Since we last heard...

Okay, okay (as the Thais say) this has been a long time coming, but I’ve been busy! I have been studying for the GRE and guess what? I nailed it, 620 verbal, 690 quantitative. How, I don’t know, but hey, I’m stoked. Hopefully this means grad school in the fall. Now, some quick hits for the last month

·      Went to Kantchanaburi for the King’s birthday weekend. It was a very cool place and home to the famous “Bridge over the river Kwai.” The bridge was god awful scary and pictures of it and all the people walking on it, and smushing out to the way when the train was coming, will be included in a future photo album that I plan to call “Thailand: Safety First”. If you are ever in Thailand for the King’s Birthday, you may hear some nonsense about “no alcohol will be served.” Disregard, continue life as you were.

·      My last post was not meant to slam Thai people. I like many Thai people a lot. But, this is a very different place, I suppose, with very different ways of doing things. For example, at 7-11, if you are not spooning the person in front of you in line, then a Thai person will wedge themselves between you, making themselves next. Now I don’t know if this is because farang couldn’t possibly know what they’re doing in a 7-11, or because of the wildly self-centered mentality of  a vast majority of people here or what

·      On a kinder note to the Thais, I love many of their attitudes to farang. In America it is our assertion that if you don’t speak English, then it’s your problem. Here, when they see you coming and they know you don’t speak Thai, they panic. You can see the fear in their eyes and they will run up and down wherever they are to find someone who speaks English. They may grab you by the arm and march you down the street or through the store and will not let you go until you have what you came for. It’s kind of nice.

·      If you are in Bangkok and you want to go to the beach, people will tell you to go to Pattaya. Don’t do it unless you are specifically going to partake in the world’s oldest profession. The water is dirty, the beach is dirty, it is fantastically overpriced and it’s not that nice. If given the choice, you should go to Hua Hin. Wicked cute little beach town, plenty of fun to be had, beautiful water, good value and killer designer knock offs everywhere. I’ve heard kho samet and kho chang are even nicer, but they are farther, plus I haven’t been, so I can’t vouch.

·      I still hate teaching, though I don’t find it as unbearable as I once did. I have applied to grad school for the fall (BU, UMaryland, UMinnesota, UIllinois at Chicago, Tulane and U S.Florida, because I know you were gonna ask) and I really hope I get in. if I don’t, then I’m thinking a semester of teaching in South America may be in the cards.

·      On the teaching note, I’m done February 19 baby!!!! I could not be more excited. That weekend I’m going down south to Krabi, then further south to Hat Yai or Satun. Then the following weekend, I will be headed to Surat Thani/Kho Sumui/ Kho Phanagn for the infamous full moon party, which will be March 1. After that, Kelsey and I have a flight from Phuket to Ho Chi Min city on the 5^th, where we will travel up Vietnam, maybe hit Cambodia and then into Laos, where we have a flight from Laos to Malaysia on March 18^th, from where Kelsey will go back to the states and I will go to India and Nepal. And I will hopefully stretch my money long enough to stay until I go to Carissa and Mark’s wedding in New Orleans at the end of May. Hehehehehe I’m so excited

·      Tonight, I am going to see Green Day in Bangkok. I am really psyched. I have no idea how its gonna go. More farang than Thai? A translator for “everybody scream”? Super curious.

·      My mom and dad are gonna be here in like, 3 days. I can’t wait.

That’s all for now, believe it or not, I’ve written this while at work!

*Love*

P.s. i know i forgot Christmas and New Years. Next time, I promise