an orchestra or the moment the lights go down at a rock concert. It is the thundering of hooves across an open field. It is a kiss, a smile, a tear. Beauty is a sky illuminated by stars or fireflies or fireworks or floating lanterns. It is the endless expanse of ocean and a field of sunflowers as far as the eye can see. It is an idea, a plot, a scene forming in one's mind. It is a compliment and it is a piece of advice left with good intentions. Of course it is love. We all know that. But it is also vulnerability revealing strength. Pain giving way to growth. And fear leading one to find courage. I don't know what that is. It isn't a poem. Just rambling .Sorry for the randomness today. It's late and I'm getting sick and my brain just isn't quite functioning properly . Anyway -- I'm off to the beach. If I have internet, I will be keeping up with blogging, but I'm not sure there's wi-fi where I'm headed. Quote of the Day: “For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.” - Sam Levenson
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| "Sweet or sour, is there, or has there been a certain someone in your life who has left a deep impression on you, for however long or brief a time? Friend? Arch-nemesis? Sibling? Mentor? (Parents don't count by the way!)" Noooooo! For some reason my webpage spontaneously reloaded after typing up my entry. I should know better by now. . . Anyway. What I was trying to say: When I was in the second grade, I saw a play about Jackie Robinson - after which I believed I would become the first female Major League Baseball player in the history of the sport. Ambitious? Perhaps. But as silly as the idea might be, it is one of the few things I remember from my first six years of life. During this time of my life, the newest movie/book/character/speaker to come through town left me awed and inspired to accomplish, create, write, achieve. Nowadays, as my perspective has changed, inspiration is a bit harder to come by -- however, there are still people who encourage me to become a better person or to make my dreams come alive. The person I'd like to focus on is a woman who used to teach me piano. We shared many years of laughter together, as well as many tears -- not to mention many, many, many hours of dedicated piano playing. Not only is she a fantastically fun and incredibly talented woman, but she has the scars to prove that life isn't always easy -- but she carries those scars with a dignity that proves strength comes from trials, and growth is not a painless experience. She has always believed in me, encouraging me to reach beyond my insecurities and fears. She pushes me. Hard. Yet with a loving hand, guiding me to break through my sometimes-narrow expectations. While I have a hard time coming across sources of inspiration such as the woman I speak of above, the little girl within me still manages to find bits of child-like wonder and longing in moments and movies and little glimpses of magic in this world. In other news, today I snuck into an animal enclosure at the zoo. While this may have only been the wild deer exhibit, I felt pretty stealthy and rebellious nonetheless. The deer held their heads erect and stared at me with wide-eyed expressions of wonder and confusion -- quite the day it was .
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| "Mind Over Matter. Earl can't concentrate when it's too hot. What effects your concentration? Got any concentration tips?" I was thinking that sound was the biggest factor when it comes to my concentration. Sometimes I like it quiet, sometimes I can't think without some sort of background noise. My roommate makes fun of me for playing movies when I'm working on papers or studying for exams. Sounds like a lame excuse to watch movies instead of focusing on work, but in reality, I get too bored without something else going on. When my concentration is in full effect though, the room has got to be quiet -- and that is when I'm my most productive. Then, I realized what helps me concentrate is having the ability to know exactly what's going on in a room. If I'm sitting at a table in a restaurant and I'm facing away from lots of other people -- I can't focus on the conversation at hand. Maybe this makes me sound nosey, but it's not that I'm eavesdropping or anything. I can't even sit in the front of my classes. If I'm not sitting at the back of the room, I'm unable to focus on the teacher. I am distracted by what might possibly be going on behind me. But. The biggest factor that effects my ability to concentrate is this: hunger. If my stomach is growling, don't expect anything out of me. Cause it just isn't gonna happen. Not only is this distracting for me, but probably for everyone else around me. I'm pretty sure class would be better off without my stomach's noisy input . Here's the Quote of the Day to go along with Earl's prompt: I am full of fire and passion. I am not ready yet for great concentration and passion. - Zane Grey
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| "How was your week? Tell us about your week outside WDC? Mundane? Exciting? Tell us. Blog." This was one of the most emotional weeks of my entire life. A bit dramatic? Perhaps . But let me explain a little. . .Ten months and two days ago, I was on a plane heading west across the Pacific to a small village in southeast Asia. I came alone, leaving everyone I knew behind, and reestablished my life in its entirety in a completely new culture. Now. Here I am, packing up my things -- preparing to return to the life I left behind. A life and culture that I had to abandon in order to cope with a new way of living is suddenly reappearing and I will be forced to relearn and re-appreciate the way things used to be. It's strange - doing something that forces you to grow and adapt so much. I've learned a lot about myself here, a lot about responsibility, and a lot about my priorities and what I want out of life. And now -- It seems as though I have to take a step backwards in returning to my former life. I know that isn't entirely the case, but hopefully you can see what I'm saying. Anyway. Back to the prompt. I've had three or four farewell parties this week already. It is so difficult, saying goodbye to friends that I've made, my wonderful students (from adorable preschoolers to crazy high-schoolers) that I've taught, and fellow teachers that I've worked alongside for a large amount of time. A lot of my friends back home have - understandably - moved on without me around. Life keeps on going when I'm away, I understand that, but -- because of that, I've had to move on as well. Now here I am, needing to nudge my way back into the life that has so effortlessly squeezed me out. Will there still be a place for me in my old life? Part of me hope so, while a part of me longs for something new. Anyway, besides all the stress of moving internationally, this week has been emotionally draining to say the least. I'm exhausted. Quote for the Day: “There was once a man who’d become unstuck in the world – and he traveled around like a leaf in the wind until he reached the place where he started out. His car, his job, his phone, his shoes – everything was right where he’d left it. Nothing had changed, and yet he felt excited to have arrived here – as if this were the place he’d been going all along.”
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