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)

Back from PDO

       Just about a week ago, I returned form the KL-YES Abroad National PDO (Pre-departure Orientation) in Washington DC- (in Chevy Chase, Maryland to be exact). All 65 of us YESers stayed at the elegant 4-H center.
It was a lot of fun, but quite serious as well!
     Some of the highlights included....

the garden in font of the Asian Art Museum

• Touring an Asian Art Museum- the Thailand Embassy wasn't open for visitors, so instead we visited the Asian Art Museum- for one who isn't exactly a big fan of museums, I'd have to say it was quite nice.                                        

•  Going to the State Department- Despite the long wait to go through security at the entrance, having to wear uncomfy 'formal' clothes, and being extremely intimidated by the panel of various diplomats and foreign exchange officers, I'm glad my exchange program let us visit the US State Department (loads of thanks and gratitude to the State Department for funding KL-YES Abroad!)
• Going to The LINCOLN MEMORIAL!- No, it was not my first time to visit the Lincoln Memorial- but that doesn't mean I am not allowed to act like it! I took many pictures, played with the geese and ducks that swam in the reflecting pool, and walked 3/4 of the way to the Washington Memorial

• Hanging out and chatting with all of the other fabulous YESers at PDO- enough said
• Eating- (I am a teenager, after all) the 4-H center's cooks are wonderful- and the choices were endless!
• Everything else that I didn't mention- the airport, the 'workshops', my roommates, etc

Now for some pictures!

the room where we all had the PDO 'workshops'

most of the Thailand group- all but one

the Thailand group and out group leader next to the Asian Art Museum

Saying my last goodbye at the airport

All 65 of us at the Lincoln/Washington Memorials