Sunday, March 13, 2011
Thailand's Got Talent - ROCKSTAR
First, America's got Talent, then Britains got Talent...........NOW! THAILANDS GOT TALENT. and a whole lot of it. Check out this rockstar of a Thai girl from Saraburi! <--Just click this and get goosebumps.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Shakespeare Visits Thailand - The Thai Youth Theater Fest
When I was younger, I took acting classes, determined to be a first class actor! Needless to say, this never happened, but it did give me something else. Spending hours around equally strange and outgoing folks such as myself depleted any shyness I may have had, and gave me a sort of unyielding confidence and creativity that only trying to truly encompass the essence of an melancholy orange or foolishly attempting to speak in a pure Russian accent can give.
So, last year, when I attended the Thai Youth Theater Festival In Khon Kaen, I was transported back into my days of acting school. The festival offered Thai children, who usually are not given the opportunity to express themselves and just go crazy, an outlet for sparking creativity and discovering their inner Shakespeare. Volunteers taught them how to stage fight, put on makeup and create costumes, use props and make stage sets, pronunciation, and stage direction. The schools that attended the festival were preparing plays for several months before, and the following day, they performed them in front of hundreds of people. All the plays were amazing and individual, and i was in awe to see these Thai students really get into it. There was even a school that did the ENTIRE Shakepearean play, and I knew from that moment, that I MUST get my kids involved in this, and to have them interact with these older students that are so strong and outgoing.
A few months ago I brought this idea up to my coteacher and my students, and immediately they jumped on it. We started out with doing Peter Pan, then moved onto the Lion King, then finally landed on doing a short play from Harry Potter: The Tale of the Three Brothers from the Tales of Beedle the Bard. We had 14 students interested and we rehearsed every day! With the help of amazing people from the states, we raised the money to take the kids to the festival. Finally, we were ready to go.
The festival was from Feb 25-27 in Phitsanulok, with about 10 schools from all over participating, as well as several volunteers and Thai teachers. The school that did Shakespeare last year came again, performing The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and it was amazing to see them interact with my students. Even the shyest of shy students explored what it was like to be a little outgoing and crazy. The other plays were Peter Pan, The Boy who cried wolf, Mamma Mia, as well as some traditional Thai plays, and they were all simply amazing. Everything was amazing, from the daily activities, to the big group games, to the plays. And with that, the rest I will share with you in through the pictures that were taken. ENJOY!
So, last year, when I attended the Thai Youth Theater Festival In Khon Kaen, I was transported back into my days of acting school. The festival offered Thai children, who usually are not given the opportunity to express themselves and just go crazy, an outlet for sparking creativity and discovering their inner Shakespeare. Volunteers taught them how to stage fight, put on makeup and create costumes, use props and make stage sets, pronunciation, and stage direction. The schools that attended the festival were preparing plays for several months before, and the following day, they performed them in front of hundreds of people. All the plays were amazing and individual, and i was in awe to see these Thai students really get into it. There was even a school that did the ENTIRE Shakepearean play, and I knew from that moment, that I MUST get my kids involved in this, and to have them interact with these older students that are so strong and outgoing.
A few months ago I brought this idea up to my coteacher and my students, and immediately they jumped on it. We started out with doing Peter Pan, then moved onto the Lion King, then finally landed on doing a short play from Harry Potter: The Tale of the Three Brothers from the Tales of Beedle the Bard. We had 14 students interested and we rehearsed every day! With the help of amazing people from the states, we raised the money to take the kids to the festival. Finally, we were ready to go.
The festival was from Feb 25-27 in Phitsanulok, with about 10 schools from all over participating, as well as several volunteers and Thai teachers. The school that did Shakespeare last year came again, performing The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and it was amazing to see them interact with my students. Even the shyest of shy students explored what it was like to be a little outgoing and crazy. The other plays were Peter Pan, The Boy who cried wolf, Mamma Mia, as well as some traditional Thai plays, and they were all simply amazing. Everything was amazing, from the daily activities, to the big group games, to the plays. And with that, the rest I will share with you in through the pictures that were taken. ENJOY!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Bit Term Heavenly
This is bit term. The Thai equivalent to summer vacation. Two months as the weather becomes increasingly intolerable. This doesn't entirely effect the CBODers (community developers), but this does leave the TCCOers (teachers) with two months of speculating what one can do to occupy themselves. Perhaps stay at site and establish a project? Well that does sound all well and good, though, coincidentally enough, no one is around to really help you out. So we'll nix that for now. Maybe in the future some TCCOer will ascertain ways on how to spend bit term at site with rightness, but after 40+ years of Peace Corps being in Thailand, this has yet to occur. And mapping out the territories of diverse clans of ants over a span of several months does not count. Even if it did count...one has to wonder...WHY??
I would like to think I found a rather noteworthy way of spending my own time during bit term. This aptly involves red shirt rallies, cheap thai food, overpriced drinks, white sand beaches, hookahs, endless water fights, and a special someone shaving their head and trading their fisherman pants in for a more… ”commanding” …wardrobe.
The first leg of my trip began in Bangkok, before any of this newsworthy madness erupted. Right before. Ben and I were to meet is his two friends from America that loyally were coming to visit him for a few weeks. But their schedules changed and pushed their arrival date back two days. By the time we discovered this, we were already in Bangkok, and ruefully found ourselves spending a week there, rather than only a mere few days. To spend our time, we frequented jazz bars, went on a dinner cruise, and wandered aimlessly. As the days came closer to Bens friends arrival, we made a decision to go out of our way to visit one of our beloved landmarks in Bangkok, the Arts and Culture Center, and subsequently catch a flick. After navigating our way through Bangkok, finding ourselves an hour later at our intended destination, our tracks were immediately stopped. Atop the street of Sukumvhit, we stood gawking in trepidation, our hands gripping the warm steel of the banister, as thousands of red shirt railliers demanding parliament dissolve marched in place, drinking, dancing, and occasionally getting frenzied enough to rattle their foot or heart shaped rattlers. As attention-grabbing as this was, we knew we were not to be part of any of it, so we headed towards the Arts Center. We, in no way, could have guessed that this was to be closed until further notice. For goodness sake! It’s an Arts and Culture Center, and the mall directly across the street was open! Though aggravated that our plans had been thwarted, we shook it off and headed to the movie theater inside Siam Paragon Mall. Our time and money spent to come to Sukumvhit would not be in vain, this we were resolute about. As we approached the first mall, Discover Center (or something of the like), we noticed police gates were lined up in front of the entrances, and moreso, the inside of the mall was abandoned and dark. Well, it IS a smaller mall, but surely Siam Paragon won’t be closed. That would plainly be ludicrous. Think of the economy! But the stream of red shirts was endless, as was the stream of closed malls, one after another. We were not even able to indulge in the newly opened Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream Shop! Preposterous! That was simply the last straw. We headed back in resentment to the only opened mall and treated ourselves to an hour and fifteen minutes of all you can eat sushi. Take THAT red shirts!
Bens friends finally arrived at midnight, and the following day, we were to head to Koh Chang. We had booked an early morning bus to Trat, then boat to the island. We were excited to get out of the expensive madness that was Bangkok. In pure Thailand fashion, we left significantly later than was promised, but there we were, on the bus, ready and rearing to go. Finally, some real relaxation, something we could really call a vacation. Both bus and boat ride were bearable, and we finally found ourselves meandering down the beach to check into (hopefully!) Independent Bo’s guest house. It was recommended by a friend, promising it was a guest house that looked like it was built by Wes Anderson. Intriguing. Then we read what Lonely Planet had to say about the place. “Bo’s is what the Swiss Family Robinson would have built if the family were on acid.” And boy, was it ever! Our time spent in Koh Chang consisted of walking/resting on the beach, eating amazing seafood, playing kings cup during a rain storm in a rather diverse crowd, ‘hiking’ to a waterfall and swimming in the pool below, and in the end, missing our boat back to Trat. But, as frustrating as Thai Time can be, the Thai people can also be very accommodating because of this. We called, expressing our distress over missing our boat (that, it must be said, left early!) and thus perhaps missing our bus. But, as promised by the company, another boat came in 30 minutes, and the bus waited for us stragglers.
We were to stop off in Bangkok for about 24 hours before heading to Chiang Mai for Songkran (Thai New Years that consists of days of water fights, a most welcomed holiday, being that it takes place during the hottest month of the year). The following day, we were promised to be “picked up” a few doors down from our hotel. We gladly accepted, thinking this was rather convenient. And perhaps, if the rallies and protests of the red shirts did not go down the path they did go down on, we Would have been picked up a few doors down from our hotel. But, as things in Thailand usually are, the red shirt protests turned from calm to worse, and the bus, I imagine, was not able to cross the bridge to pick us up. Thus, the alternative was to walk over the bridge to the bus, a most unusual and perplexing feat. We were met by a man, who told us to follow him. We did. We walked in circles, picking up other random travelers on the way. We met up with a group of over 30 foreigners (apparently this bus was for foreigners only), and most certainly not VIP as otherwise guaranteed. We walked over the bridge (well known in the news as where the deadly clashes between red shirts and soldiers/police took place), taking pictures of the red shirt protesters, who in turn were taking pictures of the spectacle of farangs marching deferentially through the danger zone. After carrying out such an accomplishment, we cheerfully boarded the bus, and were on our way to the San Francisco of Thailand: Chiang Mai.
No matter where we went, whether we were burdened by our bags or not, we were attacked by scheming and devious hoards of Thais armed with water guns and buckets of ice water. In defense, I carried the only water gun between the four of us, and, it must be noted, gallantly fortified the troops. But, regardless of ones defense, it is inevitable, you will get wet, and if not careful, sick (this was an experience from the previous year…and I took every precaution this time around). It was days upon days of attacking and being attacked, more times than not by ice cold water. So by the second or third day, my group, which by that point increased to over ten of us, joined in on the game. We bought a large bucket, an enormous cube of ice which went directly in the large bucket of water, and to add some color, 24 cans of beer. We…Were…Ready! ATTACK!
The last leg of our journey took place an hour away from Chiang Mai, in the little village of Pak Tang Talee. Many of us gathered to witness Ben become a monk. 15 days of meditation, chants, reading, thinking, writing, drawing, and not much else. Admirable. I, for one, would go crazy, starting from my hair and eyebrows being shaved off by an ancient looking razor blade. But Ben managed this rather courageously, from his hair shaving to rather eccentric outfits to his chanting in Pali to being unable to properly say goodbye to his friends. Watching him during his ceremony, I stared swelling up with pride, and continuously smiling stupidly, which was noticed by all the Thai people around me. “No, no, this is serious, you must be serious,” they casually reprimanded me, “no smile.” It was a futile undertaking, though, and the asinine grin remained plastered to my face.
I would like to think I found a rather noteworthy way of spending my own time during bit term. This aptly involves red shirt rallies, cheap thai food, overpriced drinks, white sand beaches, hookahs, endless water fights, and a special someone shaving their head and trading their fisherman pants in for a more… ”commanding” …wardrobe.
The first leg of my trip began in Bangkok, before any of this newsworthy madness erupted. Right before. Ben and I were to meet is his two friends from America that loyally were coming to visit him for a few weeks. But their schedules changed and pushed their arrival date back two days. By the time we discovered this, we were already in Bangkok, and ruefully found ourselves spending a week there, rather than only a mere few days. To spend our time, we frequented jazz bars, went on a dinner cruise, and wandered aimlessly. As the days came closer to Bens friends arrival, we made a decision to go out of our way to visit one of our beloved landmarks in Bangkok, the Arts and Culture Center, and subsequently catch a flick. After navigating our way through Bangkok, finding ourselves an hour later at our intended destination, our tracks were immediately stopped. Atop the street of Sukumvhit, we stood gawking in trepidation, our hands gripping the warm steel of the banister, as thousands of red shirt railliers demanding parliament dissolve marched in place, drinking, dancing, and occasionally getting frenzied enough to rattle their foot or heart shaped rattlers. As attention-grabbing as this was, we knew we were not to be part of any of it, so we headed towards the Arts Center. We, in no way, could have guessed that this was to be closed until further notice. For goodness sake! It’s an Arts and Culture Center, and the mall directly across the street was open! Though aggravated that our plans had been thwarted, we shook it off and headed to the movie theater inside Siam Paragon Mall. Our time and money spent to come to Sukumvhit would not be in vain, this we were resolute about. As we approached the first mall, Discover Center (or something of the like), we noticed police gates were lined up in front of the entrances, and moreso, the inside of the mall was abandoned and dark. Well, it IS a smaller mall, but surely Siam Paragon won’t be closed. That would plainly be ludicrous. Think of the economy! But the stream of red shirts was endless, as was the stream of closed malls, one after another. We were not even able to indulge in the newly opened Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream Shop! Preposterous! That was simply the last straw. We headed back in resentment to the only opened mall and treated ourselves to an hour and fifteen minutes of all you can eat sushi. Take THAT red shirts!
Bens friends finally arrived at midnight, and the following day, we were to head to Koh Chang. We had booked an early morning bus to Trat, then boat to the island. We were excited to get out of the expensive madness that was Bangkok. In pure Thailand fashion, we left significantly later than was promised, but there we were, on the bus, ready and rearing to go. Finally, some real relaxation, something we could really call a vacation. Both bus and boat ride were bearable, and we finally found ourselves meandering down the beach to check into (hopefully!) Independent Bo’s guest house. It was recommended by a friend, promising it was a guest house that looked like it was built by Wes Anderson. Intriguing. Then we read what Lonely Planet had to say about the place. “Bo’s is what the Swiss Family Robinson would have built if the family were on acid.” And boy, was it ever! Our time spent in Koh Chang consisted of walking/resting on the beach, eating amazing seafood, playing kings cup during a rain storm in a rather diverse crowd, ‘hiking’ to a waterfall and swimming in the pool below, and in the end, missing our boat back to Trat. But, as frustrating as Thai Time can be, the Thai people can also be very accommodating because of this. We called, expressing our distress over missing our boat (that, it must be said, left early!) and thus perhaps missing our bus. But, as promised by the company, another boat came in 30 minutes, and the bus waited for us stragglers.
We were to stop off in Bangkok for about 24 hours before heading to Chiang Mai for Songkran (Thai New Years that consists of days of water fights, a most welcomed holiday, being that it takes place during the hottest month of the year). The following day, we were promised to be “picked up” a few doors down from our hotel. We gladly accepted, thinking this was rather convenient. And perhaps, if the rallies and protests of the red shirts did not go down the path they did go down on, we Would have been picked up a few doors down from our hotel. But, as things in Thailand usually are, the red shirt protests turned from calm to worse, and the bus, I imagine, was not able to cross the bridge to pick us up. Thus, the alternative was to walk over the bridge to the bus, a most unusual and perplexing feat. We were met by a man, who told us to follow him. We did. We walked in circles, picking up other random travelers on the way. We met up with a group of over 30 foreigners (apparently this bus was for foreigners only), and most certainly not VIP as otherwise guaranteed. We walked over the bridge (well known in the news as where the deadly clashes between red shirts and soldiers/police took place), taking pictures of the red shirt protesters, who in turn were taking pictures of the spectacle of farangs marching deferentially through the danger zone. After carrying out such an accomplishment, we cheerfully boarded the bus, and were on our way to the San Francisco of Thailand: Chiang Mai.
No matter where we went, whether we were burdened by our bags or not, we were attacked by scheming and devious hoards of Thais armed with water guns and buckets of ice water. In defense, I carried the only water gun between the four of us, and, it must be noted, gallantly fortified the troops. But, regardless of ones defense, it is inevitable, you will get wet, and if not careful, sick (this was an experience from the previous year…and I took every precaution this time around). It was days upon days of attacking and being attacked, more times than not by ice cold water. So by the second or third day, my group, which by that point increased to over ten of us, joined in on the game. We bought a large bucket, an enormous cube of ice which went directly in the large bucket of water, and to add some color, 24 cans of beer. We…Were…Ready! ATTACK!
The last leg of our journey took place an hour away from Chiang Mai, in the little village of Pak Tang Talee. Many of us gathered to witness Ben become a monk. 15 days of meditation, chants, reading, thinking, writing, drawing, and not much else. Admirable. I, for one, would go crazy, starting from my hair and eyebrows being shaved off by an ancient looking razor blade. But Ben managed this rather courageously, from his hair shaving to rather eccentric outfits to his chanting in Pali to being unable to properly say goodbye to his friends. Watching him during his ceremony, I stared swelling up with pride, and continuously smiling stupidly, which was noticed by all the Thai people around me. “No, no, this is serious, you must be serious,” they casually reprimanded me, “no smile.” It was a futile undertaking, though, and the asinine grin remained plastered to my face.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Nag Champa is the only way to end a decade
It is the end of a decade. I’m not going to philosophize about it; I’m not going to try to describe or summarize it; I’m not going to analyze it. I’m simply going to say: all in all, in the end, as of right now, this very moment...it’s been good.
In lieu of feeling like I as going a little crazy, and recognizing the fact that I’ve been in Thailand for approximately a year, and thus needing a break, I took a mental health vacation to the north. I spent half a week at Bens site, which is located an hour away from my all time favorite city...in Thailand...Chiang Mai. We went to a Christmas party, which turned out to be in a makeshift church in someones basement, and not really much of a party at all, save for the trading presents with thai people we didn’t know. It was supposed to be with Bens new paw aw, and we really went so it would look good...but alas, his paw aw wasn’t even there...he was at a “meeting”...so we were there with his wife and daughter. I spent the majority of the time either trying to explain what a Jew is, or why I don’t believe in God.
Christmas day, the actual day, was wonderful though...waking up and exchanging gifts with Bens, meeting his family via Skype (they know I’m Jewish, so they wished me a happy channukah and so on...of course, in true Julia fashion, I wished them happy kwanza...dear me, what is wrong with me?!)...the rest of the day was spent going to Bens school, watching the students dress up as reindeer and santa, and sing Xmas songs...watch Ben explain the story of Xmas to the students...in English (success!!)...hehe...struggling incessantly with defunct microphones...quizzing kids and giving away too much sugar to Anuban (kindergarten) students that had way too much energy to begin with...then to come home to a cooked dinner (Bens doing) of mashed potatoes, chicken, veggies...and winnnnnne! For a Christmas away from home, it was still one to remember and hold onto...It was hard to feel too homesick when I had that feeling that there was no where else I’d rather be.
Now come New Years weekend in Chiang Mai, and this time it wasn’t so intimate...not to complain. Just saying. There was a large amount of 120 and 121ers there that weekend, and though drama ensued, it was overcome, and the weekend turned out to be nice, relaxing, with only a slight hint of hangover. New Years Countdown occurred on a rooftop bar near Tapae Gate, and hundreds upon hundreds of lantern things were being let up into the sky. Exploding not far from out upturned heads and entangled bodies were a myriad of fireworks, encouraging every type of “ohh” and “ahh” that existed in the world to be vocalized. Folks kissed, drinks spilled, feet scatted, pullups tried, hands held....and words whispered; “There’s no where else I’d rather be”.
So, in short, for I am currently teaching an art class that really needs my upmost attention (haaa...um....sure...?), it was a New Years to never forget, and I hope that all your new years celebrations were as good as mine. I hope everyone brought in the new year with smiles and good food, and I most definitely hope pounds were gained.... :) not an ill wish...it means the holidays were enjoyed!
Happy Channukah
Merry Christmas
Happy/Merry/Awesome Kwanza
Happy new year
Peace’in out
One Love
ps, if you have never burned nag champa to bring in the new year, you're missing out...its a smell to remember
In lieu of feeling like I as going a little crazy, and recognizing the fact that I’ve been in Thailand for approximately a year, and thus needing a break, I took a mental health vacation to the north. I spent half a week at Bens site, which is located an hour away from my all time favorite city...in Thailand...Chiang Mai. We went to a Christmas party, which turned out to be in a makeshift church in someones basement, and not really much of a party at all, save for the trading presents with thai people we didn’t know. It was supposed to be with Bens new paw aw, and we really went so it would look good...but alas, his paw aw wasn’t even there...he was at a “meeting”...so we were there with his wife and daughter. I spent the majority of the time either trying to explain what a Jew is, or why I don’t believe in God.
Christmas day, the actual day, was wonderful though...waking up and exchanging gifts with Bens, meeting his family via Skype (they know I’m Jewish, so they wished me a happy channukah and so on...of course, in true Julia fashion, I wished them happy kwanza...dear me, what is wrong with me?!)...the rest of the day was spent going to Bens school, watching the students dress up as reindeer and santa, and sing Xmas songs...watch Ben explain the story of Xmas to the students...in English (success!!)...hehe...struggling incessantly with defunct microphones...quizzing kids and giving away too much sugar to Anuban (kindergarten) students that had way too much energy to begin with...then to come home to a cooked dinner (Bens doing) of mashed potatoes, chicken, veggies...and winnnnnne! For a Christmas away from home, it was still one to remember and hold onto...It was hard to feel too homesick when I had that feeling that there was no where else I’d rather be.
Now come New Years weekend in Chiang Mai, and this time it wasn’t so intimate...not to complain. Just saying. There was a large amount of 120 and 121ers there that weekend, and though drama ensued, it was overcome, and the weekend turned out to be nice, relaxing, with only a slight hint of hangover. New Years Countdown occurred on a rooftop bar near Tapae Gate, and hundreds upon hundreds of lantern things were being let up into the sky. Exploding not far from out upturned heads and entangled bodies were a myriad of fireworks, encouraging every type of “ohh” and “ahh” that existed in the world to be vocalized. Folks kissed, drinks spilled, feet scatted, pullups tried, hands held....and words whispered; “There’s no where else I’d rather be”.
So, in short, for I am currently teaching an art class that really needs my upmost attention (haaa...um....sure...?), it was a New Years to never forget, and I hope that all your new years celebrations were as good as mine. I hope everyone brought in the new year with smiles and good food, and I most definitely hope pounds were gained.... :) not an ill wish...it means the holidays were enjoyed!
Happy Channukah
Merry Christmas
Happy/Merry/Awesome Kwanza
Happy new year
Peace’in out
One Love
ps, if you have never burned nag champa to bring in the new year, you're missing out...its a smell to remember
Monday, November 9, 2009
the inevitability of change
We try and control change, try and either have it not happen at all, or have it bend to our whims. But we have no control, and change is in fact inevitable…and really, it’s just better to let it happen and go with the flow. Ya dig?
As it stands, many things have changed from my last pretty lame attempt at letting you all get a glimpse into my world. My parents went home…alas. It was a sad departure, but honestly (dad, kaz…don’t take this the wrong way!!) I think it was time…only because after several weeks of travel and more luxury than I was used to, I was ready to go back to site…to go home. Yes…home. It was a strange transition to feel like site was home, but there you go…there it is. Though, I must confess, it wasn’t only the feeling of being able to wake up in my own bed and not live out of a bag that excited me…just so happened that I was also pretty excited to hang out with two pretty cool peace corps boys in Udon Thani, one of which, admittedly, I have quite a crush on…(god, what an understatement…). Ben, Marshall, and I stayed in Udon for a night, wandered about, eating pizza, drinking beer, and scarfing down (inevitable when in the company of Marshall) tons of fruit. Afterwards, it was Ben and I to go back to my site, where my co teacher was holding a merit making ceremony for her mother…apparently the whole village was invited, plus some…which means over 600 people. She asked me to dress up in full thai garb, which I agreed to with some hesitation, but turns out it was only for the morning, which I had missed…due to laziness and craving for good coffee…which turned out to be kinda shitty anyway. Oh well. Can’t have it all.
Bringing Ben to site was one thing, but bringing him to a celebration with drinking and dancing (and always the one crazy woman with too much makeup and too little clothes) is quite another. Poor boy…harassed to no end. “are you together?” (shrug), “do you speak laos” (no), “Drink Whiskey!!!!” (I’ll stick to beer, thanks)…and that was only the first 15 minutes or so. Then the walk around the village began…under the blazing and unforgiving sun, fire crackers going off everywhere and kids running after them, balloons fueled by heat released into the air by monks, and the ubiquitous shrill of thai music trailing behind the crowd, urging them to dance. And Ben and I…well. Ok I’ll just start from when this woman with too much rouge, brighhhhtttt pink lips, neon blue eye shadow, and a shoooort short dress (whoa isaan is even effecting my English) ran up to the two of us, threw her arms around Ben, and kissed him all over his face, leaving bright pink traces of this violation everywhere. Then it was my turn. Needless to say, we spent the remainder of the time trying to avoid her…not an easy task. On the walk, we stayed mostly with the dancing crowd, protected (hardly) by my coteachers sister…who happened to be drunk…so the body guard thing didn’t really work out. It actually was more like Ben being dragged away by drunk men (one infuriatingly persistent, the other creepy in a ‘making EYES at ben’ sorta way)…and I finally using my bouquet of flowers to run them off. Successful, to a degree. Whatever…anyway…
Ben stayed at my site for the weekend…a wonderful, fabulous weekend of…well, wonderful and fabulous things. After a few days, we took a first class bus (we were too late to get on the VIP…a mistake never to be repeated…don’t think me spoiled…you wouldn’t want to ride on a first class bus for 12 hours either) to Chiang Mai, to both visit Bens site as well as to celebrate Halloween and Loy Krathong (a thai holiday involving fire crackers, heat fueled balloons, and putting some plant flower incense candle arrangement thing in the river and watching is float away – something to do with respect for the river…or romance…or , yeah I don’t know). Halloween was amazing, spending time with a large group of 120ers, and Nancymarie and Ben from 121, all of whom were so badass and dressed up!! More than I can say for others….grr. I was Lara Croft (pictures to come soon) and Ben was Mega Man…notice the video game theme…if we actually faced off like we said we would…I so would’ve kicked MegaMans ass….try and refute that…just try! With all the strange occurrences that happened and places we ended up and people we met, Halloween was, simply put, amazing.
The rest of the few days in that region were spent at both Bens site and Chiang Mai, and all the time spent with Ben was that sort of thing I was talking about that brings about those changes you don’t really expect. We spent all that time together, hardly apart, and every day was more amazing than the next. He even took me to the tallest mountain (it was freezing…so perfect) in Thailand to watch the sunset…’nough said.
It all was a surreal experience, but I’m back at site now with new feelings and motivation...I haven't felt this good in quite some time...could be getting my need for travel out of my system, temporarily, could be having a month away from school and site and actually missing the whole thing, could be the sweetness of Honeycomb,...i think its all of the above. And it's only getting better...
Peace out, One Love, and Chocolate Sauce!
As it stands, many things have changed from my last pretty lame attempt at letting you all get a glimpse into my world. My parents went home…alas. It was a sad departure, but honestly (dad, kaz…don’t take this the wrong way!!) I think it was time…only because after several weeks of travel and more luxury than I was used to, I was ready to go back to site…to go home. Yes…home. It was a strange transition to feel like site was home, but there you go…there it is. Though, I must confess, it wasn’t only the feeling of being able to wake up in my own bed and not live out of a bag that excited me…just so happened that I was also pretty excited to hang out with two pretty cool peace corps boys in Udon Thani, one of which, admittedly, I have quite a crush on…(god, what an understatement…). Ben, Marshall, and I stayed in Udon for a night, wandered about, eating pizza, drinking beer, and scarfing down (inevitable when in the company of Marshall) tons of fruit. Afterwards, it was Ben and I to go back to my site, where my co teacher was holding a merit making ceremony for her mother…apparently the whole village was invited, plus some…which means over 600 people. She asked me to dress up in full thai garb, which I agreed to with some hesitation, but turns out it was only for the morning, which I had missed…due to laziness and craving for good coffee…which turned out to be kinda shitty anyway. Oh well. Can’t have it all.
Bringing Ben to site was one thing, but bringing him to a celebration with drinking and dancing (and always the one crazy woman with too much makeup and too little clothes) is quite another. Poor boy…harassed to no end. “are you together?” (shrug), “do you speak laos” (no), “Drink Whiskey!!!!” (I’ll stick to beer, thanks)…and that was only the first 15 minutes or so. Then the walk around the village began…under the blazing and unforgiving sun, fire crackers going off everywhere and kids running after them, balloons fueled by heat released into the air by monks, and the ubiquitous shrill of thai music trailing behind the crowd, urging them to dance. And Ben and I…well. Ok I’ll just start from when this woman with too much rouge, brighhhhtttt pink lips, neon blue eye shadow, and a shoooort short dress (whoa isaan is even effecting my English) ran up to the two of us, threw her arms around Ben, and kissed him all over his face, leaving bright pink traces of this violation everywhere. Then it was my turn. Needless to say, we spent the remainder of the time trying to avoid her…not an easy task. On the walk, we stayed mostly with the dancing crowd, protected (hardly) by my coteachers sister…who happened to be drunk…so the body guard thing didn’t really work out. It actually was more like Ben being dragged away by drunk men (one infuriatingly persistent, the other creepy in a ‘making EYES at ben’ sorta way)…and I finally using my bouquet of flowers to run them off. Successful, to a degree. Whatever…anyway…
Ben stayed at my site for the weekend…a wonderful, fabulous weekend of…well, wonderful and fabulous things. After a few days, we took a first class bus (we were too late to get on the VIP…a mistake never to be repeated…don’t think me spoiled…you wouldn’t want to ride on a first class bus for 12 hours either) to Chiang Mai, to both visit Bens site as well as to celebrate Halloween and Loy Krathong (a thai holiday involving fire crackers, heat fueled balloons, and putting some plant flower incense candle arrangement thing in the river and watching is float away – something to do with respect for the river…or romance…or , yeah I don’t know). Halloween was amazing, spending time with a large group of 120ers, and Nancymarie and Ben from 121, all of whom were so badass and dressed up!! More than I can say for others….grr. I was Lara Croft (pictures to come soon) and Ben was Mega Man…notice the video game theme…if we actually faced off like we said we would…I so would’ve kicked MegaMans ass….try and refute that…just try! With all the strange occurrences that happened and places we ended up and people we met, Halloween was, simply put, amazing.
The rest of the few days in that region were spent at both Bens site and Chiang Mai, and all the time spent with Ben was that sort of thing I was talking about that brings about those changes you don’t really expect. We spent all that time together, hardly apart, and every day was more amazing than the next. He even took me to the tallest mountain (it was freezing…so perfect) in Thailand to watch the sunset…’nough said.
It all was a surreal experience, but I’m back at site now with new feelings and motivation...I haven't felt this good in quite some time...could be getting my need for travel out of my system, temporarily, could be having a month away from school and site and actually missing the whole thing, could be the sweetness of Honeycomb,...i think its all of the above. And it's only getting better...
Peace out, One Love, and Chocolate Sauce!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
contemplations of Cambodia interrupted by a rainbow
It was strange, meandering around the killing fields and S21 Torture prison in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia. I did not want to go yesterday because I felt I needed to mentally prepare, much like when I went to the Holocaust museum years back. But today, we went, and we experienced, or rather witnessed, the location of such atrocities, and I felt a bit disconnected. That is not to say I felt nothing, for I was quite disheartened and again, my cynicism of the general human race, (or rather was utterly shocked of its capability of inhumanity), came back full force. But the fields were not as they were, and I'm afraid you may take this the wrong way when I say I would have rather had the fields be maintained in their original state. But instead, the original buildings were torn down, tourist facilities took their place, and school children squealed and cheered with delight next door. This is quite different, one doesn't have to imagine too hard, from the moans and screams of terror and torture that resonated only a few years back. Even a sign nailed to a towering and twisted tree stating it was the location where children and babies were held by their feet and killed by having their heads smashed against its trunk did not stir too much emotion in me, save for a disbelief that humans were still capable of doing such things to other humans. But, perhaps, that is just what led to such disconnect; simply because, how Could you imagine such things truly happened? How could a sane person imagine this happening?? That is not to say I don't believe, because it is so glaringly obvious it did, a truth even visible in the streets of PP. I have met people young and old who have been effected by the actions of the Khmer Rouge and heard their stories. I have already seen how the country fell under their regime and is still trying to get back on its feet. Perhaps I just wasn't mentally prepared, but then again, how could you be?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
a quarter of a century later...
well, it is official. i have have aged 25 years. i have never had a birthday that i didn't enjoy, and celebrating it here in thailand in my little village is no exception.
i walked into my first class, grade 5, and the whole classroom was covered in balloons and bubbles, and the whole class had their families chip in to get me a bday cake. then they sang happy birthday in english and it nearly brought me to tears. next came my 4th grade class which held the same ceremony, but instead of a cake, they somehow knew that i was obsessed with sunglasses and bought me a very cute pair of new red shades! again, near tears (i have vowed to not cry in front of my students or coteachers). next came lunch, in which, in a very impromptu manner, the principal threw a party with all the other teachers and some very interesting thai food they certainly dont serve in thai restaurants in america. they also gave me a cake, in which we promptly ate. the last class i taught were my 6th graders, whom i am absolutely in love with. i walked into a dark classroom, and they were all standing in a circle with a birthday cake with candles lit and they sang happy birthday to me as well. i was so moved by their love and care, a trait of thai people that is unmatched anywhere else. if i wasn't a professional i would've grabbed all my students and given them the biggest hug in the world. but alas, it is not professional and also not something they do in their culture, so i withheld such desires. and also, all the bday wishes were just so overwhelming from friends and family, it was simply out of this world. i have felt myself growing here in thailand for some time, and turning 25, a significant age i believe, just made it all the more real that i am indeed more grown and mature and aware.
i walked into my first class, grade 5, and the whole classroom was covered in balloons and bubbles, and the whole class had their families chip in to get me a bday cake. then they sang happy birthday in english and it nearly brought me to tears. next came my 4th grade class which held the same ceremony, but instead of a cake, they somehow knew that i was obsessed with sunglasses and bought me a very cute pair of new red shades! again, near tears (i have vowed to not cry in front of my students or coteachers). next came lunch, in which, in a very impromptu manner, the principal threw a party with all the other teachers and some very interesting thai food they certainly dont serve in thai restaurants in america. they also gave me a cake, in which we promptly ate. the last class i taught were my 6th graders, whom i am absolutely in love with. i walked into a dark classroom, and they were all standing in a circle with a birthday cake with candles lit and they sang happy birthday to me as well. i was so moved by their love and care, a trait of thai people that is unmatched anywhere else. if i wasn't a professional i would've grabbed all my students and given them the biggest hug in the world. but alas, it is not professional and also not something they do in their culture, so i withheld such desires. and also, all the bday wishes were just so overwhelming from friends and family, it was simply out of this world. i have felt myself growing here in thailand for some time, and turning 25, a significant age i believe, just made it all the more real that i am indeed more grown and mature and aware.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)