Don't judge a tuk tuk by its driver.. Actually on second thought..

Me n' my goldfish: Thai hat...muddy clothes and still getting macked on.

Muay Thai fight: Adventure to downtown first night in Chiang Mai.

Market: Kat Luang.

At the fish farm: holy cows

The most important thing I’ve learned so far is: Do not trust initial assumptions.
Usually these assumptions stem from appearances.

For example, just because a fruit looks delicious and exotic from the outside, does not mean that it is going to taste like the crisp, fresh prickly-pear-esque fruit one might imagine from its deceiving “peel” which is actually more like a shell. Once opened, I saw fist sized yellow pieces of fruit that upon putting in my own fist I found oddly soft. Upon biting into the piece of fruit (which I had to keep reminding myself was NOT a chicken thigh despite all sensory signals) I was even more bewildered. Creamy? Slimy. A hint of… vanilla? Overwhelmingly sweet. With a…what is that…garlic after taste? Needless to say I was left confused after my adventure with the spiky, head sized monstrosity that is the Durian. My Mae loves them and often brings home three at a time and I eat several pieces at her request. Oy.

Another example: Just because roads look similar to those in the U.S does not mean they operate under the same rules, laws, regulations...all of which are most expertly ignored. There is a ratio of about 10 motorbikes to each car and they weave expertly (and terrifyingly) through traffic. Thai people don't do things alone. Everything is communal, even drives can turn into family outings, babies and toddlers holding onto the steering wheel, other times stacked on top of parents or siblings; sometimes 4 to one bike.

It is also not uncommon for drivers of public transportation to be intoxicated. Red bus, yellow bus, tuk tuk... if you have any doubt in your mind about your driver's coherency level and ability it is safest to bail out immediately.

I’m just glad I will never be forced to drive any type of vehicle here. Watching is enough excitement for me. As a passenger I get front row seats to the Dance that is Chiang Mai driving. Lanes are subject to interpretation and these vehicles take the opportunity to get creative. The metallic sheets of metal glide from partner to partner getting so close I’m left on the edge of my seat waiting for the finale of sparks and sounds of crashing applause, only to be left in awe as the pursued vehicle gracefully declines its seducer’s quest to become one. There is no apparent hesitation, nor fear, and in the rare occurrence of a blunder all is quickly forgotten and forgiven with no road rage lingering. This all usually leaves me feeling a little sick and praying silently for my life.


When I'm not encountering culture shock I'm usually slaving away for I.S.D.S.I.
Class has been getting more draining by the day. After a night of reading several articles for seminar and practing language lessons from the previous day, 4 hours of language is a lot to handle. Buuut I enjoy the company of the small group I’m with so that helps me get through it. Lunch is always a nice long break and always delicious as is every single thing I’ve tried here thus far (even chicken’s blood, I’m SO glad I had no idea that’s what I was eating while I was eating it. Gyuhhck).

There are usually surprises awaiting throughout the week too, which help keep us in good spirits. Yesterday we got to school and we were given an envelope with 500 baht (around 15 dollars) and a list of ingredients in Thai. We were brought on a field trip to a market where they set use loose…an overexcited pack of farang (foreigners) Ready, set, go go goong hang (dried shrimp) Dua Fagk Yoow (reeeally long beans), and all sorts of interesting looking fresh veggies. After we collected the items on our list (and sampled several delectables upon our appetite’s request) we returned to school to an awaiting team of master chiefs: our professors. We spent the rest of the day in teams preparing the most epic and authentic Thai feast known to man. Barbequed chicken and pork with coconut curry sauce, fried fish caked topped with veggie garnish, papaya salad with peanuts, pudding desert wrapped in banana leaves, topped with coconut…Just wow. The best part was learning from the most adorable little grandma I’ve ever met. She was so hilarious and I think we have a mutual understanding that I’ve adopted her. She taught me that in Thailand it is essential to finish tasks. “If you do not finish what you start, no man will come to ask to marry you.” Proof that I’m learning valuable life lessons over here.

Not suprisingly I’m getting laughed at a lot by my family. Usually when I attempt to pronounce anything in Thai. I swear every word is impossible and I must have verbal dyslexia…let’s just say it’s a slow process but far from painful because I bask in the joy it brings my host sisters because they have the funniest laughs ever.

Which reminds me of a great story. A few days ago my host dog, a huge German shepherd named Guiii-tar, was finally out of its cage. My host sisters felt the need to make a little human shield around me which was probably pretty funny looking because I’m approximately 30% larger in height and girth than both of them. I was trying to let them know that I was fine with dogs so I simply said… “oooh, cute, cute.” Well, not only did I fail to get the point across that I wanted to play with the dog because they continued to push the pet away and quickly ushered me into the house, but they also thought it was HILARIOUS. Except for the brief mocking squeal of “cuuute, cuuuute” I don’t think they stopped laughing for about 5 minutes. Now every time there is an animal in sight they point and repeat my apparently hilarious word choice and laugh laugh laugh at me. It’s all in good fun though, as everything is here in Thailand.

Off to prepare for a retreat at Wat Doi Suthep national park