Week 3 at PSU

This week was full of ups and downs, but I created some wonderful memories. I did things I would never normally do, trying new things can be so FUN! I was able to go out to a birthday party on Valentines day. Staying out until after 2AM the night before my first test...something I would never do haha. I was also able to go out to a new beach this week with four other new Thai friends. I also received what they call a "Phuket Kiss". I burned my leg while getting off of a motorbike. Not fun, but a good lesson always get off on the left side haha. I absolutely love learning from the people here. I learned that my Thai friend Jane struggles with English as many of her other Thai friends do. I was able to help her with her English this week when we were studying for our test. She taught me so many things. She taught me how important it is for woman here to be stick thin, because if you are not most men will think you are unattractive. She also says that all women want to have white skin. They have several whitening products, lotions and body wash, etc. They seem to really struggle with wanting to change themselves rather than what I grew up with learning how important it is to be YOU and be your own person. She shared with me that she only eats one meal day because she is dieting. I felt so bad for her. I wanted to show her how beautiful she really is. I told her in America you are thin...then she began talking to me about her acne, and how her mother buys her medicine to get rid of it. I know everywhere you go society is telling us what the ideal man or woman looks like, but I want these young girls to know they are BEAUTIFUL. I am also excited to make a difference in the "Safe House" here. There is a place where Thai orphans go when their parents abandon them, or lose them to an addiction or they may be in jail. This semester I am enrolled in Social Psychology, and we are required to do case studies, and help these children to see how special they truly are. I can't wait to share a smile with these children. All in all, I am so excited to be here, and to give back while I enjoy this warm weather, beautiful beaches, it's truly a dream come true for me. My birthday is coming and I keep meeting new friends...so it might be a big party haha. We'll see how things go, I am ready to have the time of my life, and can't wait for the love of my life to get here. My boyfriend should be here just in time for my birthday! Until next time...

Ordering in Thai-and Getting Sick

I got sick today...I am not sure what it was because the Panang Curry was amazing. I had eaten there before, and I was perfectly mine, but today not so much. It was one of those instances where you are fine one second, and the next not so much. So I wasn't able to do many exciting things tonight I was in bed resting. However, once it came time for dinner, I was getting pretty hungry so I decided to go out alone tonight. I ended up at a pizza cart. I wanted more curry, but decided to try something new. I was actually able to use my Thai tonight. I ordered and paid in Thai. It was so refreshing, I finally felt like I was learning something. the pizza was nothing like home, but I was able to use my Thai, and now I know next time...stick to the curry haha.

Day 2 of Classes at PSU

Today I had Principles of Management and Thai as Foreign Language. It was really interesting. I am here with 20+ other students and they are all from Finland and Germany and Austria, and even Denmark, yet they are always hanging out with one another. So when I walked in to class today it looked like the room was segregated. The whites/Europeans on the left and the Thai students on the right. I feel like I have a great deal to learn from the Thai culture, so I chose to sit on the right side with the Thai students. With that, I ended up making new friends. One Thai girl named Jane asked me to promise her that I would help her with her English. She struggled a little during our lecture this afternoon. Our professor has a British accent and was going pretty fast through everything. So I totally understood why she might need the extra help. She also promised to help me with my Thai. I was so happy to have met her. She was so kind she offered to me her contact information even her skype user name. The Thai students are so happy to see us, and are always smiling at us. They make us feel welcome, and loved. I just hope that if they ever come to America to study, we treat them with as much respect. Today I also had my Thai as a Foreign Language again, and today we learned how to count to hundred and above. It was a little tough at first, but I think I've got it down now. However, I went to try to ask for my room key from the receptionist using the numbers I had just learned and they told me to say it another way. Oh geeezzz...haha :) Well the important thing is I am learning and I feel grateful to be here. This experience will change my life forever. Until tomorrow...keep in touch!

First Day at Prince of Songkla University

Well, like most first days of school I was nervous. This day was different however, I had to put on a uniform for the very first time since elementary school. These uniforms though were different in that you actually needed to assemble your own outfit. There were silver buttons given to us that we needed to figure out how to put on our shirts. This involved scissors and razor blades believe it or not haha. Luckily a very nice Thai student helped me. They are so generous here. In America, people rarely seem to want to do nice things for others without getting anything in return. Especially her, a stranger, she was not required to help, but she did. That to me is so amazing. Even though I am what they call a "Farang" or foreigner she helped no questions asked. Later today I went to class and met Thai students who had trouble understanding a lecture given in English. They asked me what encouraged meant, and I answered "Well like motivate", and then I soon realized they had no idea what that meant either. It was really interesting to see them in class, and to see how they think. Our teacher showed us photos and asked what they thought of each picture, the meaning behind it. Their answers were so different than what I would have said. There was a photo of a happy Asian family, some of the Thai students answered with happy family, but then someone said they saw warmth. To me that was really  refreshing. Just to see how deep some of them thought. Even though they were struggling to understand the lecture, they still managed to use words like warmth. To me being an American, I would have said a family or a happy family, but I know deep down I wouldn't have responded with warmth right away. They are such hard workers, and I can see they really want to learn. I feel so lucky to be here with them. The next course was Thai as a Foreign Language. Now that was interesting. I definitely will need to study hard for any exams in this course. I struggled a little with the tones, but she asked us later to identify which word she was saying by circling one of the two answers. I only missed one. I was pretty proud of myself for day one anyway. The tone is everything in this language. Saying Maa with a high tone, low tone, mid tone, etc. means totally different things. This is going to be a challenge, but I am so excited to learn. After class it was time for dinner haha. I arrived back at my hotel where I will be staying for the next month, and needed to have 12,000 baht paid today. However, I have been having problems with getting cash out from these ATMs. I was trying to explain my problem to the receptionist, but she had no idea what I was saying. Luckily a Thai student who spoke English very well, came and helped translate. Again I experience tremendous generousity. She asked me what was wrong I explained why I didn't have the money and she told me she would be willing to drive me to eat, and try to go to another ATM that might work. I was in shock! She had no idea what my name was yet she was willing to get in her and drive me and my friends around town. This doesn't happen in America...not sure if it ever has. I understand that there are safety issues, but I was just so surprised. She was so very helpful, I was even able to ask her for help with pronunciation on some of the things I learned in my Thai course this afternoon. She was such a sweet girl. I was very fortunate to meet her. She offered to drive us any where any time and gave us her contact information and now we are facebook friends. I am can hardly wait to be around people with such big hearts. This is going to be an amazing experience. I'll be back with more! Until then... :)

Europeans-Americans

Apparently Europeans have a very interesting view on Americans. I have had some interesting encounters with people from all over, but they can definitely come off rude if you are not open to learning about other cultures. I was told by one of the Austrian men I met that they think Americans use swear words religiously. I was also told by my friend from Finland that they are learning about our struggles with obesity, so much so that when she told her husband that I was from America he asked if I was fat. I am kind of sad to think that other countries are buying into what they hear. I know it's hard unless you travel or go abroad, but I still believe America has been a great place to grow up. I am still proud of where I come from and all that I have learned along the way. There is something to say about the European way of thinking, but I am enjoying being able to learn from them, and I am also able to appreciate even more the life my parents created for me back in America. Excited for day one of school tomorrow Social Psychology and Thai as a Foreign Language!! Wish me luck :)

Update: first week

We'll I would have updated sooner, but I had some trouble with getting any internet had this five star resort...haha it was one of those resorts where the website photos look better than what you see in person. Funny story actually my friends and I decided to move to this resort together and we had to walk all of our things over which taught me a very valuable lesson to pack lightly. It was one of the most challenging things I have ever done. I had two large suitcases, a back pack and my purse. I am pretty sure the locals thought I was a dumb tourist, but I thought it was silly to get a taxi for a walk down the road. However, by the end of it my forearms were hurting so bad, and being that it is 80+ degrees and very humid, I was burnt out and sweating beyond belief. That was an adventure in itself haha. Also after getting to this resort I ended up having to sleep on two chairs pushed together because there was three of us and only one queen bed, and no internet access. We made an agreement with an employee to pay the deposit up front and then pay the rent at the end of our 1 month stay. However, she agreed to it apparently without even knowing what she told us. The very next day she asked where the rest of the money was. She pulled out this contract which we had never seen, but apparently by paying the deposit we agreed to all of it. So I literally spent 2 hours trying to explain to her in very simple English as well as trying to use my Thai phrase book that my mom luckily bought me for Christmas. The woman never really understood what I meant even the managers. So my friends and I ended up having to pay a 900 baht fee for an early cancellation. After all that there was no way I was staying there for a month. It was tough, but a good learning experience. We were taught to say Mai Pen Rai which is another version of Hakuna Matata in Thai. I am having a wonderful time so far. I have traveled to a resort by the name of Merlin Beach, Patong Beach, Phi Phi Island and Long Beach so far. Thailand is one of the most beautiful places I have yet to see. I am so glad I made this decision. I am learning a lot from both the Thai people and the new friends I have made from European countries. I was also able to visit a Thai Safe House which was a place for children to go when they have no parents due to an addiction, abandonment, or because they might be in jail. It was so hard to think they were left with so little, yet they were all so happy. They sang and danced for us after the Asia Exchange program donated money to their foundation. They were all so adorable, I wanted to take some of the children home with me. I hope that one day I will have the opportunity to help children just like them. Some good things to know about the Thai culture is that they do have black and white rules or standards for things like we do in America. They are never really exact on directions or on time. They think that because we are white we have more money so they try to give you a tourist price, but there are ways of getting around that. Overall though they value peace over anything. They think when you argue with someone you should never show that you are angry. If you do that means you lost the argument. They are always happy even in times of loss, we saw images of a flood that happened not too long ago and there were Thai children swimming in the water. Instead of focusing on the negatives like we always do in America, they accepted things for what they were and moved on. I love that about them they are also very dependent people. When they see you eating alone they think that means you have no friends. I have learned a lot my first week here, but I am looking forward to tomorrow my first day of classes. Thai as Foreign Language should be a great experience, and will hopefully help me when I need certain things like a restroom haha. I love that they are so respectful of everyone they meet, and they are so friendly. I have also had those strange looks like who are you...? I just think of it like this they might just be interested to know more about me. I am so excited to see what is in store for me here in Thailand, and how much I will grow from all of this. I have met so many nice people from Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Austria. All I know is there can only be good things ahead, and that's what I will focus on. Thanks for reading. :) Keep in touch!