Christmas has been, well, un-Christmas-ey here. Despite the fact that it's 85 degrees, and a Buddhist country, we managed to make the most of it.
We had to work on Christmas eve, but that evening we donned our Santa hats and went to a dinner put on by one of the American Ex-pats in town. I guess he has this dinner every year, and invites all the foreigners to eat. He made a speech thanking everyone, and then we got to eat REAL CHRISTMAS FOOD! There was turkey, stuffing, gravy, apple pie, and mashed potatoes (complete with lumps!)! It was AMAZING. We stuffed ourselves silly. There was also fruit, steamed veggies, ribs, goulash..you name it! It felt so good to eat real Christmas food!
That night we rolled home fat and happy, and watched "the polar express". I was able to find "It's a Wonderful Life" on the internet and was able to watch it, although it was not the same without my mom :( .
Christmas morning, we slept in, and then all called our families (since it was Christmas eve at home). We relaxed most of the day, and in the evening had out gift exchange. Andre, Rachel, Matt, Scott, and I had planned our gift exchange for a while. We drew names from categories (expensive $10, Inexpensive $3, Funny $3, and Found $0). We each had a different person for each gift, and got a gift from each person. We sat under the Christmas tree at the school (which we got to decorate woo hoooo) together to open them, and it was hysterical.
For Expensive, Matt had me and got me this really cute handmade photo album with pictures of all of us in Thailand. For inexpensive, Rachel got me a really cute red watch. For funny, Andre got me a 101 dalmatians mu-mu (not kidding, and where he found this I will never know). Scott had me for found, and found me a pair of socks. It was pretty hilarious overall.
I had Scott for expensive, and got him a bunch of western food (peanut butter, ritz crackers, basically whatever I could find in Thailand). I had Matt for inexpensive, and got him a 6 pack of Singha (the best beer in Thailand), For funny, I had Andre, and got him some hideous boxers at the night market and some thai mentos. And for Rachel's found gift, I went down to the beach and found a bunch of really cool seashells.
Other gifts included a ball of hair, a baby shoe, childrens' underwear, a picture of a ladyboy, and various nice gifts. They were very creatively wrapped, as I am sure you can imagine!
That night, our boss threw a Christmas party for all the staff, and we went to his house for another great dinner. This time there was BBQ chicken, and potato salad (not quite christmas-ey but good). The highlight was PUMPKIN PIE!! It was a miracle. I think he had heard us talking about it all week. It was SO GOOD, and really made it feel like christmas! There were karaoke Christmas songs, and even one of the Thai staff dressed as Santa!
After the party we went down to the beach and lit the floating lanterns to make a wish.
All in all, it wasn't like home, but it was pretty good. I'm glad we all have each other, because Christmas alone would have blown bigtime!
I am not feeling so hot today. I am at work right now, with a pounding headache, stuffy nose, and sore throat. I just feel icky. Maybe it was all the tryptophan. I might duck out early and try to take a recovery nap!
Hope you all had a great Christmas!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
A Western Weekend
This weekend we decided to go to Pattaya, because Scott's parents gave us the gift of a REAL Christmas dinner, and Pattaya is the most westernized place in Thailand. We arrived on Friday, and immediatly went to see a movie at the theater (since they play one movie per day in English). We saw "The Day the Earth Stood Still", which was quite horrible, yet none of us seemed to mind because it was actually in English! That night, we found a hotel near the city strip called "Walking Street". This street is full of bars (brothels) that offer cheap alcohol (and hookers). Needless to say, we all stayed on the street and bought drinks at 7-11. Pattaya is not my favorite place (nor the boys'), however it was fun to go out, and be surrounded by white people again. OH! And there was a Subway, which actually tasted the same as home! I had about 4 sandwiches this weekend (I don't think I have ever been so excited about a sandwich).
Saturday, we did a little Christmas shopping, and explored the beach. Pattaya is a lot like Mexico...with resorts and palm tree lined beaches. That day, I decided to get a haircut! I was nervous, because of the language barrier, but fortunately in Pattaya most people spoke english, and I was able to get a great cut!
Saturday evening, we got ready for our fabulous dinner out, courtesy of the Robinsons! We got dressed up, and the restaurant picked us up in a limo! We arrived at Mahattan's steak house, and had some cocktails (I had the best cosmopolitan I have EVER had in my life). We sat down at the table and ordered our 3 course meals! The boys got steaks...and we all got different appetizers and desserts. I got a salad with blue cheese and tomato, pasta with artichoke and mushroom, and lemon souffle. It was the most beautiful restaurant, and probably the best food I have ever had! We also had red wine (a hot commodoty in Thailand). At the end we were all fat and happy!
That night, we met up with Morgan and Rachel, friends from the TEFL group. We all went out to the bar strip together, where we ran into our boss Mike (who is a seedy creeper who probably loves Pattaya a little too much). We all went to a nightclub (without hookers) and danced! It was so much fun.
Sunday morning, we woke up, had breakfast, and got subway sandwiches for the road (since we probably wont get western food again for a long time). I have to say I was thankful to get back to Ban Phe. Pattaya was a little much for me, and overall just disgusting with the amount of old, creepy, disrespectful, hooker buying men!! However, having western food, and a lukewarm shower, and seeing a movie really re-charged my battery! Not to mention the BEST dinner of my life. I don't think we will ever go back to Pattaya, (unless we really crave subway)!
This week, we have Christmas day off, and will be going to a restaurant in town which has a turkey dinner (whether it is seasoned with Thai spices...we don't know)...we are having a gift exchange, and probably laying on the beach (yeah...be jealous of the 80 degree weather, although I am jealous you all get REAL Christmas!! Consider us even).
Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!
Oh! A few of you have asked for my address again...here it is:
Tami Laird
c/o TEFL International
38/53-55 Moo 1
Suan Son Rd.
Klaeng, Muang
Rayong 21160 Thailand
I love getting mail and am so thankful for the letters I have received!
In addition, I have added pictures from Pattaya...there are mostly party pics, and pictures of things that appalled me...because that's all there is to do and see there...so I apologize in advance. Let's just say this album is PG13 (sorry mom)?
Here it is:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2016156&l=aec5d&id=83901952
That's it for now. xoxo
Saturday, we did a little Christmas shopping, and explored the beach. Pattaya is a lot like Mexico...with resorts and palm tree lined beaches. That day, I decided to get a haircut! I was nervous, because of the language barrier, but fortunately in Pattaya most people spoke english, and I was able to get a great cut!
Saturday evening, we got ready for our fabulous dinner out, courtesy of the Robinsons! We got dressed up, and the restaurant picked us up in a limo! We arrived at Mahattan's steak house, and had some cocktails (I had the best cosmopolitan I have EVER had in my life). We sat down at the table and ordered our 3 course meals! The boys got steaks...and we all got different appetizers and desserts. I got a salad with blue cheese and tomato, pasta with artichoke and mushroom, and lemon souffle. It was the most beautiful restaurant, and probably the best food I have ever had! We also had red wine (a hot commodoty in Thailand). At the end we were all fat and happy!
That night, we met up with Morgan and Rachel, friends from the TEFL group. We all went out to the bar strip together, where we ran into our boss Mike (who is a seedy creeper who probably loves Pattaya a little too much). We all went to a nightclub (without hookers) and danced! It was so much fun.
Sunday morning, we woke up, had breakfast, and got subway sandwiches for the road (since we probably wont get western food again for a long time). I have to say I was thankful to get back to Ban Phe. Pattaya was a little much for me, and overall just disgusting with the amount of old, creepy, disrespectful, hooker buying men!! However, having western food, and a lukewarm shower, and seeing a movie really re-charged my battery! Not to mention the BEST dinner of my life. I don't think we will ever go back to Pattaya, (unless we really crave subway)!
This week, we have Christmas day off, and will be going to a restaurant in town which has a turkey dinner (whether it is seasoned with Thai spices...we don't know)...we are having a gift exchange, and probably laying on the beach (yeah...be jealous of the 80 degree weather, although I am jealous you all get REAL Christmas!! Consider us even).
Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!
Oh! A few of you have asked for my address again...here it is:
Tami Laird
c/o TEFL International
38/53-55 Moo 1
Suan Son Rd.
Klaeng, Muang
Rayong 21160 Thailand
I love getting mail and am so thankful for the letters I have received!
In addition, I have added pictures from Pattaya...there are mostly party pics, and pictures of things that appalled me...because that's all there is to do and see there...so I apologize in advance. Let's just say this album is PG13 (sorry mom)?
Here it is:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2016156&l=aec5d&id=83901952
That's it for now. xoxo
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
job update, and Thai frustrations!
I spoke with my Korean online employers yesterday to run an internet strength test. Basically I couldn't hear them, it was so choppy. It would be impossible to teach more than one student at a time. When they tested the internet strength with the new line we installed Friday (the second new installed line mind you), they said the strength would have to be at least 10 times what it is now to even run the teaching program properly.
To say the least we were disappointed. Our boss says in January he will try to get a new line installed...but I have a feeling we are never going to be able to teach online. I just think Thailand cannot even handle the internet speed required...MAYBE in Bangkok, and that's a BIG maybe...but I refuse to move to Bangkok if they even suggest we do that. OH well, I am not complaining about staying here and getting payed to do nothing, while intermittently tutoring. I still get payed the same amount regardless of what happens. Plus, if they can't even get a new line until January, that means it would be a lot easier for me to spend time with Tom while he is here because they don't notice if I just take off for a couple of days (mostly because I do nothing important anyway). I wouldn't even have to get any teaching covered. Oh well.
A lot of you have asked me what I do in a typical weekday here in Ban Phe. Since I am not teaching online yet (or ever), my days go mostly like this:
I wake up around 8:15 and take an ICY cold shower. I get dressed, head downstairs, and teach Stinna or Pierre from about 9 to 11. I usually skype my family/friends around 11. Around 12 the boys and I go grab lunch across the street at mamma's, then I usually feed my leftovers to her dog (who has a littler of 10 puppies). From about 1-4 I do lesson plans for Stinna, or edit things for TEFL, or take Pierre on adventures, or basically sit at my desk and pretend I am working.
In the evenings I usually head into town. On Mondays and Thursdays there's a night market in the street, so it's fun to walk around. I also read a TON. There is a book exchange that has a pretty good selection of books in English, so I have been trading mine in, and getting new ones quite frequently. I think I have read about every good one, so I am hoping someone trades in some new stuff soon! Occasionally in the evenings, I go to the Thai aerobics class, which is held on the front lawn of the police station. It takes about 1/2 hour to walk each way, and the class is 1 hour...so that eats a good 2 hours of my evening. I hang around a little before and after to talk with some of the old Thai ladies. They are teaching me Thai and are so nice and patient with me (probably because some of them are 60-70 years old haha). When I get home, I either make dinner, or go grab something with the boys. We usually watch a movie together at night, or read, or go to sleep. Yeah...pretty boring stuff! The weekends are much more action packed (I promise!).
There's an expression here (T.I.T) "This is Thailand", and it is meant to cover all manner of grievances! However, there are some things here that irk me beyond belief. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE it here...but sometimes the cultural differences are just a bit too much. So here it is, my list of Thai things that anger me:
1. TRASH: The Thais burn their garbage...every Tuesday...right in the can. It stinks to high heaven, especially when they hose it down after the burning. It probably also stinks because they eat a lot of fish. The smoke blows all over town and you can't escape it. Tuesdays SUCK for this reason.
2. DOGS: There are SO MANY stray dogs. As a dog lover, I am appalled at my own hatred for all the dogs. the street we live on is especially rampant. These dogs all have fleas, scabies, icky gashes, broken legs...you name it! Everywhere you go, a dog is following you, or barking at you, or chasing you, or sitting next to you trying to eat your food while also giving you a flea infestation.
3. TOILET PAPER: Whoa re we kidding? There is none! There is absolutely no T.P. in public restrooms. I have no clue what they do here. I have to carry a roll around in my purse!! While we are on the subject of toilets...I think I have already mentioned the "squatty potty"
4. NO DRYERS: That's right...you can wash your clothes, but you can't dry them! I don't think they have even heard of a dryer. Everyone's clothes are crispy and dirt covered from hanging up outside. Oh and don't do your laundry on a Tuesday...
5. THAI TIME: Now here is a phenomenon I will never understand. People here are on their own timing. If you are meeting someone at 9, they will show up at 9:30, or 10, or 3. It is just expected that they will be late. Nothing every happens in a reasonable timing.
6. SLOW WALKERS: Thai people are the slowest walking people I have ever seen. You can't call it walking, it is more of a slow stroll (this also probably explains "Thai time". They will all walk directly in front of you. If you have to get somewhere, forget it...you are not getting around them in the next 15 minutes. Buses and boats leave about 15-20 minutes after they are scheduled to, and arrive nowhere near the stated time.
7. COLD SHOWERS: There's no hot water here...don't even ask for it. Lukewarm is a privilege.
8. TRANSPORTATION: Everyone hitchhikes...or rides in the back of a pickup truck on top of lettuce, or rides a motorcycle with no less than 4 people on it at a time (no helmets).
9. PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS: There are no pedestrian only areas! Motorcycles are everywhere. There is nowhere they cannot drive. People ride them up on the sidewalk, on the grass, through the market, in the grocery store. Pedestrians are safe only up a flight of stairs (and even then I am not so sure). Imagine buying food in the night market, in between stalls, when all of a sudden you have to move because someone decided to shop on their motorbike.
10. GECKOS: These little lizards are just a way of life. If you go to sleep without one in your room, it's not normal. I share a room with about 3-4 of them. They chirp kind of like a mix between a monkey and a dolphin (dad it is actually the chirp sound you make to a T!!) They are all over the walls, on the ceiling, on the ground. They are just everywhere, and you have to get used to it. I don't think I have been in a room here without a gecko in it...in fact, I am staring at one right now.
11. TOILETRIES: Forget buying anything here...all toiletries have whitening agent in them. Sunscreen, facewash, lotion, makeup, even deodorant. They all contain bleach to whiten your skin.
12. LADYBOYS: I consider myself an open person, but give me a break. There are more ladyboys than regular boys. More often than not you see a "man" walking down the street in a dress with a beard! Sometimes they are more ambiguous, but holy hell they are everywhere!
13. DRINKS IN BAGS: There are no "to go" cups. No, they plop your coke in a plastic baggie and hand you a straw. Good luck not spilling that one!
all right...those are my grievances. It feels good to get them off my chest. It is humorous to tell you about them, because they are almost second nature to me now. It's going to be quite a culture shock coming home! Anyway, this is getting quite long so I will wrap it up! We are heading to Pattaya for the weekend. Pattaya is the most western part of Thailand, mostly because it is where all the creepy white men come to find Thai brides. Why are we going, you ask? Scott's parents gave us all a nice dinner for Christmas, and we decided to make the hour long journey to get REAL western food! We chose to make a weekend of it because Pattaya also has a movie theater which plays one English movie a day! You heard me...dinner AND a movie!! Should be interesting! Miss you all!
To say the least we were disappointed. Our boss says in January he will try to get a new line installed...but I have a feeling we are never going to be able to teach online. I just think Thailand cannot even handle the internet speed required...MAYBE in Bangkok, and that's a BIG maybe...but I refuse to move to Bangkok if they even suggest we do that. OH well, I am not complaining about staying here and getting payed to do nothing, while intermittently tutoring. I still get payed the same amount regardless of what happens. Plus, if they can't even get a new line until January, that means it would be a lot easier for me to spend time with Tom while he is here because they don't notice if I just take off for a couple of days (mostly because I do nothing important anyway). I wouldn't even have to get any teaching covered. Oh well.
A lot of you have asked me what I do in a typical weekday here in Ban Phe. Since I am not teaching online yet (or ever), my days go mostly like this:
I wake up around 8:15 and take an ICY cold shower. I get dressed, head downstairs, and teach Stinna or Pierre from about 9 to 11. I usually skype my family/friends around 11. Around 12 the boys and I go grab lunch across the street at mamma's, then I usually feed my leftovers to her dog (who has a littler of 10 puppies). From about 1-4 I do lesson plans for Stinna, or edit things for TEFL, or take Pierre on adventures, or basically sit at my desk and pretend I am working.
In the evenings I usually head into town. On Mondays and Thursdays there's a night market in the street, so it's fun to walk around. I also read a TON. There is a book exchange that has a pretty good selection of books in English, so I have been trading mine in, and getting new ones quite frequently. I think I have read about every good one, so I am hoping someone trades in some new stuff soon! Occasionally in the evenings, I go to the Thai aerobics class, which is held on the front lawn of the police station. It takes about 1/2 hour to walk each way, and the class is 1 hour...so that eats a good 2 hours of my evening. I hang around a little before and after to talk with some of the old Thai ladies. They are teaching me Thai and are so nice and patient with me (probably because some of them are 60-70 years old haha). When I get home, I either make dinner, or go grab something with the boys. We usually watch a movie together at night, or read, or go to sleep. Yeah...pretty boring stuff! The weekends are much more action packed (I promise!).
There's an expression here (T.I.T) "This is Thailand", and it is meant to cover all manner of grievances! However, there are some things here that irk me beyond belief. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE it here...but sometimes the cultural differences are just a bit too much. So here it is, my list of Thai things that anger me:
1. TRASH: The Thais burn their garbage...every Tuesday...right in the can. It stinks to high heaven, especially when they hose it down after the burning. It probably also stinks because they eat a lot of fish. The smoke blows all over town and you can't escape it. Tuesdays SUCK for this reason.
2. DOGS: There are SO MANY stray dogs. As a dog lover, I am appalled at my own hatred for all the dogs. the street we live on is especially rampant. These dogs all have fleas, scabies, icky gashes, broken legs...you name it! Everywhere you go, a dog is following you, or barking at you, or chasing you, or sitting next to you trying to eat your food while also giving you a flea infestation.
3. TOILET PAPER: Whoa re we kidding? There is none! There is absolutely no T.P. in public restrooms. I have no clue what they do here. I have to carry a roll around in my purse!! While we are on the subject of toilets...I think I have already mentioned the "squatty potty"
4. NO DRYERS: That's right...you can wash your clothes, but you can't dry them! I don't think they have even heard of a dryer. Everyone's clothes are crispy and dirt covered from hanging up outside. Oh and don't do your laundry on a Tuesday...
5. THAI TIME: Now here is a phenomenon I will never understand. People here are on their own timing. If you are meeting someone at 9, they will show up at 9:30, or 10, or 3. It is just expected that they will be late. Nothing every happens in a reasonable timing.
6. SLOW WALKERS: Thai people are the slowest walking people I have ever seen. You can't call it walking, it is more of a slow stroll (this also probably explains "Thai time". They will all walk directly in front of you. If you have to get somewhere, forget it...you are not getting around them in the next 15 minutes. Buses and boats leave about 15-20 minutes after they are scheduled to, and arrive nowhere near the stated time.
7. COLD SHOWERS: There's no hot water here...don't even ask for it. Lukewarm is a privilege.
8. TRANSPORTATION: Everyone hitchhikes...or rides in the back of a pickup truck on top of lettuce, or rides a motorcycle with no less than 4 people on it at a time (no helmets).
9. PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS: There are no pedestrian only areas! Motorcycles are everywhere. There is nowhere they cannot drive. People ride them up on the sidewalk, on the grass, through the market, in the grocery store. Pedestrians are safe only up a flight of stairs (and even then I am not so sure). Imagine buying food in the night market, in between stalls, when all of a sudden you have to move because someone decided to shop on their motorbike.
10. GECKOS: These little lizards are just a way of life. If you go to sleep without one in your room, it's not normal. I share a room with about 3-4 of them. They chirp kind of like a mix between a monkey and a dolphin (dad it is actually the chirp sound you make to a T!!) They are all over the walls, on the ceiling, on the ground. They are just everywhere, and you have to get used to it. I don't think I have been in a room here without a gecko in it...in fact, I am staring at one right now.
11. TOILETRIES: Forget buying anything here...all toiletries have whitening agent in them. Sunscreen, facewash, lotion, makeup, even deodorant. They all contain bleach to whiten your skin.
12. LADYBOYS: I consider myself an open person, but give me a break. There are more ladyboys than regular boys. More often than not you see a "man" walking down the street in a dress with a beard! Sometimes they are more ambiguous, but holy hell they are everywhere!
13. DRINKS IN BAGS: There are no "to go" cups. No, they plop your coke in a plastic baggie and hand you a straw. Good luck not spilling that one!
all right...those are my grievances. It feels good to get them off my chest. It is humorous to tell you about them, because they are almost second nature to me now. It's going to be quite a culture shock coming home! Anyway, this is getting quite long so I will wrap it up! We are heading to Pattaya for the weekend. Pattaya is the most western part of Thailand, mostly because it is where all the creepy white men come to find Thai brides. Why are we going, you ask? Scott's parents gave us all a nice dinner for Christmas, and we decided to make the hour long journey to get REAL western food! We chose to make a weekend of it because Pattaya also has a movie theater which plays one English movie a day! You heard me...dinner AND a movie!! Should be interesting! Miss you all!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
adventures in windsurfing and goodbye Sarah!
Hello all!
I had a very pleasant weekend. ON Friday, I ducked out of work early to go windsurfing with Matt and my student Pierre. We went down tot he beach, where the instructor gave us a very informative speech in Thai. I understood absolutely none of his directions, so I decided to "wing it". Windsurfing is DIFFICULT! Basically the board is impossible to balance on, and the sail weighs about 50 pounds. So you have to pull it up while balancing. Needless to say, I fell in the water more than a few times, and the sail fell on my head more then a few times.
I finally go the hang of it, and was actually able to go pretty fast! The Thai instructor paddled on his surfboard alongside me shouting "yes yes good I like". It turned out to be so much fun, and easy once I got the hang of it!! At one point, Pierre, Matt and I decided to have a race. I started going way too fast, and went out a little too far. I breezed past the boys, and just kept going. Pierre shouted "Tami you are going all the way to Cambodia", and he was almost right. I started to get scared because I was miles down the beach, in deep water, and going too fast. I didn't know how to stop or turn around, so the instructor came up to me, and shouted something that sounded like "turn". I flung the sail around, and toppled into the water. The instructor traded me his surfboard, and took my board back in. I had to paddle all the way back against the current, and by the end my arms were mush. The next morning I woke up and couldn't move my muscles! Windsurfing was hard work, but worth it!
We returned to the school where we taught Pierre informative and useful lessons on "pick up lines". Explaining the term "pick up" was impossible! Pierre first said "pick up? you lift her off the ground?" I said "no, pick up means hitting on women". Pierre said, "you HIT women?". (clearly this went on for a while until we explained that the purpose was flirting, complete with loving hand gestures). Anyway, we taught him such great lines as "good thing I brought my library card, because I'm checking you out". It was hilarious to hear these with his suave french accent! Yes, we can now send Pierre back to France, confident in his English skills.
Friday night, we went to Shaam's for dinner, since Sarah is going back to Canada this week. We took a cab the 20 miles to his restaurant, and proceeded to order all of our favorite foods, and feast. I had not eaten there in a month or so, and the strange thing is that dishes which used to be way too spicy, now seemed mild. I guess I have become used to the lethal Thai peppers! Shaam still has the best Thai food I have ever had, spicy or not! He drove us back to the school, and said his goodbyes to Sarah.
The next morning, we headed over to Koh Samet to lay in the sun. The weather was beautiful, and we had a very relaxing weekend. We came back yesterday, and sent Sarah off. I am very sad that she is leaving, especially because now I really am the only girl (not to mention the boys have begun farting into the megaphone in our office). It was hard to say goodbye, but she is looking forward to going home, and I am happy for her.
In other news, we finally got our internet line to work well enough to teach online. Though we were one day too late, so now we cannot begin until January! Until then I will keep tutoring, and doing lesson plans...oy! The house hunt has been equally disappointing. Looks like I will be living at the TEFL school forever! I am going to try to change rooms to a nicer one with a lukewarm shower. Wish me luck!
I put up pictures of the "white person" competition, and also photos of our office...they are added to the album that I posted in my last entry (the kings birthday), so if you click on it, the new photos begin on page 3 of the album.
That's it for now! I am sad Christmas is coming up :( We are currently looking for a nice restaurant to at least have some semblance of a holiday dinner! I will keep you posted on the search!
Lot's of love!
I had a very pleasant weekend. ON Friday, I ducked out of work early to go windsurfing with Matt and my student Pierre. We went down tot he beach, where the instructor gave us a very informative speech in Thai. I understood absolutely none of his directions, so I decided to "wing it". Windsurfing is DIFFICULT! Basically the board is impossible to balance on, and the sail weighs about 50 pounds. So you have to pull it up while balancing. Needless to say, I fell in the water more than a few times, and the sail fell on my head more then a few times.
I finally go the hang of it, and was actually able to go pretty fast! The Thai instructor paddled on his surfboard alongside me shouting "yes yes good I like". It turned out to be so much fun, and easy once I got the hang of it!! At one point, Pierre, Matt and I decided to have a race. I started going way too fast, and went out a little too far. I breezed past the boys, and just kept going. Pierre shouted "Tami you are going all the way to Cambodia", and he was almost right. I started to get scared because I was miles down the beach, in deep water, and going too fast. I didn't know how to stop or turn around, so the instructor came up to me, and shouted something that sounded like "turn". I flung the sail around, and toppled into the water. The instructor traded me his surfboard, and took my board back in. I had to paddle all the way back against the current, and by the end my arms were mush. The next morning I woke up and couldn't move my muscles! Windsurfing was hard work, but worth it!
We returned to the school where we taught Pierre informative and useful lessons on "pick up lines". Explaining the term "pick up" was impossible! Pierre first said "pick up? you lift her off the ground?" I said "no, pick up means hitting on women". Pierre said, "you HIT women?". (clearly this went on for a while until we explained that the purpose was flirting, complete with loving hand gestures). Anyway, we taught him such great lines as "good thing I brought my library card, because I'm checking you out". It was hilarious to hear these with his suave french accent! Yes, we can now send Pierre back to France, confident in his English skills.
Friday night, we went to Shaam's for dinner, since Sarah is going back to Canada this week. We took a cab the 20 miles to his restaurant, and proceeded to order all of our favorite foods, and feast. I had not eaten there in a month or so, and the strange thing is that dishes which used to be way too spicy, now seemed mild. I guess I have become used to the lethal Thai peppers! Shaam still has the best Thai food I have ever had, spicy or not! He drove us back to the school, and said his goodbyes to Sarah.
The next morning, we headed over to Koh Samet to lay in the sun. The weather was beautiful, and we had a very relaxing weekend. We came back yesterday, and sent Sarah off. I am very sad that she is leaving, especially because now I really am the only girl (not to mention the boys have begun farting into the megaphone in our office). It was hard to say goodbye, but she is looking forward to going home, and I am happy for her.
In other news, we finally got our internet line to work well enough to teach online. Though we were one day too late, so now we cannot begin until January! Until then I will keep tutoring, and doing lesson plans...oy! The house hunt has been equally disappointing. Looks like I will be living at the TEFL school forever! I am going to try to change rooms to a nicer one with a lukewarm shower. Wish me luck!
I put up pictures of the "white person" competition, and also photos of our office...they are added to the album that I posted in my last entry (the kings birthday), so if you click on it, the new photos begin on page 3 of the album.
That's it for now! I am sad Christmas is coming up :( We are currently looking for a nice restaurant to at least have some semblance of a holiday dinner! I will keep you posted on the search!
Lot's of love!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Thai aerobics and beauty pageants!!
Hey all!
Last night I participated in my first Thai aerobics class! The only way I can describe it is pure ridiculousness. You really have to experience it for yourself! It was a bunch of old Thai women, and I am pretty sure the instructor was a lady boy. The moves were crazy dance moves to sped up Thai music. I am pretty sure it didn't give me a workout, but it was so fun dancing like a crazy person that I will go again! I did sweat a lot, but that is mostly due to the fact that the class is outdoors and I pretty much sweat standing still in this tropical heat! When it was over all the Thai ladies were like "you come back tomorrow"! They have these classes every evening. They are pretty easy to follow, even if you don't know any Thai...but I was proud that I was able to understand some directional phrases! Maybe I will learn how to say things like "pump it up" in Thai!
Aside form my adventure in Thai fitness, the past few days have been pretty great! The festival is still going on, so it's pretty loud and crowded, but I have enjoyed it. I have been teaching a lot more lately...I still have Pierre (I am taking him jet skiing on the local island tomorrow), and I have taken on a new student, Stina, who is 18 and from Finland. She is not as fun as Pierre, mostly because she doesn't do cool activities in the afternoon, strictly lessons, but also because she is not as outgoing and fun! OH well! I start online teaching on Monday, and have already planned my first lesson! The program is really cool, it is like you are in a real classroom. You can see all of your students, you are in the front of the virtual classroom and they are all situated around you.
Today, we set up our office. We each have a large desk and computer. We have also looked around the room and found such helpful items as a megaphone, a disco ball, a light show projector, and (my personal favorite), a giant dinosaur. We have used these items to decorate our office, naturally.
The other night there was a competition on the big stage for white people. Basically it was so thousands of Thai people can make fun of foreigners at once, but the prizes were $200 US dollars, and free hotel stays, and free dinners. Matt and Pierre entered with about 11 other white locals. White foreigners are called "Farangs" here, so it was called the "Farang" contest...and let me tell you it is a big deal! The Thais already think we are circus freaks for being tall and pale and often stare or take pictures of us just walking down the street, so as you can imagine, this was a spectacle. It was much like a pageant with a costume contest, a talent, and interview questions translated into Thai. The stage is massive, and literally thousands of Thai's are watching. The theme of the contest was "I love the sea". Matt placed third with his coconut bra and karaoke rendition of the little mermaid's "under the sea". Pierre clinched second with his floaties, snorkel, and interpretive dance that he made up on the spot. The winner was a Thai woman who cheated and entered. Allegedly she is a famous Thai actress, and the whole contest is rigged for her to win and humiliate white people. We didn't mind because it was hilarious and the boys both won about $200, a free hotel stay, a t-shirt, a dinner at a restaurant, and a Giant trophy.
All in all, everything is great on my end. We still haven't found a house (which really angers me) but I have a roof over my head at the school (complete with freezing shower), and I don't have to pay rent.
I have pictures and video of the white person contest and videos of Pierre and Matt's prize winning talents! I will put them up later!
Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!
Last night I participated in my first Thai aerobics class! The only way I can describe it is pure ridiculousness. You really have to experience it for yourself! It was a bunch of old Thai women, and I am pretty sure the instructor was a lady boy. The moves were crazy dance moves to sped up Thai music. I am pretty sure it didn't give me a workout, but it was so fun dancing like a crazy person that I will go again! I did sweat a lot, but that is mostly due to the fact that the class is outdoors and I pretty much sweat standing still in this tropical heat! When it was over all the Thai ladies were like "you come back tomorrow"! They have these classes every evening. They are pretty easy to follow, even if you don't know any Thai...but I was proud that I was able to understand some directional phrases! Maybe I will learn how to say things like "pump it up" in Thai!
Aside form my adventure in Thai fitness, the past few days have been pretty great! The festival is still going on, so it's pretty loud and crowded, but I have enjoyed it. I have been teaching a lot more lately...I still have Pierre (I am taking him jet skiing on the local island tomorrow), and I have taken on a new student, Stina, who is 18 and from Finland. She is not as fun as Pierre, mostly because she doesn't do cool activities in the afternoon, strictly lessons, but also because she is not as outgoing and fun! OH well! I start online teaching on Monday, and have already planned my first lesson! The program is really cool, it is like you are in a real classroom. You can see all of your students, you are in the front of the virtual classroom and they are all situated around you.
Today, we set up our office. We each have a large desk and computer. We have also looked around the room and found such helpful items as a megaphone, a disco ball, a light show projector, and (my personal favorite), a giant dinosaur. We have used these items to decorate our office, naturally.
The other night there was a competition on the big stage for white people. Basically it was so thousands of Thai people can make fun of foreigners at once, but the prizes were $200 US dollars, and free hotel stays, and free dinners. Matt and Pierre entered with about 11 other white locals. White foreigners are called "Farangs" here, so it was called the "Farang" contest...and let me tell you it is a big deal! The Thais already think we are circus freaks for being tall and pale and often stare or take pictures of us just walking down the street, so as you can imagine, this was a spectacle. It was much like a pageant with a costume contest, a talent, and interview questions translated into Thai. The stage is massive, and literally thousands of Thai's are watching. The theme of the contest was "I love the sea". Matt placed third with his coconut bra and karaoke rendition of the little mermaid's "under the sea". Pierre clinched second with his floaties, snorkel, and interpretive dance that he made up on the spot. The winner was a Thai woman who cheated and entered. Allegedly she is a famous Thai actress, and the whole contest is rigged for her to win and humiliate white people. We didn't mind because it was hilarious and the boys both won about $200, a free hotel stay, a t-shirt, a dinner at a restaurant, and a Giant trophy.
All in all, everything is great on my end. We still haven't found a house (which really angers me) but I have a roof over my head at the school (complete with freezing shower), and I don't have to pay rent.
I have pictures and video of the white person contest and videos of Pierre and Matt's prize winning talents! I will put them up later!
Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
The king is OLD
Friday was the King's birthday...and since everyone LOVES the king (I mean they are obsessed), of course there was a HUGE celebration in Ban Phe!
On Friday, everyone had to wear "king shirts". I mentioned them before but basically they are hideous yellow polos (the king's color) with the insignia of the king and a picture on the front, and "long love our beloved king" in Thai on the back. The boy ones are lined with white and have a heart with blue and gold on the front, and the girl ones are lined with pink and have two hands holding.
Friday, we donned our king shirts and were told we had to march in the town parade. We head out to the start, and I immediately feel nauseated. I still haven't fully recovered from the food poisoning in Chiang Mai...so sometimes it comes back at inopportune times. Anyway, I started vomiting on the streets of Ban Phe, so I had to take a motorbike back to the school, where I layed in pain, missing the fun.
I felt better later so I went to meet up with my fellow teachers at the ceremony. Everywhere in Thailand they have the same exact ceremony at the same exact time, with the same music, same procedure, and same clothing. It is astonishing how much these people revere tradition! So the ceremony started with each family or business in Ban Phe making an offering to a gigantic shrine of the King. This took a few hours as you can imagine. Afterwards, everyone was handed a candle, and we all had to sing 3 songs in Thai with our candles lit. Then there was a huge sign that lit up with fireworks, and then a fireworks show. All you could see was miles of yellow shirts. The entire day of his birthday was "dry", in fact it was considered rude to purchase or consume alcohol.
The next day, Saturday, started the week-long festival in Ban Phe. The streets are filled with food stalls, and shops. the stage with the shrine of the king has concerts and dance shows. theres several beer gardens. There are even carnival rides! The whole town has been PACKED. You can't even walk down the street without ramming into people, which is strange because Ban Phe is usually so small and quiet. There's even places to buy pets! Matt and I want to get a little fluffy bunny!!
Anyway, Ban Phe is extremely loud, and I will actually be quite pleased when this all clears out on Friday...even though it is fun and there are finally new places to eat besides the 4 or 5 restaurants we frequent!
The best part about all of this, is the locals out in full force! Living here for the last 2 months, I have made friends with several locals, but had yet to see them partying. I am going to give you a run down of my favorite locals of ban Phe:
Mama: Mama owns a restaurant right outside of the school. Basically I go there every day and she says things like "mama make you noodles". She's really cool, and definitely takes care of us!
Laundry lady: We have yet to learn her actual name, but laundry lady does our laundry for us (and does it REAL good). She also lets us play with her fluffy little dog!
The pirate: This guy is ALWAYS drunk, and ALWAYS dressed like a pirate. He lives at the end of the street and every time you pass by he offers you a sip of his drink, whether it be orange juice, water, or moonshine. He also likes to give creative handshakes, and often freely dances in the street.
Bernie: a British ex pat who lives in Ban Phe, and creeps on everything with legs. He can often be seen downing whiskey and stumbling around the streets of Ban Phe. His accent mixed with the mass amounts of alcohol he consumes makes it impossible to understand a word he says.
Oliver: Oliver is a French ex pat who owns the bar closest to our school. But he's not special...his Thai wife is! Whenever we go in there she makes us homemade western food...for FREE! I swear the other day she made us all spaghetti, which tastes like the most amazing food you have ever had when you have had nothing but Asian food for 2 months!! Maybe she thinks were all malnourished or something.
Anyway, those are my favorites, and there are many more locals which I will write about later! Now, off to take a shower in ice water (I hate showering in cold water and am still not used to it). Love you all! Until next time...look at my photos of the king's birthday!!
photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015880&l=f3400&id=83901952
On Friday, everyone had to wear "king shirts". I mentioned them before but basically they are hideous yellow polos (the king's color) with the insignia of the king and a picture on the front, and "long love our beloved king" in Thai on the back. The boy ones are lined with white and have a heart with blue and gold on the front, and the girl ones are lined with pink and have two hands holding.
Friday, we donned our king shirts and were told we had to march in the town parade. We head out to the start, and I immediately feel nauseated. I still haven't fully recovered from the food poisoning in Chiang Mai...so sometimes it comes back at inopportune times. Anyway, I started vomiting on the streets of Ban Phe, so I had to take a motorbike back to the school, where I layed in pain, missing the fun.
I felt better later so I went to meet up with my fellow teachers at the ceremony. Everywhere in Thailand they have the same exact ceremony at the same exact time, with the same music, same procedure, and same clothing. It is astonishing how much these people revere tradition! So the ceremony started with each family or business in Ban Phe making an offering to a gigantic shrine of the King. This took a few hours as you can imagine. Afterwards, everyone was handed a candle, and we all had to sing 3 songs in Thai with our candles lit. Then there was a huge sign that lit up with fireworks, and then a fireworks show. All you could see was miles of yellow shirts. The entire day of his birthday was "dry", in fact it was considered rude to purchase or consume alcohol.
The next day, Saturday, started the week-long festival in Ban Phe. The streets are filled with food stalls, and shops. the stage with the shrine of the king has concerts and dance shows. theres several beer gardens. There are even carnival rides! The whole town has been PACKED. You can't even walk down the street without ramming into people, which is strange because Ban Phe is usually so small and quiet. There's even places to buy pets! Matt and I want to get a little fluffy bunny!!
Anyway, Ban Phe is extremely loud, and I will actually be quite pleased when this all clears out on Friday...even though it is fun and there are finally new places to eat besides the 4 or 5 restaurants we frequent!
The best part about all of this, is the locals out in full force! Living here for the last 2 months, I have made friends with several locals, but had yet to see them partying. I am going to give you a run down of my favorite locals of ban Phe:
Mama: Mama owns a restaurant right outside of the school. Basically I go there every day and she says things like "mama make you noodles". She's really cool, and definitely takes care of us!
Laundry lady: We have yet to learn her actual name, but laundry lady does our laundry for us (and does it REAL good). She also lets us play with her fluffy little dog!
The pirate: This guy is ALWAYS drunk, and ALWAYS dressed like a pirate. He lives at the end of the street and every time you pass by he offers you a sip of his drink, whether it be orange juice, water, or moonshine. He also likes to give creative handshakes, and often freely dances in the street.
Bernie: a British ex pat who lives in Ban Phe, and creeps on everything with legs. He can often be seen downing whiskey and stumbling around the streets of Ban Phe. His accent mixed with the mass amounts of alcohol he consumes makes it impossible to understand a word he says.
Oliver: Oliver is a French ex pat who owns the bar closest to our school. But he's not special...his Thai wife is! Whenever we go in there she makes us homemade western food...for FREE! I swear the other day she made us all spaghetti, which tastes like the most amazing food you have ever had when you have had nothing but Asian food for 2 months!! Maybe she thinks were all malnourished or something.
Anyway, those are my favorites, and there are many more locals which I will write about later! Now, off to take a shower in ice water (I hate showering in cold water and am still not used to it). Love you all! Until next time...look at my photos of the king's birthday!!
photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015880&l=f3400&id=83901952
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Crisis Averted
Rachel decided to take the job in Chonburri...I guess her boyfriend will be done with his TEFL course in Ban Phe in 2 weeks, and he can more easily find jobs in Chonburri than Ban Phe since its a larger city. They figured it would be easier for them to be together in Thailand by her going to Chonburri now, instead of hanging around Ban Phe and then he might get sent somewhere else. I will still be teaching online in Ban Phe!! Although now, I have lost the only other female in our group. Testosterone city here I cooooome!
For the king's birthday on Friday, the whole town of Ban Phe has a parade, and as teachers here we have to march in it. Hopefully there's beer. Anyway, we have to wear yellow "king shirts", which are these hideous bright yellow polo shirts with the kings insignia and Thai writing on them. everyone in Thailand wears them on Mondays (theres a color you are supposed to wear for every day of the week). I have avoided buying one thus far, but now I have to break down and get one to wear on Friday, or I wont be a respectable parade marching citizen. So looks like its off to the Rayong night market to get one tonight!
The conflict in Bangkok looks like it is slowly getting settled. The prime minister has been taken out of office, and banned from politics for 5 years due to fraud. The PAD is leaving the airport as we speak, and business flights resume today. All other flights are said to begin on Friday! Looks like I am no longer trapped in the country! And there was no bloodshed! Double good! Hopefully I can track down all my mail that probably got lost in the mayhem!
I uploaded pictures from my trip to the tiger place in Sriracha, and theres a couple extras tagged on from around Ban Phe.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015769&l=21bc7&id=83901952
they are kind of lame...but still kind of awesome!! Love and miss you all!
For the king's birthday on Friday, the whole town of Ban Phe has a parade, and as teachers here we have to march in it. Hopefully there's beer. Anyway, we have to wear yellow "king shirts", which are these hideous bright yellow polo shirts with the kings insignia and Thai writing on them. everyone in Thailand wears them on Mondays (theres a color you are supposed to wear for every day of the week). I have avoided buying one thus far, but now I have to break down and get one to wear on Friday, or I wont be a respectable parade marching citizen. So looks like its off to the Rayong night market to get one tonight!
The conflict in Bangkok looks like it is slowly getting settled. The prime minister has been taken out of office, and banned from politics for 5 years due to fraud. The PAD is leaving the airport as we speak, and business flights resume today. All other flights are said to begin on Friday! Looks like I am no longer trapped in the country! And there was no bloodshed! Double good! Hopefully I can track down all my mail that probably got lost in the mayhem!
I uploaded pictures from my trip to the tiger place in Sriracha, and theres a couple extras tagged on from around Ban Phe.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2015769&l=21bc7&id=83901952
they are kind of lame...but still kind of awesome!! Love and miss you all!
Monday, December 1, 2008
December already?
I have officially been in Thailand for 2 months! Can you believe it?
I tutored the french guy today. It was fun! Imagine the most stereotypical image of a French guy (accent included), then add a fanny pack (no joke) and you have Pierre.
We went to Sriracha (about 1 hour northwest of Ban Phe), to the tiger zoo. Rii (a Thai man who works at TEFL), and Lee (another TEFL teacher from the UK) came with us. They had over 400 tigers (including babies!), about a million crocodiles, and various other animals. We walked around and practiced English, and played with tigers and orangutans. Basically I got paid to go to a zoo and hang out with a bunch of people whose accents I couldn't understand! It was awesome. OH and I tried my first bizarre food...barbecued crocodile! Yes I really ate this. It tasted like chicken, except slightly more chewy. It was actually kind of delicious. I have some great pictures from he whole day that I will put up soon!
When I returned to Ban Phe, I found out that a teacher got fired from their job in Chonburri and I may have to go work there for the rest of the time. I REALLY do not want to, as Chonburri is kind of the ghetto of Thailand. I also have finally got settled in a job after all this time, and do not want to be separated from my friends! I told them no, and tomorrow the boys are going to talk to them and say if I have to go, they will all quit. I basically spent a good 1/2 hour crying because I don't want to go. We will see how everything pans out but I refuse to go, and my friends refuse to let me leave! Tomorrow we are also house hunting. We have several prospects (one with a pool and kitchen where we could all live together...ya...pray for me!!). Hopefully we can get that one and I will be able to move in and not go to another job!
Sarah came to stay with me tonight because she is stuck in Thailand and can't go home. I don't know if I mentioned that she quit the program, but she got fed up and quit and is trying to go home now! I am sad, but it's nice to have my roomie back for a bit, even if it is under crappy circumstances!
The situation in Bangkok has worsened as I am sure you are reading in the news. i am especially pissed because I can't get any mail because there are no fricking airports to get it to me! This whole thing is really cramping my style!! Ok Ok I will stop being so selfish because people are genuinely upset. A lot of people are losing tourism money, and the whole country seems somber. Like I mentioned before it is difficult to tell what is going on, as most news stations are blocked.
Despite the uproar...Ban Phe and the island of Koh Samet are having a festival all week in honor of the king's birthday on Friday. The celebrations started tonight, and will continue al week, culminating in a big party on Friday for his birthday/ Thai father's day! I am very excited because it is a lot like Loy Krathong, where there are just huge parties and yummy food in the streets!
Other than that I am fine! i will try to update more so you guys don't worry so much...but really I am fine and far from trouble!!
Love and miss you!
I tutored the french guy today. It was fun! Imagine the most stereotypical image of a French guy (accent included), then add a fanny pack (no joke) and you have Pierre.
We went to Sriracha (about 1 hour northwest of Ban Phe), to the tiger zoo. Rii (a Thai man who works at TEFL), and Lee (another TEFL teacher from the UK) came with us. They had over 400 tigers (including babies!), about a million crocodiles, and various other animals. We walked around and practiced English, and played with tigers and orangutans. Basically I got paid to go to a zoo and hang out with a bunch of people whose accents I couldn't understand! It was awesome. OH and I tried my first bizarre food...barbecued crocodile! Yes I really ate this. It tasted like chicken, except slightly more chewy. It was actually kind of delicious. I have some great pictures from he whole day that I will put up soon!
When I returned to Ban Phe, I found out that a teacher got fired from their job in Chonburri and I may have to go work there for the rest of the time. I REALLY do not want to, as Chonburri is kind of the ghetto of Thailand. I also have finally got settled in a job after all this time, and do not want to be separated from my friends! I told them no, and tomorrow the boys are going to talk to them and say if I have to go, they will all quit. I basically spent a good 1/2 hour crying because I don't want to go. We will see how everything pans out but I refuse to go, and my friends refuse to let me leave! Tomorrow we are also house hunting. We have several prospects (one with a pool and kitchen where we could all live together...ya...pray for me!!). Hopefully we can get that one and I will be able to move in and not go to another job!
Sarah came to stay with me tonight because she is stuck in Thailand and can't go home. I don't know if I mentioned that she quit the program, but she got fed up and quit and is trying to go home now! I am sad, but it's nice to have my roomie back for a bit, even if it is under crappy circumstances!
The situation in Bangkok has worsened as I am sure you are reading in the news. i am especially pissed because I can't get any mail because there are no fricking airports to get it to me! This whole thing is really cramping my style!! Ok Ok I will stop being so selfish because people are genuinely upset. A lot of people are losing tourism money, and the whole country seems somber. Like I mentioned before it is difficult to tell what is going on, as most news stations are blocked.
Despite the uproar...Ban Phe and the island of Koh Samet are having a festival all week in honor of the king's birthday on Friday. The celebrations started tonight, and will continue al week, culminating in a big party on Friday for his birthday/ Thai father's day! I am very excited because it is a lot like Loy Krathong, where there are just huge parties and yummy food in the streets!
Other than that I am fine! i will try to update more so you guys don't worry so much...but really I am fine and far from trouble!!
Love and miss you!
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