Positives
1. The people are very friendly.
2. Living here is cheap!
3. I have a nice place to live.
4. Air Conditioning.
5. I am excited to teach and am guessing I will enjoying it.
6. Internet is great! Communication and entertainment!!
7. Thai culture is interesting!
8. Great food. Yummy, different food, that has yet to leave me unhappy.
9. Relaxed lifestyle.
10. It's worth repeating people are very kind and welcoming!
Negatives
1. I don't speak the language.
Not being able to talk to people is hard. You often feel embarrassed, and self conscious. Life can become a bit lonely and boring. You feel unsure of going out and doing things because you can't have enough conversations to navigate through life.
2. It's hot. It's humid. Yup just about all the time. Air conditioning, morning and evenings, and cold showers become your best friends. You also accept feeling sticky as a part of life.
3. Family and Friends are far.
Random Facts
1. Rather than an annoying loud beeping, the washing machines here beep a happy jingle.
2. Paying for water can be fun. When use use a funky machine, and get a liter of water for 1 baht, about 3 cents.
3. When you look at fields here you need to remind yourself: That is rice, it grows in the water. There is lots of water and even fish over there, not just dirt and plants. Not dirt, cow poop, and corn like at home.
4. Krista still has too much time hanging out at her mansion before school starts. Luckily though I'm headed off to eat some yummy Thai food, then cook with a friend, and visit a Thai temple tomorrow. I'll take lots of pictures and fill you in later :)
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Power Lines and Water
Power lines and Water. These are two simple things that have stood out to me in this first week in Thailand.
One of the very first things I was surprised by in Thailand was the massive amounts of power lines. If I'm honest I find them quite ugly, and a sad obstruction. I suppose the technologies are not up to that of the U.S., where we must consolidate lines, and run many underground.
I'm sure I will get used to seeing more telephone lines, or rather power lines, but for those of you somewhere beautiful, enjoying the view, be glad there are not more ugly power lines for you to gaze upon.
Secondly, having clean drinking water all the time is pretty great! It is a simple fact of life in America that I haven't given too much thought to.
I've actually been someone whose been largely opposed to bottled water. Especially after attending UVM, such a green university, complete with bottled water bans, and water bottle fill up stations everywhere. Living in Thailand though, bottled water has become a piece of my daily life.
For a variety of reasons, that I'm not really sure of, almost all of the tap water in Thailand cannot be used for drinking. This is vastly different than the tap water I drank all my life in America.
Anyway though, even after a week you get used to the fact that your water is bottled and shipped. You buy water when you go out to eat, and if you would like ice. You keep bottles of water in your fridge. And as I recently discovered, can pay one baht, or about 3 cents to buy 1 liter of water from a small machine on many street corners. For some reason I loved filling my water up for the first time. I can't say why but it was almost like I was a kid buying penny candy. I got to use a weird machine I couldn't even read and then for just 3 cents I got a whole bottle of fresh, clean, good tasting water!
Anyhoo after reading some other blogs and getting my creative juices flowing these are some of the silly things I've been pondering and decided to write down since I have a little too much free time before school starts. Please don't worry if my thoughts are boring to you, I just felt like writing about them, doesn't mean you have to be interested in reading them :P
If you happen to find blogs and life in Thailand interesting here's some more reading for you:
http://whiteguyinthailand.wordpress.com/
It's an American guy who very honest and humorous, if not a bit random, in sharing about his time teaching in Thailand. I've enjoyed reading and skimming through his posts and pictures, so if you want some humor and a bit more about Thailand have a look.
On another note if you want to learn a little more about Ubon, say maybe if you were enticed to consider visiting me here even after my complaints about water and power lines. Or if you just want to learn about where I'm living have a look here:
weloveubon.com
All the best. Some more stories and thoughts soon!
One of the very first things I was surprised by in Thailand was the massive amounts of power lines. If I'm honest I find them quite ugly, and a sad obstruction. I suppose the technologies are not up to that of the U.S., where we must consolidate lines, and run many underground.
I'm sure I will get used to seeing more telephone lines, or rather power lines, but for those of you somewhere beautiful, enjoying the view, be glad there are not more ugly power lines for you to gaze upon.
Secondly, having clean drinking water all the time is pretty great! It is a simple fact of life in America that I haven't given too much thought to.
I've actually been someone whose been largely opposed to bottled water. Especially after attending UVM, such a green university, complete with bottled water bans, and water bottle fill up stations everywhere. Living in Thailand though, bottled water has become a piece of my daily life.
For a variety of reasons, that I'm not really sure of, almost all of the tap water in Thailand cannot be used for drinking. This is vastly different than the tap water I drank all my life in America.
Anyway though, even after a week you get used to the fact that your water is bottled and shipped. You buy water when you go out to eat, and if you would like ice. You keep bottles of water in your fridge. And as I recently discovered, can pay one baht, or about 3 cents to buy 1 liter of water from a small machine on many street corners. For some reason I loved filling my water up for the first time. I can't say why but it was almost like I was a kid buying penny candy. I got to use a weird machine I couldn't even read and then for just 3 cents I got a whole bottle of fresh, clean, good tasting water!
Anyhoo after reading some other blogs and getting my creative juices flowing these are some of the silly things I've been pondering and decided to write down since I have a little too much free time before school starts. Please don't worry if my thoughts are boring to you, I just felt like writing about them, doesn't mean you have to be interested in reading them :P
If you happen to find blogs and life in Thailand interesting here's some more reading for you:
http://whiteguyinthailand.wordpress.com/
It's an American guy who very honest and humorous, if not a bit random, in sharing about his time teaching in Thailand. I've enjoyed reading and skimming through his posts and pictures, so if you want some humor and a bit more about Thailand have a look.
On another note if you want to learn a little more about Ubon, say maybe if you were enticed to consider visiting me here even after my complaints about water and power lines. Or if you just want to learn about where I'm living have a look here:
weloveubon.com
All the best. Some more stories and thoughts soon!
Monday, October 20, 2014
First Days in Ubon
Hello! My first post from Thailand. My travels were long and exhausting, but everything went as planned. After a stop for some sightseeing in Taiwan I arrived Wednesday morning October 15th in Thailand.
The other side of the main road and again familiar American sights. I was surprised to find that there are many American things in Ubon including, KFC, McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks, Annie Anne's Pretzels, Dairy Queen, and more! As it turn out there is not much I will be missing as far as foods and shopping. Ubon also has two large shopping malls, with most anything you could need. As it turns out I have a bigger shopping selection than in Vermont! I was most excited to found TimTam's a delicious cookies that anyone who's been to New Zealand or Australia should know about.
The weather in Thailand very warm! For me it feels like the peak of Vermont summer, but this it is approaching winter in Thailand. I am a little nervous for the hot season, but so far the weather has been fine. There is also air conditioning in many places, and I have air conditioning at my mansion and at school.
The first rain felt a bit different from home.
Learning Thai has also been a challenge. Slowly though I am learning the essentials, and luckily many kind Thai teachers have helped act as translators as well as becoming fast friends. One of the main challenges is the fact that the sounds and written language are so very different from English. Thai is also a tonal language, and varying tones can change the meaning of a word. These small distinctions are very hard to distinguish if you are not fluent in the language, certain sounds are also different than English. I've found great apps and online resources and have had some time to continue to practice. So I am sure with time I will have enough Thai to more easily have conversations and go about daily life.
Although it is an adjustment to a different lifestyle, climate, and language. I feel welcomed in Ubon and am excited for my coming weeks and months, teaching, learning, and exploring.
Be in touch!!
Some sights from Taiwan.
 |
| Ceramics Museum |
My first days in Ubon were met with many kind welcomes and good meals. As well as settling into my mansion, Thai apartment. I'll give you a quick tour of my apartment, school, and main road in Ubon.
For the full tour see below :)
It is hard to get used to these little guys scurrying around on the ceiling!
The sports field
The new school building which will be finished within the next year.
And should look something like this.
Yup, I'm that American girl taking selfies in front of her school.
The main road in Ubon. Notice anything familiar!
The other side of the main road and again familiar American sights. I was surprised to find that there are many American things in Ubon including, KFC, McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks, Annie Anne's Pretzels, Dairy Queen, and more! As it turn out there is not much I will be missing as far as foods and shopping. Ubon also has two large shopping malls, with most anything you could need. As it turns out I have a bigger shopping selection than in Vermont! I was most excited to found TimTam's a delicious cookies that anyone who's been to New Zealand or Australia should know about.
The weather in Thailand very warm! For me it feels like the peak of Vermont summer, but this it is approaching winter in Thailand. I am a little nervous for the hot season, but so far the weather has been fine. There is also air conditioning in many places, and I have air conditioning at my mansion and at school.
The first rain felt a bit different from home.
The sky looked like this as the rain was pouring down!! And it was still hot!
Learning Thai has also been a challenge. Slowly though I am learning the essentials, and luckily many kind Thai teachers have helped act as translators as well as becoming fast friends. One of the main challenges is the fact that the sounds and written language are so very different from English. Thai is also a tonal language, and varying tones can change the meaning of a word. These small distinctions are very hard to distinguish if you are not fluent in the language, certain sounds are also different than English. I've found great apps and online resources and have had some time to continue to practice. So I am sure with time I will have enough Thai to more easily have conversations and go about daily life.
Although it is an adjustment to a different lifestyle, climate, and language. I feel welcomed in Ubon and am excited for my coming weeks and months, teaching, learning, and exploring.
Be in touch!!
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