today was the first day of orientation at my new school in bangkok. it is wonderful! the staff is big (31 people) and most (21) are new, like me. it is a good group and i am excited to get started with summer school. i can't wait to meet the boys on monday! most thai people wear yellow shirts on mondays to honor the king's 60th year of reign (that's a LOT!)... and we are allowed to do so, as well. i don't have a yellow shirt yet, but will get one some day. it's a neat thing to see most thai people honoring someone they find so important. he is a very humble and kind man, i've heard. they are very loyal to him and the royal family. it's really neat.
on monday i will meet the boys that i will have all year. as grade one students, they are required to attend summer school. the other grades are not required to attend, but many boys come to summer anyway. we were given the (many) keys to our classroom and all the cabinets and things. it is a nice room that i will have to rearrange and become comfortable with. my teacher's desk is actually in the teacher's room, where all the teachers have desks along with materials and computers. it will be interesting to work so closely with my collegues. i'm very excited!
i received an email from one of my 8th graders who had more questions for me. i told her that i would answer them on the blog, again...
I have a lot of things to ask you.
how do you like it there? i like bangkok and i really love thailand. the people are very kind and helpful. some are afraid of having to talk to me if they don't know english, but i am getting better at speaking slowly in Tenglish (thai english)... it just takes practice. i really like getting out of the city and to the beaches for some relaxation. bangkok is a very busy and dirty place but it is much more comfortable living than the smaller cities and islands.
what do you do in your spare time? i have had visitors from mn staying with me, so i haven't had much spare time. when they aren't here, i catch up on sleep, read, check email, organize things... pretty boring!
how do you like your students? i think i will like them, but i haven't met them yet!
do you like your co-workers? i do like my co-teachers. most of them are from australia and speak very quickly with a strong accent. i am trying to get used to it, but they have to repeat themselves a lot. some of the others are from England, South Africa, New Zealand, and America.
did you make any new friends? yes! i've made some friends who i teach with and some friends from my travels who i've mentioned in past blogs.
how do you like the food? i get tired of thai food once in a while and need some pancakes and eggs... or pizza... but thai food is very healthy and tasty. you can try thai food at Sawatdee or King and I Thai or True Thai in Minneapolis. check it out and let me know what you think!
do you feel homesick sometimes? yes, especially in the first two weeks. i'm doing better now that i know my way around. i miss CHEESE!!! this isn't a big Dairy country, so good cheese is very expensive and i haven't had much since i've been here. the pizza helps sometimes... but i just loooove cheese. i miss it every day! i miss my family, friends, and students. i try not to focus on that because it would make my time here more miserable. so, i like to think that they're all doing good at home and i especially like getting little notes from people to hear about things happening back home.
are you ever going to come back? i will be back before you know it! this next year is going to go very fast... i think.
thanks for the email, najma! it's great to hear school is going good!!!
stay tuned for more photos, coming soon!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
luke to the south...
after a night out with nang and tom to see some sights... luke and i headed to khao san road this morning, ate an early dinner and i saw him off on a bus to southern thailand. i will join him there in about two weeks.
Precious, Emily... girls, i know this is hard to understand at your age, but luke is my friend. i have known him for a long, long time. the answer to your question is "no, i am not." okay? i'm glad to hear from you! thanks for writing. does it always have to involve boys with you two?!?! boy craaaazy girls!! ;-) how's Rex doing these days? my class never writes to me!!!! i'm starting to think they forgot me. *BIG frown* that miss nicole fell off the face of the planet, too! she must be too busy with hitch...
i will begin orientation tomorrow!! next week i will meet my students, finally!!! i look forward to every day that is coming! i feel like my time here will go by faster than i have time to live it!
i am trying to sell my 2001 nissan altima gxe at home, in minnesota. it has 68,000 miles and is in great condition. if you know anyone who is interested in more details, please send an email to: extrabeth@gmail.com.
i will be posting more photos soon. when i have visitors it is difficult to steal away for time to get things accomplished. life will settle into it's routine now that i am flying solo again.
much love! send me a message!! i miss you!
Precious, Emily... girls, i know this is hard to understand at your age, but luke is my friend. i have known him for a long, long time. the answer to your question is "no, i am not." okay? i'm glad to hear from you! thanks for writing. does it always have to involve boys with you two?!?! boy craaaazy girls!! ;-) how's Rex doing these days? my class never writes to me!!!! i'm starting to think they forgot me. *BIG frown* that miss nicole fell off the face of the planet, too! she must be too busy with hitch...
i will begin orientation tomorrow!! next week i will meet my students, finally!!! i look forward to every day that is coming! i feel like my time here will go by faster than i have time to live it!
i am trying to sell my 2001 nissan altima gxe at home, in minnesota. it has 68,000 miles and is in great condition. if you know anyone who is interested in more details, please send an email to: extrabeth@gmail.com.
i will be posting more photos soon. when i have visitors it is difficult to steal away for time to get things accomplished. life will settle into it's routine now that i am flying solo again.
much love! send me a message!! i miss you!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
i feel free!!!
it's amazing how free i feel over something so... silly. i have found a place with free wi-fi and i'm connected to power and uploading photos like crazy! i feel just a bit more at home here now. i know how to get around to anywhere ... in the country, even... i know where i live in relation to anything in the city. i know the names of the sky train stops. i know where i can get a killer tuna panini (here, with the free wi-fi!!) life is great!
this morning, my phone rang. the very phone that sits next to my bed, and has been next to my bed since i moved in to my apt. i have only touched it to see if there is a dial tone (there is). so, when it rang this morning i didn't know what to do. i was informed that if i use the phone i will be charged for it... and i don't want that... so i literally let it ring a few times and then asked luke, "what should i do?? it's ringing." he laughed and said, "well answer it. it's ringing." i paused wondering who it could be and answered it, praying that there would be English on the other end... and there WAS!
it turns out that several of the other new teachers have moved in to the same building just the day before... and were having a party. they pleaded for me to join them, so i agreed. i put down my book (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close... THANKS, sami! the book keeps me coming back for more!), hopped in the shower and headed up one floor to meet my new friends. they are ALL australian, my boss is also and he was there as well... altogether, three gals and three guys. and me. (lucas went to eat breakfast)
i am so glad to have met them finally! there are more to meet and they won't all be australian... but i'm so glad to have other teachers in the building! we chatted a while... i had to concentrate a bit since their accents were heavy... then checked out each others' apartments and made plans to meet for dinner this evening. it should be a great time! i think lucas looks forward to it as well.
more photos are posted and i'm going to get back to posting the rest. thanks for reading this! i appreciate all your love and support. i miss you!!!
this morning, my phone rang. the very phone that sits next to my bed, and has been next to my bed since i moved in to my apt. i have only touched it to see if there is a dial tone (there is). so, when it rang this morning i didn't know what to do. i was informed that if i use the phone i will be charged for it... and i don't want that... so i literally let it ring a few times and then asked luke, "what should i do?? it's ringing." he laughed and said, "well answer it. it's ringing." i paused wondering who it could be and answered it, praying that there would be English on the other end... and there WAS!
it turns out that several of the other new teachers have moved in to the same building just the day before... and were having a party. they pleaded for me to join them, so i agreed. i put down my book (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close... THANKS, sami! the book keeps me coming back for more!), hopped in the shower and headed up one floor to meet my new friends. they are ALL australian, my boss is also and he was there as well... altogether, three gals and three guys. and me. (lucas went to eat breakfast)
i am so glad to have met them finally! there are more to meet and they won't all be australian... but i'm so glad to have other teachers in the building! we chatted a while... i had to concentrate a bit since their accents were heavy... then checked out each others' apartments and made plans to meet for dinner this evening. it should be a great time! i think lucas looks forward to it as well.
more photos are posted and i'm going to get back to posting the rest. thanks for reading this! i appreciate all your love and support. i miss you!!!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
check out the photos!
i have finally figured out how to post photos... you'll have to link to a different website, sorry! i only had enough time, in my one hour of wi-fi at starbucks, and battery power (i forgot my adaptor!) to upload what you see. 11 pictures. they are from our flights and first night's hotel in bangkok.
i have over 200 more photos to share, but it takes quite a while to upload them and i'm doing my best... if i find out something else that will be better i will let you know as soon as possible!
for now:
www.flickr.com/photos/extrabeth
i will be posting more tomorrow... so check back soon!!!
also note, the photos post themselves backwards, so either click on the "set" that says "flights"... it's on the right side of the page... or view the photos from bottom to top.
more to come about koh phangan and what's been happening lately... sorry about the delay! my friend, lucas, is visiting and we've been busy busy busy!
i have over 200 more photos to share, but it takes quite a while to upload them and i'm doing my best... if i find out something else that will be better i will let you know as soon as possible!
for now:
www.flickr.com/photos/extrabeth
i will be posting more tomorrow... so check back soon!!!
also note, the photos post themselves backwards, so either click on the "set" that says "flights"... it's on the right side of the page... or view the photos from bottom to top.
more to come about koh phangan and what's been happening lately... sorry about the delay! my friend, lucas, is visiting and we've been busy busy busy!
Saturday, March 10, 2007
sorry for the delay!!!
i should pick up where i left off telling about barb and my travels in the south. i believe i left off at the description of the filthy ferry ride. . .
once we arrived on koh phangan we were immediately bombarded by people who had cardboard with maps taped on them asking us "where you go madam?", as is the thai way. i did my best to evade them by walking away. it doesn't really matter, though, once they've said something to you, you're "theirs" and they follow you repeating their questions until you either give in or walk all the way out of the location.
on the ferry, we had made a friend named stephan, who is from munich, germany, who suggested that we try a place with bungalows and a private beach called coral bay. he said he had stayed there a month prior and really liked the owners. we decided to take his advice and the three of us shared a pickup truck taxi (where we hold on for dear life in the back) to a nearby city where we were dropped at a 7 (7 eleven, remember?). the owner of coral bay then picked us up from there and we, again, held on for dear life on the very rocky, bumpy, steep ride up and down the mountainside until we reached the resort. it was a SPECTACULAR view from the top of the driveway into their property. stunning mini-islands off the shore, sea-blue and sea-green water moving calmly as far as the eye could see... green, lush mountains all around. it was a big, deep sigh of relief to enter such a beautiful place.
upon arrival we were escorted to our cheap (300 baht!!) a night bungalow just ten steps from the beach. we were lucky enough to be given the bungalow closest to the beach, just what we had hoped for!! the bungalow was much more rustic (as can be expected for such a price!) than our prior stays. it was all wood, had a double bed raised from the floor. from the middle of the ceiling a mosquito net hung down over the bed. we were fortunate to have our own bathroom with toilet, sink, and shower but we noticed right away that the electricity didn't work. we later found out that it was only turned on between 6 pm and midnight.
since we were feeling a little scummy from the ferry ride we decided to take showers, barb went first and i unpacked my things a little. when she was done i opened the door and was very startled to see a large lizard had placed himself on our screen... luckily on the outdoor part. after calming myself down i just went on my business. this lizard was our pal for that first day and left after dark. barb thinks he probably liked the moisture from our showers... and an escape from the heat!
after showering we went back to the lodge which is a wonderful place to hang out, eat, make friends, and relax. we had some food and then beached it for a while. after showering, again, we decided to walk to the nearby town and check things out.
we surveyed the routes, we had two options. one, follow the shoreline (a little rocky!) or take the road. after walking to the bottom of the driveway and assessing the steep climb out and considering the heat, we decided to go along the shoreline. at least we could cool our feet that way... we could see the town the entire way, as well.
all went well along the shoreline (so beautiful!) until we reached a little river inlet that we could not cross without getting drenched, so we stopped in to a resort to ask how to go around. we ended up on the road, oh well! we spent more time on the shoreline and out of the beating sun... with sunburns ensuing, we made the right choice!
we finally made it to town, bought some soap, did email and tried to find a long boat to take us back. when we approached them i was prepared to haggle. we ended up meeting two fellows, both of whom took the boat with us to check out where we were staying. john is from england and bruno is from switzerland. we all made it safe and sound, right to the very beach 10 feet from our bungalow! it was fun! i took some pictures... you'll see them soon.
we were tired from the heat and walking, and lack of sleep on the ferry, so we ate some food and returned to the bungalow to "take a nap". unfortunately, we slept through to the next morning. our first night under the bug net went gloriously!!
the next morning we woke up early (again!!) and made it to the common area before they were even open for breakfast! we spent our time examining the menu. we ate some breakfast and were joined by our friend from the ferry and later the swiss fellow who had gotten himself a bungalow!
more to come....
once we arrived on koh phangan we were immediately bombarded by people who had cardboard with maps taped on them asking us "where you go madam?", as is the thai way. i did my best to evade them by walking away. it doesn't really matter, though, once they've said something to you, you're "theirs" and they follow you repeating their questions until you either give in or walk all the way out of the location.
on the ferry, we had made a friend named stephan, who is from munich, germany, who suggested that we try a place with bungalows and a private beach called coral bay. he said he had stayed there a month prior and really liked the owners. we decided to take his advice and the three of us shared a pickup truck taxi (where we hold on for dear life in the back) to a nearby city where we were dropped at a 7 (7 eleven, remember?). the owner of coral bay then picked us up from there and we, again, held on for dear life on the very rocky, bumpy, steep ride up and down the mountainside until we reached the resort. it was a SPECTACULAR view from the top of the driveway into their property. stunning mini-islands off the shore, sea-blue and sea-green water moving calmly as far as the eye could see... green, lush mountains all around. it was a big, deep sigh of relief to enter such a beautiful place.
upon arrival we were escorted to our cheap (300 baht!!) a night bungalow just ten steps from the beach. we were lucky enough to be given the bungalow closest to the beach, just what we had hoped for!! the bungalow was much more rustic (as can be expected for such a price!) than our prior stays. it was all wood, had a double bed raised from the floor. from the middle of the ceiling a mosquito net hung down over the bed. we were fortunate to have our own bathroom with toilet, sink, and shower but we noticed right away that the electricity didn't work. we later found out that it was only turned on between 6 pm and midnight.
since we were feeling a little scummy from the ferry ride we decided to take showers, barb went first and i unpacked my things a little. when she was done i opened the door and was very startled to see a large lizard had placed himself on our screen... luckily on the outdoor part. after calming myself down i just went on my business. this lizard was our pal for that first day and left after dark. barb thinks he probably liked the moisture from our showers... and an escape from the heat!
after showering we went back to the lodge which is a wonderful place to hang out, eat, make friends, and relax. we had some food and then beached it for a while. after showering, again, we decided to walk to the nearby town and check things out.
we surveyed the routes, we had two options. one, follow the shoreline (a little rocky!) or take the road. after walking to the bottom of the driveway and assessing the steep climb out and considering the heat, we decided to go along the shoreline. at least we could cool our feet that way... we could see the town the entire way, as well.
all went well along the shoreline (so beautiful!) until we reached a little river inlet that we could not cross without getting drenched, so we stopped in to a resort to ask how to go around. we ended up on the road, oh well! we spent more time on the shoreline and out of the beating sun... with sunburns ensuing, we made the right choice!
we finally made it to town, bought some soap, did email and tried to find a long boat to take us back. when we approached them i was prepared to haggle. we ended up meeting two fellows, both of whom took the boat with us to check out where we were staying. john is from england and bruno is from switzerland. we all made it safe and sound, right to the very beach 10 feet from our bungalow! it was fun! i took some pictures... you'll see them soon.
we were tired from the heat and walking, and lack of sleep on the ferry, so we ate some food and returned to the bungalow to "take a nap". unfortunately, we slept through to the next morning. our first night under the bug net went gloriously!!
the next morning we woke up early (again!!) and made it to the common area before they were even open for breakfast! we spent our time examining the menu. we ate some breakfast and were joined by our friend from the ferry and later the swiss fellow who had gotten himself a bungalow!
more to come....
Thursday, March 8, 2007
i hope my two precious friends do not mind to see their email here. i want to answer all the questions so that everyone can see them!! thanks so much to Quinton, Omeed, Ivan, and Precious for giving me such big smiles in thailand! I miss you sooo much!!! HI miss nicole!! miss you tooooo!!!
Dear Miss Beth,
Did you try any new foods? Did you try the cockroaches yet? Did you buy any souvenirs? Can you bring any key chains back? We had a big blizzard here. The 7th and 8th graders were very excited from their trip! Do you like it over there? Do you think you will stay, or come back next year? Did you learn any new words? How do you say "better not talk?" Is it hot over there? Are the people nice to you? Is the grass greener there? Is your class behaving? Are they hyper active knuckle heads? Can you understand the other people when they talk to you and can you talk back to them? Do you miss us? We miss you! Did you make any new friends? Do you have a house or an apartment? Do they have as much technology as here? Hope to hear from you soon and we hope you are having fun!
Sincerely,
Quinton and Omeed
Here ya go:
Did you try any new foods? yes, some new vegetables and fruits, but i don't know what their names are. they are foods from thailand. sorry! i've been eating a lot of noodle and rice dishes including phad thai and fried rice and curries.
Did you try the cockroaches yet? NO! we saw the bug seller man last night on a walk in my neighborhood! i took some pictures that i will post for you soon. HAVE YOU EATEN A COCKROACH YET?! he was selling grasshoppers, too!! and worms!!! eeeew!
Did you buy any souvenirs? i have purchased some souveniors, yes.
Can you bring any key chains back? i will do my best to bring back keychains, okay!?
We had a big blizzard here. The 7th and 8th graders were very excited from their trip! i'm so glad they had fun! are you excited, too!? i heard about all the snow, was it fun to play in??! i wish i could have gone sledding with you!!
Do you like it over there? i like it here, yes. it is very hot... around 100 degrees every day. luckily, my new apartment has air conditioning! when we were on koh phangan (island) there wasn't any air conditioning in our room, only a fan and they only had electricity turned on between 6 pm and midnight. we kept cool by jumping in for a swim in the salty ocean every few hours. it was so relaxing.
Do you think you will stay, or come back next year? i don't know what i think yet! i haven't had to work here yet! i've been doing the traveling that i told you about... to the islands in southern thailand. miss nicole can show you on a map.
Did you learn any new words? i did! (but not very many yet. my thai language classes haven't started yet.) i learned how to say thank you... it sounds like this... girls say: korp kun kah... boys say: korp kun kup. (remember, boys say "kup" to be polite and girls say "kah" to be polite?) I learned how to say "i don't want anymore" it sounds like this: me'ow kah (for girls) and me'ow kup (for boys). that phrase comes in handy when the street venders and shop people are insisting that you "buy for you, madam. for you i give 200 baht. just for you, madam." i have actually been called "money" like it is my name. the man said, "hello money! hello! what you buy? discount for you, money?" everyone is trying to make some money here in thailand. it's the way it is. i am used to it now. "me'ow kah" really helps me.
i also know yes: chai. and no: mai.
How do you say "better not talk?" i don't know yet. ask me again in one month and i will know then.
Is it hot over there? YES! 100 degrees (at least), everyday!
Are the people nice to you? yes, very nice. thais are happy, kind people.
Is the grass greener there? literally?? yes, the grass is not brown and covered in snow. that is for sure! i don't see much grass in the city, but the islands and the land outside of the city is very, very green with grass and trees. it is the most beautiful thing i have ever seen. i love it! you will see in my pictures when i can get them on my blog.
Is your class behaving? Are they hyper active knuckle heads? ha ha ha! you make me laugh so hard! i miss you!!!!! i haven't started summer school yet, so i don't KNOW if they are hyperactive knuckle heads!! ha ha. the children i have seen and talked to so far are perfectly well behaved and follow all the rules. you can see that they really respect their culture and their parents. they do not cause any problems for their families. just like you, right!?!? :-)
Can you understand the other people when they talk to you and can you talk back to them? no, i cannot understand them unless they speak slow and say the things i know how to say (hello, thank you, yes, no) or unless they speak english. i have to speak what's called broken english when i talk to them. like this, "how much this?" or "you english?" to ask how much somethings costs or if someone speaks english. weird, huh?!
Do you miss us? We miss you! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! i need hugs!!!
Did you make any new friends? i did! i made some friends who come from germany, some friends from france, some friends from canada,some friends from australia, some friends from england, a friend from switzerland, and friends who live here in thailand. it is fun! we haven't met many americans yet... we'll have to see!
Do you have a house or an apartment? i have an apartment that is perfect for one person. i even have room for two or three friends to stay comfortably. get some money together and have a field trip to thailand!! i'm kidding, but it would be fun! you might not like how stinky it can be here in thailand. their garbages smell like the worst smelling throw up EVER. peeeeeyuuuu! i'm used to it, though. it's how it is, i can't be mean! i am their guest!! thais frown upon people who complain, so it is best to smile and move on with life, just like in america!! keep that smile on!
Do they have as much technology as here? they have the exact same technology as you do in america. their keyboards have extra letters that are thai letters, too... that is different. then they can type on their computer in their own language.
PHEW!! that was a lot, but i'm so glad you asked me those questions!! let me know if you have any more. i am so glad to hear from you!!! i miss you! it is late here (22:17, ask miss nicole what time that is... that is how they keep time here, it's called military time)
love you! miss you! write again soon!!!
miss beth
Dear Miss Beth,
Did you try any new foods? Did you try the cockroaches yet? Did you buy any souvenirs? Can you bring any key chains back? We had a big blizzard here. The 7th and 8th graders were very excited from their trip! Do you like it over there? Do you think you will stay, or come back next year? Did you learn any new words? How do you say "better not talk?" Is it hot over there? Are the people nice to you? Is the grass greener there? Is your class behaving? Are they hyper active knuckle heads? Can you understand the other people when they talk to you and can you talk back to them? Do you miss us? We miss you! Did you make any new friends? Do you have a house or an apartment? Do they have as much technology as here? Hope to hear from you soon and we hope you are having fun!
Sincerely,
Quinton and Omeed
Here ya go:
Did you try any new foods? yes, some new vegetables and fruits, but i don't know what their names are. they are foods from thailand. sorry! i've been eating a lot of noodle and rice dishes including phad thai and fried rice and curries.
Did you try the cockroaches yet? NO! we saw the bug seller man last night on a walk in my neighborhood! i took some pictures that i will post for you soon. HAVE YOU EATEN A COCKROACH YET?! he was selling grasshoppers, too!! and worms!!! eeeew!
Did you buy any souvenirs? i have purchased some souveniors, yes.
Can you bring any key chains back? i will do my best to bring back keychains, okay!?
We had a big blizzard here. The 7th and 8th graders were very excited from their trip! i'm so glad they had fun! are you excited, too!? i heard about all the snow, was it fun to play in??! i wish i could have gone sledding with you!!
Do you like it over there? i like it here, yes. it is very hot... around 100 degrees every day. luckily, my new apartment has air conditioning! when we were on koh phangan (island) there wasn't any air conditioning in our room, only a fan and they only had electricity turned on between 6 pm and midnight. we kept cool by jumping in for a swim in the salty ocean every few hours. it was so relaxing.
Do you think you will stay, or come back next year? i don't know what i think yet! i haven't had to work here yet! i've been doing the traveling that i told you about... to the islands in southern thailand. miss nicole can show you on a map.
Did you learn any new words? i did! (but not very many yet. my thai language classes haven't started yet.) i learned how to say thank you... it sounds like this... girls say: korp kun kah... boys say: korp kun kup. (remember, boys say "kup" to be polite and girls say "kah" to be polite?) I learned how to say "i don't want anymore" it sounds like this: me'ow kah (for girls) and me'ow kup (for boys). that phrase comes in handy when the street venders and shop people are insisting that you "buy for you, madam. for you i give 200 baht. just for you, madam." i have actually been called "money" like it is my name. the man said, "hello money! hello! what you buy? discount for you, money?" everyone is trying to make some money here in thailand. it's the way it is. i am used to it now. "me'ow kah" really helps me.
i also know yes: chai. and no: mai.
How do you say "better not talk?" i don't know yet. ask me again in one month and i will know then.
Is it hot over there? YES! 100 degrees (at least), everyday!
Are the people nice to you? yes, very nice. thais are happy, kind people.
Is the grass greener there? literally?? yes, the grass is not brown and covered in snow. that is for sure! i don't see much grass in the city, but the islands and the land outside of the city is very, very green with grass and trees. it is the most beautiful thing i have ever seen. i love it! you will see in my pictures when i can get them on my blog.
Is your class behaving? Are they hyper active knuckle heads? ha ha ha! you make me laugh so hard! i miss you!!!!! i haven't started summer school yet, so i don't KNOW if they are hyperactive knuckle heads!! ha ha. the children i have seen and talked to so far are perfectly well behaved and follow all the rules. you can see that they really respect their culture and their parents. they do not cause any problems for their families. just like you, right!?!? :-)
Can you understand the other people when they talk to you and can you talk back to them? no, i cannot understand them unless they speak slow and say the things i know how to say (hello, thank you, yes, no) or unless they speak english. i have to speak what's called broken english when i talk to them. like this, "how much this?" or "you english?" to ask how much somethings costs or if someone speaks english. weird, huh?!
Do you miss us? We miss you! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! i need hugs!!!
Did you make any new friends? i did! i made some friends who come from germany, some friends from france, some friends from canada,some friends from australia, some friends from england, a friend from switzerland, and friends who live here in thailand. it is fun! we haven't met many americans yet... we'll have to see!
Do you have a house or an apartment? i have an apartment that is perfect for one person. i even have room for two or three friends to stay comfortably. get some money together and have a field trip to thailand!! i'm kidding, but it would be fun! you might not like how stinky it can be here in thailand. their garbages smell like the worst smelling throw up EVER. peeeeeyuuuu! i'm used to it, though. it's how it is, i can't be mean! i am their guest!! thais frown upon people who complain, so it is best to smile and move on with life, just like in america!! keep that smile on!
Do they have as much technology as here? they have the exact same technology as you do in america. their keyboards have extra letters that are thai letters, too... that is different. then they can type on their computer in their own language.
PHEW!! that was a lot, but i'm so glad you asked me those questions!! let me know if you have any more. i am so glad to hear from you!!! i miss you! it is late here (22:17, ask miss nicole what time that is... that is how they keep time here, it's called military time)
love you! miss you! write again soon!!!
miss beth
oh so much to tell
sawatdee kah from bangkok! i haven't written because we were without internet access during our four-day stay on koh phangan.
we have successfully made it to southern thailand and back, safe and sound. the trip down and back was extremely eventful. i will do my best to keep it brief, but give enough details to convey what it was really like. i am working on publishing my photos, there are many.
in ao nang, we had our first official thai massage (very nice), took long boats to and from railay bay (around a cliff from ao nang), relaxed on the beach, did some shopping, and ate our first thai curry (not that hot). we stayed two nights at the guesthouse in ao nang, then decided to travel to koh phangan (phangan island) by bus, then overnight ferry (boat). we rested up and were ready and waiting for the shuttle to a bus station, which ended up being a shambled rest stop run by a thai family... nothing at all official-looking. we were picked up by a LARGE bus that brought us to another official bus station in krabi where we waited without communication of what would happen next.
eventually, we boarded another large tour bus that took us on a very rocky (side to side) and thailand-fast ride to a random restaurant in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. no one told us what to do next, again. we just sat at an outdoor table in the dark and waited. we figured out, later, that it's a ploy to get you to buy things from a business. it's always a scam. we bought nothing and waited patiently.
maybe and hour later, a pickup truck loaded those of us going to the pier in surat thani. after a ten minute ride to the pier, the ferry was ready and waiting, and we boarded the ship and found our numbered "slot" of where we were to sleep. i cannot convey to you the filth and discust that was this boat. imagine the inside of a large boat, without anything except a long sheeted matress that spans both sides of the ship. there was a pillow under each number on the wall. there was no separation of space, just the number with the pillow, on the matress. i immediately noted that the sheets were either sandy or salty, or both, from repeated use and lack of cleansing. it was gross. luckily, though, barb and i both purchased a beach mat and laid those down to make a barrier between our skin and those sheets. ick!
we had made some friends on the short bus ride to the pier and played games and talked with them until they turned the lights out on the ferry and we were forced to sleep or sit in the dark. since it was night anyway, we slept. i woke up many times, though the ride was smooth and slow. it took between six and seven hours to get to koh phangan. barb and i were awake much earlier than the ferry arrived, so we just laid there and watched everyone sleep. i must mention the bathrooms on this ferry. they were the worst to date. we, the farang (tourists), were on the upper deck and the thai travelers and shiphands were on the lower deck, with smaller, but similar sleeping arrangements. the bathrooms were three steps lower than their deck. these bathrooms were our first experience with squatters... a toilet with no seat, just a hole that you have to squat over. a sprayer was also absent, as was toilet paper. next to the hole was a large bucket of water... that looked clean, and had a large cup to pour into the toilet... or something. when i entered the bathroom a man was coming out and had just bathed in the bathroom, with the bucket of water, so the floor was full of ... some sort of water and i didn't have shoes on. there were several thai men that were already laughing at me because i didn't know where to go and they didn't know what i was saying, so i just went in and did my best not to touch anything or fall in... or fall over. remember, i was squatting on a moving boat. i think i'll just leave it there. it was discusting.
i hate to leave you on a low note, but i will write more later. we're saying goodbye to a friend who has been staying with us in bangkok.
we have successfully made it to southern thailand and back, safe and sound. the trip down and back was extremely eventful. i will do my best to keep it brief, but give enough details to convey what it was really like. i am working on publishing my photos, there are many.
in ao nang, we had our first official thai massage (very nice), took long boats to and from railay bay (around a cliff from ao nang), relaxed on the beach, did some shopping, and ate our first thai curry (not that hot). we stayed two nights at the guesthouse in ao nang, then decided to travel to koh phangan (phangan island) by bus, then overnight ferry (boat). we rested up and were ready and waiting for the shuttle to a bus station, which ended up being a shambled rest stop run by a thai family... nothing at all official-looking. we were picked up by a LARGE bus that brought us to another official bus station in krabi where we waited without communication of what would happen next.
eventually, we boarded another large tour bus that took us on a very rocky (side to side) and thailand-fast ride to a random restaurant in the middle of what seemed like nowhere. no one told us what to do next, again. we just sat at an outdoor table in the dark and waited. we figured out, later, that it's a ploy to get you to buy things from a business. it's always a scam. we bought nothing and waited patiently.
maybe and hour later, a pickup truck loaded those of us going to the pier in surat thani. after a ten minute ride to the pier, the ferry was ready and waiting, and we boarded the ship and found our numbered "slot" of where we were to sleep. i cannot convey to you the filth and discust that was this boat. imagine the inside of a large boat, without anything except a long sheeted matress that spans both sides of the ship. there was a pillow under each number on the wall. there was no separation of space, just the number with the pillow, on the matress. i immediately noted that the sheets were either sandy or salty, or both, from repeated use and lack of cleansing. it was gross. luckily, though, barb and i both purchased a beach mat and laid those down to make a barrier between our skin and those sheets. ick!
we had made some friends on the short bus ride to the pier and played games and talked with them until they turned the lights out on the ferry and we were forced to sleep or sit in the dark. since it was night anyway, we slept. i woke up many times, though the ride was smooth and slow. it took between six and seven hours to get to koh phangan. barb and i were awake much earlier than the ferry arrived, so we just laid there and watched everyone sleep. i must mention the bathrooms on this ferry. they were the worst to date. we, the farang (tourists), were on the upper deck and the thai travelers and shiphands were on the lower deck, with smaller, but similar sleeping arrangements. the bathrooms were three steps lower than their deck. these bathrooms were our first experience with squatters... a toilet with no seat, just a hole that you have to squat over. a sprayer was also absent, as was toilet paper. next to the hole was a large bucket of water... that looked clean, and had a large cup to pour into the toilet... or something. when i entered the bathroom a man was coming out and had just bathed in the bathroom, with the bucket of water, so the floor was full of ... some sort of water and i didn't have shoes on. there were several thai men that were already laughing at me because i didn't know where to go and they didn't know what i was saying, so i just went in and did my best not to touch anything or fall in... or fall over. remember, i was squatting on a moving boat. i think i'll just leave it there. it was discusting.
i hate to leave you on a low note, but i will write more later. we're saying goodbye to a friend who has been staying with us in bangkok.
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