Today was a good day. It started with a trip to the orphanage this morning. I got to sit on the floor and tickle the sad looking kids that moved to the corners away from the others until they would go and play with everybody else. There were some who still wouldn't play, but I at least got them to stand up and walk to a lap of one of our other teammates. We just sat around really, but it was worth getting up early because there was real joy in those kids eyes and smiles to have us there.

I went to my integrated humanities class, and it was an interesting three hours. She spent the day talking about the Jewish and Christian traditions. I had no idea how she would approach teaching her students about Christianity. I cynically expected whatever had to say would be in a negative light. I had reason though, she has often told very funny but sadly true stories about Bush in class and makes no qualms about saying negative things about America infront of two American exchange students. And it is a rare case indeed where America and "Christianity" don't walk hand in had in peoples minds. I respect her as a teacher, because she really tries constantly to make her students look past the norms and really see things that will allow them to better their lives. She really pushes thinking on the deeper topics of life. Still I was skeptical and curious about how she would approach Christianity. She had berated the Thais in the class for calling themselves Buddhist when they new nothing of Buddhist scriptures. So maybe because of that all she said when she went to speak about Christianity was, she only spoke about its true core, not about how people normally practice it. She told the class Christianity taught that people should love one another, not just people you like. Christians should love everybody. That was the end of her talk on Christians, she did not go into how we have a history of doing horrible things in the name of Christianity, she just laid out what a true Christian should be. After class I stopped by her desk and thanked her for illustrating Christians as they should be, and not as we often are a religion of hypocrisy and mistakes. She merely smiled said that I was very self deprecating and had a good sense of humor. I would like to talk with her more. I don't really know what to take from the class, but I now I was wrong to expect the negative.

We went to Kaoson road and I got to do some Christmas shopping. Its really nice that we get back right a Christmas so we have six months to find the coolest Thai stuff we can and then have the budget to get it for people because it can be their Christmas present. Other that than that the only other big think for the day was I realized just how much I don't like the "no drinking at any time" rule. Apparently the team last year messed up the "you can only drink at Greg and Allison's" rule. This means that in order for any of us to try any varieties of the Thai whiskey that are supposed to be so good we have to pack them and take them home with us, adding a ton of weight to luggage that we need for other things. Im not a fan of this one. But yes it does make me feel a little better to complain. Well over and out.

Profound, I know but it makes me feel a little happy none the less. Yes, finally I am feeling better and set to happily resume my activities in Bangkok. As much as I hate doctors and even more so hospitals. My trip to the hospital the other night was a very good thing. Medical care here is government subsidized, so for a trip to the emergency room, lab tests, and medications the grand total came out to four dollars and seventeen cents. On top of that the staff always circumvented lines for me because I am farang. Try topping that in the States.

In all seriousness though there is a very clear double standard for the farang, sometimes it helps us, sometimes it costs a quite a bit of money. Its a strange experience to live in a place where you are not just a minority, you are more of a curiosity. When we get into real downtown Bangkok there is allot more diversity, but out hear in Rangsit, there are probably 20 white faces in a 3 mile radius and 11 of those are on my team. The rest are mostly German or Finnish. Which brings up the fact that its very hard getting used to not assuming that being Caucasian means speaking English.

We are going to Major tonight to watch Superman, so that should be allot of fun its looking like it will just be the team so it should be a good time for us all to hang out together and just relax. Ja is going to but she is mostly Grapevine staff. She has also become our Thai big sister, she is a Bangkok native that got involved with Grapevine through our church and is an indispensable help to us the "awkward and confused".

That's all for now but updates should be more regular that I am well again.

Sorry there havnt been many posts ass of late; I have been a bit sick. I went to the doctor earier tonight and got some antibiotics so hopefuly that will take care of this crud. well thats all for tonight sorry its not a real update.

Will

Culture

So, i just thought id write about a few of the cultural differances that Ive noticed so far. One of the first you notice is that you dont shake hands with people, this might sound simple, but western culture spends your whole life teaching you to do it. My hand still shoots out there on a regular basis, fortunatly most college students know that i am just a farang and the just assume i dont know any better and they shake my hand.

This brings me to the second cultural differance, Thai's will do just about anything to keep from embarasing you. For example Nat, a this student from last year swung by the grapevine while we were in a meeting. Greg introduced him to us by the wrong name, not only did Nat not correct him, when Greg realized his mistake and tried to appoligize for it later in the day, Nat refused to admit that Greg had even intruduced him improperly.

And while were talking about Nat, i can bring up the next real differance i have noticed. Bacicaly any invataion to do anything is also an open invataion to bring people along as well. For example tonight Prim had invitied us to meet him for dinner at a resturaunt in the mall. Naturaly trying to be Thai we start inviting people along as well. One of the additional people we invited was Nat, who also brought along 3 more friends. A perfectly acceptable social practice. It takes some getting used to going just about everywhere in groups but it is definatly a great way to meet a ton of people.

Lastly some things that are very rude here seem quite obscure from an american standpoint, and things that would seem rude to us are quite normal here. For example it is considerd very rude to ever point the soles of your feet at anyone. And you should never touch another persons head. The feet art dirty and the head is sacred. On the other hand however it is not at all rude to tell someone that they look fat or to ask about weight.

Well its 2 am and i have to get up to go exploring tomorow. Sorry this ones not at all editede, but im Out.

yay rain

Under the weather and napping the day away. At least its been raining all day long. Better updates to come.

Today was a mixed bag. It started of really well, church this morning was great both the message and our small group. But we went to one of the malls in Bangkok afterwards and the noise literally made me sick. I had to shut down completely in order not to lash out at teammates. I just tried to remove myself from everything, and it worked to an extent, but I also had to blow everybody off completely. In Bangkok there is always background noise so I think that getting used to it is going to be one of my biggest adjustments here; noise pollution is the first real complaint I have about Bangkok. It got bad enough at the mall that I was nauseous from the noise. But as soon as we got back to campus tonight a new friend called and asked if we wanted to get some dinner with him, so the last bit of the day has been very good. I am loving getting to know my new Thai friends. But this is all for now, im going to go have a good pipesmoke and do some reading to unwind.

One Exciting Hamburger

Tonight we tried a new resturaunt, its a small grill right by our dorms, and for the first time since ive come to Thailand I got to have food that realy taisted like home. Beef is not a comon meat here. You cant realy get it unless you go to a steak resturaunt, but this grill had an amazing bacon cheeseburger that came with frenchfries and coleslaw. There was no rice, no asian spice just grease and cheese and well ketchup. Its odd how important the ketchup was to compleating the meal especialy since I dont normaly eat ketchup in the states, but it just kind of sealed the deal.

Ok i know that after reading that you must all realy think that im getting homesick already, but i feal far from it. We are meeting tons of new people and having a great time starting real relationships with these new faces that have become our friends so quickly. I know that God has amazing things for me to learn on this journey and allot of my excitement about what i am doing is just truly begining to set in. The hamburger did make a nice break though, it tethered me to where i come from as i step out into places that will strech me into something that ....... I dont realy know, but all i can say is that im excited about both where I am and where I am going even f i dont know quite where that is.

Market and More

Last night we went to the market on campus, I felt like it was one of our deepest forays into real Thai living yet. The students had a stage where some drama dancing and singing when on, but the most amazing thing was the food, Preston (my roommate) and I luckily had a pair of Thai girls showing us around and answering all of our questions. There must have been 30 different vendors with their stalls lined up selling everything from smoothies to squid on a stick. I bought some gnaaw which a red and green fruit that looks like a sea urchin or something but has the consistency or a pealed grape once you get the skin off. At 20 baht (50 cents) per kilo im going to be heading back next week for sure.

One of the reach interns birthday was today. A bunch of us went to Future Park (our local mall) and had dinner and icecream. It was a ton of fun because not only did we have our whole team but allot of people had invited some the the Thai friends that we've made; so there must have been 30 of us all sitting at one huge table at Black Mountain Coffee (kind of the Thai equivalent of Ruby Tuesdays or O'Charlies).

The only other thought I have fort the night is that I really need to find someone new to help me with my Thai. I haven't been able to learn at near the rate I was since Amy left. The folks on the team still say I am coming along really well, but I feel like I could be doing allot better with a little bit more focused help. Well that for tonight, I haven't even been hear two weeks and im already going nocturnal again.

First Day of School

We got finished with our registration today and I had my forst class. Classes over here only meet once a week, but they meet for a three hour period, Im just not sure about that. The teacher was also realy realy hard to understand, but the good news is that she basicly told that since we were interantional students we were basicaly guaranteed an A. On another odd note saturaday is a regular school day here in Thailand; some of our team members kinda freaked out when they found that one out. Fortuatly i only have wednesday and and friday classes. Well thats all ofr tonight.

My First Thai Cussword

Ok so it isnt realy a cussword its more of a phrase but today they did have to teach us how to say "What the Hell?" (aleiwah) because it is only one sound away from "What" (aleinah). Past one thing that is funny is just how big DotA is over here. For those of you who dont know DotA is a special version of Warcraft 3 that i played some in the states, but EVERYONE plays it here. Its actualy been one of the easiest ways ive found to start meeting people, so im having to teach my other teamates some stratagy so that they can play too.

I had to break down and buy a messenger bag (man-purse) there was just to much stuff to keep in my pockets. At least they area realy realy comon over hear, about half the college age guys I see have some sort of bag or sachel on them.

Dinner was from the 25 baht place again, so yah thats right i got to eat some increadably taisty pad thai for just over 60 cents, i actualy got worked up the other day when we went out for pizza and dinner cost me three dollars. So i will leave on that thought and I hope you all enjoy the day, its a pretty good one you can trust me im already done with it.

First of all sending out mass updates in really kind of a pain, im only through the h's on all my facebook friends. But thats all thats getting done tonight. Today was the first day that we mad it out of Rangsit into Bangkok proper, we got to take the skytrains around town and explored a mall that made the Gallaria in Birmingham look like a 7-11. Which coincidently there are a ton of around here. Im coming along on my Thai, I can now theoretically count to 999,999 and know about half my colors. I also know a few important phrases.

Ive been getting tired really really early over here too. Its only 10pm as a right this (10 am CST) but as soon as im done here im going to hit the sack. Its not like we are having to get up early either i haven't been up before 8:00 since I got here, I think the heat just really takes it out of us farangs. Well im signing out.

2 days in Thailand

So the overwhelming humidity and heat is the first thing that you you notice once you step out to of the airport, but its suprising just how quickly you start to getting used to the heat. The food hear has been incredable, but its a good thing i can handle spicy food. I am going to try to update this thing as often as i can, so any of you who are interesting in my trip this is probably going to be the best place to get info. Ill be looking forward to hearing from all of you.