Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Lost all my writing one drunken night in Pai. A result of seeing the inside of "the bucket" no doubt. So I will try to summarize a month's worth of blog posts into one very long, but no so poetic, account of my time in Thailand.
I have been volunteering with an organization called Wildflower Home, a home for single mothers about half an hour outside of Chiang Mai. I initially spent my mornings in a nursery with about ten two year olds, but have recently been entertaining 8-10 yr olds with my lack of soccer playing, paper airplane building and kite flying skills. Not to mention my inability to ride a bicycle, thought I recently made an attempt only to crash into a bush and emerge quite muddy. During the afternoon I teach English to three women and one man, all from different countries and with varying levels of English. In the late afternoon I am in the office. I have written two grant proposals and a letter of inquiry and am now researching additional funding sources for Wildflower Home. To learn more about Wildflower Home, check out their website here.
As far as the volunteer house goes, I live with six other girls, mostly around my age. Two Americans, two Germans, an Irish girl and a Scottish girl, none of whom are the smoking and drinking type, but all are nice nonetheless. Well, except for one who is slowly trying to kill me. But that's another story. I have hippos on my blanket, which is but a small comfort for my Humphrey missing heart. And an abundance of lizards in the house constantly sends me into Fear and Loathing flashbacks. My program provides me with two Thai meals per day. But as much as I love my rice cooker, I could really go for a NY bagel, or a pizza, or just some real cheese for that matter. Food is generally good though. And I love getting a huge plate of pad thai for 25 baht (about $.75).
Bars are nice here. Did everything from partying at a ritzy after hours nightclub to hanging out with some ladies of the night in the red light district. Went to Pai last weekend and stayed up till 5 am drinking with travelers from around the world. Drank too much Samsom and Gilbey's and decided to stick to my Singha in the future.
So far I have ziplined through the jungle, gotten lost while driving a motorbike, visited waterfalls and hotsprings and received my fortune from a temple. For my last weekend in Chiang Mai, I hope to have brunch with tigers, a massage at the women's prison and a meditation lesson from some monks. Then I'm off to Bangkok on Monday. After the emotionally devastating realization that I have absolutely nothing to go back to, I decided to extend my trip here. After Bankok, I will be headed to Cambodia. And then on to the Philippines as planned and possibly a side trip to Hong Kong.
I won't attempt to describe my emotional well being in this post, but suffice it to say that my time here has been challenging, rewarding, exciting and heart breaking. I will try not to lose all my writing in the future. But no promises.
Shoutouts
Ryan: I'm still waiting for my photographic scavenger hunt. Also, what kind of bike am I riding in those pics. And what's up with Vegas in December?
Miguel: I played MASH with an 11 year old girl the other day. And just so you know, we'll be married and living in a house with four kids, a pet squirrel and a BMW.
Everyone: if you'd like a postcard from Thailand, send me your address ASAP. And if you have any specific requests for gifts, let me know that too.
I have been volunteering with an organization called Wildflower Home, a home for single mothers about half an hour outside of Chiang Mai. I initially spent my mornings in a nursery with about ten two year olds, but have recently been entertaining 8-10 yr olds with my lack of soccer playing, paper airplane building and kite flying skills. Not to mention my inability to ride a bicycle, thought I recently made an attempt only to crash into a bush and emerge quite muddy. During the afternoon I teach English to three women and one man, all from different countries and with varying levels of English. In the late afternoon I am in the office. I have written two grant proposals and a letter of inquiry and am now researching additional funding sources for Wildflower Home. To learn more about Wildflower Home, check out their website here.
As far as the volunteer house goes, I live with six other girls, mostly around my age. Two Americans, two Germans, an Irish girl and a Scottish girl, none of whom are the smoking and drinking type, but all are nice nonetheless. Well, except for one who is slowly trying to kill me. But that's another story. I have hippos on my blanket, which is but a small comfort for my Humphrey missing heart. And an abundance of lizards in the house constantly sends me into Fear and Loathing flashbacks. My program provides me with two Thai meals per day. But as much as I love my rice cooker, I could really go for a NY bagel, or a pizza, or just some real cheese for that matter. Food is generally good though. And I love getting a huge plate of pad thai for 25 baht (about $.75).
Bars are nice here. Did everything from partying at a ritzy after hours nightclub to hanging out with some ladies of the night in the red light district. Went to Pai last weekend and stayed up till 5 am drinking with travelers from around the world. Drank too much Samsom and Gilbey's and decided to stick to my Singha in the future.
So far I have ziplined through the jungle, gotten lost while driving a motorbike, visited waterfalls and hotsprings and received my fortune from a temple. For my last weekend in Chiang Mai, I hope to have brunch with tigers, a massage at the women's prison and a meditation lesson from some monks. Then I'm off to Bangkok on Monday. After the emotionally devastating realization that I have absolutely nothing to go back to, I decided to extend my trip here. After Bankok, I will be headed to Cambodia. And then on to the Philippines as planned and possibly a side trip to Hong Kong.
I won't attempt to describe my emotional well being in this post, but suffice it to say that my time here has been challenging, rewarding, exciting and heart breaking. I will try not to lose all my writing in the future. But no promises.
Shoutouts
Ryan: I'm still waiting for my photographic scavenger hunt. Also, what kind of bike am I riding in those pics. And what's up with Vegas in December?
Miguel: I played MASH with an 11 year old girl the other day. And just so you know, we'll be married and living in a house with four kids, a pet squirrel and a BMW.
Everyone: if you'd like a postcard from Thailand, send me your address ASAP. And if you have any specific requests for gifts, let me know that too.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Backdated for your convenience - October 22, 2009
I listened to drum circles and contemplated the meaning of life. I wrote in a hand-made journal entitled "My journey to happiness." I got lost in my own head. And then lost in the minds of others. I was fifteen and things were not so different from what they are now. I thrive in the loneliness of anonymity. Perhaps too easily adopting the personality traits of those around me. I enjoy the fantastical, the unreal, the unattainable, because at least it is not mediocrity. But my search for the divine has led me through too many Siddartha-esque adventures--and maybe some Kafka-esque ones too. I question the concept of identity. As a self proclaimed American of color teaching English to Vietnamese, Laotian and Burmese refugees in Thailand, I can only see irony in the situation. The only identity trait I have consistently held has be one of the other. I ebb back and forth between knowing I will never belong and thinking that maybe, somehow, I can make it all different. I tried so hard because I thought I could make it better. But I'm starting to believe Sartre's facticity encompasses more than I originally thought. If I wanted to be dramatic, I'd say I left my heart on a third floor parking garage somewhere in the lower east side. But I don't think it is that easy. I'm just tired of the struggle.
Friday, October 23, 2009
The infamous bucket o' booze.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
So an elephant walks into a bar...
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Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Days 3 and 4
The rains had derailed my temple touring plans. So I found myself at Jim Thompson's house thoroughly unimpressed. Though I finally learned why that raised step in between doorways exists. And I'm stubbing my toes at a slightly less frequency. Went to a giant seven story mall and played House of the Dead I, III, and IV back to back. Epic. Took a nap before going out for the night. Enjoyed a beer while eavesdropping on some Swiss boys debating the merits of whether I was a Thai lady boy. Met a Pole who had fallen in love with a Thai girl seven years earlier and never left. But it didn't work out so well for him.
Today I awoke in a mood of sorts. Perhaps it was my mother ringing me at 630am. Perhaps just anxiety over leaving to Chiang Mai tonight. I am trying to keep an open mind about everything. Trying not to perpetuate the now standardized Shelley curse. Trying not to believe in the inevitability of... anything. But I have five hours to kill. Maybe another Thai massage. Maybe some reading. Definitely some more coffee and cigarettes.
Bee tee dubs, I hate bartering.
Today I awoke in a mood of sorts. Perhaps it was my mother ringing me at 630am. Perhaps just anxiety over leaving to Chiang Mai tonight. I am trying to keep an open mind about everything. Trying not to perpetuate the now standardized Shelley curse. Trying not to believe in the inevitability of... anything. But I have five hours to kill. Maybe another Thai massage. Maybe some reading. Definitely some more coffee and cigarettes.
Bee tee dubs, I hate bartering.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Day 1
Woke up at my mother's co-worker's mother's home after four hours sleep. Shed a quick tear over a recent heartbreak, but vowed not to do it again. Had plastic wrapped Minnie Mouse as my witness. Went downstairs to a table full of food. Ate something orange and proceeded to take a fake bath. Don't ask. Taxi to the hotel. Blew my load on a Thai telephone. Shook my escort and finally acquired a much needed meal of coffee and cigarettes.
But enough with the logging. The twenty hour flight was a miserable combination of a peanut and beer diet combined with no sleep and a bit of deep vein thrombosis. The previous night's anxiety only subsided after I randomly met my friend Elan on Khao San Rd. An evening with Israelis entailed breakfast for dinner, two night bazaars, a slightly frightening tuk tuk ride and watching a wonderful rendition of Smells Like Teen Spirit performed by a lovely band of Thai boys. Oh, and some Mai Tais, too. All in all (whatever that introductory clause means), it was a good first day.
This morning I walked to the Grand Palace. Got my picture taken with a tourist who thought I was famous. I thought it better not to argue in front of the Emerald Buddha. Received my first Thai massage when I got back to the hotel. More than a bit nerve wracking due to the gender of my masseur. Vowed to avoid male masseuses in the future. Though I admit, he surely stretched me in ways, well... Discovered that knees in ones ass cheeks actually feels good. But thumbs in your ears, not so much. Still not a fan of people touching me.
I am currently sitting in an internet cafe at four in the morning. Sleep schedule has been all sorts of wacky. It is raining now, but I like the weather. It's nice to finally be warm.
But enough with the logging. The twenty hour flight was a miserable combination of a peanut and beer diet combined with no sleep and a bit of deep vein thrombosis. The previous night's anxiety only subsided after I randomly met my friend Elan on Khao San Rd. An evening with Israelis entailed breakfast for dinner, two night bazaars, a slightly frightening tuk tuk ride and watching a wonderful rendition of Smells Like Teen Spirit performed by a lovely band of Thai boys. Oh, and some Mai Tais, too. All in all (whatever that introductory clause means), it was a good first day.
This morning I walked to the Grand Palace. Got my picture taken with a tourist who thought I was famous. I thought it better not to argue in front of the Emerald Buddha. Received my first Thai massage when I got back to the hotel. More than a bit nerve wracking due to the gender of my masseur. Vowed to avoid male masseuses in the future. Though I admit, he surely stretched me in ways, well... Discovered that knees in ones ass cheeks actually feels good. But thumbs in your ears, not so much. Still not a fan of people touching me.
I am currently sitting in an internet cafe at four in the morning. Sleep schedule has been all sorts of wacky. It is raining now, but I like the weather. It's nice to finally be warm.
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