The New Normal

I cannot believe it has been one month here in Bangkok!  It is mind-boggling how one can become accustomed to a foreign place and get into routine, amidst so many cultural differences.  I consistently cannot communicate verbally with people, consistently am learning and seeing new things, and am consistently sweaty and hot.  Emphasis on the sweaty and hot.  Unfortunately the monsoon season here in Thailand is on its way out and so the gorgeous, drenching downpours that make my Oregon heart blissful are less common.  However, 'winter' is up next.  I am hoping that a slightly less sweaty, hot existence is in my near future.

In four short days, all of us Fulbrighters are pushed out of the nest of city and structure to our various provinces in the north.  I will be in the northeast, in a region called Esaan, which has a culture and language all of its own.  It is the poorest area of the country, but also spicier food, drier climate and supposedly more outgoing people await me there.  Ah, I am a mix of so many emotions right now!  I am absolutely ready to be out of the polluted air and congested materialism of Bangkok, but I have also grown to love this place.  My favorite memories here are at night, when the sun has gone down and everyone is off work.  The street food carts are in full swing, the pad thai guy down my road is creating plates of steaming magic and families and couples are out lingering, eating and strolling.  You don't walk here, you stroll.  The dogs wake up from their curbside comas and hunt for scraps, meanwhile maneuvering the traffic better than I ever will be able to.  Sounds of motorbikes, tuk-tuks and insects fill the evening air.  The adorable meat-kebab lady smiles her toothy smile at me and if I am distracted for a second, I almost am taken out by a car.  Nothing besides vehicles and cockroaches (I admit I still shriek when they scuttle around my feet) move quickly here, but that's okay.  Sabai, sabai the Thai people say.    Be comfortable, take it easy, don't stress.  Have a jai yen or cool heart.  My American easygoing personality is being taken to new levels of flexibility and easygoing-ness.  

Monks are tourist too, ok? Don't hate

Gettin some good luck!

Word of advice: Don't use flash at a Muay Thai fight...

This past weekend I did a ton of sightseeing- temples, the Grand Palace where the Thai royal family used to live, the JJ Market which is the hugest market in Bangkok.  Picture thousands of stalls, windy alleyways, and every possible good imaginable. My idea of hell on earth pretty much!  But the best part of the whole weekend was the little conversation I had with a monk at the Golden Mount, which is the highest temple in BKK that has a great view of the city.  He was coming down the stairs as we were going up and I decided to wai (bow) to him even though I wasn't sure if that was normal for foreigners to do that.  He got this huge smile on his face, turns to me and in perfect English asks 'How did you learn to pay respect to the Buddhist monks like that?!'. Absolutely adorable.  Then we chatted for a bit and I had to pinch myself and ask myself, "How did I get here on the other side of the world, just having a chat with a Buddhist monk in his long orange robes?"  There we were, just having a nice conversation like it was an everyday occurrence. At the same time, it was a reminder that even though outwardly we seem so different from each other, we are just two people who happened to grow up in different contexts.  We still want and need similar things out of life.

With my host teachers from Warin Chamrap! So sweet.

English Camp time!

This week we tested the waters of this whole teaching English as a second language thing we've been hearing about for our entire training month.  We were bussed out to the edge of the city, where we put on an English camp for secondary students.  A bit nerve-wracking, but so exciting! This is what we came to do and it was nice to start to put things into practice.  My friend Kru (teacher) Raffi and I taught a class of 12^th grade girls about music, movies, sports and the grand finale…food! The rooms had no air-conditioning and even with beads of sweat rolling down my face, the show must go on! I would argue that teaching is one of the most physically taxing professions.  It takes a superhuman amount of energy, but is incredibly rewarding to form relationships with the students and see them understand a concept.  

Overall, I would never have guessed that my first teaching job would be in Southeast Asia, but I am so happy to be here and to be a part of this prestigious organization.  I am privileged to take a small stand against the giant problem of the opportunity gap that faces this country, just as it faces most education systems in the world.

Now in four days, I move into my new house, my new job and my new life for a year. Support in this exciting and scary time of transition would be so appreciated :) Love you all.