English Sentances in Daily Life

So I bought this book entilted 999 English Sentances in Daily Life because it had both english and Thai tranlations. I thought it would help me practice and learn more Thai sentance structure. I do think it helped me some with Thai especially now that I can say things I've always wanted to say to my friends, neighbors, or the average joe on an average day:
Some of my favorites:
Remember me to Touch
What underwear color do you use?
It goes to the corn field
Who do you in love with?
Where did they Shout?
Where did you guard your dog?
Did we chop some meat?
We did not rub the knife
He did not hunt the wildlife
He did not cry with reasons
I went shopping at the Red Cross fair
I spoke Chinese poor
Where would you like to join boyscout camp?
I would not like to kiss it
Where can you cut some wood?
I can ride my buffalo
Will it have a tail?
Will it have a lung?
Am I a doctor?

Now I guess I'm ready for some woodchoping at a Red cross fair on something that may or may not have a lung, but at least I can ride my buffalo and know my friends underwear color.

All in the daily life of an english speaker learning Thai.

Smiling Moon

There is a lot of chaos in the world right now. Economic, Political, Social ect. Right now Thailand is politicaly unstable --though I still feel very safe in my area and those in the states need not worry about me.

In the midst of the stress The moon smiled down on us. Literally the moon and two planets formed a smily face. My good friends mother ran to my house and insisted I come out and see it, because in her 60 years of life she has never seen such a thing.
Sure enough . The moon was smiling. My Thai neighbors say its the
gods smiling down on us--offering blessing to the new upcoming year. My Christians friends say how kind of God to offer some joy and peace in times of turmoil.

I do have to say it was a pleasant surprise that the God of the universe orchastrated the skyes to smile down on Thailand.

Thanksgving

Yesterday I studied Thai for 4 hours and then ate alot of food at Our Team leader's Familie's house. It was fun eating Western food, playing games, and watching the Cosby show. It felt good.
We talked alot about Thanksgiving and food, Family and traditions.
Today I woke up--realized My family is still camping with colored leaves in California and I realized I miss them alot.
Tommorow I will take a government Thai test that I'm not ready for.

All that's to say I'm grateful this Thanksgiving season, but can't wait for it to be over.

Miss you Family.

Bed room pictures

So I finally finished my room and after the plees from many people about my color scheme I am posting pictures of my room.

Before:

After:

Poster board come in handy yet again. No more peep hole in my bathroom, Curtians were hand stiched by me and the flooring was a great bonding time with my neighbor.

I threw in Bathroom and bed for kicks so you quys can see a little more of my normal life.

Birthday reflections

Turning 25 was great. Thanks to all who sent birthday wishes, cards and or gifts. You helped to make it a special day.

I surprisingly felt very loved by my teammates and Thai friends as I celebrated with them. They all where so thoughtful and full of love

.

My desk was decorated with flowers, my friend made one of my favorite dishes from strach for lunch and we were invited by our team leaders house for home cooked lasagna and birthday cake. I felt loved. The gifts from the office staff and team where so thoughtful--a flower paint tray (Jin my Thai friend said "I noticed you like to paint and you've been using a cardboard box as your tray--Thats just sad. I feel sorry for you"--Great, Thoughtful and perfect gift. others made me jewerly by hand or put together a thing of my favorites. Pumpking Spice coffee ( I love anything pumpkin ) Chai Tea, Lavender to help me sleep, paintings in my favorite colors and so much more.

Then when I came home my good friend Gop, in the neighborhood, surprised me with a cake she bought herself and we had a mini celebration just the two of us.

I did have a party with the neighborhood-- kids and adults alike where excited about the cookies, brownies, Cake, and other snacks--oh and yes they enjoyed the karaoke.

It was a good celebration. And I'm so grateful that I was able to enjoy turning 25 with people I really enjoy hanging out with.

Ghettoness

In Pomona I thought I had reached a level of Ghettoness when my roomates and I put up cardboard boxes in our window to keep the house cooler. Don't knock it till you try it. It really helped us survive the extreme heat.

In Thailand I realize that I actually have become even more crafty. My sister in law has been adding accent walls to my nieces and nephews room. I, like my sister in law, have a value for nicely decorated walls and homey feeling rooms. That is why I added my own accent wall--with thin sheets of poster board and foam tape. A whole new level.

Before:
Posterboard accent wall
Diecut flowers boarder and a string with clips for the childrens art work.

Ahh to be resourceful.

Greatness

Recently my Grandma sent me a package for my birthday--it was filled with goodies and many fun things. One poster she made her self had the quote by Mother Theresa, " We can do no great things-- only small things with great love."
How true is this statement.
How deeply profound this statment is.
The more I live in Thailand the more I realize that I am not great or special. I don't have magic superpowers and I'm not beyond human. I get tired and thirsty and irritated. I have joy and hardship, but I'm often still a person who longs to be great. I want to do my best at what ever I do and when I fall short I'm often overly hard on my self. Yet as much as it is human nature to desire to be great ,I'm also overwhelmed with the desire to be normal. (I am coming to terms with the fact that this realty kind of went out the window when I decided to follow Jesus's call for me to live in a slum) I want to be remarkable and yet ordinary. This could be why one of the greatest books I've read is called "Irresitable Revolution" by Shane Claiborne.
What I love about Mother Theresa's quote is that it's true. I as imperfect, human, Christy can do nothing Great. Thankfully Jesus never called me to be Great he called Himself to be "I AM" He is Great. All he asks is that I would respond to His love and love those around me. Small things with Great Love.
If I live in this world longing to be great I will miss the chance to see Great things happens, but if I live in this world doing small things with Great Love I may actually see the Greatness of God--Which I believe to be much greater than the "Great" I could ever be.

OCD

Ever since I was a child, I have been obsessed with patterns. One of my chores as a child was to nightly set the table. Every night I picked out which colored cups I wanted and would arrange them in a "pattern"--sometimes a pattern only I could see--(this being made evident when someone else would want to change cups and I would strongly oppose or rearrange the cups to a different pattern so he could have the color he wanted. )
Recently my roomate has been noticing my "OCD" tendancies, --Silently rearranging the drying hangers to be color cordinated or eating pieces of candy in order of the pattern I've created. These are all things I don't have to do, but will admitt that there is a slight inner peace when they are done. When things around me are out of my control and or crazy (as ministry can be sometimes) there is a certain joy I get in my room being color ordered. Strange I know.
This weekend I officially moved into my own room (same house as Sara still-- long story, but my room is finally open) and it has been so exciting to start arranging my room based on the color themes I want. 3 colors= Royal darkish blue is the base. followed by light bright green and brown for accents. I'll post some after pictures soon, but for now it feels nice to have a some color order in my life. It feels nice to make my room feel like mine. I pray it will be a room of refreshment and deep intimacy with Jesus who is my real inner peace.

creativity

Creativity is something I've always had an interest in. I greatly appreciate creative art forms like painting, drawing, or poetry. Looking at well orchastrated and unique photography is something I find relaxing. I'm often the first to cheer someone on to develop creative outlets and I personaly keep an artistic journal. Living in the slums introduces a whole new set of creative outlets--Like how do you dry you're clothes in raining season or what's culturally the best way to handle difficult situations. I'm still praying for some wisdom in hard situations, but at least I've fiqured out drying clothes.

Wat of much randomness

There's many things that I find fit my personality in Thailand. There are also a lot of Buddist temples in any part of any city in Thailand. They are all about the same and all have thier own thing that sets them apart.

My best friend Kristen recently visited from the States which was both encourging and exciting. I was able to practice a lot of Thai as I translated for 2 weeks straight ( wow I had no idea I could traslate that much or understand that much) It was very encouraging. I was also super encouraged by how my neighbors reached out to welcome Kristen. They knew she was like a sister and that we'd been friends for a long time, but it was encouraging to me to see how much my neighbors cared about me as they reached out to Kristen.

Kristen found her self remarking serveral times that there is lot about Bangkok that fits my personality. Thai's love to Dance and they love things to be cute. They have a phycial and slightly sarcastical sense of humor--they love to startle people and smile all the time. Thai's are hospitiable and generous. It's a big city with lots to do, but relatively easy to be know by local vedors and neighbors. Any Thai any where is usually up for starting conversation. (sometimes having more freedom than american culture allows eg... How much money does Kristen have in her bank account in the U.S, , but Thai's generally care about people.

My language partner in particular took it upon her self to show Kristen much of Thailand. We hung out with her several times including a day trip to a nieghboring ancient city (ayutitya). Kristen had her tourist books, but we didn't hit all the tourist spots. We did hit some local Thai hot spots and our favorite wat ( temple) which Kristen and I have sense titled "the wat of much randonmess." It's a must go see if you're in Thailand (just ask the Thai's). As I mentioned before Every wat is pretty much the same and every wat has it's own unique element to it. The wat of much randomness is unique (more than it is the same) because of it's BATHROOM. That's right known for being one of the most beautiful bathrooms in Thailand and the 1st airconditioning bathroom in a temple in all of Thailand. Each stall had it's own airconditioning complete with carpeted floors. It was amazing. If you haven't gone to the bathroom you haven't been to this temple. It's also decorated with clay children and plaster animals all over the grounds. You can feed ravinous large cat fish as well as see all the traditional temple things like bells and merit stands. Of all the touristy things in Thailand I've done so far. The wat of much randomness might be my favorite because if you know me I too am quite random.

children playing intruments

Is this the Thai verson of that one kid's sunblock in the US

Ahh it's me in clay form

No were not just weird, Were imitating clay fiqures behind us

Thanks Gop for taking us to the Wat of Much randomness. That and eating fresh Roti from ayutitya was definetly a highlight from the other wise really hot day.

Let's make coffee!!!

In Thailand people sleep very little--which may explain why caffinine is readily available in any form anywhere here. Energy Drinks come in plenty, coffee stands of various kinds are everywhere you can get nescafe, powdered drip coffee, real coffee-- you can get it sweet or not sweet, hot or cold. I liked coffee before coming to Thailand, but living with a roomate who has a cup every day and in a city where it comes in plethera--I've started to enjoy it even more. Coffee has also been a place of great relationship building and language pratice. Almost every Saturday I go to small coffee shop really close to my house and talk with the sister and sister-in-law who run it--their becoming Thai friends of mine. Some days I get some by the bus stop and they too know my name and my order before I even say it. Coffee has become a casual friendship builder and a way to feel a little know in this massive city. It also helps that when I get coffee here it is never more than $1.00. ( Another reason I don't understand why starbucks are so popular here when thier cup of coffee is still $3.50, and I can get good coffee for $1.00--it must be the rasberry syrup :) )

But who would of thought that Rat's like coffee too. Yes that's right Rat's in my house like to make coffee. One morning Sara and I woke up only to find that Rat's had made morning coffee for sara and I. --it's was almost like Ratatouille.
Here's how Rat's make coffee--maybe as strong as french press.
Step 1--knock down a full glass bottle of instant Nescafe red cup
Step 2- Roll around in water and or lick the coffee to become sticky paste all over the floor
Step 3--If you let it steam for several minutes it becomes even stronger
Step 4--Add water while trying to mop the coffee ( this is my part, the rat is too small to do it by
it's self)
Step 5--Add more water and soap while still trying to mop the coffee up
Step 6--repeat steps 4 and 5 about 5-6 more times--each time more coffee being produced
Step 7--drink and enjoy--okay just kidding Sara and I really didn't drink the coffee, but I think the rats might of because they seemed more active and jittery that night.
Can Rat's get coffee buzzed???

Hospitality of Thailand

So as mentioned before Thai people are very generous and hospitible. They love exchanging gifts and have an impecable memory for how much things cost. If you give them something they will give you something back of equal value (sometimes to the 1 baht ). This has always been a fun thing about being here and getting to know my neighbors. They love to share.

Since being in Thailand i've recieved many different kinds of fruits, fried chicken, various curryies, a wrap around skirt with elephants on it, an eraser, a go green in Thailand bag, hair conditionier, Thai desserts ect. You get the point we exhange a lot, many of this is from my language partner who is still trying to find ways to "pay" me for teaching her english. Sara and I have picked up some ques and have learned how to exhange gifts with her as well. Some of it is from other neighbors who see me passing by. So far I've enjoyed just about everything, but last night I got the best gift yet. A bowling shirt. My neighbor bought it and then decided it was a little to big for her, so she wanted me to have it. It was very thoughtful of her....

I'm not so sure I want to wear this huge bowling shirt around, I mean it does say hot hot vegas, Bang Bang bowling, so maybe i just sport it once or twice in the privacy of my house when she comes over --- just to be polite.

How do I ever give an exchange gift for this one????? Not quite sure, I'll fiqure it out.

They say cultural shock will hit

So I didn't think cultural shock would really affect me, but apparently a string of small things can cause someone to feel a little crazy.
This past week--I think I understand the sense of feeling a little out of control. Thankfully I serve a God who is in control especially when I am not.

Episode 1) I mention to my neighbor that I want to get a haircut--which means she leads me out of my house to a local hair salon at 9pm in the evening. Where my head is massaged, washed. I'm siting in the chair and my neighbor and hair dresser proceed to speak really fast in Thai about my hair to each other. I keep hearing , "it's better, it's better" What's better?--oh snip--the bangs I had intentionally worked for 1 year and 1/2 to grow out were back in a split second.

Episode 2) I go to order a cold tea from a place I have gotten cold tea from before only to recieve a salty fruit smoothie with tomatoes in it. NOT GOOD may I add.

So far in my week, I'm handing things well for I am a flexible person and really none of this is a big deal...

Episode 3) See and hear rats running behind my head while I"m sleeping for several nights in a row. (nothing new right?) One night one of my earplugs fell out and I was woken up to hear rats but my earplug was no where to be found. Strange you think

Episode 4) In response to episode 3 I put out 25=30 pieces of rat poison to find the next mornig all of them devoured.

Episode 5) The rats have not only eaten all of the pieces I left out for them but have found the stash of rat poision in the drawer we have. Not only did they open the sealed box but then decided to scatter the rat posion through out other drawers. Yes there were chewed up pieces of rat poison all through out my clothing drawers.

Still doing good. Only slightly annoyed. And then Sara and I come home last night.

Episode 6) Found the missing earplug from nights before--it was in my clothing drawer clearly chewed up.

Episode 7) Ants had managed to make their way into a new unopened bag of rice. They were all throughout the bag. How do Ants get into an Unopened bag of Rice. AHHH

Episode 8) After dinner I head to the restroom. Only to find a dead baby rat on our bathroom floor. (yes this is the 3rd time we have had a rat just dye on our floor)

I start to loose it. I'm laughing and screaming, " I don't like rats" (in Thai, may I add.) But still laughing.

Episode 9) Getting on the bus this morning I end up wacking my head as I go to sit down on the bus--quick need a destraction so I don't cry on public transportation. I open my wallet only to see wallet sized photos of my family that I love so much. Close wallet, not helping.

Episode 10) ****** Special note, This happened while I was typing this email********
I'm sitting at my desk and an ant crawls on my arm.

Not major right?, Episode 10 was the straw that broke the camels back. I lost it. Shook the ant off my arm and starting weeping, sobbing. Intermixed with lauging.
While in Pomona we had a motto. Laugh or Cry, well in bangkok when Cultural shock officially hits--it's a mixure of both. Sob and Laugh, Weep and Cry.

***my teammate lexie was in the office at the time, and at first look really confused, and then comforted me and prayed for me, Encouraging me with her own stories of cultural shock. It's normal even when the events really aren't normal. *****

Thankfully I have a God who is in control even when I definelty am not.

Say it like it is.

So first off yesterday I saw a dog being walked by it's owner. Not strange, but what made this one unique was that the dog had dyed eyebrows. Yes I saw it correctly. The owner had dyed her dog's fur to look like it had eye brows. Somethimes this land is so strange.

But speaking of camparisions, Thailand loves to make blunt and direct comparisions about anything and everything. Thankfully I feel pretty secure about my self, but I have to say the things people say are funny.
On the same day wearing the same outfit I have some people telling me Christy you're getting fatter, and some other people say Christy you're getting skinnier. On the same day.
One older lady in my neighbor hood, everytime she sees me squeezes my arm and in the most loving tone possible says, "ahh you're fat, just perfect."
Recently my landlord has been loving to tell me that when she first met me I was fat, but now I am skinny--my stomach is smaller, my neck is longer (how that is possible I'm not sure), but one part of me is still big--it's the part that is never big on Thai's. Let's just say Thai's love to comment on that which is different from me and them :) This same landlord loves to tell me, "Don't eat western food like bread or choclate because it will make you fat.", but yesterday she and my language partner Goop suddenly changed their mind. Christy you keep getting skinnier and skinnier, You need to eat more Thai dessert because if your mom and dad see you they will think that Thai people starve you. Eat more Thai food we don't want your parents to worry about you.
I assured them that I'm not wasting away or that my parents aren't worried about me starving here- I do eat plently of Thai food.

So apperently I can be fat or skinny and depending on the person and the day I'm just right.

Personally I think it is funny how blunt and endering Thai people can be--it's kind of freeing to just hear it like it is without feeling affended.

When it rains it pours

So last week, Ironically it's raining now which is why I have time to post this, it rained. And by it rained I mean IT RAINED. I have never seen such down pour in my life. Streets were flooded in about 5 minutes. ( okay for you california's this is not normal anywhere but California--especially in the city of Bangkok where they are built for massive amounts of rain). Thai people were saying, "I'm scared" It was pretty ridiculous. Where was I, you ask? I was getting off the bus. Water was bouncing off the streets and umbrella or not, eveyone was drenced. I ran from the busstop to get under a canonopy where they sell fruit and food. Many people where standing under this tarp hoping to wait out the rain, when Thunder, lightening, and tarp ripping all happened simutanously. Water proceeded to stream like a water fall into the market. Thai's were screaming and running for better cover. One women grapped be by the elbow and said, "It's better over there." We managed to crowd under a metal overpass with many other nervous Thai's. I --not understanding that this storm was absolutlely crazy was intriqued. I felt cared for by a Thai woman I don't even know and stunned by the reality that rain could fall that hard. Everyone starts to calm down when a huge centipitee starts crawling our way. This erupts the Thai's again and everyone is screaming --doing the "I think there is a bug on me dance". And then someone shouts ,"There is a foriener here". That's right their talking about me. Everyone looks, I smile and wave and all hovering and calmness return to order. I'm not sure what surprised them more --the lightening, the centipide or the white girl standing amongst them. When the rain let up a little bit I ran to the place where I pick up the next mode of transportation. And yes it starts to pour yet again and the mini bus isn't there. I wait under another pass with more Thai's--all staring out at the ridicoulous rain fall. I look over and who do I see, but my landlord--completely sopping. She forgot her umbrella. We talk for a while and then she drags me to a bus I didn't even know exsisted. When we get off the bus, It's still raining, so we proceed to hug each other and walk under my umbrella together. Nothing brings two people closer together than getting caught in the rain that falls harder that cats and dogs. It was a really fun time.

Unfortunately some of my neighbors lost thier roofs, but I'm happy to report that the next day they where laughing about it and helping each other rebuild that which blew away.

I'm in California or what? I'm in Bangkok?

So there's many ways California has prepared me for life in Bangkok, but there are many ways I'm in a completely foriegn world.
Here's some of the similarities and differences.
Bangkok is a big city, full of a variety of people--just like LA
Depending on the traffic it can take 20 minutes or 2 hours to arrive--Just like LA
Traveling on an extremely crowded bus and loosing your balance--Not like the LA I know
( side note, sometimes I wish I had learned to surf because I'm pretty sure that would help me on the bus,--Note!!! I have gotten much better at bus balance since being here. I'm a pro now.)
Dealing with bugs and mosquitos--Just like camping with the family
Dealing with bugs the size of my fist--Not like the world I know
Trapping mice in traps and throwing them out--Just like Pomona
Having rats run over the rafters or eating the wall where you sleep--Bangkok true and blue
Not speaking a langugage clearly or correctly all the time--OH Wait that's the same in both.
Wearing flip flops everyday because you can---Cali you prepared me well
Carrying an umbrella everyday b/c it's either really hot or raining --I didn't even own one in LA

It's officially raining season and it really does down pour everyday. At least it's not too hot for a couple of hours a day.

Honestly I really do love it here. Bangkok and my community is really starting to feel like home, so prepared or new adventures I'm here to stay for a while.

Back to Kindergarten

This past week I started reading and writing Thai. It means I passed preschool and now am learning how the strange letters work together. They say culture shock is like being an infant once again-helpless and in need of help from those who know. In many ways learning to read and write really does make me like a 5 year old. I’m suddenly excited when I see letters and sounds on the streets that I didn’t notice before. I can read part of a word but sometimes not the whole word, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting to shout that says ja (will) or that says teengmoo (watermelon). A whole new world of Bangkok is opening up before my eyes. My neighbors are excited as well. They repeatedly have been saying “oh your getting better at Thai, you can speak so well now. You are smart.” Yes it may just be kindergarten encouragement, but I’m soaking it up. When you learning something brand new hearing you’re doing well really helps me want to keep getting better.
So here’s to reading!!!
Crow eats crab. Fish in curry plate. Return home. Sheep fell in well and died. Father drinks. Child drinks following father. ……

creepy, Crawly

So the rats have been leaving me alone. Yeah I'm so excited...and then the other creepy crawly has decided to take over. I think rodents and bugs might be my thorn in my side. They are everywhere. I also think a spider had babies in my house because recently there have been spiders in abundance. I had a huge one fall out of my towel as I was about to use it. They're staying on the walls and then the funniest moment of all.

I'm sitting watching Thai Tv when I look at the fan blowing near me. What do I see, but a spider hanging on to the revolving fan for dear life. I watch it for several minutes and then it just can't hold on anymore. The spiders blows to the the floor--dizzy. Struggling on the floor, can't get it's grip. It keeps trying to stand, but keeps getting knocked back down. I saw a dizzy spider. Where do I live?

Oh but not only spiders have moved in, Centipidees have been spoted as well. The same day as the dizzy spider I'm using the restroom when I notice about an inch away a huge centipidee was hiding under the squatty potty bowl. I scream, Sara asks what happened. So I tell her. She looks in, but doesn't see a centipide-- only a huge cochroach. I try to flush the cochroach with water, but it just won't budge. Oh thats why !! The centipidee is eating the cochroach.

Let's just say I"m glad it was eating the cochroach instead of my ankle.

Missing Shon Kran

Several times during Shon Kran I found myself proclaiming, "I love Bangkok" "Every country should have a national water fight. Shon Kran was so much fun.

As pictured above: Trucks drove buy pouring water on others who are standing on the street pouring water on them. These were the best pictures I could get before being doused myself.

What's strange about Thailand though is how things can change so quickly. The days before Shon Kran--Typical Crazy Bangkok then 4 days of national water throwing--many stores were closed and many families noticablly had gone upcountry. Then the very next day things were back to normal Crazy Bangkok and then a terencial downpour. It went from 105 * to 89* and reallly humid because it's pouring rain. Strange.

In many ways life in Bangkok seems to follow the life of those in transition. One day you think wow I'm doing well in Language, the next day you have a sense you don't know anything. Some days I wake up thinking ," I love my life, my home, my neighbors" and the next day you think, " OH my goodness, did I really move to a slum in Bangkok Thailand for many years. It's all thai to me. "

Mostly I have to say I love my life.

May I add this week has been especially good because I got a two packages, mangosteen season is finally here, and had 3 different Thai women in my house this weekend. One we even watched the movie I AM LEGEND with in Thai starring Will Smith--Which proved to be a slightly creepy and disturbing movie that had great similarities to the Life of Christ. Despite the vampires or zombies or whatever you call the rabid creatures ,we were able to share about Christ with our neighbor after watching it. (if you haven't seen it it's a little strange, but can be used to discribe darkness and light and how Jesus came to allow those living in darkness to enter the light.) It's also a great movie to watch with Thai's as they love ghost/ scary movies . So this week I love Thialand, Well see it might be raining next week. You never know.

What do you do when it's hot?

It's hot--in our house, outside--really anywhere it's hot and humid, but I have to hand it to the Thai's they really know how to handle Hot season. How you ask do you stay cool when your termometer reads this inside your house:? This was a low humidity moment may I add. Oh I know! You have an national water fight for 4 days straight. What do I mean by national water fight--I mean I walk 1/2 block down the street to get dinner and in that time had 4 buckets poured on my head from people on the street, 3 buckets poured on me by moving cars and 5 people put baby powder paste all over my face. Yes!!! the streets are in a water craze--busses are soaked people can't stay dry and everyone is in a good mood. It's som kran--Thai new year where you bless your elders and splash anyone who you want. There is also adequate dancing and karokee. I am having a lot of fun. I even bought a som kran shirt with the others in my office. I'm trying to get pictures of the street crazyiness, but I'm nervous my camera will be doused. These picture was taken at a huge community party to kick off somkran. The water throwing had not begun yet, but show how much baby powder people put on thier faces to stay cool pre-water throwing. If this blog has inspired you feel free to pour buckets of water on random strangers in the spirit of som kran and think of me.

And this is why I am grateful for Goop.

Meet Goop. A kind women in our neighborhood who wants to learn english and help me with my Thai. Boy do I need help with Thai. She also has taught me things like don't stick you're thumb at people because it can severe the relationship--helpful tips. I like friends and would like to keep them.
Thai is a difficult language to learn because of the tones and sounds which we don't quite have in English. The hardest one for me is the ng sound at the beginning of words--it's quite hysterical watching me learn.

Other words in Thai:
Klay--near (high tone)
Klay--far (mid tone)
Phii—term of respect (falling)
Phii— ghost (mid)
Maa--Come (mid)
Moa- doctor (rising)
Maa--horse (High)
Moa--pot (Falling)
Maa-dog (rising)
Mee--Mother (falling)
Khay--fat (rising)
Khay--egg (low)
Khay—fever/ sick (falling)
Here’s a possible mishap: I have a fever. I need to go to the pot. Is it near. Wait did you say far or near? Can you ghost please tell my dog that I can't eat fever anymore because they make me egg.
You get the picture: Tones are important.

Overall I am really enjoying speaking Thai and the sentence structure is much easier than English, but listening and speaking is so much harder. Praise God for his graciousness.

Easter Party

Happy Easter, Hope it found you well. Mine? Mine was hot and fantastic. Hot meaning cooking and cleaning all day in a house of 104* F with 40% humitity and Fantastic because Sara and I had a full party to celebrate the victory of Jesus. Attendees: 30 children and about 15 adult neighbors which is pretty remarkable because usually adults are to "grenjay"( overly considerate of/ not wanting to impose and much more....) to come in to our house.

Many things about this party were encouraging. here's just a few highlights.

I invited neighbors in Thai first and when Sara went around to reinvite them they all told Sara they understood me. Yeah!!! This feels like my first truely successful extensive communication.

Also when Sara went around reinviting nieghbors she was able to explain more about why were having the party. The Day Jesus rose from the Dead. We found out one women whom we hang out frequently with was very familiar with Easter because she used to go to church reguarly. After Sara said the party was for Easter she started telling her "testimony" to a typically critical crowd the gospel. About 10 years ago she could hardly read, but then soon after going to church she could read the whole bible. Jesus also healed her of a phyicial ailament and restored a dying women in the neighborhood when people from the church prayed for her. She in all seriousness said, "I believed." Unfortunately the church was really far and the women who used to take her couldn't anymore. She also felt that she had to be Buddist because she is Thai. It was so exciting to hear a Thai women telling her testimony to other Thais.

It took a humble easter party to remind her of how Good God is. Pray God will show her that his is the God of the Thais and that she can come back to him. Pray for Sara and I as we try to be a model of Christ and Christian community.

The other exciting thing was when new peole would come into the party who hadn't heard Sara telling them about the reason for the celebration they would ask, "whose birthday is it?" One of the other thai's would respond, "oh nobody, it's the Day Jesus rose from the Dead." God was truely Good. God truely is good all the time.

I guess it's easy to say that cooking and cleaning in an 104* house was well worth the sweat and tiredness.

He has risen, He has risen in deed.

And it ended with an elephant

Sunday's are often interesting, but this Sunday in particular was unique. So I had heard that Thailand was becoming the new hotspot of missions and yet it's hard to see that where I am. In my portion of the city I know most of the foreigners because they are either on my team or with an English center that partners with our foundation. When I do see foreigners it's a novelty. People don't speak much-- if any English around and in my neighborhood. On some Sundays I take an hour bus ride to attend an international church located in downtown Bangkok. The world of differences. This neighborhood has almost as many foreigners as Thai people around, most vendors speak adequate English and prices are incredibly higher for just about everything.

This Sunday seemed to be extra crazy. So as I'm leaving my community there seemed to be an abnormal amount people out this Sunday. They asked me where I was going and I told them, I'm going to church. As I stepped out on to the empty dirt field in front of my community to see: A van full of monks driving away. They stared at me, I stared at them, feeling a bit like David and Goliath--a small kid with a big God in front of a huge cultural icon. It made me really grateful and excited that I serve a God who dwells amongst, lives in, and is alive. It made me sad that my neighbors make merit to monks who drive away.
So I made it to international church which has been encouraging to attend sometimes because the teaching is good, and Christians from all over the world really do attend. I've met Philippinos, Japanese, CheckRepuplicans, Koreans, Indians, Aussies, Germans, British, mongo ect.... the room is filled with Christians from all over the world--many are businessmen, many are teachers, and many are missionaries. This Sunday the church was complete with a palm branch for each attendee while we waved it during worship
It's good to know that God is present and working in both areas--in Foreign Thailand and in my humble community.

So the day gets better....
Later that evening my roommate and I went to a dance movie with one of our Thai friends that we work with. She is really fun and it's exciting to see God really moving in a Thai person’s life. She truly encourages me and I'm excited to call her a friend. Well my roommate and I got back to the community on later side to find A huge elephant eating the grass in front of my community--it's owner was digging through the trash to find more food for it. Yes, my day ended by walking feet from A huge elephant. It could of touched me with its trunk if it had wanted, but similar to the monks we made eye connection. I dare to say I shared a moment with the elephant .I think we're friends now.
The days you really wish you had your camera.

Starbucks

Hey friends
So besides dealing with rats and mosquitos, I do have some other stories. ( though there is a plethara more if you want :) )
Something that is mind blowing to me is the dicotomy of Thailand. Bangkok has many extremes with in it. Part of this is the mixture of buddists teachings and animism, and some of it is just pure Thai fun.
1) Thai buddist teaching: Do not take life (because it is bad karma and you could be killing an ansestor)
Thai life style I've observed--Eat meat at most meals and let mangy, sick, mean dogs run wild in the streets.
2) Thai buddist teaching: Avoid suffering and be unattached to material things or people
Picture this: A mangy, dirty homeless dog with broken legs. It will die on it's own very soon and yet someone has built it a dog wheelchair. Yes a dog wheelchair with a brace around it's body and wheels where the hind broken legs are. Most likely someone trying to make merit.
3) Thai buddist teaching: Do good, be kind and generous
Practice: Do as much merit building as you can (buying things for the monks and temples, helping some around you.. ect) so you can do whatever you feel like doing--gambling, drinking away your kids lunch money ect.
4) Lastly my favorite
Thai Buddist teaching: Simplicity is honored
Reality-- a starbucks and nice shopping center just opened up minutes from my house--I'm closer to a starbucks in my slum in Thailand than I was in the states. I actually pass it everyday on my way to language lesson. Starbucks is really taking over the world, but I don't understand how they stay open when a cup of coffee is 3-4 times as much as any full meal.

Okay so we all have wierd dicotomy things in our life, but for now I'm intriqued with Thailand's
Here's to a rat house in the slums and starbucks on my corner. What a life I live.

Playing Peekaboo

Peekaboo, it's a phenomial game. Babies any where in the world like it, Adults use it--even if they look like dorks, but did you ever know rats like it as well. Okay so maybe not all rats, but rats in my house--their a special breed.
Picture this....
My roomate and I are sleeping peacefully under our mosquito net when all of a sudden half of the mosquito net falls on us. I wake up only to hear rats laughing at us. shreech shreech, scratch scratch. I shine my flash light on wall and yet more sounds. Sara wakes up--also surprised to find the mosquito net drapped on our feet. We get up, turn on the light to investigate. What do we find you ask. the rats have chewed through two out of the four strings holding our net up. This means that either two rats where chewing the string at the same time or one rat chewed through one string just enough and then chewed the other string to make them both fall at the same time. We also find that the rats have covered up our glue trap with plastic bags...oh and stolen my roomates washcloth only to drop it in a corner. (sidenote they stole my washcloth the next day and it has yet to be found--not that I want it back now) Well at this point in the middle of the night it is funny, but then... the rat pops it's head out of the wall--looks at us and runs outside. A few seconds later it pops in runs along the wall, looks at us and goes back into the wall. This scene is repeated 4-6 more times. Meanwhile we are hitting the wall and laughing hysterically. Yes! Peekaboo has once again proven it's self to be a hilarious matter. Grown adults playing peekaboo is a funny sight, rats playing peekaboo ridiculous. Sara and I thankfully manged to get back to sleep that night....not with out a few more laughs though.

One month Update

I've officially been in Thailand for One Month. Yes, it's hard to believe it's gone by so fast.

Here's some of the "only in Thailand" I've experienced:

* Being smelled by 3 kids (apparently parents smell their kids like Americans kiss their babies for affection)

* Accidently peeing on my sock (hey those squatty potties can be tricky)

* Missing cinnamon sugar toast and accidently making red pepper equal toast--the best part was the brown spice didn't smell like cinnamon or taste like cinnamon, but somehow I convinced my self it WAS cinnamon and throughly enjoyed my red pepper equal toast.

* Making lunch one day at home when kids came in and devoured my lunch before I could say anything (It was actually a good time with the kids and I really couldn't be upset --given thier guardians has most likely gambled away their food money. )

* Buying a rat trap on the year of the rat on Chinesse New Year

*Meeting my neighbors and practicing my language with them---Thankfully Thai's laugh a lot

*Eating fish stomach soup, encountering a huge spider with an even larger egg sack, and making friends with rats :)

* Praying every day for my life on the Green 71 busses as they drive like thier motorcycle drivers and yet they are busses. ( I thought I got whip lash one day)

* Being in the presense of Jesus--one encouaragement God gave me after one day of being homesickness was the image of a superhero cape. It was like a banner of God's love covering me and covering my community. There is power when I pray, There is supernatural power when I am under God's love and being an example of God's love to others. There is power in the Cape of God's love.

Here's to many more great months!!!!--Love ya family and friends

Happpy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day!!!

First lets start with a report For those of you read my last blog entry: 2 down and 5 solid nights of sleep. Oh the joys of glue. Though for the record I did go on a major cleaning spree after the dead rats and 1 sighting of a huge spider with an even larger eggsack attached to it's body. ( I believe I scared it out of the house though, so it's gone (sorry kids I couldn't get a picture).

After this whole week of the creepy crawly (did I mention the massive mosquito bites/ ant bites on my feet-- I took a picture, but.... let's just say it gives a new image to "beautiful are the feet who serve the Lord.") I have been prompted to write many of the things I'm grateful for, because God is truely good in the midst of the creep crawly.

Grateful list

1) Mosquitos nets to sleep under at night

2) A dry wick cocoon sheet to sleep with (thanks Chrissie)

3)Noise blocking earphones so I can study my Thai Language on the bus each day w/o going

deaf (thanks brian and Jenn) .

4) My MP3 player that has a recording feature so that I can record my language lesson and

review the tones each day.

5) My teammates who have been welcoming and helpful--they also do a great job at keeping me

laughing.

6) The Thai's who work in our office and My Thai Language teacher-They are so patient, joyful,

encouraging and helpful as I learn Thai.

7) The Cinnamon Pia and Pappa sent me. (My teamates appreciate that as well)

8) The kids in my neighbor hood who love to entertain me and love me despite my limited

language

9) Pi Yut--one neighbor in practicular who has been so welcoming, she often comes to help me

practice my language

10) Each time I say something new in Thai and it comes out correctly. ( Yes, I did a little dance

when I got back home after ordering mangos by myself and bargined them down in price a little bit. )

11) The book of Joshua--it's been very helpful during my time here.

12) And Valentines day..... Because it reminds me of the simple joy of loving others. I love how Thai's can be so cute and thoughtful and genuinely cheesy all at the same time. ( see picture below)

13) Really there is so much to be grateful for that I can't list it all here.

Happy give each other cheesy tokens of love day--that really do make people smile.

Happy Chinese New Year

Today is official Chinese New year. 2008--The year of the Rat. What did I do today? Other than language lessons and my normal routine, I bought a rat trap and recieved my first dirty look in Thailand. I know I should feel bad about that, but last night (as well as many other nights) My roomate and I have been woken up by rats running inches from our head at night. Yes! Inches. Stealing papers from my purse only to run to Sara's side in attempts of building a nest. Chinese new year or not, I'm standing by my moral view: DEATH TO RATS. Thankfully I'm a Christian so I don't have to fear the rats ghost coming back and haunting me. Meaning; tonight I get to sleep soundly knowing that a rat is going to leave my house. (On my behalf I at least bought the trap away from my community).

So here's the Year of the rat!!!!!

What happens when you don't know Thai yet?

You learn the word Satlong.

I believe it translates to tinsel or garland or just maybe human Christmas tree I'm not quite sure, but I do know that my time here has been good so far. Thai people are so generous and helpful. When you're riding on the bus and you're standing holding a bag you almost always get someone who is sitting down offering to hold the bag for you. Thoughtful.

What else do you do when you don't know Thai? You blunder through a few phrases you've learned and hope you don't get a completly puzzeled look from your nieghbors. You also point at random food stands and hope you get something to eat that tastes good. Which may I say, Thai food is for the most part delicious-spicy, flavorful, and filling. I say for the most part because I already have eaten Fish stomach soup with liver (or coagulated blood, i'm not sure). It has the consistancy of pork fat and looks like intestines. Not my favorite thing I've eaten thus far, but we ate it a Thai Funeral for one of the neighbors in Photong and and I didn't get sick :).

Thai funeral's are quite an interesting cultural experience. The are held at a Thai temple with monks who are invited to chant to help the "spirit" ascend to "heaven". Thai's are greatly afraid of ghosts and being haunted by their ancestors. There is no hope and a lot of fear. So what do you do when you don't know Thai? You pray. You pray for God's hope to shine through and for the neighbors you're meeting ,who are lost, to know peace. You pray Jesus' way will be evident and that people will be free. You pray.

P.S Thankfully, I start language learning officially today, so more interesting stories still to come.

Here in Thailand

Well I arrived. I'm officially in Thailand. After a turbulant plane ride and 21 hours I have come to a foriegn place that I now call home. When I got to the community I'm living in, I was welcomed by 10 running children who quickly took my bags and wheeled them to Sara's front door. I officially felt welcomed. Thankfully I slept really well last night, so hopefully I'll adjust quickly to the time change. It's strange being at home at yet not knowing anything, but Thankfully I've got great teamates who are helping me fiqure it out.
Where do I live? With Sara , A team member whose been in Thailand for a few years now. We live in Photong which is a small Thai slum in Bangkok. There are two bedrooms and 1 community space where Children's church and other community events are often held. Currently Nim, a Thai women, lives in the other bedroom, but she is moving out in a couple of months. Untill she moves out Sara is graciously sharing her bedroom with me.
More to come...

I have a plane ticket

Last night I offically purchased my one-way plane ticket to Thailand. I'm picking up my visa tommorow and leaving in 13 days. Wow time flies. It seems just a week ago I keep saying, "I have plenty of time." Now I have a count down. I'm excited about going overseas, I have wanted to go since I was eight. It truely is a strange feeling seeing your childhood dreams of adulthood become a reality, but it's also strange to know you are really grown up.
In some ways, I don't ever want to be grown up. I still want to have idealistic dreams and hopes for the future, I want to laugh and believe I can do anything, I want to dance around carefree in empty fields with no one watching. Yes I am an adult, yes I am grown up, but really I'm just a wide eyed child entering a new world.