Site Visit, Ect.

After viewing this page I have realized I need some pictures to document some of the wild and crazy stuff I have been getting up to (I only kid), but seriously I need some pictures.  I am not a huge fan of pictures so supplying pictures relevant to these posts may be a challenge.  Pictures are great sources of information because they allow the audience the ability to reflect the image in their minds with the actual picture.  Pictures come in many varieties…………Alright finished……

Last post I stated that I would be heading to Yasothorn province for a visit.  The group of 123 volunteers was able to head to Bangkok for train/bus rides to our respective villages.  I took a bus.  This is the first time I have taken a Thai tour bus and fortunately it will not be the last.  I slept the entire way to my Peace Corps Volunteer site visit near the Cambodian border, slept again from there to Yasothorn and slept from Yasothorn back to Bangkok (a grand total of approx. 16 hours).  My head must have hit the window at least a thousand times and I am sure that the Thai natives next to me were tired of receiving good old fashion American drool on their shoulders. 

I guess my point is I went to Yasothorn.  I did not know when to get off the bus because the stops were said once in Thai, Thai people got off the bus while I sat and pondered on how far past my stop I actually was.  Somehow, some way, I landed only 10 kilometers past my “site”.  I called my Thai counterpart on the phone and somehow between static and language barriers communicated I needed to be picked up.  I could not describe my location because there were not many landmarks.  My attempt was, “I am close to the rice field” (I am so helpful). 

My Thai counterpart somehow found me and my visit was underway.  I was taken into the village by truck, I sat in the front and the kids, ages 4 and 8, sat in the bed (I know what you are thinking, and yes that is the safest option I could think of as well).  Through dried up rice fields and many dirt roads I arrived at my counterpart’s house.  A beautiful wooden thai style house with an organic garden and ponds for raising cat-fish.  That night, I chatted with my counterpart and her husband.  They informed me of local cuisine, not all of which I necessarily wanted to hear and I want to list a few of the rather different ones:  crickets, grasshoppers, fermented fish, grounded lizard with peppers, hardened chicken blood (not a new one), chicken foot soup (ate that for dinner), bamboo worms and the list might go on.  In Issan the people used to eat these things out of necessity.  The people have found ways to include these things to supply the family with a healthy and balanced diet and they add enough spice and organic Thai herbs to make anything delicious (don’t knock it til you try it).

In the morning I was treated to breakfast.  I was then taken into the village to explore and meet the wonderful new people, the village leaders, the students, the two schools, the “government office”, my new host family and my potential new home.  I was required to introduce myself in front of the students, teachers and paw aw (principal) and of course I had to do it in Thai.  So there I was in front of 100 plus people and I absolutely butchered every Thai word I know, classic Luke.  They all got a good laugh anyway right? 

So all in all I know I will be busy at my site in the province of Yasothorn.  I have two wonderful schools I will be working with, a provincial education office, a health center and wonderful counterparts as well. 

All of this being said, I have two weeks of pre-service training left.  I am both excited and sad to be leaving our training site.  I will most definitely miss being around all of the people I have met throughout the whole experience and I will miss my host family a lot!  I still have some work cut out for me.  I will be taking the Language Proficiency Exam on Saturday of this week and must receive a Novice High grade.  I also must give a speech in Thai in front of the group’s Thai counterparts and community leaders as well as the Ambassador of Thailand from the United States, our Thai adjaans (teachers) and the Country Director for the Peace Corps (no pressure).  Anyone who has seen me play NCAA Football 2011 knows I do not crack under pressure….last second, game winning field goals are my specialty (okay, aim the marker with the left joystick, watch the wind and remember it is raining a little, press X, X)…….Bollinger, Joe, Smith and especially Sherman know what I am talking about…cool man…

Everything is still going well.  I took some time the other night to think about what all I have gotten used to in just 2 months.  I came up with a list of things that are normal now that were not when I had just arrived in Thailand and here it is:

Lizards living in my house

Showering with a bucket

5 people on one moped (the razorback football team cannot do that; frat guys, maybe) Eating dinner for breakfast

Riding on the left side of the road

More than 20 animals living in my house

10 Roosters under my bed

Pretending I understand Thai

Doing laundry with buckets  

Rain falling in the middle of my house

Sweating from every pore in my body….even my knees sweat, don’t ask me why

Not sitting on porcelain when using the bathroom but standing on it instead

Not having toilet paper

Eating fruits right off of trees

Not wearing shoes

No chairs

Being given some kind of gift every day

The list goes on and I am sure I will add to it but it is amazing the kinds of things I have adjusted to seeing.  I hope I will have the chance to update again when I get to my site.  Some schools have internet connections so if I get lucky I will be able to update regularly.

  

Aside from all that whoopla,

Lastly and most importantly,

I am elated to post that my sister-in-law is done with surgery and doing well!  I know they appreciated all of the thoughts and prayers!  I have been updated that several people had a hand in everything from yard work to a living room makeover.  The people back home are amazing as well. Thank you family for keeping me updated.  It is not easy to be far away from you in times like these but it is easier now that recovery is in process.

Choke Dii Krap,

Luke