My School

I know, it was about time I posted a picture about the school where I am teaching...because after all that is why I am here right? Talk about priorities. School is fine, teachers are nice although most of them speak very little English. Students are almost exaggeratedly well behaved and very smart. Here they are doing what they routinely do at 7:30am: after breakfast they attend flag ceremony where they sing the national anthem, do some Budhist prays and then go to class. They wear black and white uniforms: skirts for the girls and shorts for the boys. When I walk around the school and encounter students they vow to me and to any adult they see (this is funny and it makes me feel old). This is part of the Thai culture where younger people has to show respect to their elders by vowing(even if they are just one or a few years older). I have been observing Thai teachers in the classrooms. I will finally start teaching on Monday. I will teach animal anatomy (kids will dissect squids and clams) and ecology (biomes). It will be fun!

Badmington

Badmington is apparently very popular in Thailand or at least it is in our school (Mahidol Witayunosorn). Since I have never played this sport before, I decided to give it a try. Well...I was a disaster when I first tried it but then I got just a little bit better. I am here playing against two students and next to me is the badmington coach.

Aqui me ven intentando aprender badmington en la escuela. Para no hacer el cuento largo dire que no daba ni una: la raqueta ni siquiera tocaba la pelotita. Por suerte el profesor de badmington de la escuela se compadecio de mi y vino a ensenarme y luego se acercaron unos estudiantes a jugar con nosotros. Fue super divertido y sude como loca porque no habia aire acondicionado y hacia como 100F o 38C de temperatura.

About being fat in Thailand!

Yeah, I am fat in Thailand. I discovered that today. I don't think I am fat alright! A funny thing happened when Melissa and I went to a mall today and decided to buy some pretty skirts. I started to look for the small sizes because those are the ones that fit me, well in the US that is. Not in Thailand tough. Thai people are so tiny that it us just unbelievable, I think they were size 00. What is weird is that some Thai people think Melissa and I are fat. Usually they would be very straight forward about it once they know you, they are not shy when they think you are fat. I can only imagine the impact of something like that in the US . Well, thank god I do feel happy with my body cause otherwise I would have stopped eating by now after hearing that from an acquaintance. At least, Melissa and I had good laugh with the whole thing.

Yo se que no soy obesa, pero para los tailandeses parece que si. Como ellos son tan flacos cuando ven alguien con un peso normal, piensan que una es obesa. Hoy paso algo chistoso cuando vimos unas faldas bonitas pero la talla pequena que generalmente me queda en los Estados Unidos aqui ni siquiera me pasaba por las rodillas. Aqui soy talla Grande o Large (jajajajajaj). Esto no me hace sentir mal para nada porque aunque se que tengo un poco de pancita me siento bien con mi peso, conmigo misma. Este fue definitivamente un dia super raro, pero interesante.

Living Dangerously

You can call me crazy but on our way back from Pattaya to Bangkok, I decided to ride in the back of a pick up truck of one of the grad Thai students. In it was also another friend of mine. This is the view from where I was sitting. We were inhaling exhaust from the cars (not fun), and the heat was so unbearable that we were both dripping wet. This is how some Thai people live and how people in other third world countries live. Not something I want to repeat again.

Al regresar a Bangkok despues de nuestro viaje a Pattaya me fui en la parte de atras de un pick up tal y como lo hacen miles de personas alrededor del mundo. El calor y el humo de los carros era tan insoportable que por un momento me arrepenti, pero era una experiencia que queria revivir. Debo decir que tuve suficiente con esta sola vez.

Hungry Dumbo?

On our trip to Pattaya my friends and I had planned to ride elephants. We arrived to the place but five out six of us decided not to and opted for feeding the elephants instead (I think coming from biology majors had something to do with our decision ) . We bought green bananas and fed them. The one you see on the picture (barely visible) was running free and came to me excited when he saw the bananas in my hands. He didn't give me a break, he was desperate to eat the bananas. At this same place we also saw a peacock. He was so excited to see us that he displayed his beautiful colors for us all (ha ha ha).

Ver a los elefantes en el zoologico es una cosa pero verlos frente a frente y sin ninguna barrera es otra. Aqui me pueden ver alimentando a un elefante a quien le encantan las bananas verdes. A este elefantito lo acababan de soltar y no estaba atado a ninguna cadena. No voy a negar que medio un poco de miedo porque aunque este elefantito es mansito no deja de ser un animal salvaje. Este dia habiamos decidido ir a montar elefantes pero al llegar la mayoria de nosotros decidimos que no porque es fomentar la explotacion de los elefantes. Aunque al mismo tiempo si pagabamos para montarlos estariamos ayudando a quienes viven y dependen de este trabajo para sobrevivir. En fin nos la pasamos bien solo viendolos y alimentandoles. Ah! tambien vimos a un pavo real precioso que nos dio el place de ver su hermosa cola.

At Pattaya Beach

We had so much fun this past weekend. My friends and I went to Pattaya, a beach three hours away from Bangkok. I was happy to see my friends after one week of being in Thailand. We had so many things to share about our schools and more. Here we are enjoying a delicious dinner at a restaurant with a view to the beach. R-L: Me, Tukta (she is awesome!) Melissa, and Sarah.

Aqui pasandola divino con mis amigas Tukta (a mi lado) Melissa y Sarah. Aqui estamos en un restaurante junto a la playa en Pattaya comiendo sabroso. Me alegro mucho ver a mis amigos y compartir nuestras penas y alegrias sobre nuestra estancia en Tailandia.

Alternative fuel

Thai gas stations are offering more than just regular gas. This is what i saw in one gas station. Thais can choose to purchase gasohol for their cars from about 800 gas stations across the country. The use of ethanol gained momentum in 2001 but research started about 20 years ago under King Bhumipol. Gasohol is made from sugar cane. Consumption has increased due to high recent prices of fuel but some people are not as confident ethanol is good for their cars.

Aqui en Tailandia me encontre con que los tailandeses tienen la opcion de comprar etanol para sus carros. Nim mi companera tailandesa me dijo que la gente no le tiene mucha confianza. El ethanol se obtiene de la cana de azucar. Estudios para su viabilidad empezaron hace 20 anos pero no fue sino hasta el 2001 que se inicio una fuerte campana de venta.

Thai Massage

After five days of sleeping in hard beds, Melissa and I decided we couldn't wait any longer. We had to get a Thai massage. So, here we are with Nim, in the middle, ready to start our session.
It was wonderful! and it only cost us six dollars each for one hour. I'll be going back for more.

Desde que llegamos a Tailandia hemos estado durmiendo en camas bastante duras. Mi espalda me esta matando del dolor igual que el cuello. Como nos han hablado tanto de los masajes aqui en Tailandia, Melissa y yo decidimos someternos a una sesion. Aqui estamos con Nim una companera tailandesa, listas para ser consentidas. Ah! que vida! El masaje fue riquisimo, me tronaron unos cuantos huesos pero dormi como una piedra TODA la noche por primera vez desde mi llegada a esta tierra caliente.

Didn't you know?

Didn't you know that I have been deceiving people all my life? Yes, it is true I admit it!
I am not Salvadoran, I have just been pretending to be one. You think I am kidding? Think again, if you don't believe me I invite you to come to Thailand and ask the now more than seven people who have addressed me in Thai (seven and counting). Yep! Thai people think I am Thai. I have learned how to say yes, I am Thai just for fun: "chan-pen-kon-thai". Today for example I was observing a biology class and a group of teachers from a different school were also observing. One of them approached me and asked me: How long have been teaching here? I had no idea what he was saying so I smiled (hey give a break what else can I do). Thank god the grad student who helps me with translation immediately told him that I am not Thai. Malaysians think I am malaysian, Thais think I am Thai, and Egyptians think I am Egyptian and the list goes on. But what can I do, I can't help it I owe it to my pretty face (hahahahaha).

De ahora en adelante dejo de ser salvadorena para convertirme en ciudadana universal. Despues de pasar cinco dias en Tailandia me he dejado convencer. Desde mi llegada a Tailandia me he encontrado con el mismo fenomeno dondequiera que vaya. Por alguna razon cuando la gente tailandesa piensa que soy de aca y me hablan en tailandes y lo chistoso es ver la cara de sorpresa cuando me ven pedir ayuda a los estudiantes tailandeses que andan con nosotros para que me traduzcan lo que dicen. Es super divertido! El dia que fuimos a visitar el palacio del rey despues de haber pagado la entrada los estudiantes tailandeses me dijeron que no hubiese pagado, que hubiese entrado con ellos y nadie se hubiese dado cuenta. Lastima que me lo dijeron demasiado tarde. Creo que esta confusion se la debo a mi hermoso y transparente rostro (jajajajajaja).

My colleagues

Here is the picture of all the science teachers that traveled with me to Thailand. Standing L-R: Carrie, Brita, Melissa (my roommate) Brian and Mark. Seating L-R: Tracy, Sarah (a good friend) and me.
Estos somos los valientes que nos decidimos a viajar a Tailandia a pesar de la deuda economica que el viaje implica. Esta experiencia vale la pena. Aqui estamos en el lobby del hotel a punto de salir para nuestras respectivas escuelas. De pie Carrie, Brita, Melissa (mi companera de cuarto), Brian, y Mark. Agachadas: Tracy, Sarah (una muy buena amiga) y yo por supuesto.

This little piggy!

On saturday (May 26th) the Thai grad students working with us took us to a market that had a food tasting fest during the weekend. This was my first time trying real Thai food. I saw and tested all kinds of food: sweet, sour, spicy, good and also horrible food. As we were walking by the different booths this not so little guy caught my attention. I thought about all my vegetarian friends and how said they would be with the sight of this picture. I did not try this poor yummy little thing. This is quite a sad view of life as a pig!

Este pobre cerdito no llego a viejito! En nuestro segundo dia en aca los estudiantes tailandeses de maestria en educacion nos llevaron a una feria para degustar comida tailandesa. Alli probe de todo desde cosas ricas hasta comidas horribles y extremadamente picantes. En general puedo decir que fue una experiencia placentera pues fue mi primer contacto con autentica comida tailandesa. La comida aca no se parece en nada a la comida tailandesa que se vende en EEUU porque no esta americanizada, por suerte!

Potty Thai Style

This toilet or "squatter" believe or not is quite common in Thailand. You can find them in shopping centers, schools and pretty much anywhere because people here like to use them a lot. The one on the left is not top of the line, there are more appealing squatters around here.
In case you are wondering I have used one the squatter once but I am thankful to have a regular toilet in my room.


Este tipo de bano es bastante comun en Tailandia, se les puede encontrar en centros comerciales, escuelas y en casas de tailandesas. Esta esta un poco asquerosa, en parte porque no es de las mas modernas del pais. Yo me vi forzada a usar una de estas vainas por tomar demasiada agua y dejenme decirles que son incomodas. No se las recomiendo.

Beautiful Thailand

Tailandia es un pais increiblemente hermoso. A cada paso hay algo nuevo e interesante que descubrir. Por tener clima tropical obviamente tiene una diversidad inmensa de flora y fauna. Esta es una de las primeras flores interesantes que vi en mi primera caminata el parque Benchasiri en la calle Sukhumvit, cerca del hotel en el que nos quedamos las tres primeras noches. el arbol tiene las flores y frutos en la parte inferior, es decir cerca del suelo. En la parte superior tiene las hojas.
Pero aunque hay muchas plantas que no conozco hay muchas otras que son las mismas que se encuentran en paises de latinoamerica.

Dear daughter

My first posting should be about Thailand but in this moment I am missing my precious little one so much that I cannot help it. Dear Jamila I miss reading to you baby, I miss hearing you call me "mother or madre". I miss hearing you come up with the most amazing excuses to go outside.
I miss seeing you count everything that is possible to count. I miss giving you fish kisses and hugs. I miss you a whole lot baby girl.

Se que mi primera historia deberia ser sobre como me va en Tailandia pero la verdad es que en este momento estoy extranando tanto a mi bella nena que no puedo evitar escribir sobre ella. Nena extrano tantas cosas de ti: leerte, escucharte llamarme "madre", escucharte inventar increibles excusas con tal de jugar afuera pero sobre todo extrano darte besitos y abrazos. Te amo preciosa.

Thailand, Here I Come!

I leave on Thursday...I got my visa...I haven't packed yet...but I have my blog ready!