Tuesday, April 29, 2008

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.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

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.

Friday, April 11, 2008

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.