SAO Event

Last week, my work (aka the SAO) put on a little party. They had been setting up a stage for days & they told me to be there at 7:00am on Tuesday. I knew that they were "lying" to me & showed up at 9:00...things didn't start until 11:30.

They had a parade at 11:30. They usually make me walk in the parades, but I wore the wrong color shirt so I wasn't allowed this time.

These ladies were standing at the entrance to greet everyone with flowers.

The guy in the yellow jacket is our nayoke...he's the head guy in our office. A bit like a mayor.

The lady with the smile is Pee Nuch...she "takes care of me."

After the parade, the nayoke went onto the stage & lit candles & incense for Buddha.

Then the kids that led the parade, put on a little dance.

Then we all went back to work as the real party didn't start until 6:00 that evening. (I still don't understand why they told me to be there at 7:00)!

Throughout the day, they made me get on stage with them so that they could take pictures. I don't know if I've told you, but Thai people LOVE to take pictures...it gets a little ridiculous sometimes. Here's a random sample (keep in mind there were a LOT more)...

I got there at 6:30...nothing was going on so I sat and talked to one of my co-worker's daughter. She was so proud to tell me "I am 5!" She was a little doll.

As soon as I took her picture, she grabbed my camera & took one of her mom & I. It would have been really good, but the flash didn't go off so it was blurry.

The main stuff started around 7:00. I didn't take any pictures as I didn't have a very good seat. I had seen all of the dances before (at other events) & was getting stared at by quite a few people in the audience so I went & "hid" in a corner. I was going to sneak out at 9:30...try to get out there before all the drunk guys got on their motorcycles, but it started POURING at 9:15. I did take video of that just so you could appreciate it!

I was stuck there for a good 30 minutes as I had ridden my bike & forgot my rain jacket. The rain finally let up & so I headed home. And remember my plan to head out before the drunk guys?!? Well, Pee Nuch didn't want me to ride my bike alone in the dark so she sent one of them to ride his motorcycle along side of me! (This same guy couldn't stand upright at 6:30 he was so drunk). I made it home safely...barely, I was so paranoid that I kept looking over my shoulder & almost crashed my bike a few times. It was a fun time...but I could have done without the rain!

Thai Food

I remember when I first found out that I was going to Thailand...way back in the day. When I told people where I was going, their usual comment was "I love Thai food." I do too (for the most part), but I have to say, Thai food in America is completely different than Thai food in Thailand.

Take this little guy for example...

Looks fairly harmless right?!? Like something you would find in your back yard. You would never dream of eating this...right?!? Wrong. The Thais love this little snack and were very eager to share it with me. Little did I know what I was getting into when I stuck it in my mouth...I think it has to have been the most disgusting thing I have ever eaten! Seriously! I don't know what was inside it, but whatever it was, was soaked in vinegar and tasted horrible. And of course I couldn't spit it out because they were all watching me. I managed (barely) to choke it down without getting sick and when I told them that it was "not delicious" they all laughed at me.

But on the other side of the spectrum, they serve meals like this:

And inside the banana leaf is this goodness:Sticky rice, pork, and nam prick (chili paste). You don't use any utensils when you eat this...only your hands. You break off little balls of the rice & dip it into the nam prick or grab a piece of the pork (but you only want a little nam prick at a time because it is SPICY). I actually ate this for lunch yesterday & they gave me another one (with a different type of nam prick) for dinner...and it was yummy! I'll miss meals like this when I get back to the States!

English Camps

One of the things every Peace Corps volunteer here in Thailand "gets" to help with is an English Camp. I've helped with so many of these things I've lost count (and I've even put one on myself). They're a bit like those sports camps you would go to when you were a kid, but instead of sports drills, you would play English games. Here are a few...

Can you guess the letter?

Here we are playing "market relay." They have to get dressed up like they're going to the market (which means shirt, pacine (Thai skirt), gloves, shoes, hat, umbrella, and powder) & then ask (in English) for the supplies needed to make a certain dish.

The other kids help them get "dressed."It can get messy!And here they are making some English posters.

And of course the volunteers have to make idiots out of themselves! (I make sure I stay BEHIND the camera during times like these)!

And it wouldn't be a camp without the mob for autographs...The kids have a lot of fun & sometimes we have fun :-)

Another Day in Thailand

I went to Chaing Mai this last weekend (I'll write more about what we did when I get pictures from Tara). Anyway, the trip there was quite eventful! I usually just take a couple of Dramamine & sleep the entire way (it's a 7 hour bus ride)...but not this time.

We were pulling out of the Lamphun bus station when I hear this really loud noise (as if we hit something). I look out the window & see that we're dragging power lines behind us & ripping them off of the poles...seriously!

We tried backing up...only to hear that noise again. So the bus attendant (the buses here have attendants like the airlines do - they even serve food) gets out & just shakes her head. Meanwhile, we are completely blocking traffic as the bus is stopped diagonally across both lanes of traffic.

They end up getting a guy from the bus station & he uses a long bamboo pole to lift the cable while the bus "escapes." Apparently we were pretty tangled up as it took some time & maneuvering to get out. When we left, the power line was laying on the ground for others to drive/walk over.

I'm not really surprised that this happened as Thai wiring tends to be "complicated." My Dad & Chad were both awestruck when they saw some of the complex wiring they had here (they're bot electrical engineers). I didn't think to take pictures while all of this was happening (I was kinda worried that I was going to get electrocuted), but I did take some at my work to kind of give you and idea as to what I'm talking about.

I don't know if you can tell, but they've actually tied twine around it all to keep it all together.

Chad took these pictures when he was here. He was very impressed with the transformers.

We arrived in Chaing Mai safely a little while later. Just another day in Thailand!

OK, here's a little more on what's going on in Bangkok. I said earlier that Peace Corps is really good about keeping us updated. Well, they sent us this email (which is from "WORLD WATCH®: Online database puts the world at your fingertips"). I've just pasted the section about Thailand...

ASIA
Thailand (Country threat level - 3): The security situation in Bangkok escalated on 7 October 2008 as a crowd of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters assembled at the Parliament building. The protesters, who began their movements and intended occupation of the Parliament during the evening hours of 6 October, sealed off Sukhothai and Rachavithi roads and entrances to the building in order to prevent lawmakers from participating in a policy debate regarding amending the constitution. Approximately 1,000 police officers were deployed on 6 October to prevent a similar situation as was seen at the Government House in late August 2008; police officers attempted to disperse the crowd with tear gas. The protesters responded by cutting off power to the Parliament building, but it was quickly restored with emergency generators. The police action also prompted clashes between police officers and PAD members at the police headquarters, during which protesters threw firecrackers at the police. At least 162 demonstrators were injured. Police officials insisted that officers only used tear gas; however, doctors who treated the demonstrators stated that "powerful explosives" caused the injuries.

Despite efforts by the PAD and the increasing unrest in Bangkok, Parliament was able to convene on 7 October; however, in retaliation, PAD members blocked the exits to the building in order to prevent officials from leaving, causing police officers to again fire tear gas on the crowd. Lawmakers trapped inside the Parliament building were able to leave with the help of police officers. Three police officers were wounded in front of the Parliament building, evidently by gunshots fired from the crowd of protesters. Two of the wounded officers have been evacuated to Chulalongkorn Hospital. In another incident, a suspected bomb exploded in front of the Chart Thai Party headquarters on Sukhothai Road, killing one person. Most reports indicate that the bomb was placed in a vehicle, however, one source quotes medical reports as stating that the victim was carrying the device and that it went off accidentally. No further details are available. In addition to this, anti-government protesters reportedly drove a pickup truck over police officers near the U-Thong Nai intersection in the Dusit district. More than 10 police officers were injured in the attack. Another police officer was impaled with a metal pipe by an anti-government protester; he is now in stable condition. At 1900 local time reports indicated that dozens of emergency vehicles, including police cars and fire trucks, were seen heading into Bangkok via the Chon Buri Elevated Expressway. Later reports, as of 1945 local time (1245 UTC), indicate that fighting in front of the Metropolitan Police head quarters is still underway, with tear gas still being used by police officers. Other emerging reports indicate that small home-made bombs were thrown into the crowd, injuring two protesters.

Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh accepted blame for the way the police force handled the situation outside of the Parliament building and announced that he will resign from his post. Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, on the other hand, has stated that he will remain in office and has no plans to declare a state of emergency in Bangkok. Meanwhile, the PAD has demanded that Somchai dissolve the House of Representatives by the end of the day on 7 October or face "decisive action," without specifying what it intends to do if this demand is not fulfilled. Meanwhile, a local media source claimed that thousands of PAD supporters have begun making their way to Bangkok from other parts of Thailand. The Thai military has stated that it will involve itself in the crisis by helping police officers maintain order. Officials stated that more than four trucks of soldiers have been deployed to the Sua Pa compound at approximately 1850 local time. Military officials have denied earlier rumors indicating that they were planning a coup.

ASI Comment: Tensions in Bangkok have increased to the point where some sources are drawing parallels with the eevnts of 1992, when the military cracked down on protests, killing hundreds. The violence associated with the recent protests, by both the protesters and police officers, is unlikely to diminish in the near future. Although military officials have been called in to help keep order, a coup is unlikely, according to top military commanders. However, during the previous outbreak in late August and September 2008, some military officials stated that should the political situation in Thailand not ease, measures would be taken to alleviate the pressures. In addition, Somchai has stated that he does not support the implementation of martial law, due to the negative impact on the Thai economy as a result of the previous two-week implementation of emergency measures.

Due to the instability and unpredictability of the situation in Thailand, travel to the country should be evaluated closely. Should necessity warrant traveling to Bangkok, areas around government buildings and prominent landmarks should be avoided. Additionally, large groups of people that appear to be demonstrating should also be avoided, and secure transportation with security trained drivers should be utilized to best prevent travelers from being affected by the ongoing political crisis.

ASI THREAT LEVEL DEFINITIONS
1 - A minimum threat of physical harm. Petty crime is the most common threat.
2 - A low threat of physical harm. Petty crime and infrequent demonstrations are the most common threats.
3 - A medium threat of physical harm. Petty crime and demonstrations are common and violent acts do occur.
4 - A high threat of physical harm due to violent acts associated with crime, demonstrations or terrorism.
5 - A very high threat of physical harm due to violent acts associated with crime, terrorism, demonstrations or war.

Protests

I don't know if there has been any news back in the States, but the protests have started in Bangkok again and this time they're a bit worse. Latest news says that there are 2 dead & 358 injured during riots yesterday. (This is all taking place in Bangkok, which is a 10 hour bus ride from my site...and everything is calm & quite up here.)


Peace Corps is wonderful about keeping us safe. We are constantly getting emails & text messages telling us what's happening & they are not afraid to restrict travel (it happens quite often actually). Usually when they restrict travel, they say that we should stay away from Bangkok (it's usually Bangkok) unless for Peace Corps events, meetings, or pre-approved travel (so you can still go, you just have to make sure Peace Corps knows & you can't go to certain areas in the city). This time, they have said that we have to stay away unless for medical emergency.


The problem is that the protests are taking place right next to the Peace Corps offices. One of the volunteers called the med office yesterday to ask a question, and was told that things were crazy over there...helicopters flying overhead & soldiers releasing tear gas. We got an email from our Country Director last night saying that the US Embassy asked them not to open the offices today as a precaution. I hope things get resolved soon...and that no one else gets hurt.


This does bring to mind the upcoming election in the States. These people are fighting for the government they want...we should do the same. Come election day - GO OUT AND VOTE!!! I did...

P.S. For more info on what's happening here in Thailand, visit: http://www.bangkokpost.com/index.php

Why I Miss America...

I love Thailand. The country is beautiful & the people are amazing (I've even thought about staying here after I finish with Peace Corps)...but every once in a while, something happens that makes me wish I was back home. One of those "somethings" happened this morning.

I was getting ready for the day, had just dried my hair, I grabbed my jeans off of my clothes-line, and went up to my room to get dressed. You see, I have a fan in my room, so it's a little cooler up there. I sat down on my bed & picked up my pants. I noticed a wet spot on them, but just chalked it up to the rain from the night before.

I felt it as soon as I stood up. A wet, squishy mass right behind my knee. I started freaking out & took them off as fast as possible, but it was difficult as I was a little sweaty (and everyone knows how hard it is to get pants on/off when they're wet). It jumped out at me as soon as I got the pants down to my knees...a frog!!! A frog was living in my pants!!!!!!! And now it's in my bedroom & I have no idea how to get it out (it's in the small space between my bed & the wall).

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against frogs...I just don't want them in my pants! Or my bedroom! Or my house! I miss America!