Rot Deng Ride: Louie, Emblz, and me
Behind the waterfall!: Louie, Jordan, and Jamie
Retreat: Hippies, butterfly children, and tree huggers
Bridge to our cabins: Clap if you beleive in fairies.
Crazy Horse Buttress: The epic climb
Born ready: Max and me, geared up, geekin out
MOK FAH: Ahhhhhhh
I never posted about the retreat last weekend! It was a blast and a well deserved break from classes. We went to Mok Fah waterfall at Doi Suthep National Park.
We played some crazy games that got a lot physical, a lot competitive and a lot sweaty. So fun.
We had to respond to some emergency scenarios as a team, which made me reflexively grab for a non-existent lanyard with a non existent whistle (thanks for the brainwashing Grand Rapids Parks and Rec.).
We played some music, sang some ditties, star gazed, had giant bonfires, ran around barefoot, became one with nature, and all lived happily ever after. Not really, but kinda. There was even a little bridge that lit up with these pretty lamps that made me feel like I was in a fairy tale...So surreal, as most things and experiences have been so far.
Then this week of classes went really well, my language lesson isn't making me want to cry anymore and the seminar topic was right up my alley...sociology of Thailand. So interesting, I was way into it... I can try to give a spark notes version because it's fascinating. Keeping social harmony is put above all other things here. The way efficiency or effectiveness is put above all things in the U.S. This is because Thai people are concerned with "saving face" They don't want people they care about and respect to ever feel embarrassed or upset. In order to prevent those feelings they will not confront them under any circumstance. Confrontation would upset social harmony and cause people to lose face. This is why my host family/ajaans/pis are very forgiving of my silly culturally insensitive mistakes; they do not want me to lose face or upset the social harmony of our relationship. This is just one example of something that is seen in many aspects of Thai culture and really explains a lot of things that could seem very strange to someone (like me) who comes from a very different cultural context. I eat this stuff up.
Speaking of eating...
When I first came to the conclusion that my family's nannies (Pi A and Pi Noot) were doing a social experiment on me, I decided I was prooobably being paranoid. But after several occurrences of either one of them shoving strange and overwhelmingly spicy things down my throat the second they get me alone, I think my suspicions have been validated. Most Thai people I have eaten meals with get very worried about my tolerance for spicy dishes, and my peers have told me similar stories about their host families. My curious nannies must be on a mission to find out exactly what foods foreigners can tolerate. Yesterday Pi A literally put something in my mouth against my will. Straight up came up to me with a piece of ped blah tohd (spicy fried fish) and proceeded to pry my mouth open with chopsticks and drop the disgusting parcel in my mouth. She then began rambling at me in Thai and I sat there trying to swallow without crying. "mai alloy, mai alloy" Not delicious. She waddled off laughing, I'm assuming to tell Pi Noot and record her newfound data.
Then this morning they decided to switch it up and move on to poisoning me with sugar. They gave me hot chocolate, which I watched them spoon ungodly (un-buddah-ly?) amounts of thick sweetened condensed milk into, and something similar to a deep fried pancake with a waterfall of yet more sweetened condensed milk and a fountain of sugar, rolled up into a delicious heart attack stogy which I promptly smoked down. Hours have past and I still feel the ashes, an anchor in my stomach. Condensed milk harbor.
Luckily there was no time for Pi A to give me a second heart attack wrap because my Mae came to tell me to get changed. It was time to go ride some Chang. ELEPHANTS! I went with Sarah's host family and I loved getting to know them, her host parents are teachers and her kun Pa speaks great English. The Elephant resort was...interesting. Obviously catered towards tourists but hey, sometimes you just have to suck it up and be the stereotypical farang and ride a chang. We rode through a really beautiful village surrounded by mountains and tropical trees...just breathtaking...and bumpy. After the 30 minute ride was over and we were back on much lower ground the rider told us to come over to the front of the elephant, and all the sudden in one swift blur of grey I was lifted up in the air by a powerful trunk. Sarah got a great picture of my face, what a surprise.
Everything is kind of a surprise here I rarely know what's going on in the moment let alone the next week, day, or even hour. For example last week we were told that Friday would be spent rock climbing. Naturally I was pumped, no classes and I get to make a fool of myself in a dorky belt...I couldn't wait. But of course I was picturing something along the lines of a YMCA style, multi walled, colorful playdough-esque fake rocks in random patterns..rock climb.Duh......Nope. They meant rock climbing in the most literal way possible. Crazy Horse Buttress, a beautiful and very real rock face. My first time climbing a real mountain and it was not easy, but it was a thrill and so much more fulfilling that ringing a stupid bell after clambering up play dough steps (no offense to those who are indoor rock climb junkies). We also repelled down a 120 drop in a cave. Nbd. BIG DEAL. It was pretty terrifying but I felt extremely safe at the same time, there's just something unnerving and unnatural about semi-floating in the middle of an enormous cave. Unnerving and spectacular.
The staff was so awesome, they got us geeked up from the start with some dorky games to ward off any and all possible attempts to keep dignity in tact. For example: you are this animal (look at card, don't tell your friends) Ok now close your eyes. Find your animal pack. Use only sounds. Elephant? Not as easy as it sounds. No pun intended. They made the entire experience a blast. They were never condescending and encouraged us the whole time. I couldn't have asked for better teachers. Thanks Pi Oo-an and Nong Day. Team Chang for life :)
What next?...It's Thailand. Ya never know.
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