3 Carlson Girls & the June Monsoons

After having a month and a half of travel time, I got spoiled again by having my two sisters come visit me in Thailand!  My ridiculously busy sisters fit in a ten day jaunt to SE Asia before a move to Dallas, Texas (Britt) and the start of a summer job (Paige).  Their first stop, after an exhausting two day journey from the states, was my hometown of Ubon. This was the part I was most excited about because they were the first of my family to get to experience my regular, daily life here teaching at the Warinchamrap School.

Another Thai holiday! Happy Wan Wai Kru (Respect Teacher Day)

I have to say, my sisters were such troopers! Jet-lag, combined with the intense Isaan heat and meeting tons of excited children can be overwhelming, but we spent such an amazing four days here.  Britt and Paige got to experience the overflowing Thai hospitality by being taken out to extensive meals, receiving abundant baskets of fruit, being cooked for, driven around and greeted by everyone.  They played games in class with my students, answered carefully crafted questions such as 'do you don't like snakes?' a hundred times, passed out candy and took pictures for days. They even survived the direct observations from my Thai compatriots, who consistently reminded us that 'this one has a sweet face' or 'this one has more beautiful eyes' even though that can always be a bit of a shock at first.  Luckily, I have developed a thick skin to every and all comments about my looks or style. However, my most recent favorite observation by a student was, 'Teacher Siri, your gold earrings make you look like a pig seller!'. Oh Thailand.

Exciting nights on Koh Phangan with my sisters!

Peaceful beach time

From Ubon we took two flights, a bus and a ferry down south to the getaway island of Koh Phagnan.  This island is world famous for the Full Moon Party each month, but luckily we were there during low season and it was peaceful and clean.  We found a perfect little wooden bungalow on the beach and enjoyed a snorkeling trip with our Thai guide Noppy, watched fire dancers at night and relaxed on the beach during the day.  Next on the itinerary was the urban sprawl of Bangkok.  We hit most of the big highlights that I showed my parents as well, such as Wat Phraw Gaew, the Emerald Buddha, MBK mall, the Chao Phraya river and it was fun to navigate the city with ease.

 The best part about Bangkok, however, was meeting our other sponsor child with World Vision, Chorpaga! We got to hang out with her for a few hours, chatting, eating and exchanging gifts.  My adorable mom has also kept every sponsor photo of her since she was a little girl and together we looked at each one via Skype.  It was amazing to hear her little comments about each photo (oh, I was trying to make my eyes look bigger in that one!) and just realize she's a normal girl, figuring out life. It made me incredibly proud to be the daughter of two people who have sacrificed money for twelve to help this girl they didn't know; they are true examples of what Christianity is about. Although at the end  of our time in Bangkok, little Paigeltons got a bit sick, probably from all the walking in the sun, it was such a unique opportunity for the three of us to be together and travel alone. Memories I will never forget, and pictures to follow on Britt's Facebook.

Parents skyping our World Vision sister, Chorpaga

Reading about Oregon!

Overall, this semester I feel lightyears more comfortable and happy.  Sometimes during first semester, I would find myself counting down the days or wishing to be somewhere else, but something has changed now.  Although of course each day is not perfect, and I still want to pull my hair out or feel like breaking down after teaching my M 2/2 students who insist that going to eat is more important than my teaching, I have (as Britt aptly put it), a 'very good life here'.  I have been a bit lazy with studying my Thai, but I know enough to communicate everyday and form stronger relationships with my students and coworkers and they are consistently patient and good with me.

Recently, four new Chinese girls have moved into the campus's teacher houses and will be teaching alongside me this semester.  One of the girls, Lily, is my housemate who now wakes me up in the morning whispering "Siri, how many eggs do you want for breakfast?". Adorable. I think that being around them also makes me realize how far I have come in these past nine months. Negotiating the everyday difficulties and language barriers has gotten easier and I am more 'sabai' (laid-back, easygoing) than ever in the true Thai fashion. I know when to bow, how to predict problems, and when to crack the whip with my students or when to smile and simply encourage. I'm definitely a pro at appearing like I understand what people are saying when I really have no clue and also am a pro food-taster. Two necessary and much appreciated skills here.

And now on a hilarious sidenote---the current chronicles of my love life here! Oh the Thai men I can choose from! Let me give a brief profile:

• Gentleman A) Name: Hippo Age: 28 Occupation: Teacher at a school for orphans or at-risk youth. Whew that gets me! Where we met: He's the son of a teacher at my school and she is trying to set us up...aka having me over to dinner to make rice cakes together. Hot first date.
• Gentleman B) Name: Joe Age: Unknown (ballpark mid-30s...maybe up) Occupation: Hotel chain Manager/Owner (from the business card he gave me and what I can remember haha). Where we met: At a local coffeeshop that Amanda and I frequent, the owner introduced us...turns out he studied in Portland, Or years ago!! Small, small world. Last weekend he invited me to go jet skiing. JET SKIING. That's not normal in Thailand, people. He's super high-so.
• Gentleman C) Name: Billy Age: 22 Where we met: He's the precious PE student teacher who lives next to me on campus. Cute little cowlick. Always talks to me (not a word of English, of course) which is rare for Thai guys. His students always laugh at him when I pass by.  He knows the way to my heart...offered to make me sticky rice on our first meeting. Smart dude.
• Gentleman D) Name: Noppy Age: 36 Where me met: As aforementioned, he was our tour guide in Koh Phangan! Beach bum-esque with a long ponytail and excellent English (thanks to all the partyers) and has a tale of woe about his love life (picture dating a girl for 12 years only to find out she will only marry you if you give her a dowry 1 million Baht/$300,000!) that could melt any heart. Thinks he's 'too old' for Thai women and therefore decided he's into foreign woman. I think I'm his next target...have been receiving phone calls lately.

Who will it be, friends?! But in all seriousness, I rarely interact with men here and I miss just having good guys friends.  That's one thing I look forward to for when I return home.

Speaking of home, there is now this small, nagging, lurking realization in my subconscious that in three months I am going back to America. I keep pushing it away. Although I know I want to come home (as opposed to a few Fulbrights that are staying on in Thailand indefinitely after the grant period), I can't quite picture what that will look like.  If I decide to find a teaching job, there will be some massive cultural shocks that will take some getting used to. No students come to my house after school and eat my food and watch MTV China with me? No late night knocks on the door for homework help? No students to carry my teaching supplies? No giggles and eyes following me wherever I go?

 I think that I'm going to need a transition period and the fact that I have no idea what or where that will be, scares me. I guess that for now, I just need to focus on my time here.

Love from the monsoons of my jungle house.
Siri

My students showing me how to cut durian

Cuties at the elementary school

Wai Kru Day (each birdseed individually glued by students!)

99 Baht buffet nights with students!