So. After I finished my blog last time. On wednesday, I took a nap. And then tried to be productive that night, though I don't remeber what I did.
Thursday I got up and checked on prices of hotels and plane tickets for my mom, mimi and myself. Then made up a resumé for a local english tutoring center that pays their teachers called CEC. Took my resumé to CEC and filled out the application, then after eating dinner made my way through massive traffic towards CMU's front gate.
The reason for all the traffic is because may 8th of this year, Friday, was the celebration of buddha's birth, death, and enlightenment. So on Thursday night buddhists in Chiang Mai walk the 20 km up Doi Suthep. The walking shows strength and determination and the temple at the top of the mountain stays open all night for people to perform tamboon, or things to earn merit to counteract their karma.
Ken and Dew were going so I decided to tag along for the fun of it, and to say I've walked up Doi Suthep. There were a couple thousand people that walked and it was actually more of a party atmosphere. People walking and talking and drinking and smoking, the school was hazing freshman. So not at all like I expected. It also poured while we were walking. We were soaked, but had fun. Ate some egg omlette on the side if the road on the way, I'll come back to that. When we finally reache the top, we still had 300something steps to walk up to get to the temple. Dew was tired so she stayed at the bottom while Ken and I and their friend A walked the rest of the way up. While in the temple, I started feeling queasy. And the other two were tired, so we didn't stay long. Caught a song teaw most of the way down, then walked to our bikes and went home.
That stupid egg omlette gave me good poisoning so I was up the rest of the night... Getting rid of it.
But fortunately we were leaving early the next morning for a team retreat. So I rested quite a bit while enjoying the retreat. Worshiping, learning, "talent show", swimming an all. It was great and helpful in my recovery.
Sunday we came back, then I napped a little more, and then went met up with Ekk and Meaw and Brook and a few others to eat dinner at walking street, then walked with Ekk, Meaw and Poi to help them with last minute shopping before they left.
Monday and Tuesday I tried to hang out with Ekk as much as possible, and then went to the airport Tuesday night to see the three of them off.
Wednesday woke up and headed to the prison with O, Richard, Thum, and David. There were activities going on in the jail so no class, but we got to sit down and David and Thum talked to Luksit for a while. It was actually a very informative talk. And this wednesday may be my last visit.
Got home and rested, and then went to teach, my student again didn't show. So that as pretty much the last time I would have been able to teach her.
Thursday I ran errands, bought tickets to Bangkok for mom mimi and myself, and then got their hotel rooms reserved. We also had a meeting on thursday, to continue our training from the weekend.
Friday, Glenn and I went and grabbed stuff for Baan Kanoon, and then went and ate. While we were eating I got a phone call from North Chiang Mai University.
I had heard that they wanted some English teachers, so I had called earlier, told them my lack of credintials, and said I would be willing to try. They said they would love to have me so I now have a job working for a university teaching English. Which means I'm not coming home in June.
Friday night we watched a movie, Hancock, and had milkshakes and just hung out. It was a lot of fun. Saturday, outside of talking with a friend online, I was pretty unproductive. I went and watched star trek (AMAZING!!) by myself, and then met up with Ken and Dew. We then waited on Beca and went and ate dinner together at a hidden little spot in MaChaw I never would have guessed was there. Great, cheap food. Love it.
Sunday I woke up and called home, got a few more details ironed out, then spent some more time with a couple friends online, then we had worship at Brookes house. It was really good and increadably fun. That night went to watch Angels and Demons with friends, and then went to bed.
Today. Had lunch and dinner with Ken and Dew, and wrote this. Thursday will be my last day to be officially with Baan Kanoon. Friday farewell party for Beca and me, and then saturday the family arrives.
Then June 5th they leave, and I will move out to Hang Dong, and my semester starts June 15th. So please be praying for all of that. My last few days with this job, my mom and mimi's flight, our travels around thailand, and the new job. Thanks y'all.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
3 countries, 1 day... Finally!
I bought a Bachi ball set today for 200 baht. Shoulda got two so I could compete with people. I well, hindsight and all that. Course I'm getting a bit ahead of myself.
Where to start? More like what can I remember. So, it's been like 3 weeks since I updated, around that. Sorry, never meant to wait that long. But as I sit in a cheap motel room in Burma, lit by a green light, yeah here we go.
When I last posted, Lili had about a week left with us here in CM. So on that Friday night we had a farewell party. We all ate together, sang some of Lili's favorite songs, and listened to and shared with her. It was a great time to get to spend with her. Though it's only a blurb here, it's got a lot of great memories. After we finished up, we headed to bed. I was thinking about our big event on Saturday, and so decided to sleep in to be prepared. People who pay more attention to this blog than I do my own life will notice the little problem there.
I teach on Saturday mornings. Fortunately for my students (and Beka's) Lili was there early and taught our kids for us. I was embarrassingly reminded of my mistake on the way out to Mae Wang. Ah, well.
By after we loaded up everything, and split into vehiculars, we headed out and started setting up around 2ish... maybe. Everything got set up nicely, and quickly, and the events went rather smoothly even though I managed to destroy a chair. When you went through the "entrance" (which was the part the cars could come in, it was an open field) there was a registration/welcoming table where the people could find out what was going on. They also got their tickets for the raffle. We gave away like 6 identicle buckets that had everyday needed things, hangers and dishsoap etc. It was great. Two of our friends who work at the House of Blessing orphanage MC'd the event, and brought some of their kids to perform. We also had kids from the nearby local church show up to be a part.
Thennwe broke for supper, which we paid the village to make. We got amazing food and also got to help out the local economy without resorting to charitable giving. I'm all about that. And one of the Thai ladies with us got up and shared her testimony. But it also looked like a storm was about to break on us. I think I was just a little hurry up nudge from God, because we got it all rolling and all we had to contend with was wind, wich naturally knocked over the screen causing it to land on the lappy and projector showing the Hope video.
Now the hope video for those of y'all who ain't heard of it yet, is a video developed for cultures that have night concept of either God or the orgin of man. This is because in Buddhism, the past is ilrelevant since the goal lies in letting go of everything, and moving on to a state of nothingness. So the video starts at the creation of the world, and follows the Jewish history up tip the resurrection of Christ and the recieving of the Holy Spirit. So it's intense to be able to show it on a large scale to people who have just in the last year or even last month or even some maybe for the first time that night have begun to hear about this God that actually wants to know us.
So we diverted with another raffle while we set everything back up then continued the movie. After it was over we said another thanks to the people still there and then as they were leaving had people available to answer questions and hand out Bibles and Hope videos. It was an awesome night. Thank you to all of you who prayed for it.
My sleep schedule got all messed up the next few days, so they are kinda blurry. On Monday we hung out with Lili all day and night and then saw her off on tuesday. Bekah and I started planning for our Cinco de Mayo themed Fantasic Friday. Beka put all the planning together and I made a piñata and provided the music. On Wednesday I went and watched the Haunting in Conneticut with a few people which in itself is not worth mentioning except when we got out it's was storming hardcore. And Ekk and I came on the bike I'm using and Maew came on hers. So we all got a ride with Brooke.
Thursday. Had lunch with Glenn, an then went to our team meeting. Then headed to the mall to get supplies for Friday and to get my bike unlocked. They don't like you leaving your bike overnight. Then we hung out with various children of the families in our group while the parents went out. After which we flew back to the mall to see wolverine. That's right. I saw it on Thusday night. Before anyone else in America. Just saying.
Friday we had language and then did fantastic Friday, which was a blast. The piñata actually held out for a while. Afterwards I went out with friends and watched a local band do covers. It was awesome. I actually heard a version of apple bottom jeans I liked.
Saturday I got an and taught my students for the last time. Then attended the cooking class downstairs. And got some good s'ghetti and some really good banana bread. Went to the bookstore that afternoon. Then went to watch wolverine again with my friends who couldn't go on thursday, and met a new couple in the area. Sunday I rested.
Went to worship in the afternoon, then to walking street.
Monday I woke up a lil late, went to talk to another English tutoring place that pays their teachers. Then went and got tickets for yesterday.
Yesterday I woke up too early, and then Bekah, Sa, Sa sister and sisters friend and I went north. We headed towards Chiang Rai stopping at a hot springs, that was neat, and a the creepiest temple I have been to yet. It was solid white, and as you walk up you pass over a bridge that has sculptures of hands reaching out of hell. Then you walk past two angry sword wielding guardians over a bridge (that made me think of the dragon road in DBZ) into the actual temple. When you first walk in it looks very ordinary, two white walls on your sides and a monk sitting in front of some statues and an old painting depicting Buddha in what appeared to be heaven.
Then you realize the monk is actually a wax statue. And you turn around and are confronted with a painting. Basically it's a giant demon head with scenes interwoven ranging from bullets to superman. That's not an exageration. I don't generally mind going to different temples, but this one is not one of them.
So we left there and headed up to the golden triangle. And this time we actually got to take the boats. So Bekah Sa and I road over to an island controled by Laos, and walked around the market. It was worth the boat ride but not the admission fee. We also road by the paridise hotel in Burma where there is a large casino and rooms only cost 500 baht a night. Now 15 bucks doesn't would too bad till you find out that Thai people only pay 60 baht. While shopping I picked up those Bachi balls I was talking about, and was tempted to grab some whiskey that had real snakes and scorpions in the bottles. That would be a fun conversation peice.
But then we headed to Mae Sai, said goodbye to Sa and the other two, and then crossed the border into Tachiliek, Myanmar. This is what most people normally do, but because of the dates that Bekahs visas would expire, we had to spend the night. And we were basically flying blind cause no one we know has done it yet. So we found cheap hotel rooms for 300 baht. Then went to the market to pick up some stuff during which it proceded to pour.
Then went back to the hotel, rented the staffs DVD player from them, and watched some movies cause niether of us felt much like exploring after dark. That was when I started this entry. Since then we have crossed back into Thailand with no incedent there.
We ate some breakfast, then grabbed some snackage and realized we were cutting it close to get to the station on time. Then our songteaw driver decided to just cruise along at a leisurly rate and we missed our bus.
That was a little annoying. Fortunately, there were a couple of guys at the station that worked for the line we were on that had the drivers number. They were only a few miles down the road, so it was kind enough to pull over and wait for us to get there, and we hopped on the back of a couple of motercycle taxis and caught up with it. The rest of the trip was fine except for they had the ac at full blast and it got all the way down to 17 degrees celcius. I don't remember what that translates to exactly for farenhieght, but it was cold. Now I'm finishing up this journal after having a nice hot shower, and am sending it out from Baan Kanoon.
Hope you enjoyed it. Lata
Where to start? More like what can I remember. So, it's been like 3 weeks since I updated, around that. Sorry, never meant to wait that long. But as I sit in a cheap motel room in Burma, lit by a green light, yeah here we go.
When I last posted, Lili had about a week left with us here in CM. So on that Friday night we had a farewell party. We all ate together, sang some of Lili's favorite songs, and listened to and shared with her. It was a great time to get to spend with her. Though it's only a blurb here, it's got a lot of great memories. After we finished up, we headed to bed. I was thinking about our big event on Saturday, and so decided to sleep in to be prepared. People who pay more attention to this blog than I do my own life will notice the little problem there.
I teach on Saturday mornings. Fortunately for my students (and Beka's) Lili was there early and taught our kids for us. I was embarrassingly reminded of my mistake on the way out to Mae Wang. Ah, well.
By after we loaded up everything, and split into vehiculars, we headed out and started setting up around 2ish... maybe. Everything got set up nicely, and quickly, and the events went rather smoothly even though I managed to destroy a chair. When you went through the "entrance" (which was the part the cars could come in, it was an open field) there was a registration/welcoming table where the people could find out what was going on. They also got their tickets for the raffle. We gave away like 6 identicle buckets that had everyday needed things, hangers and dishsoap etc. It was great. Two of our friends who work at the House of Blessing orphanage MC'd the event, and brought some of their kids to perform. We also had kids from the nearby local church show up to be a part.
Thennwe broke for supper, which we paid the village to make. We got amazing food and also got to help out the local economy without resorting to charitable giving. I'm all about that. And one of the Thai ladies with us got up and shared her testimony. But it also looked like a storm was about to break on us. I think I was just a little hurry up nudge from God, because we got it all rolling and all we had to contend with was wind, wich naturally knocked over the screen causing it to land on the lappy and projector showing the Hope video.
Now the hope video for those of y'all who ain't heard of it yet, is a video developed for cultures that have night concept of either God or the orgin of man. This is because in Buddhism, the past is ilrelevant since the goal lies in letting go of everything, and moving on to a state of nothingness. So the video starts at the creation of the world, and follows the Jewish history up tip the resurrection of Christ and the recieving of the Holy Spirit. So it's intense to be able to show it on a large scale to people who have just in the last year or even last month or even some maybe for the first time that night have begun to hear about this God that actually wants to know us.
So we diverted with another raffle while we set everything back up then continued the movie. After it was over we said another thanks to the people still there and then as they were leaving had people available to answer questions and hand out Bibles and Hope videos. It was an awesome night. Thank you to all of you who prayed for it.
My sleep schedule got all messed up the next few days, so they are kinda blurry. On Monday we hung out with Lili all day and night and then saw her off on tuesday. Bekah and I started planning for our Cinco de Mayo themed Fantasic Friday. Beka put all the planning together and I made a piñata and provided the music. On Wednesday I went and watched the Haunting in Conneticut with a few people which in itself is not worth mentioning except when we got out it's was storming hardcore. And Ekk and I came on the bike I'm using and Maew came on hers. So we all got a ride with Brooke.
Thursday. Had lunch with Glenn, an then went to our team meeting. Then headed to the mall to get supplies for Friday and to get my bike unlocked. They don't like you leaving your bike overnight. Then we hung out with various children of the families in our group while the parents went out. After which we flew back to the mall to see wolverine. That's right. I saw it on Thusday night. Before anyone else in America. Just saying.
Friday we had language and then did fantastic Friday, which was a blast. The piñata actually held out for a while. Afterwards I went out with friends and watched a local band do covers. It was awesome. I actually heard a version of apple bottom jeans I liked.
Saturday I got an and taught my students for the last time. Then attended the cooking class downstairs. And got some good s'ghetti and some really good banana bread. Went to the bookstore that afternoon. Then went to watch wolverine again with my friends who couldn't go on thursday, and met a new couple in the area. Sunday I rested.
Went to worship in the afternoon, then to walking street.
Monday I woke up a lil late, went to talk to another English tutoring place that pays their teachers. Then went and got tickets for yesterday.
Yesterday I woke up too early, and then Bekah, Sa, Sa sister and sisters friend and I went north. We headed towards Chiang Rai stopping at a hot springs, that was neat, and a the creepiest temple I have been to yet. It was solid white, and as you walk up you pass over a bridge that has sculptures of hands reaching out of hell. Then you walk past two angry sword wielding guardians over a bridge (that made me think of the dragon road in DBZ) into the actual temple. When you first walk in it looks very ordinary, two white walls on your sides and a monk sitting in front of some statues and an old painting depicting Buddha in what appeared to be heaven.
Then you realize the monk is actually a wax statue. And you turn around and are confronted with a painting. Basically it's a giant demon head with scenes interwoven ranging from bullets to superman. That's not an exageration. I don't generally mind going to different temples, but this one is not one of them.
So we left there and headed up to the golden triangle. And this time we actually got to take the boats. So Bekah Sa and I road over to an island controled by Laos, and walked around the market. It was worth the boat ride but not the admission fee. We also road by the paridise hotel in Burma where there is a large casino and rooms only cost 500 baht a night. Now 15 bucks doesn't would too bad till you find out that Thai people only pay 60 baht. While shopping I picked up those Bachi balls I was talking about, and was tempted to grab some whiskey that had real snakes and scorpions in the bottles. That would be a fun conversation peice.
But then we headed to Mae Sai, said goodbye to Sa and the other two, and then crossed the border into Tachiliek, Myanmar. This is what most people normally do, but because of the dates that Bekahs visas would expire, we had to spend the night. And we were basically flying blind cause no one we know has done it yet. So we found cheap hotel rooms for 300 baht. Then went to the market to pick up some stuff during which it proceded to pour.
Then went back to the hotel, rented the staffs DVD player from them, and watched some movies cause niether of us felt much like exploring after dark. That was when I started this entry. Since then we have crossed back into Thailand with no incedent there.
We ate some breakfast, then grabbed some snackage and realized we were cutting it close to get to the station on time. Then our songteaw driver decided to just cruise along at a leisurly rate and we missed our bus.
That was a little annoying. Fortunately, there were a couple of guys at the station that worked for the line we were on that had the drivers number. They were only a few miles down the road, so it was kind enough to pull over and wait for us to get there, and we hopped on the back of a couple of motercycle taxis and caught up with it. The rest of the trip was fine except for they had the ac at full blast and it got all the way down to 17 degrees celcius. I don't remember what that translates to exactly for farenhieght, but it was cold. Now I'm finishing up this journal after having a nice hot shower, and am sending it out from Baan Kanoon.
Hope you enjoyed it. Lata
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)