Is it Dead?

That's what I thought this mornig. It looked dead. I thought it was dead. It was on its back, which means it's dead right? Thats what any person would think if they saw something on it's back. If something is dead, why not put it in the trashcan? It wouldn't move... unless it was alive!!!

Yeah, that's right. It was alive! The cockroach that was laying on it's back in my kitchen this morning was not dead but ALIVE, which I figured out after I tried to pick it up with a dust pan!!
It was very scary. Leah was behind me screaming, which only frightened me more! After it had gained it's senses, it quickly started scurrying around on the floor. I was trying to remain calm, but Leah's screaming didn't help. That's when I fully realized that there was actually a huge cockroach running around in our place! So, I smacked it as hard as I could with the dust pan and ending up breaking it. I didn't even notice that I had broken it, I was just happy the cockroach was dead! I had to hug Leah afterwards, its was very scary!!

So, when you see a giant cockroach laying on its back, just keep Erin's story in mind.. it might not really be dead!!

The Joys of the Country

Ubon is for sure different from Bangkok. It's more country, with lots of loud birds, crickets and things of that sort. But, what I enjoy the most is less traffic noises. In Bangkok, I'd wake up to the annoying whistle man directing traffic two streets away, and here in Ubon I wake up loud roosters, crickets, even screeching birds.

Living out the in the country also comes with the many misquitos, and it doesn't help that it is rainy season here. My legs are currently covered in misquito bites. In fact, I tried shaving and I ended up cutting my legs more than make them silky and smooth. The misquitos swarm the bathroom, so I try to make my bathroom visits as quick as possible!!

Also, I have a leaky roof. The first time it happened, I freaked out, but managed to think and get a bucket for it. Last night it was very stormy with lots of rain and thunder. When it rains here it downpours, I've never seen such hard rain before. Back to last night, I'm pretty sure I was imagining things... I thought my roof was leaking, only to discover this morning that there was no water in the bucket I put there to catch the rain!! The things that people think when they are tired... And since I am not used to the noise of cars in the morning anymore, when there are car noises they are really loud! I swear, it sounds like the cars, which sound like huge dumpster trucks going at 500 miles an hour, are trying to run over me! I wake up sooo scared. I seriously don't understand how they can be so loud and drown out the continuous screeching noises of the birds in the trees... I guess living here in the country is going to take some getting used to!

Traveling to Ubon

After I had said my farewells to everyone, which was really sad, Leah and I took off with Kim and Pio to the train station. I was so angry at the taxi driving the whole time, he kept blaring his loud music, that was in Thai and was full of static!! I wanted to yell at him to turn it down, but if you lose your cool over here, it is seen as really bad and weird... so I kept my mouth shut.The train ride was an interesting experience to say in the least.  Before the train even took off I saw three cockroaches, pretty disgusting, huh? They weren't too big, but just the fact that I would be sleeping next to these creepy crawly things disgusted me.  As the train departed from Bangkok, I said goodbye, I didn't know the next time that I would be seeing it!

When it was time for bed, there was a man who came around and helped everyone turn their seats into beds. You could either have the top or bottom bunk... I took the bottom because I was scared I'd get rocked off the top. It was the most awful sleep I'd had in a while... I woke up every hour to the train stopping and announcing something in Thai. At one point in the night I woke up to rain pelting me in the face. I had left my window open for air to come in, it was very hot on the train.
There was a random man walking by my bed at that time, so I motioned for him to come help me close my window, and he did! I was so happy! Another time I woke up because I thought the train was going to fly off the tracks. The train was going so fast, I thought it was going to come off. I just prayed that we'd get there safely. I woke up around 6 to watch the sunrise. It was beautiful. I hadn't seen the countryside in a long time. There were many people farming already. It was a beautiful view.

When we arrived to Ubon, it was very hot and there were many friendly people offering delicious looking food. It was a great first impression of the place. At first I was sad to be leaving Bangkok, I even considered it my "hurdle", but now I think it is a gift from God to be here. I love it already!!

A day at the Beach

We went on an all day retreat to the beach. It was a very relaxing day. It's been a long time since I've been to the beach. When we got there, we first ran into the water, it was sooo warm!! It was the warmest beach water I've ever felt. It was close to bath water. Every time we felt something in the water, we thought it was a crab or jellyfish! It was very frightening!!

It didn't help that there jellyfish and crabs on the shore... The tiny crabs were everywhere. If you looked hard enough, you could see the tiny crabs, about the size of your thumbnail, moving everywhere in the sand!!

 Walking with bare feet wasn't the wisest thing, I could have gotten pinched, but I didn't...

The beach was beautiful and relaxing, like they all are. The palm trees swayed in the wind, waves continuously crashed against the shore, and the Thai people were so willing to serve you with drinks, hand made crafts, and so much more!! Also, something I've never seen on an American beach, was an elephant! Those cute elephants, I feel so bad for them, they have to be in captivity, they should have a life, too!!

The whole point of going to the beach was because it was a staff retreat. We had a total of three sessions, they blessed me very much. The last one was the best. We all got anointed with olive oil, like in the Bible. And we all shared what we prayed about, it was very spiritually moving, and I feel closer to every single person now. It's too bad I'm leaving tomorrow for Ubon, I'm going to miss everyone, but I know that is where God is leading me to be.

All Buses Equal Hazard!

Yesterday I went with Cherry, another teacher at my school, to teach children at a Muslim school.  It was a very exciting experience.  There were so many kids, and they all wore the same little cute outfits, boys were blue and the girls wore pink.  

First we sang songs with lots of hand motions.  The kids really liked it, their voices were like an explosion when we sang the loud songs.  I wondered how so much noise could come from things so cute and little!  Then, I read them a story, and they really liked it!  They were really attentive and wide eyed as I told them the story.  Finally, Cherry and I taught them some basic English.  They all understood it so well. I helped them write their Ts by guiding their hands in the simple strokes.  I wanted to adopt all of them!!

On the way back, I rode in another bus, this time it was the Green 40.  It was smaller than the Blue 40.  As soon as I got in, I knew it was another awful ride.  It wasn't nearly as crowded, but I don't know how many more people the little bus could hold.  The bus sounded like it was going to fall apart, the engine was so loud I couldn't even hear peoples' conversations going on around me.  Also, the poor man sitting right next to me.  Thai buses are made for Thai people.  A girl like me is about twice the size of Thai girls, so when I take a seat on a bus, my butt is overfills into the next seat... I'm pretty sure the guy was wondering what was wrong with me.  

It didn't help that the entire bus was rattling.  I felt like I was mowing grass back home in the field, I was constantly shaking!  This caused me to keep bumping into the man next to me, he must have been really annoyed with me!!  All I could do was look down, which wasn't a good thing either.  I could see the street under me as we drove over it!  The tiny boards under my feet were so little and frail, I wondered if I was going to fall through.  I swear half the bus was covered in tin foil, the seat in front of me was coming apart, I'm sure mine was too with my American size body...

When I got off, I didn't expect it to stop for me, as I had before.  I knew better.  Maybe it would be best if I didn't a bus at all, but they sure do make for an interesting trip!

Devil Bird

It's become a ritual, a habit, an EVERY DAY thing.  I think I might go insane.  As the sun begins to rise in the wee hours of the morning, the roosters begin to crow, the streets become louder with motorcycles zooming by, and people begin to yell as if no one in the world is asleep.

All of this white noise does not compare to the one single most annoying sound in the world that decides to perch itself right on our balcony railing every morning at 5 am.  I think it is out to make me insane.  This morning I had enough of it.  As it began its horrifying screeching, I snuck to the balcony door and slowly opened it.  What do you know?  There it was, perched on the railing squawking TOWARDS our window!  As I began to open the door more it noticed me and turned towards me.  It took off towards its home in the tree across the street.  That bird has not seen the last of me.  I will have revenge!

Typical Americans

Friday is like sunday here, we have no school.  Leah and I had these amazing plans, but no one wanted to see the Grand Palace with us, so we had a relaxing day, which consisted of a movie and going to the mall.  I had American food and it was a dream come true.  It's only been two weeks and I can't believe how much I am craving comfort food!  My dad stuffed his face with a burger when we were Skyping, that didn't help my longing for good food... thanks dad. I think you've triggered uncontrollable cravings!

The movie experience was interesting.  The ambiance of movies here are so amazing compared to American ones.  They are bigger and when you purchase your ticket you can pick your seat.   America should really do this, that way you can reserve your seats and not have to be separated!  The seats are also really soft and big and they can recline really far back.  I felt like a queen in the theater.  Even though I had seen Batman in the States, I watched it again, it was just as good as the first time :)

The malls here are amazing, huge and clean.  What is most different is the lack of trash cans... they are no where to be found here!  I got to thinking.. what does this say about America?  Why are we such pigs, throwing everything away like it doesn't hurt the environment?  I've noticed the streets here are clean... where does all the trash go?  It looks cleaner here than back home.  

When we arrived back to the apartment, it was raining so hard Leah and I were screaming.  We probably looked like the typical American tourists... loud, obnoxious... We didn't care though.  The rain had only been pouring for a few minutes, but massive puddles had already formed and when we were running our feet would sink to the bottom.  We almost slipped and almost fell so many times. It probably looked like we were trying to dance and run at the same time!  The poor locals, I hope that isn't the last impression they will have of us, that we are typical americans.

Buddhas Galore

Yesterday, tuesday, was the Queen's birthday.  And in honor of her birthday, the day becomes what is known as Mother's day in America, so there all schools took a day off.  There are many Thai holidays in which school is taken off.  Because there was no school, the group of SMs went to what used to be the capital of Thailand, until the Burmese attacked it and demolished it.  

It was very exciting for us, we went, just the five of us, on our own and explored Thailand!  The day started with the sky-tram and then we went on an hour and a half bus ride.  What we didn't know was that the ruins of the old capital were everywhere, they weren't in just one spot.  So, when we arrived we had to pay for a tour guide, which wasn't that bad.  He was fun and he knew English, which made it easy.  His tuk-tuk was very small, but we all fit in... barely. :)

We visited so many temples and ruins.  I was so excited!  I actually got to see the little buddhas in person, there were so many of them!  They outlined the temples, and there was even a huge one laying on its side!  It was a very fascinating experience.  In fact, when you are in the presence of a buddha image, you are supposed to take off your shoes, which is what we had to do to go in a temple.  The buddha in the temple was massive, so massive that my head hurt from trying to look up at it.  

Our driver was really great.  He swerved in and out of traffic, we often thought that he would run into cars, but he made it by without a scratch (although we all thought for sure that we were going to die).  There was a tiny space we thought we weren't going to make it though, but he triumphed and motored on through. It was funny though, the next tuk-tuk driver didn't make it through and got stuck!  They couldn't move!  It was fun, and it made us thankful that we had our crazy driver.

It was a great day.  I got to see so much!  The bus ride on the way back was very hot, so hot that I was sweating just sitting in a seat.  My face was dripping... it was awful.  But it was an experience I greatly enjoyed.

Blue Bus Equals Hazard

The typical bus in America is polite to its people.  It kindly stops, allows the people to sit down and get comfy, and then rolls along in a peaceful manner.  This is not the story for the Blue Bus of Bangkok.  

After school, a group of us went to the mall.  The malls out here are amazing, better than any mall I have seen in America. On the way back, we found ourselves on the side of the street tired and wanting to get on any bus possible!  But, we had to wait for the 40 Bus, it takes us just by our street.  So, we waited and the first 40 bus that came by we made a dash for.

However, this bus did not stop for us.  We had to hop into the bus, as it continued to roll down the street.  I thought that was difficult, and then I looked up.  The bus was overfilled with people!  I did not know how I was going to fit on the bus with all those people.  I had to squeeze my way between two unknown people.  The lady who collects the money was standing there eyeing me.  She expected me to pay,  but I couldn't understand the amount she was asking for, and I couldn't reach into my bag to get the money out! I had to create extra room between me and the next person so I could get the money out.  

While I was doing this, the bus was speeding up, slowing down, and maneuvering around the little cars on the road.  I was frightened for my life!  I felt sorry for the people around me, I kept falling on them and apologizing, it's too bad I don't know how to say sorry in Thai.

When I saw that it was time for me to get off, I shoved my way through the people, and their stenches, and hoped down the stair.  Even after I learned my lesson getting on the bus that it does not stop, I somehow expected it to stop this time.  It did not, and I realized I better jump off!  So, I jumped off!  I turned to look at the Blue Bus, and I became very thankful that I was alive!

Doctors

I've had eye problems for a good 3 or 4 months.  When I went to visit my eye doctor this past summer, I told him I went through these phases where my eyes were bloodshot, sensitive to light, and very irritable.  He told me not to worry about it, it was just a reoccurring cold in my eyes.  I was a little frustrated because I had been having these symptoms for a long time, like every two weeks.  When I came to Thailand, I broke down with the usual symptoms. I had had enough, I wanted to fix them! I went to the local medical clinic, and the sweet old Thai doctor instantly knew what I was talking about, even though his English was very little!  He had me lay on a table, flipped my eyelids inside out and had me look at my eyelids!  Sure enough, there were sections that were swollen and more red than others.  He told me I had some type of infection, I can't remember what the word was, it was really long.  He gave me three different types of pills and eyes drops to put in whenever needed.  I was very thankful that this doctor had helped me, but then it infuriated me that my American doctor had not caught this!  I feel like writing him a letter asking him why a doctor in Thailand that I visit for a few minutes knows what I have, diagnoses me, and treats me when he (my regular American Doctor) has no clue what I'm talking about, and I see him regularly!  I am still angry, but very happy that my eyes are feeling a world of difference!!

Wow, what a place!

Wow!  I cannot believe what I have experienced in the past 24 hours!  A group of us rode the skytrain into inner city Bangkok.... that along was an experience.  The train goes through the streets and gives you the opportunity to laugh at the traffic below.  After the fast skytrain, we went for some scrumptious mexican food in the mall and waltzed down the streets admiring the cheap stands with "hot" items for sale.  

The thing about Bangkok, as I have come to conclude after only my first week here, is that you really shouldn't be frightened when you slowly realize that the man you have been staring at for the past five minutes is a woman!  Haha!  It's been hard for me to distinguish which is guy or girl in these situations, but I figure practice makes perfect, and in due time it will become easy for me to make these distinctions.

Anyways, we went shopping in the markets of Bangkok and also observed amazing paintings in an art gallery!  The night was so beautiful, and it was fun. Michael, Leah and I walked around and had a blast!  And today is another story- school is not in session for me on Fridays, so the group of us went on a day tour and visited the outskirts of Bangkok.

There were so many sights!  We saw elephants up close and personal.  I never realized how dry and prickly they are, but the baby ones are so adorable!  Their ears are huge, but I learned the hard way that if you stand next to it trying to pose for a picture, you will get smacked in the head with their ear!  It's not the best thing to get smacked in the head with, they kind of smell.

We also went to an elephant show, it was quite amusing, so was the crocodile show.  Thailand is turing out to be a very interesting place... The people here are nice and friendly, they are always smiling... it makes it feel like a home away from home.

My Hurdle

My journey in Thailand has not been easy.  Today is the biggest hurdle I've had to get through.  Up till today, all my worries have been that I will be a good teacher.  Actually today was my first day teaching on my own, and it went very well.  I thoroughly enjoyed teaching the kids, they are so cute and they want to learn, so it makes teaching great!  But, back to my hurdle.  I found out that I will be transferring to a different school in a different town.  What a scary thought!  I have been getting used to the ways of Bangkok, the city traffic that continues to honk into the wee hours of the morning, the dangerous street I have to cross every time I go to school (which involves me standing in the middle of the street with cars zipping by me on either side), and even the friendly fruit lady who's fruit is oh so wonderful and oh so cheap!   Today made me realize that God is in complete control of my life.  I should never worry about anything, who am I to worry when God is always there and guiding me every step of the way?  Today was hard for me, but I know there will be harder days to come, and I realize that worrying only makes me question God.  My future is questionable, but I know that because God is in control, everything will be okay.

The Journey to Thailand

Just a few days ago I was packing my bags to come here.  The fact that I would be spending the next 10 months of my life in Thailand hadn't really hit me.  Early Thursday morning, at 5 am, I awoke to finish packing and head to the airport.  Saying goodbye to my family was hard, it didn't help that my mother started crying when I hugged her goodbye.  Taking the five hour flight to California was just the beginning of a long day for me.  I met Leah in the airport, almost got lost, and grabbed a bite from Burger King as a farewell to American food.  Then, the longest 11 hours of my life began.  I was crammed in an airplane seat, couldn't sleep, and hated the airline food.  It was awful, and it didn't help that there was drama between two ladies on my flight (It was so bad that one of the ladies had to talk to security after the plane landed).  The plane landed, we had a two hour layover in Tokyo, and then another six hours of airtime.  I was very very tired of traveling at this point.  Kim, a staff at the school Leah and I are teaching at, picked us up.  The moment I stepped outside the airport, a wall of humidity and heat hit me; it was the most intense heat I had ever felt in my life.  God had definitely provided me with a safe journey to Thailand, but little did I know that there was so much more in store for my life...