Sawadee-kha!
Since our last letter we have done quite a lot of moving! First we moved in with our Thai host families, then we stayed in a Hmong Village for 2 nights, and finally we’ve traveled to the South of Thailand!
'Wait, wait, wait!' you say, 'Why all the moving?'
"Duhhhhh (Ma's favorite phrase!), because we want to see everything!"
Our host families are a mix of goods and greats...and maybe an occasional 'not so great’ but what makes an experience without a little struggle?! Some are traditional (Meg and Nong's family has them wei-ing to everybody in sight) and others are a little more lenient (DJ's family makes fun of him because he is too polite). We all feel like we have reverted back to being 13 again though, asking if we can get picked up at 8 or wondering if we are staying out to late when it's 5:30pm. But we also get to experience what it's like going to a Thai boxing match, cooking Thai food with our moms, and navigating all the one-ways in Chiang Mai.
We had the privilege of spending the weekend in a Hmong Village one hour outside of Chiang Mai. Every farang (white person or foreigner, in Thai) was paired up with either a Thai buddy or one girl in our group that spoke Hmong. Most of the villagers spoke some Thai but a one lucky pair couldn't communicate with their family in any language. Each duo ate and spent the night with their family. The villagers made their living by farming so on Saturday we took a walking tour of the plantations. Along the way we gnawed on sugarcane cut for us right from the side of the path and ate a papaya after one of our Ajarns (teachers) climbed the tree to pick it. We ate lunch on the top of a mountain before partaking in our afternoon activities. They set up a rotation of three stations they felt represented parts of their culture: tie-dying that is used to make their traditional costumes, shooting a crossbow, and racing a wooden cart (build like a non-mechanical go kart). Saturday night they held a bonfire for us and we made a traditional dessert - pounded sticky rice which is then packed into balls, roasted near the fire and eaten with condensed milk. Some of the younger girls did a traditional dance for us and then we performed a beautiful rendition of our school song...and proceeded to teach them the hokey-pokey because everyone knows, that is really what it's all about! We waved farewell on Sunday and enjoyed the afternoon at the Maesa elephant camp where we were able to feed and ride the elephants. Anne found elephants to be rather unattractive, even though she’s an animal fanatic, while Kelsey, the zoologist of the group, was fascinated by the whole experience.
Our 'Southern Excursion' was a great way to see the historical sites of Thailand, spend time with our wonderful Thai buddies and enjoy hotel life and a break from excessive wei-ing and clumsy Thai conversations with our families. From Chiang Mai we traveled to Sukothai stopping at a wat and learning a lot from our hilariously funny teacher/tour guide Ajarn Rien. Day 2 included a bike tour of the Sukothai Historical Park, the site of the first capital of Thailand in the 13th century. On to Pitsanulok (more wats), Ayuthaya (even more wats), and then Bangkok. In Bangkok we visited the Grand Palace, had a boat tour on the Chao Phraya River, had lunch at Thamasat University where huge student protest occurred in the 1970’s, and saw the Emerald Buddha - which is made completely of Jade but we could only see the head due to the Buddha's 'winter attire.' I'd hate to let Buddha and all the other people in Thailand know that Minnesotans would laugh at anybody who was wearing a jacket when it was 80 degrees! We had a free day in Bangkok filled with shopping, visiting Jim Thompson’s house, shopping, getting massages, and even caught the new release Twilight: New Moon. We then had a well deserved beach day in Cha'am. Our excursion ended when half the group left for Krabi and Koh Phi Phi (yes, it really is pronounced “go pee pee”) and the other half returned to Chiang Mai for fall break. We are grateful for the hard work and planning that went into our trip. Ajarn Rien made sure there was a pool at every hotel, and filled long bus rides with (bad) jokes that Yeng always laughed at (some might argue whose jokes are worse Rien’s or Rebecca’s).
We fall break-ers in Chiang Mai gathered for a movie and a 'real' Thanksgiving dinner at a local restaurant that catered to Americans living in Chiang Mai. Then we spent the night at the Bensons’, and on Friday went on the "Flight of the Gibbon" - a 3 hour tree-top experience. We ziplined, fell (like we were supposed to), laughed, and cried together! We who stayed in the south for break enjoyed doing little to nothing on the beach or by the hotel pool. If we six were ever out and about we occupied our time with snorkeling, diving, eating good food, visiting a nearby island, or reading leisure books. Thanksgiving was seafood and Italian together at one of Krabi’s many restaurants. All enjoyed the break.
Hope all is well at home!
TIA
December 3rd, 2009