Good Afternoon ( but good morning to most of you 12 hr time difference)! I know that it has been quite a while since I last posted and I apologize! We have been uber busy! I will attempt to get all of you up to speed right now with out individually calling each of you =)!!!!
For those of you who have not realized it or have been hibernating for the past month I am in Thailand! lolol! Jan 11th, 2013 my father and cousin Jr., took me to the airport to begin the adventure of a lifetime. When we arrived at the airport I was almost 200% positive that my father was going to be balling for that reason I gave him a HUGE hug ( that should hold for about 12 months lol) and hopped on the airplane, QUICK! I HAVE NO CLUE what I would have done if I spotted a tear on his cheek! In San Francisco, 50 other Peace Corp trainees and myself began a day long training that ended with each of us deciding what we thought our "last meal" would be! lol Can you guess what I chose? PIZZA and a platter full of greasy deliciousness! I had a slice of cheese pizza and a platter (that i split with another PCV) full of FRIED zucchini, FRIED ravioli, FRIED chicken, FRIED mozzarella sticks, and FRIED ONION RINGS just to name a few ( notice the pattern bahah)! ...BRINGS BACK MEMORIES ( Sorry being dramatic like my sisters... it slips at times)
The next morning, bright and early, we were off to the airport at 5 am for a 21 hr flight! Once we were on the plane, we sat for an extra 2 hrs for "mechanical issues"....Thanking the Lord that we were not in the air when those were founded. The ride to Thailand not too bad; a little turbulence ( and by little I am referring to the time limit because the turbulence was a bit extreme and scary haha ) with one stop in Japan.
Finally in Thailand!!!! WHATTT TO EXPECT NEXT!
THE PEACE CORPS staff was waiting for us as we got off the plane! HUGE smiles and these amazing peace corps sign that gave me instant energy from that long flight eating every 1 hour haha! It was like nothing I could even have dreamt! I could literally not stop smiling! You think it hit me yet! not at all! haha At this point I start questioning my sanity. I left family, friends, work and a WHOLE continent and I am still not nervous in the least! so I take a poll and ask other PCV's how they are feeling and they feel the same way! **whew close call for a minute there I ALMOST believed I could be a little off ;) ** Newho a party bus which actually wasn't a party bus, all Thai buses look like this, came to pick us up and take us to the hotel, which we would stay in for the next week until we moved in with our host families!
Getting your body acclimated to a 12 hr time change is not as easy as it sounds, if it sounds easy! Through the week we had several different culture sessions, language sessions, events, coffee breaks, and meals that required you to be well rested for the next day. As some of you may have noticed my social networking at 1 and 2 pm your time , its is because I have been falling asleep around 9pm, waking up at 1am -2 am, going back to sleep at 5:30 only to wake at 6. My excitement and motivation have been my red bull for the past week!
The week started off very easy, simply informing us of what was to come, taking pictures, discussing when and when not to 'Wai' and getting a few shots! Then Tuesday we are informed that we will be meeting the Governor and the Chief of District and we MUST be able to introduce ourselves and state where we are from! I know I know thats exactly what 51 other people were thinking! HOW in the world! haha but with the help of our AMAZING language adjuns we did it and it was amazing! After conquering that feat, you think what could be next, nothing that I cant do!!! boy did they have a surprise waiting on me!
BIKING! YIKE YIKES YIKE! day one of biking DISASTER... sadly I let the bike get the best of me! and I called it a night early and went to bed! I woke up feeling refreshed, Imessaged some people, and said a long prayer! Next morning I was feeling GREAT and ready to go! ON THIS DAY FRIDAY JAN 19th, me and my bike became (almost) one! haha! I had to ride the bike and not let the bike ride me! We biked over 20 k! and I was still alive although I pulled something on the way in.... I DID IT!!! Thanks to some wonderful counterparts for keeping me motivated and sticking with me even when I was in the back! Once at the hotel, although in pain, we walk to Tesco Lotus which was like a walmart to do some last minute things before we move into homestayyy!!!! I know that I skipped a few important events that took place ie I SAW A BABY ELEPHANT ..like really walking down the street and this amazing opening ceremony! but I want to get to everything without making this tooooooo long! The Thai people are just as friendly as you have probably heard! Being from Georgia, my instinct is to Sawatdee/ Wai everyone as we walk down the street. The reaction does not help, they seem to get almost as excited as me when they hear me speak Thai. For this reason, I continued!
YAAYYY THE BIIIIGGGG DAY!!! WE MEET OUR HOST FAMILY!!!!
Saturday was truly the first day I felt a smidge of nerves! All these thoughts racing.... what will they be like, where will they live, WILL I HAVE TO BIKE FAR (PLZ NO), will they be able to speak english, will they like me. Finally the moment came, we met up in the big training room, flower in hand, 51 PCV's on one side and the host families on the other side divided by tambons (kind of like counties) . They continue to make us wait through some reminders for the host families.... And finally with something said in Thai all of the host families pull out these envelopes! They also had NO idea who they would be bringing home.... Next they all open their envelopes and inside are pictures of their new family member! Heart throbbing I can barely see through the excited PCV's as well as their new families. YESSS, my moment has arrived I see someone holding my photo, a horrible photo might I add, I run over, leaving all of my things and greet the young women who actually speaks a little english. She greets me with a smile on her face and brings me to my new MAE (mom). Overly excited, I instantly start spewing out every single piece of language that I had learned! My mae was just as excited as I! My adjun then came and translated for us! They welcomed me, told me I was part of the family, and asked for me to call her mama ( mae)!
We went to the hub got my bike and went to what I would know as my home for the next 3 months. I met my 2 brothers and Pa. I unpacked into my room and felt right at home! I then helped cook a yummy meal, in which I have no clue how to spell but It was fun and by march 2015 Ill have all that down! Then my sister left and everyone was going to sleep, then Pa came knocked on my door and brought mango with sugar and chile! yummm we sat on my floor attempted some convo but bonded nevertheless!
Sunday is officially family day! We went to an amazing wedding! I danced as the groom was bringing in the gifts! Everyone was soooooo kind and friendly! people were running up to me giving me hugs and wanting a picture with me! It was absolutely beautiful! I was introduced to everyone as the other daughter although laughs followed. Everyone was quite receptive and to be honest.... I was not sure how I would be received due to my skin complexion. If you do not know here in Thailand the lighter you are the prettier and vice versa. Thankfully, this has not been an issue thus far!
We then went to the Sumchuck market which is a famous market here in Suphan Buri and everyone was so kind and bright! The childrens faces light up as I smile, wave or wai! Its is truly beautiful! Now we are home! I just taught my sister the word NAP and my brother is heading back to the University and he graduates in May ( just like Reuben!haha)
In summary! I am great! (No worries) Lots of fun, food and family!!! Sawatdee ka!
The view in San Fran
WE ARE HERE!!!
Loading up the suitcases
PARTY BUSSSSS lol
My Welcome Kit
Hotel Room and my roomie!
MALL TIME
The dressing room -__-
My elephant friend that showed up as we were eating! I want one!
OUR AMAZING ADJUNS!
A random sign lol that i was like 0_0
Our Governor meeting set up! so official right haha
MEEEE! A LITTLE TO HYPE HAHA
HERE IT GOESSS BIKE TIME
ME and MY NEW BIKE!
MY FAMILY!!!
MY SISTER!
COOKING ALREADY!
ENDING PRODUCT
Pa and me!
Me and sis before wedding at 6 am lol
glimpse of wedding
