Thoo-la-kom (October)

Yes, I know- I haven't really kept up with posting regular blogs... my excuses is that we were on vacation from school all month. My school closed for a between-the-semesters break from September 27^th- October 27^th (between the first and second semester). However, my Mom and Dad still had to work every day except for Sunday (our family day). About every other Sunday we did something together if everyone was free. We went ‘bai tieow’ (on a trip road trip) to a waterfall called Arowan and to a floating market. I took the last week of the break to go to Chiang Mai.

Floating market- about an hour drive away- It was a great experience to walk around with my family and see what food all of the floating vendors had for sale. I bought some fruit- two new types of bananas, star fruit and sapodilla. My favorite was the sapodilla. We ate a second breakfast of ‘gwit dieow’  (noodles with pork or fish balls, a few veggies and a soup). Then we went to the not as touristy area of the market and walked around. We stopped for a lunch full of seafood meat and I also got som tum (spicy papaya salad) and the Thai version of a snow cone topped with corn, sweet red beans, and canned fruit. Then it began to rain shortly after lunch, so we drove home in my dad’s new, shiny, white, Mazda Pickup truck.

Arowan Waterfall - My two cousins Pee Orm and Pee Gluay joined us too. (Pee is a title you use for people are older then you- it is pretty much calling them your older sister or brother) Aerowan was about a two hour drive away, but most definitely worth it! After first eating lunch, we went to four out of the waterfall’s seven levels, stopping to swim/ wade in the water at the third level. The water was filled with pretty large fish that were very glad to swim up to you and try to nibble your skin every time you were still for more than ten seconds. I liked the tickly feeling of the fish but everyone else was afraid to go in the water for too long because of them!

The last week (five days) of my vacation, I went to Chiang Mai to visit a family friend who lives there. I stayed with her and her granddaughter as well as my good friend Pee Bpaw. We went on lots of trips- to a famous wat (Thai word for a Buddhist temple) called Doi Sutep in the mountains, three other wats, two waterfalls, a huge ‘safari’ zoo, three markets, The Queen’s Botanical Garden, a famous scenic terrace farming area in the mountains called ‘Monjam’-( they are known for their strawberries), and just walked around the city a time or two. I really enjoyed my time visiting Chaing Mai!

I flew back on a Sunday (October 26th) and started school the next day- (happy Sarah).

More to come soon about my Halloween in Thailand….

Signing off,

buying fruit at the floating market-my host sister is in the corner

Thookathaa

I wasn't joking about the fish at Erawan!

 

floating market

walking street market in Chiang Mai

botanical garden in Chiang Mai

animal safari in Chiang Mai

me, my sister and two cousins at Erawan waterfall

Doi Sutep Temple

Monjam 

August 20th- Ramsadong (school field trip)

       I woke up at my usual time (6:30), took a shower and got ready, packed a small bag of extra clothes, my camera, and some snacks, then ate rice porridge (jok) with meat for a fast breakfast. My sister (Pban), dad and I were out of the door by 7:30. Except- today was a Saturday. Rather then staying home as I usually do- I got to go on a school field trip!
      My sister, classmates, and I all congregated at my school's assembly area. We sat crisscross- lined up in our rows so the teachers could take attendance and go over the schedule. Then we all loaded onto to 3 huge Thai style buses.
We arrived at Ramsadong about an hour and a half later(I made friendship bracelets the whole drive). To begin, we were taught two Thai songs with moves which we preformed. Then the guides introduced themselves and we divided into eight groups. One after another, we began our walk though Ramsadong (the name of a natural area in the mountains in Kanchanaburi). Every few minutes the guide would stop our group of twelve or so students and tell us about a plant (in Thai, so I couldnt understand it).
Around twelve o'clock we were all ready for lunch. The guide shamefully apologized and informed us that he had completely forgotten to bring our lunches along and that we'd have to wait until we get back to the camp to eat. We were all pretty dismayed. We told each other to 'keep fighting'- "Su-su". Just then he pulled a large bag out from his sack and said "just kidding!" (in Thai). We were all overjoyed to get lunch- it was rice with a boiled egg, sauce, and meat stir fry all wrapped up and served in paper- how cleaver!
After lunch, we walked to the river. This involved covering our eyes with bandannas, and being blindly lead to sit and wait somewhere and then told to follow a rope to the river. I did so very cautiously- the path seemed soooo long because of how slowly I walked. Okay, I will admit, I did take a few peaks. Then, I suddenly tripped and fell on a mud slide and a small drop down to the river. Once I uncovered my eyes, I was greeted by the people who went before me- we all just laughed. Then I helped by brushing leaves and sticks on the students who were still blinded to make them confused. When everyone arrived we had a splash fight in the river to wash off the mud from the mud slide which all of us were victims of.
Then we walked back to the camp where all of the groups re-converged. We ate snacks- fried banana chips and various sweet drinks  and took showers and changed into dry clothes while waiting for the buses. Then we dove back to our school (once again stopping at 7-11 for even more snacks) and went home around three thirty PM. I had an absolute blast the whole day!
Here are some pictures-

super cool bamboo bridge leading away from the camp area

our guide telling us about a plant

lunchtime!

taking a rest

my group (most of them)

Thai School- Woo Hoo!!!

     Today (Monday) was my fifth day of school- I didn't go to school last Monday because I was in  Bangkok (Groong Taape in Thai) with my family. In Bangkok, host mom had a nasal operation at a very fancy hospital and had to stay at the hospital for three days. I really missed her- I'm so glad she is back now!
        In the US, I would be going to 10th grade, but here I am going to the equivalent of 11th grade. I was placed in '11th grade' because the students in '10th grade' are more well-behaved. Thai schooling is composed of two schools- rather then having three (elementary, middle, and high) like we do in America. They have no 'middle school'. They have Pratom (like elementary school) and Matayom (like high school). Who needs those awkward days of middle school anyway?
        Pratom is for the young students (students= nok rian in Thai) and it has Pratom one through six. This is the same as grades one through six in The US. Matayom- where I go- also has grades one through six, but is equal to The US's grades seven through twelve. I am in Matayom five along with my sister, Pee Pbahn.
      So far, I have done a lot of introducing myself in Thai to several classes that my adviser/exchange liaison has taken me to. I usually say my name, age, where I'm from, my favorite Thai food, how happy I am to be here, and why I chose Thailand. Then, I let them ask me any questions they have in Thai. My adviser (Adjan Ooi) helps me with understanding the questions and answering in Thai. On Wednesday, I had to go up on stage and introduce myself  in front of all 3,560ish students! As you can guess, I was very nervous and shy-  I did a very poor job with my Thai pronunciation and tonnage and I couldn't say much, but all of the students clapped very happily after every sentence I said!
      The classes I have attended with my class have been math (in English), computer programming (in English), history (in Thai), English (in English),Thai language (in Thai), and art (in Thai). I will get an actual schedule this Thursday (so excited!). Currently, my school in hosting a national volleyball tournament, so the teachers are too busy to arrange an actual schedule for me. This means that I can either A. attend classes with my sister, B. skip class and watch volleyball with my friends, or C. skip class and go eat or chill out in the 'teachers lounge'. Of those options, I like to go to class the most!
     The whole 'attendance' thing it totally flipped here. It is common for kids to skip and seems to be totally acceptable by classmates and teachers. Maybe it is different then usual with the volleyball game, but sometimes if we ask to go watch the game instead of going to class, the teacher will just cancel class and let us all go to the game! Sometimes, only four or five students show up for class! It is the same with the teachers, too! Quite frequently, a teacher just doesn't show up for class! My classmates and I are totally fine with that. We have a party- the boys arrange the desks and play ping pong, and the girls giggle and gossip.
 Anyway, there is sooo much to say about Thai schooling- I will write another post about it later!
        As for now, Rat-three-sa-wad-na-ka! (good night!)
              -Thook a Thaa (my Thai nickname)

my classmates with my gifts- dream catchers I made and various American candys

purchasing my school uniform

the national volleyball tournament held at my school

lunchtime- I had yam-woon-send- a noodle veggie meat salad

introducing myself in front of the whole school

   
   

Travel and Orientations....

On August 11th, I arrived safely in the LaGuardia airport in New York. I was met by a man in a bright red t-shirt who guided me outside to the taxi-pickup stop along a very busy road. A taxi came about 30 minutes later- the driver was a man with a very thick Indian accent who talked very very quickly. I was alone in the car with him and he tried to have a conversation  with me- I couldn't understand any of it other then "what, you don't like?"
Anyway, back to the story- He drove me to The Hampton, where I met the four other YES Abroad students as well as some AFSers headed to Switzerland and Sweden. I was the last one to arrive, so they had already begun the group activities. We had an orientation, ate a delicious supper, had more orientation, and then a Q&A session with a Thailand returnee (Ally). Then we finally got to sleep. The next day we left the hotel around 9:30 and headed for the airport.
We had a horribly long 14 hour flight to Tokyo, Japan. The airplane food wasn't half bad- I chose the Japanese option every time. I just didn't enjoy sitting for so long- why cant they have beds and gyms on planes? Luckily, I had an isle seat and could get up and walk around or go go jumping jacks or lunges in the cute tiny bathrooms.
After we landed and went through security again in Tokyo, I got something to eat and then bought mochi (happy Sarah). I got to sample green tea and strawberry kit kat (absolutely delicious!). The Narita Airport is colossal-most airports have a few shops that are repeated throughout the terminals- but Narita practically has a mall!
Around 7:30, (we were delayed for an hour) we boarded ANA Airlines once again for our plane to.....Bangkok! It was a very long seven hour flight that also seemed absolutely certain not to permit Sarah to sleep. I sat next to two Thai women- I tried to have a conversation with them- they taught me a few Thai words and then fell asleep. Again, the flight attendants fed us a lot and were very kind. Of course, I chose the Japanese meal over the continental one- it was delicious, but had something fishy about the fish stir fry sorta thing (get it?).
I arrived, a very jet- lagged girl, in Bangkok at 12:30 in the morning in Bangkok. After going through immigration customs, we met our Thai AFS guide- Pee Nudi.
Pee Nudi took us outside to a bus- it was raining! The ride to our hotel was a struggle- I really wanted to keep my eyes open and absorb all I could see of Bangkok, but my sleep- deprived body wanted to sleep and wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
Around 2:00AM, I finally laid in my bed to catch up on as much sleep as possible.
Tomorrow (oops- today!) is a big day- I will wake up at 7:30 and go to the embassy and the Royal palace.
   I'm soo excited to be in Thailand!!!
   Untill later.....Sa-wat-dee-ka!

Travel to Thailand

      It all began around 7:30 in the morning. I left my house after saying goodbye to my brother and shoving my three very heavy bags (two were carry on) into our car's trunk. My 18-year-old brother wasn't up to waking so early, so my Mom and Dad drove me on the half-hour's drive to the OKC airport (sa-nam-bin in Thai). At the time, it still didn't feel like I was going to leave my family for nine month  and go live in a foreign country with people I have never once met. At the airport, I hugged my mom and dad goodbye- it wasn't all emotional- just a quick hug and a "see you in nine months, bye!"
Luckily, I was pre-checked so no nasty security for me (happy Sarah).
       My flight left around 9:30- it was a one hour flight to Dallas, Texas. I had a 2 and a half hour layover in Dallas and then boarded the plane to New York' Laguardia airport around 1:00 PM. The flight was about 4 hours long. Luckily, on both of my flights, I sat next to very cordial and talkative people. When I arrived in New York, I went to the planned meeting spot, met with the AFS volunteer and chaperon to the hotel- a lanky young man with a red shirt and a very thick stereotypical New York accent. Him and I got a taxi to my hotel- our driver was a man with a very thick Indian accent. After the drive dropped of the volunteer at his house, (on the way to The Hilton, our hotel) and it was just him and me, he tried to make small talk- all I could understand was, 'what, you no like?!'.
       When I arrived at the hotel, I received the schedule and an extremely over sized AFS t-shirt. I was the last student to arrive, so they had already begun the orientation. It was awkward to walk into a room in the middle of a group activity with all eyes glued on me.
        The orientation consisted of delicious food, a Q&A session with an AFS Returnee (shutout to Ally!), and more AFS program overview. I was naughty and stayed up until around midnight with my roommate flipping through the TV and talking (not a wise move, Sarah).We left for the JFK airport around 9:30 the next day.
        By the time they began boarding for our first flight- to Tokyo, Japan, I was jumping around with excitement. The other kids- Brad (Brandon), Margie (Grace), Emily, and Ryan were very excited as well- so was our crazy chaperon- Derba (De-Bra).
       We hand a killer 14-hour flight to Tokyo ANA airlines. I would definitely recommend them- they gave us 3 good meals and I think the flight attendants were the nicest people I have ever met - I will attach pictures. I really was sick of sitting after a while, so I annoyed the flight attendants and passengers by walking and doing lunges around the plane- I also did jumping jacks in the bathroom! (crazy Sarah!).
           We arrived in Tokyo around 4:00 AM I think. We walked around the huge mall and I bought mo-chi (happy Sarah). We also got food at the food court- their stir fried Ramen noodles are not half bad!
      Around 7:30 (I think) we boarded the plane once again for.... Bangkok! We had a 7 hour flight (ugh!)- again with ANA Airlines- good meals (I chose the Japanese option again) and very nice flight attendants. I sat next to two Thai women whom I tried to have a conversation with (even though I was half asleep).
     We finally arrived in Bangkok at 12:30 AM Bangkok time- it was raining. We sleep-walked off of the plane, and some where in my sleep deprived fog, I began to realize that this exchange really was going to happen-. The thought made me really happy and re-energized me for the walk through the airport and to the bus. I was jumping around. We met our AFS volunteer, (Pee Noodi) got our bags, and grabbed a bus (rot may in Thai) to our very fancy hotel in Bangkok. The long drive to the hotel was a struggle- my body craved sleep, but my brain and eyes wanted to savor every moment with wide eyes. I spent the drive with my eyes glue to the window, a stupid grid slapped onto my face- like a dog with it's head out the window. We got there around 2:00 AM. I shared a room with the other 2 girls- Grace and Emily.
     I am so happy to be here and can't wait to see what the next nine months have in store!
        Until next time,
             Sarah Hoson :)

Three Days Left Until Thailand!!!

Today is Friday, August 8th and I leave to New York- and then THAILAND- on Monday, August 11th!

I have spent most of the last few days with friends and family. Yes, saying 'Goodbye' to everyone is tough, but I will be back in nine months- it isn't easy to be upset over temporary farewells when I know that I'm about to spend a school year in Thailand.

I have been doing all sorts of 'American' things as well. I have seen a lot of comedies and new movies with my friends, ridden my bike around town, and I even played tennis with my granddad this morning! I've been gleefully gorging myself on all of my favorite American foods that I am quite sure will not be available where I'm moving, and finishing up projects that I have neglected to do. I completed  my knitted dish towel, read all the books I was reading, ended all the half-made friendship bracelets hanging on my dresser, and cleared out all the remaining dead plants from my spring garden and planted a winter garden for my mom.

Now I need to focus on packing- which is another story entirely.....

Good News- I've Been Adopted!- My Host Family

Secretly, I had a fear that no one would choose to host me and that I would be one of those exchange students who shuffles from one family to another every few months or so (I am not saying that it would be a bad to experience- I would just rather be able to bond with my host family and stay in one place then move around a lot and keep having to re-establish yourself).
Fortunately, that is not the case! I have been 'adopted'!

I am going to live in Kanchanaburi, Thailand for 9 months and attend Visuttharangsi high school (which is a big, old, and REALLY nice school). Kanchanaburi located about a three hour drive west of Bangkok (Thailand's capital) and seems to be a touristy city. It is home to The Bridge Over The River Kwai,  The Tiger Temple, Sai Yok National Park, The Death Railway, and many war museums and famous Buddhist temples.

I have a 16-year-old sister (one year older then me) named Nicha (her nickname is Pban), a mom and a dad. Through my interpretation of the papers I was sent about them, I know my mom works either as a receptionist or a nurse at a hospital, (my uncle is a doctor) and my dad owns his own construction business sorta thing. I will have two medium-sized dogs (a beagle and a generic Thai dog) and apparently, a chicken! My aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandma all live in a house neighboring ours.

I have been emailing and Skyping my sister (Nicha) for a while. She is so sweet, and speaks English very fluently. My parents know some basic English, but are still learning. I really hope they speak Thai around me, so I will pick up the language quickly! At school I know they teach Math and English class in English, but teach history in Thai. I wonder about Thai language class, science, or extra curricular classes like cooking, dance, wrestling, or sports?

I am immensely looking forward  to meeting my family in person and getting to see Kanchanaburi!
     Until later,
           Sawatdee-ka!
(Here are some pictures of them)