I've made it! I'm more than half way done with my year! As exciting as that is to say to myself, it also makes me sad. There are so many thing I have come to love about this country. It's really been a year of growth for me: I've learned so much about the culture of Thailand. It's an experience of a lifetime, and I'd never trade it for anything.
So, here's a list of things I've learned. I'm putting it out there for anyone who ever wishes to come to Thailand. However, you will need to learn stuff for yourself, but here are just a few bits on how to survive in Thailand:
1. Remember what mom and dad always said when you crossed the road (and I'm not talking about holding someone's hand)? LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT. Yeah you can just throw that right out the window. I can't tell you how many times I've made the mistake of looking right first and almost walked into a car coming at me from the left. So, think: RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT. There, now you won't die when crossing the street.
2. If you become friends with a Thai and are anything but skin and bones, be prepared to be called fat or OOAN. This, my friends, is the culture of Thailand. Think it, say it. There is no filter, well at least for this. I know I'm not skinny, but I don't have to be told that I'm fat three times a day. It's okay, what won't kill you will only make you stronger. Their way is honesty, which I prefer. Better to be called fat to your face than behind your back.
3. THAILAND IS NOT HOT ALL YEAR. Yeah, this might be a shock to some of you, it was to me! Still is a shock, actually. I'm suffering because of my lack of knowledge. Ubon is no Andrews, but low fifties at night is cold when you don't have a heater to work with. Leah and I are blessed because we have a hot water heater which translates HOT SHOWERS. I have no idea how these people take showers in this temperature!!
4. When people make appointments, always expect them to be late. I have students come late all the time. It's habit to be about fifteen minutes late for some. Outside of school is the same. So, when making plans, think ahead and be prepared to meet later than the time you decided on.
5. If you're the kind of person who likes to sleep in, you can forget about it. People in Thailand generally like to wake up early. In Bangkok it was the whistle man, and here in Ubon it's the song-toas: 7 am is a lovely time to be woken up by loud noises. If people don't wake you up, you can count on the birds outside or the planes flying overhead. There's really no point in setting an alarm, there's alarms everywhere!
6. Be prepared. You will see adorable babies. You will want to take them home with you. You will not be able to because they belong to their parents. They will be the cutest things you will see in your life. When this happens, remember there are plenty of Thai people you can choose to marry and produce beautiful babies with. Just try to restrain yourself from stealing one, trust me when I say it's a hard thing to accomplish.
7. Hungry for American food? No problem, there are more Seven Elevens here than I've ever seen in America. From snack to hefty meal, you can find any assortment of food at this local convenience store. And there's no need to worry about finding one: they cover the territory here like Starbucks in Manhattan.
8. If you are of lighter skin you will be the equivalent of an American celebrity. Everywhere you go people will want to touch your skin, stare at you like you're an alien, and tell you many many times that you are beautiful (kind of like Bella's obsession for Edward's pale skin in Twilight).
Just like any place in the world there are good things and bad things about this place. I'm so glad I'm here in Thailand. What an experience, what a place, what a God I serve. I'm in awe.
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