Day 7- Information Overload…and then shopping

The school is great.  I will not expand on all the business, but will say- I think I am going to like teaching in this environment. If the kids are anything like the staff- it will definitely be a positive experience. I am sure there will be some glitches and frustrations (is internet and humidity), but the international educational arena is so new to me, that I will constantly be learning.  Who wouldn’t like that challenge? 

More shopping...more eating…more rain (right now I am enjoying the rain because it seems to stop anytime I have to walk some where and the sounds are so soothing); I have been told, it will get old and I am sure they are right.   Guess where I get to shop tomorrow???  School supply store!  For those of you who know me well, this is a favorite of mine.  Shelly, Connie, Kimberly and Tamera can tell you- if I was ever in a bad mood at school, all they would have to do is open a cabinet and say I could shop and I would be happy.  It is the little things…

Reflections:

1.     One does not have to have much to be happy;  these citizens are graceful, helpful and always smiling.

2.     Television gives a person such narrow view of the world.  This place is nothing like I expected.

3.     It does not matter how old a person is or how competent; starting over is difficult.

4.     A fluffy pillow is something to look forward (yes, I bought a new one)  So many times, we do not appreciate the things we have until they are taken way.  It will always be those little things that make a life memorable, a day enjoyable and yet we are constantly waiting for the next big thing.

Day 6- Surprises Around Every Corner

Today I wake up listening to the same chanting that lulled me to sleep last night.  I have so many questions.  Is it a recording or is it some truly devoted Buddhists who is helping a community become peaceful and Zen-like?  In my new teacher packet, it was suggested to bring earplugs because some do not like the chanting.  Let’s put it this way, I hope I never tire of the serene cadence that comes from this monastery. 

Today is a day of shopping.  We receive our “settling in money” so we can go purchase things for our house.  Our extremely helpful volunteer veteran teacher, Scott, has arranged all kinds of trips.  First, we go to a Wal-Mart-like place, and then we go the American Club for lunch.  This is available to us by membership (which I will be joining because it is the only place in town that sells a product most woman under 50 use quite often and that I thought I was finished using but my body had something different in mind and yes, I had to ask my new friend Scott to make a purchase for me!  I will not say I have never been so embarrassed, but this does come close.)

We go to the grocery which is a very modern market with much more than I had ever imagined as well as local fare; we go to the rattan shop --I use the term shop loosely as it is a narrow shop in an open-air market with room for one to look at the owner’s hand made baskets and furniture.  I buy, buy, buy and then I need sleep. I do not think I have ever been this tired.

Day Five- Eyes Wide Shut

 Today is the day I take off to my new home, but the Bangkok fun has not ended.  I join another teacher and explore Bangkok.  We hop on a Tuktuk (you will need to look up a picture on the internet to get the humor of the next part) and go to the post office and then to the river to take pictures. For some reason, we are getting strange looks at each stop.  I guess having us as passengers maxed out the weight limit. Finally, I get a beautiful view of the city and see why so many come to visit this hub.

Next off to a local eatery called Cabbage and Condoms.  Food was ok, but the message of the business was unique.  Let’s just put it this way; I have never seen so many things made out of condoms-- Lamps, flowers, Elvis not to mention the extremely instructive t-shirts on sale in the gift shop. It seems the owner has been awarded as an innovative health initiative (Thai Health Program Receives 2007 Gates Award for Global Health) by the Gates Foundation.  Hopefully the pictures can aid you in envisioning the humor.  Guess what I got instead of a mint???

The welcoming: The one-hour flight from Bangkok to Myanmar was surprisingly pleasant.  The plane was huge, eight seats across, so there was plenty of room to spread out, and the flight attendants were lovely. They served a meal that was actually good (except for the blue cake-like thing that was nothing like cake- who puts orange cheese on the top of a cake?)  Upon exiting the plane, every few feet was an employee smiling and telling the passengers to turn to the left. This welcoming is quite a departure from the “fend for yourself” attitude of the Bangkok International Airport.  Upon coming down the escalator, more welcoming faces- our school director and both principals were behind the glass partition waving and smiling as if to say, “We are glad you made it; welcome to your new home.”  Ever since I got divorced one of the things that I missed was the airport welcomings.  It is a little depressing coming of a plane after a long trip with no one on the other side of the rope; it is as if to say no one missed me or even noticed I was gone.

I got my luggage, and introduced myself to the young men who came to help get us settled.  The school provides much employment for the people of the community. As we drive through the city, I am pleasantly surprised at the lights, sounds and scenery that serve as my new landscape. Modern markets are mixed in with families who have set up their food carts and local crafts. The sights, sounds and smells bombard my senses.

My house (four bedrooms and three baths!) that I will share with another teacher has the potential to be a home. The air conditioning works--need I say more?

Could I sweat anymore? Day 4- Hit the Road Running

Day 4- Hit the Road Running

Today I meet all the new people as we all take off for the Myanmar Embassy to apply for a visa.  We walk, (and walk, and walk), climb stairs to the train, squish in with people (but it is air conditioned so it is a welcome crowd), and get to the embassy.  It seems like Myanmar is the place to visit because the line was long.  So many young people with back packs and hiking shoes on ready for adventure… and us.

Next, it is off to the hospital to register incase we want to come back for any treatment or procedures or emergency’s. WOW- modern and wonderfully staffed.

Then…..free time.  Several people go to tour the palace, take in some shopping but no, not me… I go for the 1 ½ hour foot massage.  Heaven. I’m in heaven.  It was extremely relaxing and wonderful. I have no idea how much it cost but I am told it was cheap. J Dinner and drinks tonight with the group to celebrate and off to Myanmar tomorrow.  I do know this- the teachers I am going to be working with are great and the school is taking good care of us.  I expect to learn much about overseas teaching and will keep you posted. 

Reflections so far:

1.  Today as we were walking around I found myself looking down so I would not fall (the walkways have uneven spaces and dangerous pot holes). Because I was looking down, I missed so much of the local color.  I think we do this a lot in life- we don’t see the whole picture in fear that we will be hurt; we don’t enjoy the moments in life because we are protecting ourselves for the future. Although I will continue to look down as I walk (because all I need is a broken leg), I will make sure I stop and look around because there are miracles everywhere.

2.  My frustrating journey here could have been much worse if I had expectations of perfection.  I knew to go with the flow so my attitude reflected that.

3.  People have such amazing stories. I need to listen more and speak less.

4.  Don’t get too relaxed; there is always a rat around the corner. L

I did not see a monkey on a wire- Arrival Bangkok

End of Day 2/3- Arrived in Bangkok

Got on plane, got off plane, found luggage—I repeat- found luggage- all 150 pounds of it!  I am so relieved. I put luggage in luggage hold (after standing in the taxi line with all my luggage because I forgot this step) and started off to hotel to meet the rest of the group.  It is about 8:00pm. I read my packet over and could not find the address of the hotel so I asked at a booth and she said my driver would know.  Two hours later (it should have been a 30 minute drive) I arrive at my hotel.  I just want to ask, “Can’t you just call 411 or information and ask?  Don’t you have a dispatcher that can look it up for you?” I finally convince him to stop somewhere with WiFi and we look it up. I walk straight onto the hotel, meet my friend from San Francisco and head straight out to the street bar.  I cannot wait to take a picture of this for you.  It was a cut out VW beetle van with a fully stocked bar. So cool.   The Mai Tais were great and the conversation with some of my new teaching friends was better.  This is going to be good.

Day Two- We’ll call this “It could be worse”

Day Two- We’ll call this “It could be worse”

So as we get off the plane, everyone has the same look on their face- what to do now?  With the three hours delay most have missed a connecting flight.  So we are herded through and given limited instructions.  Fortunately for me, I have made a friend- Hai.  Hai is a nice young man from Kentucky who is traveling for a month or so to meet relatives in Vietnam that he has never seen.  What a remarkable story he has. Between the two of us, we go from one window through the airport to another window and then we part ways because he connected to another flight, but mine was the next day.  Now for the waiting (have I mentioned it is 94 degrees, and that the Chinese do not air condition their common areas. )  To make a long wait short, we made it to the hotel (I think I am going to learn how to be pushy- lines are not popular around here) and I get a room (Do I want to “share a room with a stranger or pay $25.00 for a private room?”  Is this even a question? No time to be cheap- “A single room, please.” Is my answer.)

The room was nice, but the lobby was even nicer.  I made a new friend and we talked for hours.  He synced up my two apple devices, set up my gmail contact list, and I will now be going to the Philippians to visit on one of my excursions.  I met two men who were going to Milan (it is not Milan but I still want to be in Italy so I keep forgetting his homeland) to get married (and we ask where are all the good men? Answer- they are hooking up with women online and then running off to get married!) and a kid from Ohio who is on vacation with his mom and it is quite obvious that he wants to be anywhere but on this trip. I lecture him about journaling about his trip and having a good notes form his college essay- always a teacher.

I stay up until 3:00am talking with my new friend Joseph and having him help me with my computer stuff (syncing my two apple devices and learning about imessage. )  He works in the US in the finance industry and comes home often because he does not have a green card.  He is waiting for more states to pass the marriage act legislation so he can marry his partner and get the benefits that come with that. We have a couple drinks ($10.00 for a Corona and a Perrier) and the best thing of all- I facetime with Joshua and Dylan.  This is going to be fine.  All is good.

Next morning- (I am, still calling it day 2 BUT REALLY IS DAY 3)

Sleep is limited because there is no clock in the room and I am afraid I will miss the shuttle.  I keep calling the front desk to get the time (5:00 am, 6:30 am) and then give up and get up to start the day.  Go down for the breakfast buffet.  I think I am going to be hungry for two years.  Breakfast buffet of the following:

Rice, tomatoes and scrambled eggs with lots of juice and tomatoes but no many eggs), cooked cabbage, hard boiled eggs (yeah), pork belly bits (is this the new bacon?), pickled veggies, soupy rice stuff like oatmeal but tasteless, some bean thing, water, -- no salt, pepper, sugar anywhere and NO coffee!!!  I had Nescafé in my room (thank God).  But… I am not complaining- just sharing info. :)

I meet two more guys who are waiting for the shuttle and learn much from them about traveling in SE Asia.  If I am not careful I will have strangers visiting me every weekend for the next two years.  A group of Chinese ladies keep looking at me and smiling- they try really hard to speak to me but I just shrug and say sorry.  An hour later a nice young man from Singapore comes and sits next to me and helps me have a conversation with the ladies.  They want me to come visit them in their hometown. They told him to tell me I was beautiful.  I love these ladies, such wonderful smiles and kind hearts.  That’s all for now. Off to the shuttle.

Thank God for Mohammed. He is here on business from NY and has missed the same flight so of course we had breakfast, bonded and he helped me navigate the airport. I got on the plane and am a few minutes from Bangkok.  Here we gooooooooo.