Now, I realize that I am not really allergic to Thailand, just to clarify.
But, I think I may have perpetually itchy eyes, sore throat and stuffy nose. at least until May.
Its the burn season here in Thailand. Burning=pollution. Pollution=allergies. So I suppose I'll just get use the the sore, scratchy throat and the watery eyes. About the only positive is that all of the smog cools things down a bit, but I'm thinking in April a few degrees cooler isn't going to make much difference. Rumor has it that outdoor events have been canceled due to the pollution in the past. Let's hope it doesn't get that bad.
Changing the topic...
I knew before I came that my schedule was going to be flexible. It's just something to expect with the missionary life. Plans change a lot. It's becoming really frustrating though. I am trying to get out of the city and visit some villages and I can't seem to nail down any definite dates with anyone. And it's frustrating. Even more frustrating is that I have the others I work at the guest house with and they need to know when I am going to be gone so that it can be planned around. I don't have any dates and they keep asking for them and the conversation goes in circles. It's quite frustrating. And I've had the same circular conversation twice this week. They were both about 30 minutes long. Repeating the same thing over and over. Getting nowhere. Frustrating. Sometimes I wonder how many times i have to repeat myself in order to be understood. Oh the joys of cross-cultural relationships.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Bhubing Palace
Today was my day off and also Ermanno and Franzisca's (they help in the dorms) day off. We took advantage of the cooler than normal day and went to Bhubing Palace, the home of the king when he visits Chiang Mai. Typically he comes to Chiang Mai in February and the palace would be closed. However, he is is not coming to Chiang Mai until sometime in March so the palace has remained open to the public.
The Bhubing Palace. You can't really tell how expansive it is from this angle, but trust me the place was huge.
In front of the giant bamboo.
Since it was a wednesday there weren't many visitors on the grounds. However, as farang (foreigners) we did stand out. A group of Thai people from the Bangkok area spotted us and insisted on having their photo taken with us. And the monks seemed to be quite fond of me. Although I wanted to get my picture taken with a monk I wasn't about to ask for a picture, thinking that it may be taken as a sign of disrespect. Two monks asked for photos with me, so I seized the opportunity and had them take a picture with my camera as well.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Forecast
I know it is a terrible thing of me to do considering 99% of my readership is still in the midst of winter, but I am going to let you in on the forecast for the week. I have not seen a drop of rain since I was in the states. The weather here is very predictable: sunny. Steadily the temps have been rising. For the past week it has been about 96° everyday. As I type, it is still in the mid-80s (and its almost midnight!). A lot of people ask how Thailand is and in a word, it is HOT. The sad thing is that is isn't even March yet. It's only going to get hotter from now until the time I return home. I'll leave you with the words of K.P. Yohannon, an Indian missionary to Asia,
"I don't know why people want to go to hell; Thailand is hot enough!"
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A Smidgen Of What I've Been Learning
I suppose I kind of alluded to this a couple of posts ago, but I want to expand on the idea of finding joy in the day to day mundane things. I can't say that I am there yet or even close but I am on my way.
Over the weekend I was listening to some LCC chapel sermons from last semester. In particular one from Rob Maupin (one of the missions professors at LCC) about WORK, preaching from this text:
Psalm 127
1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
Over the weekend I was listening to some LCC chapel sermons from last semester. In particular one from Rob Maupin (one of the missions professors at LCC) about WORK, preaching from this text:
Psalm 127
1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.
children a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.
are sons born in one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
It was exactly what I needed to hear. Mostly he talked about work being good and God ordained and a lot of things that I already had thought about. I thought I had a pretty good theology of work. Then I came to Thailand --where the work I am doing is totally different from what I thought it would be and a lot less busy than I had expected too. As it turns out, my theology of work took a backseat to my feelings of inadequacy and basically feeling as though I were contributing nothing. (Which is not true, by the way --just how I felt. So many people have emailed me to tell me that everything is ministry, etc. that I just feel the need to clarify that. Thanks for the emails too!). So, I am listening to this sermon about work being good and (sort of) being reminded that work is important and all that jazz and feeling encouraged. Here is what I really gleaned from the sermon: Even though I feel like my work is in vain --it isn't. To quote Rob,
"It turns out the real work is in surrender. The real work is to trust and to be faithful today to what He calls us to."
That, I can do. It's not always easy to be faithful, but I can do that.
If you are interested in listening to Rob's sermon or any other LCC sermon click on "LCC Chapel sermons" or "Rob Maupin" up above and it should link you to the right place.
That, I can do. It's not always easy to be faithful, but I can do that.
If you are interested in listening to Rob's sermon or any other LCC sermon click on "LCC Chapel sermons" or "Rob Maupin" up above and it should link you to the right place.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Transition
If you would, please allow me to make a request. This week I am transitioning into working at the Hudson House full time, which has me a wee bit nervous. The work itself is not too intimidating. It's mostly the people/person I work with. They just stress me out. That and it can be terribly slow at times. Would you please pray that I do not become discouraged, either by boredom or stress or both? I'm hoping and praying for the best...
Also, thanks to everyone for taking the time to read my blog and all --I appreciate it SO much!
Also, thanks to everyone for taking the time to read my blog and all --I appreciate it SO much!
Friday, February 13, 2009
TGIF
I've survived another week. I can officially say that this week was a good week.
Thai class finished this week and I can say that I feel pretty confident about my speaking abilities.
I mailed postcards all by myself. As a mailman's daughter, I must say I am pretty proud of myself.
I also wrapped up my series of rabies vaccinations, which is a success in more than one way. Going to get vaccinated means I have to get a taxi to the hospital and back home again. Oh, and did I mention I hate getting shots? I'm not a big fan of needles and the thought of a needle going into my arm almost makes me faint, so not fainting is a huge success. Back to the taxi, the ride there was pretty uneventful, although every time I ride in a taxi I worry that they are taking me to the wrong place. When I've been somewhere before I know the route I expect to take, but as it turns out there are several routes to the same place causing me minor panic every time as I envision them leaving me at the wrong place or in the middle of nowhere. On the ride back to the Mekong Center the taxi driver was really not sure where he was going. at all. He beckoned me to come sit in the front and show him where to go. Problem is, I have no idea where I am at. Thankfully, he could speak some English and I could speak some Thai so we managed to find our way back. Along the way he asked me where I was from, how long I was in Thailand and things of that nature. I was telling him that I thought Thailand was beautiful and had great weather compared to the States. He asked me if I was rich and if I liked to shop, because that is the stereotypical American. And he kept telling me that I spoke Thai very well. I nearly laughed out loud every time he said it, because we both knew that I do NOT speak Thai well. I barely speak it at all. I think he was probably just thankful I was trying to speak Thai.
I am beginning to find peace in doing the small and mundane things and I am being reminded by God that joy can be found there. That is a huge praise, but also a big request for prayer. Every day I have to make the decision to find joy or not, and it is there to be found if I really take the time.
And now a story from last friday that will probably have you worrying for my safety, however I am going to insist that you need not worry. Disclaimer: I live in a VERY safe neighborhood. About 5 nights a week it is my responsibility to lock up the Mekong Center at 9 pm. Not a big deal --I just walk over shut a gate, lock a couple doors, done. I walk back home, usually I don't see another person the whole time. This was not the case last friday night. There were three Thai people walking ahead of me on the road, looking like they were hobos, kinda. They saw me and walked over. I didn't really think anything of it and I didn't feel like I was in danger or anything. One of them, an older woman reeking of alcohol, started speaking in Thai to me. My mind was racing, trying to think of how to tell them that I can't speak Thai, but beofre I could say anything she started saying words that I recognized and I realized she was asking me for money. The ironic thing about it was she was asking me for 20 baht (a bit less than $1), but she was holding 20 baht in her hand (I guess to show me what it looked like...). I wasn't carrying any money with me so I could honestly say I didn't have 20 baht. I was able to say this in Thai. We had just learned that day in class how to say money, so I basically just kept saying "may mee satang," or "no have money." It did the trick and they walked off.
Thai class finished this week and I can say that I feel pretty confident about my speaking abilities.
I mailed postcards all by myself. As a mailman's daughter, I must say I am pretty proud of myself.
I also wrapped up my series of rabies vaccinations, which is a success in more than one way. Going to get vaccinated means I have to get a taxi to the hospital and back home again. Oh, and did I mention I hate getting shots? I'm not a big fan of needles and the thought of a needle going into my arm almost makes me faint, so not fainting is a huge success. Back to the taxi, the ride there was pretty uneventful, although every time I ride in a taxi I worry that they are taking me to the wrong place. When I've been somewhere before I know the route I expect to take, but as it turns out there are several routes to the same place causing me minor panic every time as I envision them leaving me at the wrong place or in the middle of nowhere. On the ride back to the Mekong Center the taxi driver was really not sure where he was going. at all. He beckoned me to come sit in the front and show him where to go. Problem is, I have no idea where I am at. Thankfully, he could speak some English and I could speak some Thai so we managed to find our way back. Along the way he asked me where I was from, how long I was in Thailand and things of that nature. I was telling him that I thought Thailand was beautiful and had great weather compared to the States. He asked me if I was rich and if I liked to shop, because that is the stereotypical American. And he kept telling me that I spoke Thai very well. I nearly laughed out loud every time he said it, because we both knew that I do NOT speak Thai well. I barely speak it at all. I think he was probably just thankful I was trying to speak Thai.
I am beginning to find peace in doing the small and mundane things and I am being reminded by God that joy can be found there. That is a huge praise, but also a big request for prayer. Every day I have to make the decision to find joy or not, and it is there to be found if I really take the time.
And now a story from last friday that will probably have you worrying for my safety, however I am going to insist that you need not worry. Disclaimer: I live in a VERY safe neighborhood. About 5 nights a week it is my responsibility to lock up the Mekong Center at 9 pm. Not a big deal --I just walk over shut a gate, lock a couple doors, done. I walk back home, usually I don't see another person the whole time. This was not the case last friday night. There were three Thai people walking ahead of me on the road, looking like they were hobos, kinda. They saw me and walked over. I didn't really think anything of it and I didn't feel like I was in danger or anything. One of them, an older woman reeking of alcohol, started speaking in Thai to me. My mind was racing, trying to think of how to tell them that I can't speak Thai, but beofre I could say anything she started saying words that I recognized and I realized she was asking me for money. The ironic thing about it was she was asking me for 20 baht (a bit less than $1), but she was holding 20 baht in her hand (I guess to show me what it looked like...). I wasn't carrying any money with me so I could honestly say I didn't have 20 baht. I was able to say this in Thai. We had just learned that day in class how to say money, so I basically just kept saying "may mee satang," or "no have money." It did the trick and they walked off.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Chiang Mai Flower Festival
Every February in Chiang Mai there is a huge flower festival. There's a parade and tons of people come into town and it is madness trying to get anywhere. Don't even think about it. It is gridlock like you would not believe.
Myself and a couple of other Serve Asia workers had the novel idea to take the train out of town in the morning and then catch the last one back at night. Things did not go as planned. We arrived at the train station 30 minutes before our train was to leave. A train arrived and an announcement was made in Thai and in English with information about the train. I actually understood more of what she said in Thai than what she said in English and from what I gathered I thought it was our train. However, it was not. And neither was the next one. One of the railway workers told us our train would be there in 20 minutes. Since the train was already an hour late, we opted to try for a refund and just spend the day perusing the flower festival. Thankfully, we were able to get a full refund and ended up going to the flower festival after all. After the parade we went to the King's garden and had a look around.
Easier Said Than Done
Not a lot has changed since the last time I wrote. I'm still struggling with being behind the scenes. I hear about other intern experiences and it makes me wish that I was doing more 'ministry'. Honestly, at times I feel like what I am doing doesn't matter. (And most of the time its because I see what another intern has done and feel like the same thing is expected from me or I am jealous of their experience, and that if I don't do that it somehow makes what I am doing less valuable).
However, I have to say that at times I feel that what I am doing is contributing to the spread of the gospel. The last couple of days that I have been in the office have been spent typing phrases that are going to be used in a linguistic survey among the Tai Dam people group. I am awed by the fact that somehow the words I typed are going to help the Tai Dam have the Bible in their language!
So, I guess the struggle is more in learning to look for God's approval rather than human approval, but I'm finding that's easier said than done.
However, I have to say that at times I feel that what I am doing is contributing to the spread of the gospel. The last couple of days that I have been in the office have been spent typing phrases that are going to be used in a linguistic survey among the Tai Dam people group. I am awed by the fact that somehow the words I typed are going to help the Tai Dam have the Bible in their language!
So, I guess the struggle is more in learning to look for God's approval rather than human approval, but I'm finding that's easier said than done.
Monday, February 2, 2009
My Birthday & Thoughts On Mondays
It's a shame I don't have any pictures from my birthday because it was awesome. My Thai class planned a surprise party for me and we really didn't do much learning in class on friday. First, we reviewed what we learned the day before. Then we took a break to eat cake and sing 'Happy Birthday."
[I should probably add here that I was extremely nervous about eating cake. The last time I ate cake in another country it ended up being the most disgusting thing I had ever eaten and I later became quite ill. So the whole time I am cutting the cake I am praying that it does not make sick...and it didn't, thank goodness!]
Anyway...back to class. After taking a break to eat cake, we took another break. Then we started to learn about Thai times, but that didn't last very long because a former classmate decided to stop by for my birthday. He had given up on Thai class the week before, but decided to come back for my birthday. With him he brought champagne for a celebratory toast (he's French). Needless to say class was definitely over for the day.
Then I returned to the Mekong Center to eat lunch and work. At lunch most of the Mekong Staff sang "Happy Birthday" to me and bought my lunch. Later in the afternoon a couple of Swiss ladies brought me some candy and some fried banana (more on this later). One of them also asked if I liked chips and proceeded to buy me chips. I also received honey as a present from the Mekong Center director and his wife. So I'm thinking people are trying to send me subliminal messages...
Mondays. are NOT my favorite day of the week. The first saturday after I arrived here I bought a bicycle. On monday the chain came off my bike when I was riding it back after class. Some Thai guys helped me put it back on and told me not to go too fast because the chain was kinda loose. So, I took their advice and slowed it down. Things were going well until last monday when the chain came off again. No, I was not going too fast. Actually, I was going pretty slow because there was an unavoidable speed bump that I had to cross over. I managed to get the chain on by myself that time and although I was frustrated that it came off I was proud of myself that I put it back on even if it did get my hands all greasy.
Today (monday) I am on my way to class and the chain comes off for no reason at all. I put it back on really easily and continue on my way. I pedal once, maybe twice and the chain comes off AGAIN. This time the chain did not go on easily at all. After I struggled with it for about 10 minutes a Thai kid stops and helps me get it back on. I take off, already late for class. I start to pedal and the chain falls off. In frustration I give up and get a song-tow (basically, a taxi) to take me to class. Even though I was a 2 minute drive from class the guy ripped me off and charged me 40 baht (about $1.50). He claimed 20 was for me and 20 was for the bicycle. After class I try to put my chain back on. It goes back on easily, but also comes off easily. A guy in my class looks at the bike and tells me that somehow my back tire has come out of alignment which is preventing the chain from staying on. Rather than becoming more frustrated I got a song-tow back to the Mekong Center. This driver was much more merciful on me and my plight and charged 60 baht -- and he took me 4 times as far as the other guy.
That's just my commute on mondays. Class is stressful enough without being stressed out by the reliability of my bicycle. By the time I got back for lunch I was stressed out trying to figure out how I was going to get the bike fixed. And then I was surrounded by Swiss people...speaking Swiss. I figured I might as well be sitting alone. It was rather depressing.
Most days are not this bad. Mondays is by far the worst day of the week for me. For some reason they start horribly and that sets the pace for the rest of the day. By lunch time i end up wanting to cry because I am that frustrated with everything going on around me. However, there is good news. The bike has been fixed (at least for now) and it didn't cost me a thing. The building manager at the Mekong Center is a really handy guy and was able to fix it just be tightening a few bolts. The rest of the afternoon wasn't bad either, just typing up some info for Tim. I'm hopeful that next monday will be better. For starters, its a holiday so there is no class. Also, now that I've figured out mondays aren't the best days for me perhaps I'll be more prepared to handle the stress that monday brings.
[I should probably add here that I was extremely nervous about eating cake. The last time I ate cake in another country it ended up being the most disgusting thing I had ever eaten and I later became quite ill. So the whole time I am cutting the cake I am praying that it does not make sick...and it didn't, thank goodness!]
Anyway...back to class. After taking a break to eat cake, we took another break. Then we started to learn about Thai times, but that didn't last very long because a former classmate decided to stop by for my birthday. He had given up on Thai class the week before, but decided to come back for my birthday. With him he brought champagne for a celebratory toast (he's French). Needless to say class was definitely over for the day.
Then I returned to the Mekong Center to eat lunch and work. At lunch most of the Mekong Staff sang "Happy Birthday" to me and bought my lunch. Later in the afternoon a couple of Swiss ladies brought me some candy and some fried banana (more on this later). One of them also asked if I liked chips and proceeded to buy me chips. I also received honey as a present from the Mekong Center director and his wife. So I'm thinking people are trying to send me subliminal messages...
Mondays. are NOT my favorite day of the week. The first saturday after I arrived here I bought a bicycle. On monday the chain came off my bike when I was riding it back after class. Some Thai guys helped me put it back on and told me not to go too fast because the chain was kinda loose. So, I took their advice and slowed it down. Things were going well until last monday when the chain came off again. No, I was not going too fast. Actually, I was going pretty slow because there was an unavoidable speed bump that I had to cross over. I managed to get the chain on by myself that time and although I was frustrated that it came off I was proud of myself that I put it back on even if it did get my hands all greasy.
Today (monday) I am on my way to class and the chain comes off for no reason at all. I put it back on really easily and continue on my way. I pedal once, maybe twice and the chain comes off AGAIN. This time the chain did not go on easily at all. After I struggled with it for about 10 minutes a Thai kid stops and helps me get it back on. I take off, already late for class. I start to pedal and the chain falls off. In frustration I give up and get a song-tow (basically, a taxi) to take me to class. Even though I was a 2 minute drive from class the guy ripped me off and charged me 40 baht (about $1.50). He claimed 20 was for me and 20 was for the bicycle. After class I try to put my chain back on. It goes back on easily, but also comes off easily. A guy in my class looks at the bike and tells me that somehow my back tire has come out of alignment which is preventing the chain from staying on. Rather than becoming more frustrated I got a song-tow back to the Mekong Center. This driver was much more merciful on me and my plight and charged 60 baht -- and he took me 4 times as far as the other guy.
That's just my commute on mondays. Class is stressful enough without being stressed out by the reliability of my bicycle. By the time I got back for lunch I was stressed out trying to figure out how I was going to get the bike fixed. And then I was surrounded by Swiss people...speaking Swiss. I figured I might as well be sitting alone. It was rather depressing.
Most days are not this bad. Mondays is by far the worst day of the week for me. For some reason they start horribly and that sets the pace for the rest of the day. By lunch time i end up wanting to cry because I am that frustrated with everything going on around me. However, there is good news. The bike has been fixed (at least for now) and it didn't cost me a thing. The building manager at the Mekong Center is a really handy guy and was able to fix it just be tightening a few bolts. The rest of the afternoon wasn't bad either, just typing up some info for Tim. I'm hopeful that next monday will be better. For starters, its a holiday so there is no class. Also, now that I've figured out mondays aren't the best days for me perhaps I'll be more prepared to handle the stress that monday brings.
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