The world through my eyes

Adjusting into a new life

2012-01-31T20:23:00.001+07:00

I’d like to say that I’ve lived through some crazy times in my life so far, but this last month may very well top my list. It’s been an incredible time adjusting to life out in the jungle with no electricity or running water- learning how to hunt, use a machete like nobody’s business, travel 3 people per motorcycle through the forest over bridges made out of logs, hunting monkeys, trekking deep in the jungle, starting a garden of tropical fruits, learning the realities of the effects of neglected tropical diseases and slowly integrating into my neighborhood as well as with my new colleagues at the hospital.

Wheres Waldo

A traditional pygme house near me

A training on Neglected Tropical Diseases

Working at the hospital has been an interesting road… the doctors and nurses who work there do not exactly love their jobs. Here in Cameroon you have to go to the university in Yaoundé, the capital, and then from there the government decides where you will be placed. So, everyone there is placed far away from their families in a town with no electricity or running water… you can imagine how that could really drop your enthusiasm to work. With that being said, it has been hard to gain a full understanding of how the place runs because no one likes being there and they get annoyed with all my questions. As time goes by I am picking things up piece by piece. This past month the staff has focused on training others on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD’s)- the doctor set up a training of trainer for the workers at the nearby health centers who then teach community leaders the same information. I learned how to diagnose and treat 5 of the 13 major diseases such as Onchocercose (river blindness), Filariose Lymphatic, Stomach worms, Schistosomiase and Trachoma. There is a public health initiative run by the Helen Keller foundation –based in the U.S.- who is in the process of eradicating 3 of these diseases by supplying and distributing the medications. They have been in the process of doing this for 7 years and have 8 more before they reach their goals. I have many issues on the ethics of how this plan pans out, as with a lot of other public health initiatives but do see the importance of the work- it should not, however, be tested on vulnerable populations in the poorest regions of a developing country.

Standing at the entrance of the Dja Reserve

Fixing a flat out in the woods

The way the health care system is set up in this region is that there is one hospital for the district of 35,000 people that spans an area of over 110 miles (can you imagine having to travel that far on a dirt road with no car in a case of emergency?) Then there are 12 Health Care centers in that same district that offer basic services- vaccinations, small surgery and can deliver babies with a staff of one nurse each. Then, there are Community Distributors- one per village- who are trained on diagnosing minor health problems and have a supply of medications on hand to give out to their community. The idea of the Community Distributors is really fascinating, it is a way to put public health really into the hands of the community in order to make everyone responsible. These people are chosen based on if they have passed primary level of education. Access to education is not easy out in the jungle. I think I will be doing a lot of work with these people to working on health trainings and healthy life practices (not like I am a master at that either- but it’s a work in progress). I was really impressed by these trainings but with all behavioral change projects there is always a clear line between knowledge and action. The best example of that being flossing- we all know the importance of the practice but statistically the actually amount of people who do it does not match the people who know the benefits. Here in my town an example is how the doctor and nurses were talking about the high rates of HIV and STI’s in this area and how the community refuses to wear condoms. Then, they started getting on my case that I need multiple wives and multiple kids… ugh hmm… no- are you implying I should be having unprotected sex with multiple women after just talking about the rates of HIV and STI’s? I didn’t expect to hear that from the staff.

This is the type of boat I am currently having built

As I am learning how the hospital functions, I walk around and introduce myself to everyone there. One day I ended up in the bureau that distributes free ARV’s for everyone living with HIV/AIDS. He pulled out the logbook and showed me how it works. My heart sunk when he showed me the size of the book of everyone who had died form HIV/AIDS in this town alone. And this is only the list of names of people who were brave enough to get tested and come to take medications in a society with the illness is highly stigmatized among the community members. Before joining the Peace Corps I asked a friend who had already finished their service if there had any advice to prepare me for going and they told me, “Be prepared to go to a funeral of a really close friend you will meet.” After seeing that office I went home with a heavy heart thinking about the realities of what exists around me. So, I am learning a lot out here and I am doing my best to keep a positive spirit while I am here.

Hiking through the jungle to go hunting

Working out in the jungle on Bicks farm.. That is my machete!

My kitchen and shelves I built in

My bed I built with the sheets I sewed by hand

The mural I painted on my wall in the living room- this is my neighbor Aicha

That damn chicken again on the table I built

Storage shelf I built myself!

It’s interesting to see the things you can get done when you don’t have access to Internet of any electricity for that matter. When I am not at the hospital, I am working on my house- it’s become my new big hobby (along with tactfully dodging conversations about religion, why I don’t have a wife and keeping a poker face when I see people gnawing on a monkey head). I think I am most excited about my house because since I’ve moved out of my parents house I’ve lived in some tight quarters- 3 people in a one bedroom in San Diego, a maids room of 8ft by 8ft in Rio, a 2.5 bedroom shared with 9 other people in Mumbai…. I’ve never had my own place before-let alone a whole house to myself. So, for that reason, I’m going all out and just getting creative with what I can do with the resources I have access to near me. I feel like I’m back in the days of hanging out in my treehouse again- making things out of sticks and figuring out how to make things work with what you got. My neighbors stop over all the time to watch and help out- its nice to always have company, they love to ask questions and see what I’m up to. It’s been a great way to gain their respect to work with them in the future. So far I’ve made a dinner table, a bed, an awesome kitchen counter with built-in shelving, storage for my clothes, a desk, painted a mural of the world in my living room, painted my bathroom and a number of other things.. I just bought materials to install 3 sunroofs, make a wooden boat and continue my garden… I love it. Don’t get me wrong, I love cities and always will and will most likely return to San Francisco or Rio after the Peace Corps but I am diggin' life in the village for right now. Its great to have the space to work on hands-on projects.

My garden in progress!

A beautiful gigantic tree

My garden is coming along great- I have planted 6 banana trees, 4 papaya trees, 3 pineapples, 4 hot peppers, 5 onions, 6 macabo (a kind of sweet potato here), beans, okra, soy, and tomato plants. I am doing it purely for fun (and landscaping). Bananas sell for about 3 for 10 cents so I am definitely not doing it for a profit. I think my neighbors are more excited about the garden than I am- they come and help out everyday and just built a fence around the perimeter to keep the chickens out. The ground is so fertile here, you literally throw things on the ground and they start coming up! Most of the produce in my town, however, is shipped in from other cities. I am planning on working with some of the community members on creating community gardens here to supply their own produce locally- there is definitely the space to do it here! My neighbors don’t fully understand my compost pile yet and always laugh at me but they support it. They did however crack up when I potted a few plants to put in my house… to them those plants symbolize work.. and why would you put work in a place you want to relax? It would be like if you worked in an office and decided to put a fax machine as the centerpiece in your living room.

My neighbors chicken came to lay an egg on my couch

Every Peace Corps volunteer has a “Community Host” someone to help introduce them into the community and the life out in the village- My community host is Bick, Jean a village chief of a small tribe nearby. He is such a badass. He’s taken me hunting deep in the jungle and has showed me how to sharpen my machete to the point I can chop down a small tree with a single swipe. To get through the jungle there is one stretch of marsh that you have to hike through dark opaque water that has logs placed underneath to walk through- Bick Jean does it barefoot and can pretty much run through it. Luckily, I didn’t fall in the much but afterwards we had to sit down and search ourselves for leeches. I’ve seen some of the craziest bugs so far- Bick was telling me about this certain ant that alone could kill an elephant… an elephant. We worked on his farm for the day and he gave me a huge bag of plantains and potatoes to bring home- then sent one of his daughters to my house to cook them.. I tried to help and she told me that men don’t belong in the kitchen. Girl, women shouldn’t hold all that responsibility. Equality.

Just another stop out in the jungle.. with my solar panel in the back of the truck!

Although I am living out in the jungle, I really don’t have it bad at all. I have a solar panel that can charge my phone, ipod, speakers, and all my neighbors’ phones for the small price of a plate of food J. I am in the process of connecting the panel to my laptop and a light switch and even installing several sunroofs to gain more energy. I also have a solar shower- its basically a plastic bag with a black bottom that collect heat through out the day then you hang it up and you can get water that flows through a connected hose. It’s been such a fun hobby and I’ve only been on it one month- I can’t wait to see what will come out of it over the next 2 years. I am trying to get a local solar company to come out here and do demonstrations for the town because everyone in interested- the problem is the start up capitol. I am currently having a pirogue (a wooden canoe/boat) made out of a large log. I am learning from my friends how to fish out in the river- how to use the best techniques and where the best spots to set up shop are. So.. yeah.. life is pretty damn good.

Once a month I have to head to the large cities to do banking. Our Peace Corps allowance is automatically deposited into our bank accounts each month and we have to travel to the regional capitals to pick it up. We receive about $300 a month.. which sounds like nothing but is the same salary of a doctor here. I love the trips to the city- it’s a chance to catch up on life everywhere else, speak English as fast and as much as I can with all my Peace Corps friends and make new friends in the cities. In Yaoundé I’ve made friends with the marines who are posted at the US Embassy and get to play ultimate Frisbee and swim in the pool there. At night we can go to a large club when the DJ knows all our names and we get dropped off in a private car and have access to Thai, Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese and basically any other international food you want. It’s just expensive- and $300 a month doesn’t support that kind of lifestyle here- so I like to stick to my village. It’s a total shock every time I arrive into the city after coming from my village of only mud huts.

Everyone thinks its so weird that I am left handed- some call it sorcery

So, it’s been a crazy month and I’m looking forward to then next one to come. I’m really starting to get comfortable here and it’s nice to start making a circle of friends. I love my neighbors- they got my back and look after me everyday. They interview everyone who enters my house to make sure they are worthy of entering- they don’t want me getting robbed. I am liking the routine that I am getting into- I feel healthy and happy. I’m starting to love my village and my work- I love being my own boss and creating my own schedule as a volunteer… it’s the right lifestyle for me. I can’t wait to see what develops from all this!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-07T14:36:00.000+07:00

River near my house

It’s been a great start to the New year living here in Cameroon!

Since my last post I’ve been working hard to set up my house, it’s definitely not as easy as walking into Ikea or target and picking things up. For example I needed a gas bottle for my stove and had to travel 8 hours and wait 7 days, I had to walk a few miles to find lumber then wait 3 days for it to arrive and many other similar stories. So, as they say here in Cameroon- small small, we go catch monkey (slowly, things will work out-Pidgeon English)

The holiday season was ok here- in my village , there was no real celebration for Christmas so I spent the day building furniture and one of the orphans who lives at the hospital came over to help and then I made a fish dinner for us and we ate it in my nearly empty house haha. My landlord is a really great guy and he gave me a whole living room set of furniture that he made by hand- at first I was stubborn and said I wanted to build everything by hand- but then he brought it over and it was nice polished hardwood-so I happily accepted the chairs and coffee table!

Then for New Years there was a party with a few of the volunteers in Bertoua- East region. I first stopped in the capital, Yaounde, to pick up a package and ended up going to a baptism party and met so many Cameroonians and danced the night away… that night will go down as one of my favorites of 2011.. there was amazing food for everyone to eat that blew away any other food I have eaten in country so far, so many people to meet and music to last all night! The baptism was for the family of one of the volunteer’s families from Bokito so it was nice to see some familiar faces.

Getting down at the baptism party in Yaounde

Our New Year's Crew- Me, Laura, Andy ,Stephanie, Flora, Molly, Ryan, Geoff, Joe, Ryan and Shonna

Then I headed to Bertoua to celebrate the new year with my friends- it was great to meet up and share stories of how life is adjusting to living in new villages on our own. Everyone had interesting stories- you would never fully believe some of the things we all see on a day to day basis nor can I even begin to describe them all in detail- its what makes this experience so exciting. For example, a coyote (or wolf) entered my house the other night when I was cooking- I left my door open as I usually do so my neighbors can stop in and say hi but didn’t expect one of them to be a coyote! I mean, every other day I find a chicken walking through my house , but a coyote.. really?

Now I am headed back to village to continue getting settled and meeting people in my town. I’m going to the hospital on Monday to start observing the doctor and the nurse’s work. I have no clue what to expect. One of the other volunteers told me that he showed up at the hospital in his town and they told him there was an office set up for him- it was the surgery room.. and there was someone with appendicitis waiting to be treated. We are not doctors and are not allowed to perform surgery (even if we had knowledge of doing so). With that being said… um.. yeah I have no clue what to expect.

My little town is growing on me- Although I am not found of the copious amount of alcohol that people drink in my village, I really love my neighbors. They are a really loving family and randomly bring over a huge plate of delicious food! And, they love to make fun of me with everything I do.. fetching water from the well, washing cloths by hand, cooking, washing dishes in buckets.. it adds a lot of comedy to my life.

It was a great finish to a year full of changes and good vibes for the new year to come! Feelin’ good.

View from my bike ride through village

This boat is called a pirouge- I'm in the process of having one built to go exploring

Another view from the road in my village

My street!

Swearing-In as a Peace Corps Volunteer

2011-12-17T13:49:00.002+07:00

My Host family- Du, Me, Cedwon, Bobby, Lydie-holding Angel and Ngie, Dudu and Samson

After coming back from site visit, it was really hard to go back to sitting through hours of training- all of us were ready to hit the road and move into our houses and work with the community rather than sit through lectures... but.. we made it! The last few weeks of training, although they were a bit rough to get through, were really amazing because all of us opened up alot to eachother and became really close. We ended up having a great Thanksgiving dinner together, and awesome field trip to the West region to visit a soy and tofu project, a great bike ride and of course many nights of dancing. It is crazy to think that I have just met these people only 3 months ago- we have all been through alot together! Its nice to know that know I have a good 23 friends living all over the country that I can go visit while I'm here. It was also really sad to say goodbye to Bokito and my host family- I started to make alot of friends in that town- Friends who taught me how to dance like a Cameroonian and who I taught how to dance salsa. I will also miss my host brothers- especially Samson- my host mother said that after I left he stayed in his room and cried for 2 hours- but, I will pay them a visit again soon.

Buying the Chickens to prepare for Thanksgiving

One of the Dance-Off competitions in Bokito

The Country Director of Cameroon congratulating us

As we finished training we had to pack our bags and get ready for the big day- December 8th- the day we all sworn in as official Peace Corps Volunteers (because before we were still Peace Corps Trainees). The celebration was a huge event- the US Ambassador came and our Country Director came and gave a speech- it was a well deserved day after all the work we went through. Each department (Health, Agroforestry, and Youth Development) all were dressed in matching pagne (patterned material) and after the ceremony we had lunch with our host families and said our goodbyes then spent the night dancing away before we had to pack our bags on the bus the next morning. I'm going to miss being around this group of people alot!

My host mother and me after Swear-In with the US Ambasador

Walking to the Swear-In ceremony

We all split up that next morning- some went north, some headed west and a few of us headed south to Yaounde to stay in the Peace Corps case (volunteer hotel). A few of us ended up spending a few days there enjoying our freedom as volunteers, meeting other volunteers and seeing the city- We got to go to a soccer tournament, shop in the large open air markets, and stop by the roof-top lounge of the Hilton. It was a great few days! After that we all split up and lugged all our belonging to our posts. Arriving in Messamena again was great- I was so surprised that all my luggage fit on one motorcycle- it was incredible! Moving was not easy- My personal and mental strength were both tested.. haha.

Yaounde- seen from a rooftop

Soccer match in yaounde

Now, I am living in my house in Messamena- there in nothing inside and I will spend the next week or so setting up shop. I'm planning on making all my furniture- luckily, my dad's a carpenter and taught me some tricks of the trade when I was growing up- it will definitely come in useful now! I'm planning on starting a garden and putting together a chicken coup. Its so crazy to have a whole house to myself- the past 8 years I've lived in very small quarters with very little space- now I'm proud to say I own my first full sized bed for the first time ever- haha yep, I'm 26.

Rockin' my awesome pants in village

My first day in the village was great- there was a celebration going on that I was invited to and we spent the day eating monkey, sharing palm wine and dancing to Cameroonian music. It was a little shocking/embarassing when one of the kids in the village screamed and cried of fright when they saw me because they have never seen someone with light skin before- so then the village thought it was hilarious and kept trying to hand me the child- I can only image how frightening that must have been for that child. When I came home that night my neighbor came up and gave me a plate of couscous de riz and an amazing fish jumbo- when I returned the plate the next day she strongly advised me on the importance of me marrying her 20 year old daughter... oh geez. I also was approached by a man who was a member of a pygmie tribe out in the jungle- he invited me to come hike to his tribe 6 km out into the jungle...He said to me, "Hello, I am a man of the village"- and I thought to myself.. we are in the village- if he thinks he is in the city right now, I can only imagine how small his community is- I can not wait to explore that opportunity! It's going to be a crazy two years... I am really excited to see what I am going to learn and take from this experience, and most importantly what I can share with others.

My job for the next three months with the Peace Corps is to integrate- we are not really supposed to start any project until after we have been at post for three months so we can have a better idea of the local resources, understand the local language, understanding the schedule of the community (seasonal farming, migration, etc), seeing the needs and figuring out a sustainable way of approaching them and making friends. I like this idea the Peace Corps has set up for community integration- I think many development projects fail because of lack of time outsiders spend in the area they are working and not understanding the true target needs. So, now I will be hanging out with my neighbors, cooking with them making new friends (for mental health and as my security guards in village) visiting the health care centers and shadowing the nurses there, conducting community mapping projects and exploring the jungle that surrounds me! Now, I have to hire a tutor and start learning Bikele- the local language in Messamena. Everyone can speak French in village but they speak Bikele to each other and I need to be able to participate in conversation. The next few months in Cameroon are marked by many holidays and every holiday is a parade.. so, there is a lot to look forward to in the next few months!

Although I am missing everything about life in Rio de Janeiro, I'm really grateful for this experience- I am happy to be here and comfortable trying to fit into village life here after being so used to living in mega cities for the last few years. I would have never imagined I would be living in Cameroon at some point in my life. I reached the 3 month mark.. I have 2 years left- I am going to try and make the most of it here!

A village welcome party in Messamena

Peace Corps site announcement!

2011-11-03T14:26:00.006+07:00

Hiking through the forest nearby my house

Last Wednesday morning we all received the notice of where we would be working for the next two years- although I originally wanted to be placed close to the ocean… I was given a small village in the Eastern region of Cameroon. At first I was a little upset, but then I realized I can always visit the beach- no problem.. and I’ve had my fair share of luck with living by the ocean the past few years so I’m switching it up and heading to the jungle! I am opening up a new post so no volunteer (or any foreigner) has been there before. I am proud that my program manager gave me such a tough post- it shows that she has a lot of confidence in me!

By post is in Messamena, the East Region of Cameroon, 90 km away from the next town off a unpaved dirt path. In the rainy season it is almost impossible to travel through. There is no electricity or running water- it is considered one of the poorest regions of the country. I have to fetch water from a nearby well and if I want to use electricity, I will need to use a generator. I am 50 km from the Dja national reserve- home to Africa largest and best protect rainforest-90% untouch with over 107 mamals- Including gorillas, elephants, chimpanzees and others.( http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/407 ) I will be living among a few tribal groups- the pygmies, the Bikeles, and the Bioudouroas.

Here is a map of Africa that shows where Cameroon is on the continent

This is a map of Cameroon- My town, Messamena, is not on the map because it is so small but it is in the East region (Est) near the town Abong Mbong if you can find it!

On Thursday we met our Community host Counterpart and had a 2 day workshop on Peace Corps expectations and plans of action- since Cameroon is a bilingual (officially, with over 230 other local languages), the workshop was both in English and French. My community host is Jean Bick, he is the Chief of a small nearby village of the Bikele tribe. He is awesome! He is a traditional healer and told me he wants to teach my about what the forest has to offer medicinally- I can’t wait! On Saturday morning we all left to visit our sites and travel with our community hosts. It was so beautiful driving across Cameroon- the East region is all dense rainforest It was intense to arrive in Messamena- knowing that this is where I will be living the next 2 years!

My community host and counterpart, Jean Bick and his sister in their village

I spent three days in my village introducing myself to the Sous-Prefet (head of the town), the Mayor, the Head of Police, the Principals, the Doctor and staff I will be working with and as many people as I could meet in the town. It was so hard trying to explain why I was there in French (and nerve-wracking… think about it- being overseas from anything you are familiar with- in a new culture, a language you’ve only been learning for a month, and having to met all the head officials of the place you with will be living and working!) But- it was awesome! It was a lot to take in at first but the third day I really fell in love with my new village. Everyone was so nice and after meeting them, people would always say, “D’accord, nous sommes ensemble” –ok, we are together! So far 3 women have proposed to me and the officials of the town are telling me they are going to set me up with their daughters. Awkward.

So it’s hard to describe exactly what I will be doing- because I will be making my own schedule, but my position is to work closely with the Doctor Djeumbam (one of 2 doctors for over 30,000 people in the district) and the nurses to observe the Cameroonian health care system and create a system to establish emphasis on preventative care with all the 12 local health care centers to do community health programs with the locals. I will get to travel around the area a lot for the work- it will be really exciting- but hard to do emotionally. This area has alarming rates of HIV/AIDS, cholera, malaria and other water-borne illnesses. It will definitely be a reality of the severity of these issues.

The hospital where I will be working with the doctor and nurses

Right now I am in the Regional capital of the East Region, Bertoua. I will have to come here once a month for banking to receive my Peace Corps stipend. There is a Peace Corps office here where all the volunteers can come and meet and stay for a few days (with electricity and crazy fast internet connection- hence this update with pictures!) Visiting Messamena has totally boosted my spirits about the Peace Corps- I went from going with the flow and liking it… to loving it- I really think I am going to get a lot out of the experience!

Made it to the one month mark!

2011-10-24T22:04:00.001+07:00

Friday was our one month mark of leaving for staging! We made it through the hardest month of the 27, so 26 more to go! It has been crazy adjusting to the culture, going to trainings, trying to figure out how everything works… seems like it has been way longer than just a month!
Training is going really well- we are all getting along great, throwing parties on the weekends, making pizza from scratch- dough..sauce.. cheese- the works, I moved up from in my French class from beginner to passing the placement requirements in one month and we are learning a lot abou. I am getting really comfortable here in the village- learning some new skills of cooking all our meals over a fire… cleaning fish/chicken for dinner and how to make fufu and couscous.
The most exciting thing is that we find out our post on Wednesday! Its crazy to think that we will know where we will be working for the next 2 years so soon!!! Then our counterpart who we will be working with comes on Thursday and we go and visit our new city this upcoming weekend for a week. I have no idea what to expect… Cameroon is such a vast country so I could end up in any type of climate! I look forward to moving into my own place and setting things up!
On Saturday I was in a break-dancing dance-off competition and I made it to the third round! It was hilarious- my host brother asked me to come with him so I went and only wanted to hang out and watch but I was the only foreigner there so I was called up first. It was awesomely embarrassing moment… then the next round was again ridiculous..and the last round was kind of just a roast where everyone made fun of each contestant before the had to dance and we battled it off with the host/dj. If the whole town didn’t already know me before this night, the all do now… haha

Le blanc, le blanc!

2011-10-16T20:39:00.001+07:00

In a strange way, I am starting to feel very settled here in the small town of Bokito! The other day at the market I ran into a few people from the community that I have previously met and it made me feel really comfortable to start to really get into the daily life here! Bokito is a relatively small village with limited access to electricity and consistent running water. I’m normally in bed by 9pm and up by 5am! Life is different here in the village- last weekend my host brothers and I took a motorcycle (all 4 of us on one) to their native village far out in the forest. All the houses were made of bamboo and mud and there was no electricity anywhere. The village was amidst a large orange, mandarins and cocoa. I was so impressed with how much knowledge the young kids had on the agriculture here! Its been great living with my host family- the 2 year old say hello and goodbye to me everyday and “Bon Appetite” every time I sit down to eat- its been a great experience.
Peace Corps training has been busy but manageable and we have all started to get to know each other pretty well over the past 3 weeks. Everyday is packed with training sessions on development practices, Cameroonian culture and language. My French skills have definitely improved but I do have a ways to go! Usually after our sessions are done for the day we all go and unwind for a bit in the village before going back to our host families.
Our trainings on the Cameroonian health care system has been intense and we’ve learned a lot and even toured the local hospital here in town…. It was really sad to see the current condition of that hospital and even worse, to hear how little doctors make when the ratio of doctor to patient is 1 to 10,000! Doctors here in Cameroon make about $350 a month and nurses about $200. The conditions are rough and the work is never ending.
In two weeks they will be announcing our post where we will all be working for the next two years of service! I am so excited to find out which region of Cameron I will be working. There are 10 regions in Cameroon that range from jungle to forest to desert to mountains to plains and are anywhere from hot and humid to…. hot and dry haha . I’m hoping to be close to the ocean in the jungle but will be happy anywhere- each region is spectacular in its own way! 2 of the 10 regions are Anglophone and the rest are Francophone. I will most likely be put in a Francophone region so I am doing my best to study the language everyday. I will be paired with a clinic and a counterpart to work alongside. I told my program manager that I want to gain technical skills in the health field so I am curious to see what that will equate to for my post! No matter where I am placed I know that I will be doing a lot of public health trainings involving HIV/AIDS and water and sanitation. I know that much of the work I did in India with Haath Mein Sehat will be incorporated.
Friday marks our 1st month of service completed! At first the whole 27 month idea really made my mind go crazy- but as I talk to other PC volunteers, I get the sense that the time really goes by quick with everything going on.

Visiting my host family's relatives

Eating lunch in the village

House outside the orange plaintain

A few pictures of Yaounde, Bafia and Bokito

2011-10-08T20:56:00.001+07:00

View from our Training Site in Yaounde

Walking to school with my host brothers... who are carrying machetes

My host families house

The road I walk to get to class in Bokito

Made it to Cameroon! The beginning of my Peace Corps journey

2011-09-29T19:10:00.002+07:00

It has been such a crazy week of new experiences, to think about my life one week ago to now is a complete opposite- so quick how things can change!
After saying a lot of hard goodbyes and trying to figure out what to pack for 27 months, I arrived in Philadelphia for the “staging event” or brief introduction to the Peace Corps. When I got off the plane there were two other girls from Cleveland joining too and turns out 5 of us are from the Cleveland area! There are 54 of us in our group that are split into 3 sectors; Agroforestry, Youth Development and Community Health- I will be in the Community Health sector. Everyone is really nice and come from a lot of different backgrounds.
The next day we all took a bus from Philadelphia to New York then a plane to Brussels then finally Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. Arriving in Africa was so exciting- I really couldn’t believe that this was all happening! We all got onto a bus and drove to the hotel as the sun was setting and took in the views of the jungle that we landed into. Cameroon is so beautiful!
The first 5 days we were in the capitol at a hotel and were given many orientations to the culture and background of Peace Corps in Cameroon. We’ve had to do countless introductions to different officials and have had the opportunity to go to a cultural dance show, have dinner with the US Ambassador and be on a national television show!
On Tuesday we left the capital and headed 2 hours north to where we will begin our trainings and move in with a home stay family. It has been such a change going from the large capital to the small village of Bokito where I am living now. My host family consists of a grandmother, a mom and dad, and 5 boys aged 17, 12, 11, 2 and 1. The house I live in is a 25 minute walk through dirt paths to get to the training site- we are really in the jungle/forest! Everyday we have trainings from 8am to about 5 or 6pm. The days are long then we come home to the host families to practice speaking French (which for me is still pretty much a mix of Portuguese) and integrate ourselves into the family and culture.
I am really excited about being here and really impressed with the way the Peace Corps has set up the trainings and how they have such a strong presence here in Cameroon.. We are all being trained on medical procedures to keep ourselves safe and healthy- I am really surprised with how many materials the PC has provided us. We are definitely well taken care of and watched over if anything goes wrong.
I have so much more to share but it will have to wait for another post. Right now I only have access to Internet 2 days a week and it is pretty slow. I think that will change soon but for now if you contact me and it takes awhile to respond, bear with me! You can call me… I am most available on Sundays- 011 237 740 58 032!

One week countdown

2011-09-15T01:17:00.000+07:00

My blog for Brazil never really took off- I could never get myself to write about life there without it sounding like some kind of "othering" process that I was studying at Berkeley. My time in Brazil was absolutely amazing and I plan to move back to Rio someday.

For now, my next trip is to Cameroon with the Peace Corps for the next 27 months! I will do my best to write straight-forward about my experiences without feeling like I am objectfying anyone or thing.

I received my invitation to join the Peace Corps one day when I returned to my apartment in Rio- the night guard told me a package had come for me and I knew exactly what it was..... I rushed upstairs to open the envelope that read, "Congratulations- Your Assignment: Community Health Educator Country: Cameroon Start Date= Sept 15, 2011 End Date Dec 3, 2013". It was so intense and I had 10 days to decide if I should try and stay in Brazil or accept the position. It was not an easy decision but I decided to go ahead with the Peace Corps. 27 months is a hard commitment to actualize and I am not sure if it has even sunk in yet.

I leave on Wednesday, September 21st from Cleveland to Philadelphia for a one-day staging event where I will meet the other volunteers. We will spend one day there then the next day we will be taking a bus to New York City to fly to Yaounde, Cameroon. There we will stay a few days in the capital for orientations and by Monday I will be moving in with my host family for my 3-month language and technical training in a city 2 hours north of Yaounde.

I will be studying French and learning different community based techniques for health interventions for the first three months. In November I will be assessed for my placement of where I will be living for the next two years.

One week left to say all my goodbyes, pack and try to prepare mentally for what is coming my way!

Getting settled

2011-02-09T01:20:00.000+07:00

One week in Rio and I am starting to feel settled- I love it!

Looking for an apartment was harder than I expected... I guess I didn't quite take into account that it is the peak of summer and Carnaval is right around the corner so it is almost impossible to find a place. I was searching in newspapers and online rental ads for a place. Doing this forced me to learn many new works in Portuguese that I didn't know... haha I had to learn all the terms for renting, rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, monthly bills, total costs, shared spaces.... everything. Luckily my friend Gustavo helped to call many of the places ahead of time to explain my situation in Portuguese.

It was a challenge- some days I got really down asking myself what I was even doing here... especially after I went and visited one apartment. It was in an area that was hard to get to by public transportation and on the way I got a little lost. When I finally arrived I ended up in this run down part of town at a run down house. The maid opened the door to show me around the house. It was dirty, had broken windows, old pipes, next to no ventilation and the room she showed me was an addition to the house in which you had to climb a rusty staircase to enter. When she showed me the room I asked her if this was a safe place to live. She responded, “ Safe? Ha! I live in a favela and I would not even live here!” So that being said, I walked out of there.

My friend who used to live here gave me a contact of a guy who was opening up a language school for lower-income students in Rio. I contacted him and set up an interview for working together. We met and talked for a few hours- He is a really great guy. He introduced me to his mother who rents rooms in her house as part of a homestay option for foreigners. Because I will be working with her son, she gave me an extremely good deal on the room- it is way less than the crappy apartment I just wrote about and she cooks me breakfast everyday- and even gave me the first month free! The house is on the 15^th floor of a secure building 3 blocks from the ocean in one of the richest neighborhoods of Rio. It has large windows that are always open to let in the ocean air- unreal!

I will be helping her son open the language school- I am excited to see what I can bring to the school and the organization of the classes. He told me he would be able to get me a work visa- my current tourist visa only allows me to stay 6 months out of the year but the work visa could change that.... will I stay longer? Time will tell. I came here to feel things out and see what I can make of myself- it great opportunities decide to come my way, I will take them!

All my plans for Rio literally fell into place..... Nothing was for certain and I definitely went out on a limb to make this all work out. There were some really rough moments of doubting my decision to return to Brazil... but now things are starting to work out as I wanted them to play out. Anyone who knew all the details of this process know that I never gave up- I was overly stubborn to make this work and now that it is I am feeling so alive and good about life! Thank you to everyone who encouraged me and kept my spirits high during this process! I am glad things worked out the way they did because through the countless hours of research and headache I put into this, I learned alot about how NGOs function and work and how to set up independent projects outside of the country to hopefully use for myself one day.

Vamos!

Eu cheguei ao Rio!

2011-01-30T06:59:00.000+07:00

I made it back to Rio!

I arrived yesterday morning and it was about 95 degrees at the airport- It is the middle of summer here south of the equator. My friend Gustavo picked me up from the airport and it was almost like I have never left Brazil. I remembered all the places I have already been to and how to navigate the city. It feels so good to be back here!

I stopped by the language school I will be studying at for the next 3 months and was blown away- everyone was so nice and after I left I walked 2 and a half blocks and ended up on Ipanema Beach. I think I am going to like the next couple of months. A lot.

Now, I am looking for an apartment- and it is not all that easy. I was quickly reminded of my first week in Thailand and constantly being shut down to find a place. Something will work out soon.

I am happy to be back and practicing Portuguese again, although the way of speaking in Rio is way different than the Portuguese in Salvador. I am trying to learn the adjustment.

Class starts on Monday- I am excited to meet more people here and see what I just got myself into for the next few months.

Ate logo- I am off to a samba club in Lapa tonight with some people I just met on the beach. I love this place!

On my way back to Brasil

2011-01-28T04:49:00.000+07:00

Yep, on my way back. I know I did not even post one blog the entire time I was in Brazil last time, but it was because for the first time ever I wanted to stop comparing and contrasting my culture to Brazil. I spent my time picking up Portuguese, meeting new people and learning to slow down after 2 crazy years at UC Berkeley where I was the king of multi-tasking.

When I got to Brazil in August I fell in love within the first week- the vibrancy of people's attitudes, music (or some kind of beat) lingering from every corner, tropical plants and beautiful ocean... and the acai. The study abroad program I took part in helped me to learn the language by taking classes and staying with a host family where we sat and ate meals 3 times a day together trying to communicate with each other. The culture class I took allowed me to view Brazil from a completely different lens then the image I had romanticized in my mind. I began to view racism/sexism/class-ism through a whole new way. I loved the way brazil had a hold on me and I wasn't ready to let that grasp go just yet. I put the my Peace Corps application on hold for a year and decided to set up an independent study abroad program in Rio de Janeiro.

I am on my way back, carrying a 10-year visa. I arrive in Rio tomorrow morning and start Portuguese class on Monday. I will be taking 3 months of classes at Casa do Caminho in Ipanema, 3 blocks from the beach! It took me a long time to set up this program and find a language school I felt like sponsoring, but Casa do Caminho, www.casadocaminho-languagecentre.org/, is an organization run by volunteers and all the money for the classes goes to support an orphanage outside of Rio. I tried to get an internship with them but they were full at this time. While I will study there I will be looking for another internship opportunities to take on for the next few months.

I am so excited to return to Rio. The first time I went there in October of last year my jaw literally dropped- it really is 'cidade maravilhousa' a marvelous city! I will be here for approximately 5 months... I am keeping that door open a little to see what kind of opportunities come my way. Until then I will be learning Portuguese, witnessing 'Carnaval' in a month, and exploring what the city has to offer.

Brasil, ate amanha!

Abracos!

Good places take time to get to...

2010-08-27T08:01:00.000+07:00

Once again I am at the airport waiting... my flight from Medellin to Bogota was delayed which in turn made me miss my flight to Brazil. I was stuck in Bogota for the night and slapped with a hefty change flight fee (at least I was able to escape the change fee in Cleveland). I should be in Brazil tomorrow... hopefully. The scariest part of the situation was that I had to pay for my Brazil flight in cash... because my flight was delayed, that lead me to walk around Bogota with 2,500,000 Colombian Pesos. Yep. 2.5 million. Not the best place to have that much money on you. I was pretty much sweating all day thinking about it, even though it is much colder here as the elevation is greater than Medellin. Bogota ended up being an awesome city. Thankfully there was a guy who also missed the flight to Brazil who helped me figure out how to get around and figure out what to do about the ticket. We spent the day touring the city- I was glad I met him because he spoke English, Portuguese, and Spanish. I would not have been able to do it without him. Tomorrow I should arrive in Bahia, just in time for the program to start! Saturday I meet my host family- I am so excited.

The rest of my time in Colombia was amazing- Ursula taught me so much about horses and how to ride them- I got to see so much of Medellin, and even take a road trip through the country. It was such a great time. I am very happy for Ursula- she is moving on to start graduate school at Oxford! I am honored to be her friend :)

Sometimes traveling can get you down because of all the complications, the lines you have to wait in, the problems that arise, the uncertainties of not knowing what is going on.... but I have learned one thing about myself, I don't give up. When you get to see and take part in such different activities you never have been exposed to before... all of the sudden all those complications vanish.

Made it to Colombia! Touchdown South America

2010-08-23T19:23:00.003+07:00

Flying through the Andes to Medellin

I was so excited to land in Colombia... I couldn't believe I was on my way to South America, on the beginning of a four month adventure! The plane was flying through the Andes mountains as it landed and when I got off the plane the air was so fresh and crisp. It was amazing to reunite with Ursula and Anthony from Berkeley at the Airport in Medellin, Colombia. This city is know as the land of eternal spring- it is so green and lush here.

Eating sancocho with Ursula's Family

I never expected to visit Colombia, so I am so happy to have this opportunity to have such a good friend as my tour guide. The only things I have ever heard about Colombia before were about cocaine and violence, which yes there is some violence and drugs but not to the extent to label the country like that. There is violence everywhere- In the three 3 weeks I was in Cleveland I heard countless homicide reports on the local news, but I wouldn't label Cleveland as a whole a violent city. Anyway, her family and house is so welcoming and inviting- I'm so happy to be here right now, especially since I have not stopped eating since I have been here :) I couldn't believe my eyes when I arrived at Ursula's house- she has told me so much about it during all our study breaks and I have seen so many pictures but when I saw it with my own eyes I was blown away. Her house is in the middle of Medellin- a city of 4 million people- but at her house you feel like you are in the middle of the country! There are 7 dogs, 3 cats, some chickens, a pig and about 17 horses (and maybe some other anilmals I haven't found yet). I am in paradise right now. Today I woke up and got to wash the horses- it was so exciting- and tomorrow Ursula is giving me a riding lessons in the morning. Her aunt is a famous vaulting instructor (who will be at the international vaulting competition in September) and the Colombian government actually sends cavalry to come and train at their arena.
Her parents have been so hospitable. I wish I knew Spanish to let them know how happy I am to be here and how much I appreciate them letting me stay (Even though her mom speaks English and German in addition to Spanish). This morning they made Sancocho- a traditional Colombian dish of potatos,plantains, yuca, carrots, corn, avocados, chicken and beef that is stewed for hours... the whole morning the house was filled with the amazing aromas! We ate so well and finished it off with Amaretto and Cointreau.

Medellin from the metrocable

Downtown

After the meal we set out to the city to ride the Metro- one of the most respected parts of the city. Since is was built 20 years ago, it has been maintained and never has graffiti. The metrocables was the craziest part of the day- the cable cars take you across the city up the steep mountainside passes some of the most dangerous parts of the city. The Metro round trip cost 1200 Colomian pesos ($1 = 1,800 Colombian Pesos) and that ticket takes you anywhere in the city, which makes it affordable for anyone to use it- unlike the BART in San Francisco that can cost an arm and a leg if you take it everyday. That public transportation made it extremely easier for members of the communities way up in the mountain side to have easier access to the city (a 20minute commute instead of 2+ hours by bus). Plus, it is the only city that uses this system as Public Transportation so far- how cool is that? Since the construction of the Metrocables there have also been many more schools that have opened and community projects that have commenced, in an area that has been know to have a high prevalence of gang violence. It was so interesting to learn what effects city planning can have on a community and its surrounding neighborhoods.
Tomorrow is my horseback riding lesson at 8am then after that we are off on a road trip to see other parts of the country. I am so excited to be on the first leg of my journey and with such great people. Life is good. Nos Vemos!

Medellin at sunset

Medellin at Night

Crazy plants in her garden

Ursula's cousin vaulting

My first night with Ursula, Anthony and her friends

The stables at night
More pictures can be viewed at

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=243147&id=661273687&l=424d720dc9

On the way out again

2010-08-20T20:52:00.000+07:00

A little less than a month after returning from India I am heading out again for a new adventure: South America. I will be studying Portuguese and learning how the Black Atlantic shaped this part of the world by dancing samba, playing capoiera and gaining an understanding of candomble. For the most part I will be in Bahia, Brazil for a study abroad program and living with a host family, but for now I am kicking off this trip with a visit to Medellin, Colombia to visit my friend Ursula who I studied (and was attached by the hip) with at UC Berkeley. She always invited me to see where she grew up but never thought I would have the opportunity... until now!

Leaving was a bit of a struggle... I had to deal with my passport getting stuck in San Francisco and going to the airport to make up some story to avoid a change flight fee. But, two days later I am in transit and sitting in Miami awaiting for my 4 month departure. I am so excited to see how this trip with change my character.... So far I have loved and felt extremely comfortable traveling through south and southeast Asia. Now is my chance to give South America a try. I've been dreaming of Brazil for so long now and ready to put my few reservations aside to experience life in a new way. I am looking forward to horseback riding in Colombia, celebrating my 25th birthday with friends in Rio, hiking to Macchu Picchu, and dancing salsa whenever I hear a beat.

Michael and Rebecca's Wedding

Boat trips on Lake Erie with my Family

Leaving Cleveland was harder than ever this time. I spent 3 amazing weeks enjoying the summertime at a slower pace than my usual trips home. I got to spend time with everyone individually, see my sister get happily married to a great guy, go on a crazy canoe trip with my dad, and become a local at a few spots in the city with some great friends. This trip made me feel more than ever that my life will turn out to be similar to the Alchemist- the more I see of the world, the more I will realize that what I have been searching for was right in front of me the whole time. That doesn't mean in anyway that I would exchange these experiences I have had so far... I still have some soul searching to do! The next 4 months are awaiting me right now. I am ready for this trip, although it is getting harder and harder to say goodbye to people, it is getting easier to prepare for an international adventure.

Enjoying summer with Gia

Leaving India

2010-07-29T20:10:00.000+07:00

This is a 5 minute overview of just part of the work I did this summer...
I've spent 6 out of the last 14 months in India. My 8 weeks Mumbai for this trip has come to an end. I found it hard to post during this trip for a few reasons. One, because our group was working so hard everyday. Two, we balanced the hard work with a healthy dose of social life in the Bollywood world. Three, because things just became so normalized that I honestly forgot I wasn't Indian some days.

Our partner NGO, PSI

I'd wake up, walk down the street, dodge some traffic (be it people,cars, buses, or cows) grab some chai for 4 rupees from my favorite chai stand while reading the Times of India and holding an umbrella to hide from the monsoon, eating a Samosa Pav in my other hand (yes, that adds up to four hands but if Vishnu can do it, so can I). I'd walk down J.B. Nager (the neighborhood I lived in for 2 years) and wave to all the shopkeepers and ask them how their day was going before jetting off in a rickshaw to the train station to attend meetings with lawyers, college professors, teachers, doctors, college students, and kids. Everyday was a good 12-14 hour day but never was I ready to call it an end before that.
I loved working with Haath Mein Sehat- through this group I have learned the skills I need for the future, especially in the Peace Corps next year. I can't say that this will be my last trip to India because I love this city, this country, and this culture too much to move on. Bombay has a place in my heart now, another place I will call home and have to make visits to in the future (especially since I have a 10 year visa!)

Working on a school installation at Muktangan

I feel so fortunate to have experienced what I have this summer with such an amazing group of dedicated and passionate activists that were my room mates... will I ever be so lucky to work with such a great crew of people? I hope so because the happiness I encountered this summer shouldn't be a once in a lifetime deal- but rather a lifestyle.
I am excited for the future of HMS to partner with Tata, Teach for India, new NGO's and for the work I poured my heart and soul into to be carried out in the future.Although I have left India, I have not left the project. I still have so many ideas and energies I want to put forth. I am proud of what I've done so far and really impressed with everyone's dedication to the project as well.

Awesome street food at Juhu Beach

1st grader in the 3 week program

Ganesh Shrine at train station

Crawford Market

Behrampada

Bandra-Worli Sea Link

This is an end to India for now... but not goodbye. I will miss the constant warmth, the coziness of no personal space, the rich aromas, the meaningful life lessons, new perspectives of where I place my values, the constant new conversations with new friends on marine drive, the friendly head bobbles on the trains, the hard bargaining, the chaat....ughhh... everything! Now I will be enjoying time with my family in Cleveland before heading off to South America in 3 weeks for a brand new set of stories, people and places to call home.

Back in Bombay... once again

2010-06-14T16:44:00.000+07:00

Back in Bombay for my third trip- I can’t believe that in the past year this is my third trip to India. I’ve grown to love this city, country, and culture. I’ve learned so much and questioned my assumptions and preconceived notions as to the stories I’ve heard about India. It was been two weeks since I arrived and it felt so great to land and know my way around the entire city. The weather is incredible hot--- almost 100 degrees everyday with the sun beating down on you. I am in my element, this is my favorite climate, the only thing to make it better is a hot cup of chai on the street corner. Life is good. What makes this trip so much better is that I can speak some hindi- it has made a huge difference in making connections and getting around. It always shocks the locals to hear me say a few phrases in Hindi. Little by little I am learning how to have a conversation in another language for the first time ever.

I am working again with Haath Mein Sehat (Health in your Hands in Hindi) for the summer and the project is going really well. We have an incredibly dynamic group of individuals on our team that work really well together and we are ahead of schedule in terms of our planning for the summer. I am so happy to be working on a collaborative group project as most of my previous work has been solo- this experience taught me the value of working and sharing ideas with people that bring you to think about things from such a different angle. This summer my role is to introduce all the new members to the city and the colleges we work with. It feels really great to be established in this city to show up to a college and have the professors know you and work together with them on a project that you have created.

The bulk of my summer will be split into two projects: carrying out a three week hygiene education program that we will be presenting to Teach for India and also conducting an ethnographic research on the use and storage of water in Behrampada- a slum in the Bandra East part of Mumbai. I am very excited with how well the programs have been designed, all of us in the group have spent countless hours putting together the programs by taking a holistic approach and applying the research knowledge we have gained from Berkeley to put it into action. This is my line of work- its right up my alley. HMS has prompted me to think about going into Public Health for my masters… but that will be down the line… after the Peace Corps.

Not only am I excited to work on our project but also to explore the city some more. My time in Bombay will be characterized by the long conversation while watching the sun set on marine drive, taking trains so packed that you think you don’t have enough space to take another breath, eating food so spicy and rich of flavor, and challenging my ideals of the value of money through understanding different perspectives. I never used to be a city person- in fact growing up you couldn’t get me out of the woods…. but Bombay has completely changed that in me. Now, I love cities- especially this one… the chaos, the hustle, the noise, the warmth, the crowds, the buzz, the dynamics of it all.

Leaving Berkeley

2010-05-29T02:26:00.000+07:00

I just left Berkeley last night for what might be for the next 3 years. I have alot of traveling coming up in my future. Currently I am making my way back to India (Currently on a 14 hour layover in Chicago) to work with Haath Mein Sehat for 8 weeks in Mumbai. I am so excited to return to Mumbai for my 3rd time. I know the city know and know how to get around and even have a great group of friends in the city.
It was really emotional and intense leaving Berkeley- I have lived there for a quick 2 years while I was finishing up my requirements for the Bachelors in Anthropology and Global Poverty. My family was in town for my graduation which was awesome and I had to quickly wind up packing my bags and moving out of my apartment... My homebase is now Cleveland, Ohio again! It is tripping my mind out to think that if and when I return to San Francisco I will be turning 28.... When did I become an adult all of the sudden?! Do I really want to leave San Fran when life is so good there right now? Too many things going through my head but for one it feels so good to have finished my degree- I have been working on it since 2004 and now I've dont what I needed. The world is now mine.
It will be a great summer in Mumbai and then I will be heading back to Ohio for my sister's wedding before I again hit the traveling path for a 4 month trip through South America. Life is good. So good.

Understanding where this is going...

2010-01-10T15:52:00.005+07:00

It has been a crazy week bouncing back into Bombay- It feels good to know my way around and have a network of friends in this city. I've been traveling around the city to each college and community HMS works with and it is amazing to see how our program has panned out. As I mentioned in the last post I couldn't help but feel out of place working in a country that is not my own on issues in poverty stricken areas. After seeing the effects of the work our team has put in- it is an empowering feeling to be a part of this program.
The importance of Haath Mein Sehat is for one, that we reach out to communities to we have worked with to spread the message of water storage and hygienic practices. The combination of these can potentially lead to a better quality of life, better access to an education, and less days of work missed due to preventable illnesses. The second important outcome of this project is that it empowers all the members who participate in the program. After talking to some of the college volunteers, it has been very inspirational to hear their feedback about participating with this program. Many of them are deeply involved with community service and youth development. Hearing what they've learned through this process and what they plan to do in the future to motivate more people on these issues.
So... I regained my understanding for way I need to be a part of such organizations.. to be a part of the whole system and to help outreach messages to others and the importance of youth development. I've learned more from this program than any class I've taken in the past and know that I will continue this work in the future. I've learned so much about the effects of lack of access to basic human rights and also gained insights to the politics that are involved in such processes.

1)Talking with the Students about their experiences with HMS
2) Presenting Certificates of Completion to the students and professors of SNDT college

Back to Bombay

2010-01-02T15:05:00.006+07:00

After traveling for 3 days, I arrived in Mumbai- it's a strange feeling to be back. On the flight here I got stuck in Kuwait for a day. We were sitting on the place on the runway for an hour and a half when the engine turned off. We were stuck in the airport for 6 hours and then they finally gave us a hotel room and we all got visas to enter into Kuwait and waited for them to stamp our passports. I spent the day roaming around the downtown portion of the city and couldn't help but notice the large south and south east Asian population living here amongst the Kuwaitis. The buildings were all very modern in the downtown area but as you looked out into the horizon you quickly saw how the desert hugged the city. I went back to the hotel and washed the dry dust off my clothes and grabbed a meal that was all olives, hummus, pita, and feta- it was great, and all payed for by Kuwait airlines.
On the plane back I met up with my GSI from Berkeley, Aditya- we knew that we were both going to be in Bombay over the break but didn't expect to be on the same flight, let alone sitting behind each other. I was glad I met up with him to have someone to ring in the new year with. We landed in Mumbai at 5 am on New Year's Eve and immediately all my senses were bombarded and every memory from last summer came back to me. I smelled the paan, the masalas, and the pollution and saw all the vibrant colors that I forgot India projects.
My first day, like most other peoples first was pretty memorable- it felt great to know my way around the city- hoping on trains, picking up passes, recharching my phone. It was a comfortable feeling, especially since I am here alone, whereas I was with 10 other students last summer. I cannot explain enough what a change I just went through by coming to Bombay. I spent the previous 2 weeks in Cleveland, Ohio visiting my family and left the snow for the heat of Bombay. Two completely different worlds.
My objective for this trip is to keep Haath Mein Sehat's (HMS) contacts with all the colleges we work with and conduct focus groups with the students. This will help us to gain a better understanding of how our education programs are fitting into their curriculum and determining the efficacy of our education and outreach programs. Although I feel quite comfortable here there is still the feeling lingering that I am an outsider coming to work on Water and sanitation issues in urban slum areas. When I meet knew people here and explain what I am doing here I can't help but feel as if I am just some colonizer trying to fix certain situations. I try to remain humbled and make sure that the program I am working with is working in a way that is sustainable in India without my presence once I leave.

2009-06-30T13:05:00.007+07:00

After spending two days exploring Mumbai and getting used to the city, Monday came around and it was time to get start with Haath Mein Sehat (HMS) Hindi for “Health in Your Hands”- The reason I am in India. We have really hit the ground running with meeting with college professors, students, and NGO's in the area- it has helped me to learn so much about Mumbai and India.
HMS is a student group that started in 2004 at the UC Berkeley campus that focuses its efforts on water, sanitation, and hygienic outreach programs. Right now there are 10 of us working on our project and we are split into 2 teams; Education and Evaluation. I am part of the education team and we are putting together a pilot program that we are going to try out this summer. Our plan involves a sort of networking practice. We are pairing up with college students that HMS has worked with in the past and using them to pair up with 8th graders to establish a mentoring program. The 8th graders are then going to be mentoring 1st graders about the importance of handwashing habits. Our aim is to make an impact on behavior changes- research has shown that the best times of making those changes are at earlier ages and at the start of a new environment. After meeting with the program manager of PSI, a network of education programs in the largest slum of Asia-Darvai, they decided to school to allow us to come into their school and take on our project. Our education model is based on around the fact that it generally takes three weeks to form a new habit so we have created a program that will demonstrate to kids the importance of handwashing in a fun way to help decrease the occurrences of diarrhea, which most people commonly think of it as just a normal part of childhood. The reason why this is so important is because many students become severely dehydrated from diarrhea and miss school or even work which will have an impact on their chances to a better livelihood. Studies have shown that just by using soap for 20 seconds with non filtered water can decrease the amount of diarrheal deaths by 42-50%- so this is why we feel as if we need to make an impact in the schools we are working with.
We have all been working together to make this project work and get through obstacles along the way. One of the slum communities we have worked with, Berhampada, had a devastating fire take a toll on half the neighborhood. Some of the families we have worked with lost almost everything- even members of their family and were relocated into temporary camps where about 200 people live in one room and they must all share one or two bathrooms. It has been a real eye-opener to understand the realities these people must come to face. Since most of the land they live on is not governmentally owned, they do not get any assistance for rebuilding their life back together and are left to figure out a solution to live with. The struggle for survival is strong in many aspects of life here, life gets competitive. With only being here 2 weeks I have seen more poverty than I have ever been exposed to in my entire life- it is sad but realistic. It brings many emotions to the table that you have to come face to face with.
It has been interesting putting our plans into action- all school year our group has been meeting and trying to figure out what we want to accomplish while we were back in Berkeley but now we are here and it is quite a challenge to put it into effect. Everyday we have meetings with some head of a school or college and for the most part they have all been very helpful and excited to have us here and have given us good advice as to how to tweak our ideas to fit in an Indian education system. I've learned so much already about the politics and infrastructure of the slums, the education system, family lifestyle, and just Indian life in general. By the end of the day I find myself completely exhausted- all the new experiences, crowds of people, new environments can really be draining- but all completely worth it.
Although we have been working non-stop, we have also been enjoying our free time non stop as well. Just the other day I realized how much I have come to love Mumbai. I think it was because I am finally gaining a grasp on the completely different pace of life. At first I was so overwhelmed by the amount of people that you are always surrounded by- it has now changed my outlook on the concept of space. The apartment we live in is in the middle of a huge suburb and we have begun to make friends with some of the neighbors- the kids love to play cricket with us which is the most popular sport here in India. Our apartment is like a co-op- all 10 of us live in a 3 bedroom place and we do everything together and for each other in a very democratic manner. It also has a great rooftop area to sit down and unwind at the end of the night (as long as one of the large bats in the air doesn't land on you). Everyday a variety of funny events occur- one day the rickshaw driver (A kind of motorcycle taxi with a backseat) allowed me to drive his vehicle back to my apartment- it was so fun to drive it around! We have been able to get to see some of the nightlife of Mumbai as well and I am learning how to dance to Indian bollywood songs. Where in America it is a faux pas for a man to dance with his arms above his head, in India it is almost mandatory. We also we able to see a Bollywood film in a theater- 3 of our friends were able to translate (though I am trying to pick out some words to understand the dialog. I am very slowly picking up some Hindi.... very slowly. Hindi, however, only gets you so far because many people speak Marathi or Urdu. Its all a learning process- I love figuring out all the little cultural things of the area. The best example is the head bobble every one does to agree with you and that saying yes means shaking your head no... it gets confusing when you ask a taxi to take you somewhere and they shake their head no so you think they wont take you but then they say get in. I started going to the worlds oldest Yoga studio- it was opened 91 years ago and focuses mostly on meditation but also how to focus your life. An 85 year old man sat me down and told me some of the greatest lessons he has learned during the course of his life... it was one of those great moments you never forget about your travels. The food here is so good, it is one of my favorite parts. You can go out for such a great meal for less than $2.50. All the spices, smells, and flavors are really growing on me. There are so many street vendors selling cheap exotic foods so everyday I try to taste something new- luckily my stomach has been liking it. Last weekend a few of us took a train to Goa- it was a 12 hour train ride that quite possibly might be one of the worst conditions I've been on in public transportation ever (well besides that boat ride in the Philippines). I bought the train ticket way late and ended up being stuck 3rd class in the luggage comparmnet that was so packed that you could barely breath.
This has all been one great adventure. It has given me time to think about where I am at in my life and the direction I want to take. I am enjoying my time here and am happy to be a part of Haath Mein Sehaat and I look forward to working with them when I return to the states in the Fall. For now it is back to the planning and preparations for our next meeting. For being just a bunch of college students at Berkeley, I am really impressed at how professional we have made this program- we've even come to the point of deciding whether or not we want to become our own NGO!
Students taking part in our education prgram at SNDT college

A view from the roof of our apartment

A rainbow appearinng after a monsoon rain

One of the beautiful churches in Goa

This is an Indian beach in Goa...with cows roaming

First Day in Bombay

2009-06-15T11:01:00.014+07:00

Wow. India.
Landing this morning was quite intense, immediately I realized the small ideals of personal space here in this country as everyone was jammed packed in line for immigration. I ended up missing my flight in Manila and had to reschedule which meant spending the night in Bangkok. Since I lived there for a month last year I was happy to spend the night because I knew my way around the city being there for the night made me really miss Thailand seeing the monks doing there morning food collections, the temples, the smiles.
I shouldn't have missed that flight in Manila, I had my confirmation number and everything but my ticket was lost in the system. The Philippines is a very laid back country- and I loved that so much about the place except when I needed to figure out what happened to my ticket- it took 4 hours to finally reschedule the flight, but whatever- it all worked out in the end. I am going to miss the Philippines because it was such an adventure and I loved all the aspects about life there. In the Philippines everyone raises their eyebrows to motion hello. At first I thought everyone was flirting, but realized it was just a gesture to great someone. It became extremely catchy and now I keep doing it here in India and everyone just stares. I will also miss in the Philippines how you'd hear people trying to get your attention by going 'pppssssssstttt”.
So my mind was completely overwhelmed when I stepped out of the airport- I felt like I was in a whole different world- the sights, the variety of different smells, the actions of the people. the glares, my stares, and most of all- all the colors. India is everything I pictured it to be- I have been studying this country for about a year now so I am so happy to see everything I've learned in person. I was picked up from the airport from two of the students working on Haath Mein Sehat from the Berkeley campus and taken to our apartment where we will be living for the summer. We live in an area called the Rajasthan Society in a strictly vegetarian building. I spent the first day figuring out the city, sight seeing, learning the trains, and trying to stay grounded from such a culture shock. The trains are the craziest to me right now- you get jammed packed like sardines into a car and people have to push hard to get off at the stop they want-even if the train is still moving. It is going to be a very interesting summer, I can't believe I'm in India!
Picture from the Dhobi Ghats- this is where all the clothes of the city are sent to be washed and cleaned.

This is a view of the infamous Taj hotel and the Gateway of India in South Mumbai

This is a picture from Elephanta Island in South Mumbai from a rock cut cave- These images date back to 5-7 century.

This is where everyone in Mumbai comes to stroll along Marine Drive at night.

Back to the Philippines- Here are some pics I've been meaning to share

This is a sunset in El Nido... Such a beautiful place, it was worth the 10 hour death boat

Snorkeling in the small lagoon, an island off of Palawan with crystal clear waters...

A guy showing us how to eat Balut- the fertilized chicken or duck egg- he said that you eat it for energy, "like a redbull"

This is the bus getting caught in mud in the jungle on the way from El Nido to Puerto Princesa

This is when we made it to the top of the mountain on the rock climbing trip I thought I was going to die from

Ok... it's time to start working on Water and Sanitation- I might be MIA for a bit- just got a cell phone number here- email me if you need to get in touch

Masayah Ko (I'm enjoying life)

2009-06-11T20:40:00.002+07:00

Warning: Mom and Dad, don't read this one.

Jamie and I had a pretty close call with death the other day on a small boat that took us from one island to another. We were traveling from Coron to El Nido and the normally 6-8 hours boat trip took a little over 10 and a half that day. On a small wooden boat we made the trek through open sea by dodging 8 to 10 feet waves, harsh winds, and more rain you could imagine. Walls of water were capsizing onto our boat blasting us in water for more than 3 seconds at a time. It is definitely monsoon season here. I've been on some pretty choppy waters in Lake Erie on my dad's boat growing up but this was by far the scariest boat ride I've ever been on, I am glad I don't have to worry about seasickness. A lot runs through your head when you can't see land and your caught out in a storm on open waters. There was a couple from Russia on the boat with us and surprisingly a guy from San Francisco who was Russian and was able to translate for all of us. They became great people to know over the next few days. That boat ride will be forever burned in my mind as one of the closets calls to death. Sure it was a risk, but what I find more of a risk is avoiding these situations in order to be careful, how much of your life will pass you by from not taking chances?
Anyways, we finally made it to El Nido and it was well worth the trek. El Nido is now by far the most beautiful place I've seen with everything you need to be happy the rest of your life. Despite some rain we got caught in, I had no problem hanging out in bamboo huts on the beach with locals. Before getting to El Nido, we got stuck in Coron for a few too many days because the weather was not good to travel- I can't even imagine making that boat trip if the weather was worse. While in Coron we ended up going back to the Ladyboy bar..... All four nights we were there. It was partly because it was the only nightlife the town offered but also because we befriended the lead singer, Laura, who ended up being somewhat of a famous singer/model in the Philippines. The town of Coron was small and after 4 days we probably knew half the people in the town One night we ended up renting a motorbike(that broke down repeatedly in the jungle) to cruise the island then hang out with some of the workers from our hotel in a nearby hotspring. It was so amazing, everyone down on the Palawan islands have great outlooks on life and it made me put all my petty problems back home into a new perspective.
In El Nido we quickly got to know half the town again and were able to go island hopping through the most beautiful islands I've ever seen- I don't know what could have made this more of paradise. One day the security guards from our place took my to the top of the mountain in El Nido, I thought it was going to be a quick hike but ended up being a free-base rock climbing adventure. We scaled cliffs with drops of 200 feet below us, only hanging on with our hands and supported by a very small ledge- My legs were trembling worse than ever before but the view from the top made it well worth it. I never expected the Philippine's to be such an adventurous place to travel and the strange thing is not too many tourist come here- it must be because the Philippine's are looked down upon because of the kidnappings that have occurred in the past.
The time came to leave that town of paradise and we headed down Palawan to Puerto Princesa with an English guy and French girl who brought nothing but pure entertainment to the trip. We all squeezed in a small van fit for 10 but sat 13 for a 8 hour trip down a muddy path which we got stuck, ran out of gas, and the axle broke- it was a long journey for sure, especially when people are passing gas and the windows are shut. We were crammed in the van with two disturbing men from Australia that made it very obvious they were here on a sex tour... nasty. Puerto Princesa is a larger town and we are here in time for the Barangatan festival where everyone on the island tries to make it here to show off their local specialties. My time in the Philippines has come to an end but will hopefully not be the last time I am here- there is still way more to see but I am very happy with all we've done and all the funny times that came our way. If all my planes leave as scheduled I will arrive in Mumbai tomorrow night around 10pm.

Trannies and tricycles

2009-06-03T18:13:00.015+07:00

Just landed on the island of Busuanga and headed to a town called Coron. We are in the jungle, the air is fresh, and the town is small. Surprising, however, is the amount of transexuals here. My cousin and I found an awesome resort right on the water and then hit the town to go have a drink. We asked someone where to go and they told us to go to this bar called Hard Rock- so we walk in and there are two trannies and a girl performing on stage. To make things more strange, the girl performing was on the same flight from Manila as us, as well as here overweight tranny friend. She/He noticed us right away and wanted us to sing with her onstage. At least here you can tell the trannies right away here, unlike Thailand where I most likely made out with one accidentally at a club. We sat down then noticed that it was blatantly obvious that we were having drinks at a gay bar- big deal. We made quite the scene walking in- it was a local joint and then all of the sudden two white dudes walk in. We ended up staying for way too many drinks- this was way too entertaining to leave. Eventually we ended up talking to these guys that looked like at the table next to us to get the lowdown on island hopping in the area. Someone came around and was selling Balut (its a fertilized duck or chicken egg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut_(egg)) We all ended up trying one- I've heard about this 'dish' before and wanted to try it as it was the perfect time- it was in a dark bar so I didn't have to see it, I was a few drinks deep, and I was able to watch Filipinos eat it first. Man, never again. It wasn't that bad, it really just tasted like a hard boiled egg but knowing it was in my mouth still is making my stomach ache. Gotta try everything once though.
Anyways here are some pics of the trip so far.....

This is a viewpoint from one of the islands we made it to.

Viewpoint from our rooftop.

Coral Reefs in the warm clear water.

Jamie sticking a pose

This was a view from the top of on island we hiked

This is a crappy pic of a sunken ship from WW2.

This is us at the top of Taal Volcano

This was on the Pagsanjan River

Bahala na (No worries)

2009-05-29T05:14:00.012+07:00

The Philippines is such an interesting place to travel- you don't come across many backpackers like you are bombarded with in Thailand. Instead the foreigners you see here, mostly Korean, are here for business ordeals or sadly enough sexual tourism. Prostitution is overwhelmingly apparent and heavily pushed on to anyone walking down the street. Being a male, you can hardly get down the street without someone trying to sell you “beautiful chicks”, viagara, or have massage parlors trying to get you an “extra service”. Here there are not as many tours set up for the visitors like Thailand- yo get where you need to go you really need to ask around how to get from place to place. Although the Philippines is way cheaper that the states, it does not compare to what you can get out of other parts of South East Asia. The Lonely Planet book for the Philippines has there latest edition as 2006- and is heavily outdated and every number you can expect to be out of service or the price to be way off. The only thing that you can trust to be accurate is the map as this is a constantly changing country. Dear Lonely Planet.... Please update that book, if you need someone to redo it, I'm your man. It is really hot here- like upper 80's with just about 100 percent humidity. It makes getting anything done quite a chore and we have come across a lot of rain as it is the beginning of the monsoon season. Luckily language is not as much of a barrier here as everyone speaks English, in fact many people speak English to each other and not their native language of Tagalog.
The traffic is really crazy here, especially in Manila. Fumes of exhaust cake your lungs as you walk down the street and taxis, buses, and jeepneys all come flying down the street. There are not many traffic lights which makes intersections a complete disaster as drivers just push there way through to get to the point the need. You can get anywhere you need to by public transportation- but figuring it out is the tricky part. Manila has two train systems, the MRT and LRT that can take you all around the city for about 15 pesos (about 35 cents). Its very similar to the BART in San Francisco in that sense. Besides that are the jeepneys- a very funny way to get where you need. You just have to read on the side where they are going and flag them down. You climb in the back with about 20 other passengers and pay 7 pesos for the first 4 kilometers and 1 peso for every additional kilometer. It makes getting around pretty cheap, that is if you end up getting to the right destination. We've taken about a dozen of them so far and never have ridden with any other foreigners. Buses are really confusing. There are 3 main stations in Manila but there are no schedules or routes anywhere. To get somewhere you have to do a great deal of asking around to find out the right path to take.
Despite some confusing obstacles, my cousin and I have been able to see and do a lot since we have been here. Hanging out with my cousin Jamie is hilarious- we have been getting ourselves into crazy predicaments and laughing about our ridiculous childhoods. This is definitely a trip that we will be looking back 30 years from now and have stories to tell. After staying in Manila for a few days roaming the city, checking out the nightlife and trying to get a grip on this country, we headed south of the city to a place called Pagsanjan. There is a famous river that was the site for a scene in Apocalypse Now. We took a canoe up the river for an hour and a half as the tour guides paddled strongly against the 17 rapids to get to the end of the river. The guys had to work so hard to get upstream, it was uncomfortable to sit back and enjoy the views when someone else was struggling so hard to get you up the river. At that top was the famous water fall that pounded a strong current of water down 70 feet. On a bamboo raft we were able to be pulled under the falls to view “Devil's Cave” underneath. The river itself had absolutely stunning views, it was wedged between 2 towering walls of jungle and numerous waterfalls on each side. Even though it was raining pretty hard during this rapid ride, we were able to see a whole different side of the Philippines besides what we did in Manila. After the falls we were making our way to Tagaytay to view a volcano but the traffic was so backed up along the way that we ended up getting off the bus in a random town to spend the night. We ended up in an area that had natural hot springs. We were stoked but we ended up at this family resort and we were the only foreigners there. We made quite a scene walking through that resort and everyone was staring at us. Someone we ended up talking to explained to us that not many backpackers come through this area so people were probably wondering what the hell we were up to. Despite the stares we ended up going into the hot springs for a bit, the water was warm and relaxing until we noticed some creatures swimming around and we quickly got out. We woke up the next morning and made out way to Taal Volcano- Its the worlds smallest volcano that has a lake and and island in the center. That makes it and island within a lake within an island within a lake within and island- try figuring that one out. We made the strenuous hike to the top and enjoyed the views at the top after we took numerous boats, buses, and jeepneys to get to the destination.
Now back in Manila we are getting ready to fly to a place called Basuanga so we can make it to Palawan, a group of islands that are known for the most beautiful seascapes in the world. Our flight was scheduled to leave yesterday but we missed our flight and now we are waiting in the airport for out next flight that has already been delayed 4 hours. One thing you need here is patience as everything takes longer than expected and is done on a whole different system that people are used to in the states. I have seen poverty before bu nothing has compared to what I have seen here. Manila can go from the most elite to the poorest of the poor. One night we went to the best clubs in Manila called the Embassy- we took a taxi while everyone else strolled up in a Jaguar or Mercedes. Definitely the richest people went here, but sadly enough not even a mile away is a large slum were hundreds of kids sleep outside and spend the nights begging for change in the street while the women strolled the streets selling their bodies. I can only imagine what India is going to be like.
This next week is going to be quite a vacation- I can't wait to get out of Manila. If I see one more old white dude with a young girl I am going to seriously freak out.

Back on the road.... or plane

2009-05-27T16:08:00.000+07:00

Just touched down in Manila, traveling once more. This time I will be gone for 3 months as well, just like I was for Thailand. It has been 13 months since I last left the country and this morning as I was in Hong Kong for a layover I remembered the last time I was here when I just found out that I got accepted to UC Berkeley- it is crazy to realize how much my life has changed since that point and how much I have learned about the world since that moment.
I will be in the Philippine's for 15 days traveling and touring to then fly to Mumbai, India to begin my 8 week water and sanitation project with Haath Mein Sehat, to then return back to Berkeley in late August. It will be quite the summer ahead of me and I am anticipating every single moment. The rush of the semester ending and everything else has pushed me to really want a break.... traveling is my outlet for this. Despite scaring my family (especially my mother), learning by doing is my way of understanding this world.
I arrived in Manila to a storm, grabbed a taxi and met up with my cousin at the hotel he was staying. The weather is very hot and humid, a refreshing change from San Fransisco which has been chilly (almost winter chilly) this past week. Manila reminds me very much of Bangkok in terms of housing, highways, globalization, and organized chaos. We will spend the next day or two in the city until we decide on what path to take next- the Philippines has so much to offer and I can't wait to soak as much of it in as I can in the next 2 weeks. I'd love to stay longer but I'll take what I can get in 15 days :)
Thank you to everyone who has helped me out and supported me for this trip- it is you that make this all possible and you know who you are!!!
I can't wait to show you all what I'm seeing.... man, the world has so much to offer!

Back to Reality

2008-05-11T02:27:00.006+07:00

I made it back to America safely and after a few days I am finally back to the swing of things. It was very weird to be back at first, but it is crazy how quickly you can just readjust to such a different lifestyle. These last three months have been such a great journey and nothing bad happened, everything turned out very well! The trip answered some very important questions for me:

Yes, I want to go further with my major in Cultural Anthropology.

Yes, I want to join the Peace Corps (or some kind of program that is similar) .

Yes, I am ready to live outside of the country for a long period of time.

The trip also posed many more questions for my soul to figure out on the way. Everyday is one step closer to figuring out my place in this world.

I am now back to work (thankfully!) and I have two weeks to put my portfolio together for my photography class. It is so hard to pic just a few pictures from the trip.

Thank you to everyone who read my blog, it was nice to have an audience! This is a video of Lop Buri and Sukothai. I never had a chance to post it but it is pretty funny because it shows me getting attacked by a monkey.

As for now, I have to think of a way to ever top this trip. I'm thinking South America next but this time maybe for a year. Part of me wants to continue discovering the beauty of southeast Asia. We'll see.

Going back to California-

2008-05-05T11:19:00.004+07:00

I'm at the airport waiting for my plane to take off. This will be my last oversees blog. I've become so addicted to blogging, I'll miss it for sure. I am really excited to get back and see everyone and talk to people on a normal basis and not just short phone calls or emails.
I love Asia. I love everything about it: the people, the food, the landscape, the religions, and ideals. I have really enjoyed my trip and would love to return here someday. I have to say my favorite part was northern Thailand, life was so amazing there!
I didn't have a very good welcome to Hong Kong due to the whole hotel thing but the city grew on me fast. It is such a large beautiful city! It reminds me a bit of Vancouver... clean, green, and modern with huge mountains all around. I got to see so much of the city by hopping around on all the different types of transportation- trams, buses, subways, and ferries.

The one day I took the subway to see the "Giant Buddha" It's the bigges Buddha in the world. It was wat up at the top of a mountain on a separate island that that of Hong Kong. I took a cable car that that stretched over a large mountain valley and it raced along a track that was over 300 feet from the ground. It was such a beautiful place that had Zen gardens all around and one large temple at the top. From there I took a bus to a small fishing village to eat some seafood. I got there just at sunset so I sat down to enjoy the view. One of the locals, an older man, came and sat by me and started talking to me. He knew English very well and was very interested to hear what I had to say. I could tell that he must be very lonely. He insisted on showing me around his village and telling me everything he knew. He was excited that I was interested in Anthropology so he wanted to tell me about his culture. We stopped at his house so he could drop off his bags and he invited me in for tea. He lived in a small little house and he wanted to show me everything he owned as well. He kept giving me food to take with me on the bus. He was so nice! We then went to get so seafood- we ate dinner and then it was time for me to catch the bus back. I thought I was only going to be in that village an hour but it ended up being 6. His name was Ping-Ki Lui which means "A miracle will come". He was a firm believer in reincarnation and told me he hopped it to be that way because a miracle never came in this life for him. It was so sad.
Every night at 8pm they had an event called "Symphony of Lights" and the whole city would glow as each building would light up in an array of different colors. I was really glad I got to see this city. Although it was an expensive place to pass the time it was well worth it. All the hills in the city made me think of San Francisco and made me very excited to move up there this fall.
I have more to say but I'd better go catch my plane- I'm about to travel through time.. haha. My flight leaves Hong Kong at 1:30pm on Monday and arrives in Los Angeles at 11 am on Monday as well due to the time change. If all goes well I'll be back in Ocean Beach San Diego by 5pm on Monday night!
America here I come!!!

Goodbye Thailand

2008-04-30T09:49:00.010+07:00

I would have been sad that my time in the country I have come to know so well the last 3 months is over, but looking back I realize how lucky I have been. I have had so many authentic relationships and memories that will carry on with me forever, I got to experience life first-hand of a hill-tribe village, celebrate the new year with my host family, spend a month in crazy Bangkok, and about two weeks floating around the islands of the south. The last island I visited, Koh Phi Phi, is by far the most beautiful place I have ever seen- It will take some work to try and top that place! Plus what got my mind of leaving the country was when I was at the airport- I went and checked my email for one very important message..... I am happy to announce that I have been accepted to the University of California Berkeley!! My hands were trembling as I went to check the status and as I waited for the page to load I felt like the whole world stopped- so much of my time and energy has been focused on getting into this school. When the page finally loaded it read: Congratulations! I jumped and hollered with excitement and everyone stared- I didn't know how to say in Thai that my life just completely changed.

In Koh Toa I met an Irish guy on the boat over who was doing the scuba course as well- we shared a room which ended up saving both us us alot of money plus we both went out to the bars together at night to meet people. It was such an amazing 4 days! I'd get up early to watch the sunrise and eat breakfast by the water then walk along the beach to my diving school where there we would head out on a boat and dive in some of Thailand's clearest waters. Scuba Diving was everything I thought it would be and more, the feeling of weightlessness was incredible. The marine life displayed every vibrant color of the rainbow and I got to see so many different species of fish and coral and swim through a cave where there I saw a white-eyed eel. We ended up going to 18 meters which is about 55 feet- the pressure of the water that far was very strong but we learned how to keep your body equalized. There were 6 people in our course: Me from America, 1 from Ireland, 1 from Austria, 1 from Holland, and 2 from Germany. Everyone was very friendly and out going. Our instructor was German would say things like, "Puts zthe regulator in your mouse, somesing like dat" haha It was like having Arnold Schwarzenegger as your teacher. I am now certified to dive anywhere in the world up to 18 meters!

After the diving course I took a boat to Koh Samui where I stayed for just one day. I met some Thais at the Full Moon party and I exchanged numbers with Ao, one of the girls I met. We kept in touch and she told me to come visit her because it was her friend's birthday party. We had so much fun! Her and her friend Ita showed me around the island and then we went to the party where there were about 10 other Thais and we ate incredible seafood and drank whisky. It was so much fun trying to communicate with them and take part in one of their celebrations! After the birthday party we went out to one of the clubs until late in the night and ordered hookah.

The next day I was painfully tired but was able to sleep on my way to Koh Phi Phi. When I arrived on the island, my eyes grew wide- I've never seen such a beautiful place than this before! It was paradise and I didn't want to leave. The next morning I work up early and took a day tour that took me around the surrounding island on a boat full of fun people that blasted reggae tones. The sights were amazing and the boat would stop off at points for us to go swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking. One stop was called "Shark Point"- you had to swim about 300 feet to get to it but once there the water was invested with sharks! It was so scary but they said there was no worries about the sharks so I did my best to follow them and take pictures. Then we stopped off at Maya bay-the famous place where they filmed the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio. It was so beautiful but way too many people.

After the tour I sat on the beach and watched the sunset- then I went and got a tattoo! I've been planning it my whole trip but wanted to get it done at the right place- and that place was Koh Phi Phi. There was a variety of places to choose from but I picked this small place that was actually just a bamboo hut and not a big store. I got a traditional bamboo tattoo- it took about 3 hours and I got a basic design but love the way it came out. It was really hard to communicate with Bom, the guy who worked on me but it was a fun process- he was happy that I could speak some Thai because he couldn't speak English. After the tattoo was finished he invited me to hang out with him and his friends. It was such a fun night hanging out with 4 Tattoo-loving Thais. It was a really great end to my time in Thailand and I will remember that experience the rest of my life! As for the tattoo I got "Thailand is Totally Cool" written across my chest.... just kidding- you'll have to wait and see it in person.

My last day in Thailand was spent in Bangkok- I had an early flight the next morning so had to stay near the airport. It was great because I called my neighbor I knew from living here and him and I went out to Lava- a big club on Khoa San Road. It was a really fun night. The next day I was off to Hong Kong. I was arriving on a public holiday so I made sure to book a room well in advance. From the airport I took a but to my hotel and walked my way through the very busy streets with all my luggage. After some looking around I found the place and it was in a very strange building with sketchy security. I got to the front desk and asked to check in. I didn't know what I did wrong but I ended up getting kicked out of the hotel... haha I've never been kicked out of somewhere like that before. I already paid for the room online so I had to wait for a refund which made the owner even more angry. It turns out he was just very stressed out and his place got over booked. That left me to look for a new place with no reservation. The only open room in the city was going for $250 American Dollars!! no way. I ended up finding a cheaper place but couldn't check in till after 10 pm. I had to deal with all my luggage, it was quite a pain. When I booked my ticket to Thailand I was so excited I didn't think much about how visiting an expensive city for 4 days after not working for 3 months might not be such a good idea. haha oh well I am here and my credit card will have to just take one for the team- I have a reason to celebrate, I got in to Berkeley!

I'm off to walk around this crazy huge city and try to avoid spending too much money. At this point I am very excited to go back to Ocean Beach- I have many things to look forward to this summer (like my family visiting! whoop whoop!) and plus I need to get back in the the real world and work alot this summer!

Full Moon Party on Koh Pha Ngan

2008-04-22T20:31:00.006+07:00

I have been to many full moon parties on Black's Beach in San Diego but this one was no where near the same experience! There were over 4,000 people on Haad Rin beach and the party did not stop until about noon the next day. There were people from all over the world on this beach all here to party the night away. It was almost confusing as to if I was still in Thailand anymore because no one was actually from this island. The bungalow I was staying at that night was farther away so I had to take a boat to get to the party- once we turned the corner to the bay that the full moon party was my eyes widened- it was one huge carnival! The boat dropped a group of about 20 of us off in the shallow water and the rest of the night was spent wondering around and dancing at one of the many dj stations. They had clubs set up along the beach and I hopped from one to the next, each one having its own style of music and crowd.

The party was very intense and required a day of recovery to get back to the normal pace of life. However, I was so glad I made it to the party- it was something I'll never forget. Southern Thailand is quite a dream- the landscapes and beaches are unreal. Everyone around here is traveling and it is very easy to meet people to travel with because someone is bound to be going to the next place you want to go. I have to say that I think I like the north better. I liked being the only faraang (westerner) around and plus the pace of life was slower. Down south it is all vacationers living large and prices are way higher.

I left Koh Pha Ngan this morning and made it to Koh Tao. I started my PADI open-water certificate to scuba dive this afternoon and start diving tomorrow! I have been looking forward to this point of my journey from before I even booked my plane ticket! The water around this island is very very clear with an abundance of marine life. I'm ready to hit the water!

Here are a few pictures from Cambodia..... I loved Angkor Wat so much- I had the biggest nerd smile on my face the entire time I was there! haha

Happy New Year!

2008-04-19T05:57:00.006+07:00

After Mae Hong Song I treaveled to Chiang Khong, a border town between Lao and Thailand. I only had a couple days to be in Lao before I had to be back in Chiang Mai and a visa to get in the country was about $45 so I didn't go to mainland Laos but I did go to an Island that is considered Lao territory (it was incredibly cheaper!) I rented a motorcycle and went to see the Mekong river. I hired a boat driver to take me around the river and to the island of Don Sao (Lao) for a half day. When I got onto the island I was offered a shot of whisky that was aged in King Cobra- whisky seems to be the common theme of this trip. The cobra was supposed to help you with fortune and health so I tried it! The island was cool and I was really glad I got to take a mini trip on the Mekong river. I got to ride along the border of Lao, Myanmar, and Thailand all in one trip. After that I rode along the Mekong river on the Thai side until I came to Mae Sai about 40 miles north of Chiang Khong. With songkran coming up, every little village I passed through would through would trow buckets of water on me- it was refreshing becuase it is extremely hot this time of year in Thailand! I came to Mae Sai to venture into one of the large caves in the area. I came to Tham Lot and there were 13 people there. One person who rented out gas lanterns for 30 baht and 12 monks. I borrowed the gas lamp and headed into the cave- it was huge! After about 15 minutes I was actually freaked out because if that lamp went out I would be stranded, as the cave stretched over a mile into the rock. Then I heard voices coming, it was the monks! They came to show me around the cave. They only spoke Thai and I didn't understand what they were saying but it was such a crazy experience. The walked through the cave with only candle and most of them were barefoot. At points in the cave we had to crawl on our hands and knees to get to the next opening- I felt like Indiana Jones!

I then headed back to Chaing Mai for Songkran. This is the Thai new year and it is on April 13-15 every year. The tradition started off as younger Thais sprinkling water over the older generations hands as well as the monks to refresh them for the new year and wish them luck. Today, however, it has become the world's biggest water fight! You walk around and everyone has a bucket in their hand that they toss at you. There is no way of avoinding the water. When I arrived in Chaing Mai at the bus station I had my bags with me and had to walk to the center of the city to a hotel- on the way I got completely drenched! I was very nervous about my camera and laptop but I wrapped everything several times in plastic. For 4 days you would just walk around the city and get completely soaked. I met up with my host family on the second day and stayed with them another 2 days. It was quite difficult trying to meet up in one agreed destination when there is such a large language gap but I was really happy to see them again.

After the madness of Songkran I started my venture south and visited Khoa Yai national park. It is known as South East Asia's best national parks and I camped out in the wilderness. I got to see two different species of Gibbons (hanging monkeys) and about 6 hornbill birds with wingspans of over 10 feet! The next day I hitch-hiked my way 30 miles out the the park and headed to Cambodia where on the bus I met this cool girl who was ready for an adventure. Instead of taking the bus like tourists we hopped into the back of a pick up truck and made our way 5 hours to Siem Riep to visit Angkor Wat along a rough dirt road. We woke up before sunrise and headed to the temple to watch the amazing lightshow from the sun. I think seeing Angkor Wat may be the most amazing part of my trip so far! It was incredible to see the site where some much history has taken place. Cambodia itself is way less developed than Thailand so I felt as if I was in India at points. We spent the day visiting all the surrounding temples and stayed until sunset. From there we hid in the jungle until they lit up the temple to avoid paying the large entrance fee. I snapped a few photos then we were escorted out by the police.

The next morning (today) I hopped on a bus and met a friend to travel to the islands of Thailand. First stop, Ko Phan Ngang for the notoriously large full moon party. My time in Thailand is going quick so I will update when possible but am trying to soak up every minute! I am of on an overnight bus trip in 2 hours to then take a 3 hour boat ride to the islands. I've worked very hard so far on my trip so now I am on vaction and am going to get some rest and relaxation.

May 1st, I am off to Hong Kong!

Oh the places you will go.....

2008-04-08T20:39:00.011+07:00

So I've been absent lately, but it is because I have really been out of city life. Living in the mountains has been wonderful, I loved waking up to roosters before dawn every morning to watch the sun rise over the mountain peaks with the rustling of pots and pans and birds singing in the background. The whole village would be waking up and getting ready to start their business for the day. But first and most importantly, you must have breakfast with your neighbors. "Na mon!" I hear my host mother yell and that means it's time to eat.

The family I lived with really opened up to me and made me feel so comfortable living with them. I guess my volunteer program was to send me to a new village every week and I heard the other villages were larger so I decided to stay in Pha Nok Kok. I found it very interesting to slowly put together how everyone was related and learn more and more everyday about life in a hill tribe. Plus I became really attached to the children I taught every day. I loved to see them around the village and have them run up to me screaming my name. All the parents appreciated that their kids enjoyed me being their teacher. It was a great volunteering experience as it was really up to me what I brought to the community.

I would ask my host family if I could stay another week and they responded (I had to have someone translate this) "You can stay one more week, one more month, one more year, or the rest of your life. We consider you part of our family and want you to learn as much about our Hmong village as you can. We may not have large amounts of money but what we do have are large hearts- you are welcomed to stay." Everyone else in the village would say things to me like, "After you stay here for about 2 months you will be able to speak Hmong fluently", or "When you come back to visit us we'll have to work on building a house". I felt very comfortable staying in the little village up in the mountains. However the 3 weeks was up and it was time to leave and see the rest of Thailand. I ended up up staying longer because I was invited on a road trip with one of the families( see below) The village knew that I would be in Chaing Mai for Songkran (the Thai New Year) and they said, "It would be a shame if you were so close and we didn't get to see each other again" haha so I am going back to visit them in a week. It's cool because now I have friends to celebrate Songkran with- it's supposed to be the world's biggest water fight!

Long story short I kind of went out on a date on the last full moon with Ya, the other teacher at the school. She invited me to the nearby Buddhist temple that was celebrating the new lunar month and they had a mini carnival with games, music, bands, dancing, food, you name it. It ended up just being us two walking around together, it was a lot of fun! Since then I have been eating dinner with the family and even helping out in their garden (farm). She was the one who really pushed me to stay longer and she always was inviting me to new things. She even invited me on her families road trip- I am really glad I went because it ended up being a very unique event!

Her older brother Imbla (the one in the picture) has been married for one year and in the Hmong culture this is a very big deal. The man is to throw a party of honor the event for good luck for his future. The father of the wife is to re-name the husband and give his 2 names instead of just one. We went to Chaing Rai (about 5 hours north of Pha Nok Kok) to pick the wives' family. There the celebration started. We brought 2 chickens from a local farm to offer to the wives family, and then we prepared them for supper. Imbla took one and I had the other and I learned how to kill it, drain the blood, de-feather it, clear out the organs, then cut it up for cooking. It was kind of crazy but it made me feel better about eating meat if I do all the work and not just buy a package at a store. After we prepared the chicken Imbla had to stand up in front of the family that was sitting at the table and they kind of did a "roast" on him where each person would say something about him and he would bow to them. When they all spoke the wive sat next to him and the parents offered them each two small glasses. I asked Ya what it was and she said beer- but it was clear so I knew it was just a miscommunication. Then the family motioned me over and gave me 2 glasses as well. I threw the first one to the back of my throat and no it wasn't beer- it was homemade jungle whisky (thai moonshine)! It burned so bad and then I had to take the next one right away. This was the only drink that I had in the whole 3 weeks of being in the village (well besides the glass of "wine" my host brother gave me that was really just fermented strawberries). After the drink they called me to the table and there I sat with 8 men until late in the night and we finished the jug of whisky that came from a clear plastic bag- not from a bottle bought at a store.

Before going back to Pha Nok Kok we went to the nearby border of Thailand and looked into Lao and the Mekong river, the views were amazing!!

Back in Pha Nok Kok was the big celebration. It started at 6 am Sunday morning with the killing of a cow, which was Imbla's offering to the village. The one who killed it only was aloud 3 hits for moral reasons- they laughed and handed me the ax telling me I had to do it- I told them that I'll get the next one. Any vegetarian would have had a nightmare for sure- I was even shocked. After cleaning the cow the feast began as the first thing cooked was the most important part of the meal: by eating this it is for good luck and cures all you of your sickness. It was the cow's penis. The offered me a piece and it was painfully chewy, it took about 20 minutes to eat. I was grossed out but just went with it, they offered me a beer and a shot of whisky to go with it. By 9 am I already had a buzz going. Being a guest in town they always want me to try everything, haha that becomes painful when whisky is involved. From there we ate the each of the 3 stomachs, the heart, the throat and the tounge. That was followed by a raw meat spicy salad- it was delisous!

The main event was the father offering the new name and it was brought on with a 3 hours ceremony of sitting at a table with 20 other men. The oldest sit on one side and the younger sit on the other to learn the process. It was a celebration that included about 15 half glasses of beer each to cheers and drink as a a group and then each of us had to stand up and give a speak to Imbla. At the end the new name was given, the wives father kept "imbla" but added Va to the beginning. His new name for the rest of his life would be Va Imbla (Fortune Ring). It was a great event and I am so glad I stayed in the town to be a part of it instead of leaving early to travel on my own!

So yeah, in the last post I mentioned that I haven't gotten sick yet. Well I Jinxed myself because 3 days later I got hit- hard. I thought it would only be a 24-hour job but it lasted longer, it was horrible to be so sick with out the comforts of a toilet or bed... haha but that's life in the village. Out of all the crazy things I have eaten I think it was this canned fish I ate for lunch, it didn't taste right going down and hours later was when I got sick. I only ate organic food from the village from that point on. I took the medicine for traveler's sickness and it worked within hours. Thankfully it did because the day I started taking the medication was the day I had to sit on a bus that had no bathroom for 6 hours so that I could make it to the border in time as my visa ran out.

I decided to go into Myanmar (formally known as Burma) when my visa ran out and I ended up staying there for 3 days. About 5 people told me not to go because of what they have read or heard about the country and I think that made me 5 times more excited about going- I was always the "red button" kid. If someone told me I couldn't do something because it wouldn't work out- oh I would put all my energy into proving them wrong. That is what my trip to Myanmar was. I didn't just cross the border and head back, I went 100 miles into the center of the Shan state to a town called Kengtung, it is the capital of the "Golden Triangle" and it was a village that has over 85 different ethnic tribes living in the area. It was a 5-hour bus ride through gorgeous winding mountain roads that followed a river. I was the only foreigner on the bus and was worried everything wouldn't work out but it did. In Myanmar they has a whole different language, currency, government, and way of life- it was such a cultural adventure! I loved it!

Being the only tourist in town it was easy to find a place to stay and I ended up hiring and English-speaking guide to take me to visit a couple of the nearby tribes. I am fascinated by smaller indigenous tribes so my favorite one we went to was an "En" animist society of about 98 people, each family would have typically around 8-9 children (not all of them were expected to live past 10 years old). The shaman lives in the center, or "heart", of the village and makes all the decisions. This society is afraid of water because of the spirits that live within the liquid so they avoid it whenever possible. There was a bamboo water system that ran through the village where in the center was a post where 3 times a year they would sacrifice a chicken or dog to the water spirits. It was an hour ride on a dirt path on the back of a motorcycle followed by a strenuous 2 hour hike up the mountain before we reached the village. This was no tourist hot spot! We walked around the village and was invited into one of the locals huts. The older locals all had black teeth- it is a tradition to blacken the teeth by chewingg tea leaves so that their teeth wouldn't be white like dog's teeth are. The believe dogs are not friendly and eat dog very commonly. They say that it keeps them warm in the winter and they believe it cures them from malaria. The women prepared lunch for me and into the hut I went. After just getting over being sick I was worried about eating the food because of the sanitation, but the medication worked really well so I eat with them. For lunch we ate raw mustard plants and rice noodles mixed with potatoes and peppers. It was such an interesting meal, I couldn't help but just look at everything around me with me jaw almost on the floor. I didn't think that people still lived this way but I was so happy to encounter this village! They were completely self-sustaining and didn't rely on outside help. Hidden in a little nook of a mountain I wondered how much longer this village would last before being taken over.

While in Myanmar I visited a few Akha tribes and one very small "long-neck" Paudang village. I headed to Mae Hong Song to visit larger long-neck villages when I left Pha Nok Kok- the hill tribe I was living with. The bus ride was 8 hours in a very small bus- being tall is a disadvantage in Thailand, I barely fit in a seat that was meant for two! It was well worth the trip because the views were amazing! In Mae Hong Song I rented a motorcycle and went out to visit the nearby Long'necked" tribes. It was so great to sit down and talk to them! The picture with the two women are mother and daughter. They fled Myanmar 14 years ago because of the ethnic conflict that was occurring. They are happy in Thailand but do miss their old village. The mothers coils weigh over ten pounds! Despite what many people say, they will not die if they remove the coils. Their necks are not actually longer, the coils just push down the shoulder blades into the ribs. The practice does not have a large impact of their health but I did notice that most of the women had a lower toned voice.

After living with the hill tribe village I feel comfortable being the only western in town and learned how to try and communicate even if there is a language barrier. Afterwards I road that motorcycle all around the mountains weaving back and forth around windy roads- it was so great!

Ok I have to go catch a bus- I'm heading to Laos today, it's going to take about 12 hours.

A long awaited update

2008-03-16T13:38:00.006+07:00

What a rush!

I finished up the TEFL certification after a tough 4 and a half weeks that consisted of:

120 hours of class

7 one-hour tests

1 three-hour final

5 in-class presentations

5 hours of class teaching

5 hours of observing.

It was a busy month but now I am a certified teacher!

Leaving Bangkok was difficult, I really enjoyed the other people in the class as we all became very close during the course. On Tuesday when we finished our final exam, Mahes had us all over her house for dinner. It was definitely one of my favorite moments in Bangkok. Her and her husband Dev had an amazing meal of curries and Sri Lankian foods- and Wine! haha This was my first glass of wine since I came to Thailand. But the time was here and I was ready to see what else Thailand had to offer.

My first stop was Lop Buri- it was 3 hour train ride that put me back a whole 27 baht (less than $1) My hotel room over looked an ancient ruin and there were monkey everywhere.... I really mean everywhere. I had to shoo one out of my room, chase after one that stole my glasses, and kick one off my leg. They sat outside the window of my room and just watched my every move. I felt like I was in a zoo and they came to see me.

The next day I went to the train station get get my ticket to Sukothai but it was full. I sat in the lobby unsure of what move to make next so I just people watched for awhile. Two monks came and sat next to me and by speaking broken English and me using archaic Thai we were able to have a conversation. It was so bizarre. The monks told me that the older woman sitting in front of us wanted me to marry her daughter, it was hilarious.

I had to take a later train but it all worked out well. After a few confusing city buses I made it to Sukhothai late that night. The next morning I rented a motorcycle and cruised around the city to see all the ancient ruins. Sukhothai was the first capital of Thailand and all the monuments were well over 700 years old and scattered around the town. It was so fun to just ride around then see these huge statues of Buddha in the forest. It was so beautiful, trees and mountains everywhere.

I ventured deep into the forest on a dirt road that passed hundreds of banana trees. Just when I thought the road wouldn't go any farther I saw a sign in English. I really was in the middle of no where. The sign said that there was a Wat (temple) down this path. I followed it and read another sign that read, "I am a deaf monk trying to learn English. You are more than welcome to make this place your home, come in." I walked around and didn't see anyone but read the signs posted around that were Buddhist's philosophies. The I heard, "Helloo!" There he was in the temple very happy to have a visitor. He had to be some what of a hermit because he lived so far away from anything. He motioned me over to a table and there we spoke and wrote back and forth to each other. It was so interesting. He told me about his love for Buddhism and how he wants to spread the message to everyone around him. "Where am I?" I thought to myself but enjoyed every moment. He wished the best for my future travels and thanked me for practicing English with him.

I stayed by the ruins until the sun faded and watched the monuments glow with light. It was such a warm night, I enjoyed riding back to town on the motorcycle I rented. I went to sleep early because the next day I was heading to Chiang Mai.

Life in Pha Nok Kok

It was a 6 hour bus ride and a one hour taxi to get to the village. Up, up, up we drove through the mountains and just when I thought we couldn't get any higher we arrived in the village, Pha Nok Kok. I really had no idea what to expect on the way there or even how to prepare myself for this. All I know is that I was miles away from any city. The view from the village is incredible but I have to say that when I was first dropped off it was quite the culture shock. In such a small village you are the talk of the town for awhile and when the average height is about 5 feet you stick out when your about 6 feet tall.

I am living in a Green Hmong hill tribe village of about 300 people and only 3 speak some English. There are 5 main hill tribes in Thailand, that being the Karen, Akha,Lisu, Mien, and Hmong. Here family is the strongest social unit and everyone takes care of each other in an egalitarian way. Most people here work in agriculture and practice a "slash and burn" type of farming. With the monsoon season coming up in about a month, now is the time to burn the fields to put nutrients back into the soil- so most days the sky is filled with hazy smoke cloud. Everyone speaks their native language, Hmong, and just about everyone speaks Thai. I am trying to tackle both languages to try and understand everything that is going on. Pha Nok Kok is situated way up in the mountains in a Doi Suthep National Park- it is one huge forest. They do not own the land but are aloud to stay there by the Thai government. For that reason the houses are mostly temporary bamboo huts and cook all the meals over fire.

My volunteer project is teaching English to young children of the village aged 1 1/2 to 12. Obviously there is a huge range so I split op teaching in levels so that everyone can learn and work on pronunciation. For the most part I am playing with children when their parents go to work in the fields. I enjoy it alot, everyone is very friendly and it is fun to have the kids run up to you when you walk around the village. The school is pretty poor an lacking neccessary supplies but all the kids are so happy. School is usually from 9- 5 and after lunch we have to bath the kids. It is so funny they just run around naked laughing so hard and you have to catch them and wash them- at first I was shocked but now I'm used to it. I co-Teach with one of the Hmong, her name is Sukanya. She has been very helpful and patient to teach me Thai and show me around town, she doesn't speak English so all of our conversations are like one big game of hand gestures to act out words.

The family I live with is very nice, they have made me feel very comfortable and always include me in activities. The father's name is Jeu and he used to be the "mayor" of the town but he recently retired, the mother's name is Ma Mae, the youngest daughter is about 13 and named Bang, and their son's name is Wan. Him and I share a room and the other three all live in the other room. The bathroom is a bit primitive to western standards but everything here reminds me of when I was young and my family would visit our cottage. It was always a bit rustic and you just get used to life outdoors. Luckily I haven't gotten sick from anything yet- my body is even used to the tap water now.

The food is so interesting! The first few days I thought that everything was just pork or chicken but then as my Thai vocab grew and I learned how to ask questions I found out what I was eating. One night we ate rabbit, it was a big deal and I was lucky to try it. They invited many people over to try a taste of it as it was a delicacy to them. The hmong commonly eat Bees- haha I thought it was chicken liver at first. I have also eaten raw deer, buffalo skin, frog, pig brains, fried locusts, and a variety of very exotic fruits. It is all very delicious and s long as you have an open mind it tastes great. The raw deer was amazing. Dinner is always an important meal as we commonly eat two times: one at a friends house for a social event where you just sample the food, then the other at the house where you eat more.

I was invited to go and check out the farms that the village works on. The have just set up gardens on the slopes of the mountains and set up irrigation. The grow anything from oranges, papayas, melons, cabbage, bananas, sugar cane, lychee's, and much more. Almost everyone in the village had their own farm in the valley. It's amazing to wake up and get there before sunrise to see the sun brighten the misty mountainside. Farming is hard manual labor for next to no money but is their main source of income. Opium used to be the Hmong's source of income but they have traded it outwith vegetables because the drugs were causing corruption in the village. That and the Hmong are happy to say that they are an honest village.
I love Pha Nok Kok and am very happy here, I want to visit here again if I ever the chance. I have much more to share but have to head back to the village. I will update with some more pictures soon.

A Trip to Kanchanaburi

2008-03-10T19:24:00.007+07:00

This past weekend was one that I'll always remember. After a very hard week and almost at the finish line with the TEFL certification, I took off to Kanchanaburi to explore some nature and escape the concrete.

I took the earliest bus by myself Saturday morning and was amazed at how the scenery changed as we headed west into the countryside. I didn't leave Friday after class because I had a very important interview at 10pm....I'll tell you more about that later this week. About two and a half hours later we arrived, I found a hostel that was literally floating over the river Kwai. Being a little over 30 miles away from the Myanmar border they had some great Burmese food here! There was so much to do in this town you can spend weeks on end and be completely satisfied and relaxed at the same time. I only had 2 days so I set out into town to explore.
After walking around the town I signed up for a tour to the Tiger Temple, Wat Luang Ta Bua Yanna Sampanno, as it was about an hour outside of town. It started raining as the taxi/bus came to pick me up but I decided to go anyway. There were 2 others who were on the tour as well and we all had some interesting conversations on the way there. I love the information you inquire and the stories you share while traveling! Just as we arrive at the temple the heavy rain magically stopped and the sun came out! I got to walk down into the canyon and pet the huge beasts. Ok, yes this is completely a tourist trap but how many chances do you get to pet a tiger!? And little cubs on top of it! Besides the tigers, animals were just roaming free all around the temple. I was by myself in when I walked under a tree and out from a branch above me jumped a peacock- I guess I threatened its territory and it fanned its feathers and started coming after me. I will NEVER forget that moment. I was shocked but laughing so hard at the same time!
The next day I woke up early and was off on another full-day tour of the area. On the tour also were some guys backpacking who just got in from India, they were really cool to get to know. We first headed to Erawan National Park to explore the 7 waterfalls in the park. It was quite a hike but I needed it after sitting in a classroom all week! I sat down for a break and almost got my passport stolen by none other than a monkey! haha It grabbed my bag and tried to run off that thief!
Next was the Elephant trekking through a Karen Hill tribe village. After speaking all the Thai I know to the mahout (elephant trainer) I found out we were the same again and had a lot in common. He was happy I tried speaking the language so he let me "drive" the elephant. It was so bizarre, especially when the elephant thought my foot was food and sloppered on it with his trunk, quite the experience. From there it was a bamboo raft trip down the river; it was so relaxing and fun.
Next we visited a cave that held a Buddha Shrine then took a train on the Death railway to see the infamous bridge over river Kwai- all you history buffs would have gotten a kick out of that! I won’t say how much this weekend cost me, I want to hear a few guesses- it’s part of the reason I love this country. After another amazing Burmese meal it was time to head back to Bangkok, good ole' BKK. This is my last week in the city as I receive my certification on Thursday morning, tomorrow is the final! I head out Thursday to head north and see more of the country….. I can’t wait!!!

Nueng, Song, Sam....Fight!

2008-03-02T10:12:00.004+07:00

Last night Dan and I went to Lumpinee Stadium to watch an original Muay Thai Kickboxing match- we were both really excited to see it live so we did it proper and sat ringside. We were so close that you could feel the sweat get knocked off the fighter’s face and hear the bones of the fighters be hit against each other. Lumpinee is the famous stadium in Bangkok and the best place to see a fight, knowing I was only going to do this once, I had to sit ringside. I highly recommend this stadium to anyone visiting; the energy from the crowd and the announcers will make for a memorable night!

After training Muay Thai style Kickboxing for two years at San Diego City College, I was so excited to see a live match in the country of where this lethal sport was originated. I say lethal because it was designed over 500 years ago to help the Thai’s protect their land without any weapons. The quick jabs of the legs and arms holds the power, therefore you do not need to have huge muscle mass. Many of the fighters weighed under 115 lbs! Muay Thai plays a large role in the countries culture because of the history and link to Buddhism. Each fighter wears a ring of flowers and a headband before the match for respect of the Buddha. It has been mandatory for men to learn and pass on the tradition. I can’t wait to tell my coach about this! It is different from other forms of kickboxing because elbows are aloud and used to score more points, kicks below the waist are legal but kicks to the groin are considered a foul.

The night started out with the national anthem before the first match started. Each match consisted of 5 rounds that lasted 3 minutes each- that is if the fighters made it to the end. One of the fighters got knocked out cold in the third round and had to be wheeled-off stage as his face bled on the floor. It was intense. The first fighters were really young, I mean about 10 or 11 years old- but they were so disciplined in the art it was scary. It is common for orphaned children to take on boxing, especially in the north because it gives them a place to live with hopes to make something out of their lives. The fight continued and between each round the fighters were drenched with water, massaged and coached by their trainers. The crowd was roaring the entire time and there was a band playing music the entire time.

I want to train while I am here but it is really expensive, I think they just over-charge faraangs who come to visit so I am going to try and train elsewhere. One of my students told me where he trains and told me to come check it out- haha it was the only way I could get him to speak English in class! After seeing last night’s match, I think I'll have to!!

Student travel internship

2008-03-01T17:12:00.005+07:00

I had to apply for this!

STA travel is offering 1 internship to one very lucky student this summer to travel the world and document your trip along the way. How amazing would that be?!? The trip includes a trip around the Mediterranean, a visit through southeast Asia, a stopover in Australia and New Zealand for some outdoor adventures, a taste of tango in Buenos Aries, and then sailing around the Galapagos Islands.

STA travel (statravelers.com) is an online community I often take part in because it's a great website for meeting other travelers, asking questions and seeing other people's travel pictures! There are some pretty amazing people applying for this position, there are many who I'd like to meet in person. If you have an account look me up I am "eddiewouldgo". The deadline was March 1st, I made it just on time. I had fun making the video, even if nothing comes of it with STA travel, it made me get out of my studio and explore Bangkok. I am really enjoying keeping a blog and pretending that it is my job, I think I found a career path for sure. This is my video application that I turned in.

May the best traveler win!

Bangkok by Night

2008-02-24T17:03:00.007+07:00

I was trying to live off a budget of 100 baht a day ($3.30) for awhile because I want to make sure I have enough money to get a scuba certificate in April. It is feasible to get breakfast, lunch, a coffee, dinner, a beer and a snack all for 100 baht. But then I realized time was going on and I still didn't feel like I knew Bangkok very well, so I scratched that idea and started going out with some of the people in my class who are getting the teaching certificate as well.

There are 13 people in the class and it runs Mon- Fri 10am to 4pm- long days. It really is a diverse group of people ranging in age from 21 to 62 from all parts of the world. It is such a diverse group of people who all bring so many different qualities to the table. We are learning the basics of English and how to present them. Every week we have to give at least one presentation on a certain topic. My instructional speech was teaching the class the fundamentals of Salsa dancing...haha it went well. After sitting in class all day your ready to go out and explore.

We didn't have class last Thursday because it was a Buddhist holiday, so Pedro, Dan, his friend Collin, and myself went out for a night on the town. Pedro just moved here from Canada and Dan and his friend are both from England. We took a cab to the RCA district, it is the best known place in the city for the large nightclubs. This is the place where all the young rich Thais come to show off what they got! The clubs are a bit different here in Thailand, they do not just have a large bar area then a large dance floor, in fact they don't have much a dance floor at all. There are tables throughout the whole room and you just kind of stand at them and dance in one area.... not my style of a dance club but it sure was interesting to see. They kept playing American music but they were songs that were popular about 5 years ago.

That night we went to 3 other clubs in the RCA district. It is a strip of large clubs with fancy

outdoor seating and crazy lights all around, it reminded me of Vegas meets the Gas lamp district of San Diego. The drinks were expensive but still cheaper than the states, we started off with a bottle of vodka then switched to beer and at the last bar we ordered a bottle of whisky. Needless to say I felt great the next day. We left the RCA at around 2 in the morning and went to another club named "Spicy". I wasn't sure why but no matter where you are in Bangkok you could get a taxi for free to come to this club. When I walked in I knew why, it was a place where the working girls hounded faraangs. Not just working girls, you also had to look out for Thailand's deceivingly charming third gender, the Lady boys. This one Thai girl who was sitting close to me laughed and pointed out the Lady boys that were making out with men who thought they were really women. I got a kick out of that but then realized I can't trust anyone in this city. I had at least 5 people tell me that since I've been here- I mean just random people telling me this.

On Friday night everyone was going out from class again so I went too. This weekend they were holding elections so you can't buy or legally drink alcohol anywhere in the country. Can you imagine if they did this in the states? We found a bar that served us drinks so we all celebrated being halfway done with the course. We left that bar around 11 and Pedro, Dan, Colin, and I took a cab to Khoa San Road. For being a Friday night the street was not so packed because of the no drinking policy. We found a bar that would serve us but only in red sketchy cups and they told us if you see the cops throw your drink on the ground. We ended up at another club and ordered a bottle of whisky.... that night didn't end until after 4 am. Let's just say my 100 baht a day plan is done for.

Bangkok is a city that never sleeps. At any hour of the day there will be a traffic jam and loads of people walking around the streets. The nightlife is huge here.

I am getting really excited to see the rest of Thailand. I have been gone for almost a month now and feel like I've been in Bangkok forever. I am excited for the countryside and the hill tribe communities. I am also very excited to rent a motorcycle, you can rent them for $10 a day and it is a great way to see the country- I just don't dare drive in Bangkok- I've already seen someone on a bike get hit to the ground and accidents happen everyday. Even with saying that I still love taking motorcycle taxi's- I was scared out of my mind the first time but now I'm addicted.

Getting the hang of it!

2008-02-18T19:43:00.011+07:00

After getting away for the weekend I felt much better about coming back to class. I've always told myself that I want to live in New York City at some point in my life. Well, this is like New York- but crazier. This city is huge! It is easy to get around though and is not so cut throat for having such a large population, people aren't in such a rush. It just feels like such a large over-populated concrete jungle at some points and all the exhaust from the diesel engines hits your lungs hard.

I had to add these pictures! haha Ronald McDonald and the Michelin man both are doing the Wai- How's that for enculturation?!

It was fun to figure out how to get to the island of Ko Si Chang all by myself with no one to help with the language barrier. The island isn't really well known besides the fact that it is a small fishing community. That meant it had AMAZING fresh seafood for next to nothing. I am still surprised at how far you can stretch your money here- which is good because I have no income for a few months... Anyway, I had this huge bowl of Thom Yun Kung for 80 baht ($2.60) and I think it had at least 20 shrimp in it- no joke. Then I had this squid stew that was so fresh while I was sitting outside a temple and it was only 25 baht- less than $1. The ferry over was 40 baht and the bus was 110. My own beach bungalow (not hostel) that was steps from the water was 250 baht- $8. I felt like I was living like a king and the whole weekend and it only cost me less than 1000 baht-$3o!

For being only 70 miles away from Bangkok the water was pretty clear. I was happy with the fresh air and peaceful quietness. The island was about 5 miles off shore and I noticed these crazy flying fish jumping out of the water to avoid the boat and fly for about 20 feet before going back in the water- it was quite bizarre! I was one of about 3 faraang (foreigners) on the island- at times I didn't know if I was intruding or welcomed but I decided just to step lightly and go ahead with it. I'm doing my best to learn Thai by surrounding myself in the language- it is helping me with pronunciation. It really felt good to get out and figure things out on my own; I am excited to travel around the rest of Thailand!

Welcome to my studio!

2008-02-14T18:33:00.006+07:00

This week has been pretty rough- a great deal of moving around and figuring things out the hard way. However, I now officially live in Thailand! I just rented a studio for about $115 a month. It's pretty basic but in a good neighborhood with tight security and a 3 minute walk to the school I am attending for the TEFL certification. I have never lived in another country before- it's pretty exciting (yes, I am a dork). The landlord (I guess you would call her-she looks pretty young) is so nice. She is trying to learn English so she was excited to talk to me, last night she stopped by and gave me sheets, a pillow, a cake, juice, and this pastry type meal just to welcome me to the place. Hmm... new girlfriend?

Here is a video of what the place looks like if you have a minute-

As mentioned in the video I got a new backpack which wasn't easy to do. My last one had so much sentimental value starting with the first trip I ever took it on when my sister Rachel and I took on the Appalachian trail seven years ago. That trip changed my life and the bag has traveled the world with me ever since. It even went up and down the entire West coast on my motorcycle! I owe it to her, and the rest of my family (by that I include close friends) who have all encouraged and motivated me in some way to never give up, even in the ugliest of situations. You all know who you are and I thank every one of you for always challenging me to do more.

I spend a few hours everyday walking around the different neighborhoods- everything about this place catches my eye as incredibly unique. Bangkok is such an interesting "World City".

I am still trying to practice my Thai lingo so I went out and bought some music. The cd I bought ended up being a kareoke video but it is still interesting. This is a very popular song right now in Thailand. Try and sing along to it! haha Good Luck!

Do as the locals do-

2008-02-10T23:24:00.000+07:00

Back to busy Bangkok- The last few days have been amazing! The first three days were spent in Wang Noi getting to know the other volunteers signed up for the program, learning about the language, and visiting the ruins in Ayuthaya. On the last night all of us hopped in the back of a truck that was our taxi and went to see the town at night.

We were six strangers picked to live together, volunteer together, and have our lives photographed. This is what happens when you start being nice and talk about how you feel. This is the Real World: Thailand.

Here are some pictures from visiting the ruins-

3 of us went to a village homestay in Bang Sai- about an hour away. To anyone who is thinking about signing up for Global Crossroad I highly recommend the language and culture class! We drove deep into the countryside and were miles away from any large city, you wouldn't be able to find this place on the map! When were arrived at the house we were introduced to Urei and it didn't take long to feel at home, its true about Thai hospitality being so warm. She gave us a tour and we rode bikes from one village to another- there was no other tourists here- we were the only faraang around.

I quickly fell in love with the way of life while staying here. The whole time I was there I kept being reminded of Brian and Asha's farm in Washington that I went and visited last summer- It was a slower pace of life and everything they ate was organic. All the neighbors knew one another and helped each other out- everything about the whole place was self-sufficient. Urei's place is the house that she grew up in as well as her mother. It was an old wooden house on stilts because she lived right on the river and it floods every year during the monsoon season.

During the stay Urei took us to the temples that were close to her house and showed us the etiquette of visiting a Buddhist temple and the meanings behind everything. For example the placement and significance of the Lotus flowers, lighting a candle before entering and taking your shoes off. At one of the temples we went to there were bats everywhere in the daytime! It was so crazy to see! I wandered into one of the temples that was being worked on to find a monk painting a mural. Speaking the few Thai phrases I knew he took that as me being fluent and then decided to give me a tour of the whole place. He took me over to the pond and started to feed the fish and then showed me another temple that a different monk was working on woodwork. I couldn't understand anything that Pho, the monk, was saying but it was still quite the expeirence. He gave me a glass of ice water and though I didn't want to drink it because it wasn't filtered and had a spider floating in it, I also didn't want to be rude. So I drank it- no problems...yet.

During the stay at the village we went and visited a school get some practice teaching English. The kids were so excited to have a visitor in the class and the loved having their picture taken!! We taught one class of 10 year olds and one kindergarten class- then later in the evening we would play games with the kids in the neighborhood. They were happy to show us their version of duck-duck-goose and other games. I really enjoyed doing that.

The best part of the homestay was that Urei was so eager to teach us about Thai food. The only other home cooked meal to top this food was made by my mother. We never ate the same thing twice and everything was made from scratch. I mean even down to peeling and chopping up a coconut to use the shavings for milk. She made us go to the local market and ask for all the ingredients we needed and even how to bargain. The food has been so spicy- it took some time to get used to it- it's hard to eat food that is so spicy when it is so hot outside, but when it's so delicious you don't hesitate.

Urei took Sam and I to the local hospital and bought us a traditional Thai Massage- she didn't have to but just wanted us to have the expeirence! It was kind of strange, they kind of beat you up but it's relaxing- haha. They stand on you, pull your feet then stretch your leg above their shoulder as they pound on your thighs.

I really enjoyed my time in the village. It has been awhile since I've let my mind be free. I loved everything about the place and Urei if you ever read this thank you so much for teaching me everything and for your warm hospitality!

As mentioned above after the village we headed back to Bangkok to visit Khoa San Road. It is a huge tourist trap but also a lot of fun. Sam and I stayed there overnight and went out to go and meet some people. It was quite the crazy night, I feel like all my senses were over stimulated giving me the attention span of about 10 seconds. I've got some funny stories ...haha I'll wait to share them though.

Now its time to buckle down a bit and start the TEFL certification- no more spending my entire day taking pictures for awhile! If you can't tell I like to pretend that I'm an actual reporter whenever I go out-I get a kick out of it.

Go with the flow.....

2008-02-06T09:11:00.000+07:00

From Bangkok I was picked up by a cab and driven to Ayuthaya, an hour away. I had no idea where excatly the driver was taking me but I just hoped that it would all work out. I was going to meet Sukanya at Thomasaat University. However, the driver didn't know where to drop me off and I didn't know where to go. So I go out, got my luggage and started walking around the campus it was Sunday so everything was closed. Now that I was outside of Bangkok no one spoke English and I don't know Thai. After walking around for an hour in the hot sun with my heavy bags, I got a little frustrated about what to do, but hey I am the one who signed myself up for this. Finally I met Sukaya and she took me to the house where the other volunteers were arriving.

We all get along very well, there are 6 of us- 2 from the States and 4 from Denmark. I will only be with them for this week then I am headed to Bangkok for the TEFL certification. This is all our 1st time to Asia so we all plan to meet up on the weekend's to travel around the country. There are so many weekend trips to take for only about 350 baht- $10!

The first two days was the language and culture class. Thai language is SO hard because of all the different tones/letters/ and sounds that we do not have in our language, but I'm still trying. Sukanya taught us as much as she could but Eastern thought is very complicated for Westerner's to understand. Haha we would ask questions and she wouls answer and then start laughing and say, "something like that."

After the class part we would visit the nearby ruins- I was blown away about how close you can get to them! It was funny because Thai locals would come up to you and want to have their picture taken with you. There are about 15 Wats (Temples) just in the area ( it is considered an island because it is surrounded by a river on all sides). It was nice to have our own personal guide to take us around and tell us about the history. The older ruins are about 750 years old and show the Khmer (Currently Cambodia) influence- they show the corn-loke style temples. The new Thai style shows the Chedi's that are bell shapes. Most of the ruins are blackened due to when the Burmese came in and sacked the the capital in the 1700's.

After seeing the Ruins we went to go feed the elephants. The whole time I could'nt help but feel like I was feeding Dumbo because they were making the elephants do tricks like walk on their hind legs or hula-hoop with their trunks, it was like being in some sort of carny zoo. It was such a crazy feeling to have them suck food out of your hand.

I'm really enjoying my time out here- I felt like I have changed into a new person automatically. Thailand really is magical- I think its because the Buddha is all around. Today we leave for our next stop- a village homestay about 40 minutes from where we are now. The next days will be spent learning thai and how to cook the food. I'm sure there won't be internet there so I'll be back on Saturday when I return to Bangkok. This computer can't handle loading pics so I'll have to wait to show you.

My first days in Bangkok

2008-02-03T07:24:00.000+07:00

After spending the morning mourning I remembered how that the last time I saw my grandpa he was very interested that I was going to Thailand and told me that I was going to learn a lot about life. So that is what I want to do- the best way to do that is by completely loosing yourself. I spent the past two days getting to know the area and just soaking everything in. I've been wandering around the city getting to know how to use the transit system and where the different neighborhoods are. I really don't want to do anything touristy right now because I will be living here for a month so I want to keep things new instead of rushing around the city. Plus it is about 90 degrees so you don't want to move too fast. The weather is very similar to Cleveland in August. I guess April is the hoteest moth of the year reachin up to 100! When visiting temples, you have to wear a dress shirt, shoes, and pants. For some reason I thought jeans would be comfortable- now I understand why everyone wears loose cotton clothing. I've never seen so many stray dogs and motorcycles in my life- watch the video below and look at the pic of the dog passed out with a cigarette in its mouth. I really am shocked about how common it is for western men to come here and buy wifes. A couple times in the hostel these guys started talking about purchasing women with no shame. Sexual tourism sadly is one of the countries biggest exports and women move from all over Thailand to find men in Bangkok. For everyone who asks or is wondering- No, I have not and will not contribute to the prostituion, if I could refrain in Amsterdam I can do it here. I'm 22, I don't have to pay for that.

Usually I only have a few days in each town when i travel but I actually have time to really expierience life out here. When I landed it kept going through my head that I won't be leaving for 3 months! Something has already woken inside of me, I just needed to get out of my normal routines of familiar scenery. I am so pleasantly culture shocked, I love being a foreigner! I can probably go one for about two months from what I've been through the past two days, but I'll keep it short. I want to write as much as I can now while everything is new because soon it will all start to become normal.

Here is a quick video of some of the pictures I have taken so far. The background music was the top hit in Thailand in 2004...haha I thought it added to the pictures.

Thailand really is "The Land of Smiles", everyone here is so friendly and it is not just because they want your money. All my senses have been overloaded- The architecture, clothing, billboards, sounds, all the different languages being spoke here, the smells of the market, the tastes of different foods, and the thick smell of pollution. That is the only downfall, some people walk around with masks over their mouths and nose to avoid inhaling the exhaust from all the cars, scooters, buses, and tuk-tuks. The thai language is so different from any other language I've tried to learn, especially since they have a whole different writing system. I have been practicing my thai- just with knowing a few words you can really impress the Thai. I am really excited because in a few hours my supervisor for my language and culture class will pick me up and I will get to meet the people taking the class. I am ready to learn more about the language and customs to make sure that i am not offending anyone.

So it is true, everything is really inexpensive out here. They use Baht here in Thailand and one US Dollar amounts to 32 baht. Here is a breakdown of some of the pricing:

My hostel was only 190 baht (about $6)

20 minute cab is about 160baht (less than $5)

20 minute motortaxi ride is about 70 baht ( about $2)

15 minute Tuk-Tuk 100 baht ($3)

1 litre of Gas 30 baht ($1)

A good size meal, breakfast, lunch or dinner 65 baht or less ($2)

Fresh squeezed OJ 10 baht (30 cents)

Red bull 10 baht ( 30 cents)

A 22oz beer at a bar 68 baht ($2)

1-hour Internet Cafe 30 baht ($1)

Phone calls- using Skype 2 cents a minute

1 hour massage 180 baht! ($6)

It is easy to get around town, the have a fast Sky train hat is similar to the BART in San Francisco and buses on every corner, a subway system, and trains to take you all over the country. The skytrain is very easy to use and I'm usually the only faraang (pronounced falang means western white man). The moped/scooter/motorcycle taxi rides are ridiculous! You see whole families sitting on the back of one with no helmets and these things whip through traffic! I've ridden a motorcycle for about 3 and a half years and I took a 20 minute ride and was scared out of my mind- maybe because my legs kept rubbing up to the busses we were passing. I guess I'm just not used to sitting on the back of a bike. The tuk-tuks are 3 wheeled open taxis that are pretty cheap to get around- they are not just for tourists either- locals commonly pack about 5 people inside each cart.

Well I have to pack my bags and take off for the next leg of my trip. I'm really glad I had 2 days off before my classes started to adjust myself to the city and lifestyle. I got to know some people and the area will- it was funny I actually ran into the people I met at the hostel around town- it's funny to recognize people on the streets and stop to talk to them in a new city. I'm loving Thailand!

Goodbye Grandpa

2008-02-02T07:34:00.000+07:00

Traveling is always good for the soul and helps you learn more than you ever can in a classroom, but sometimes you don't realize how much you are separating yourself with the ones you love. I just found out that my grandfather has passed away and his funeral is going to be today. He lived a long life and although it wasn't a complete surprise to our family, I didn't think that it would happen so soon. He was the biggest gentleman I've ever met and I learned alot from him. Although I can't be there in person, you are in my mind and I am saying my own last words. I can't help but feel completely selfish that I can't be there to pay my respects, give my grandmother a huge hug, or just be there for my family. Being so far away makes me realize that with always traveling I am distancing myself away from my family. This has made me question a lot.
Goodbye Grandpa.

Made it!

2008-02-01T10:59:00.000+07:00

Whoa. wow. whoa.
My internal clock is a mess and I am confused as to what day it is but I made it to Thailand! After Ryan dropped me of at the Amtrak station in San Diego I took a 3 hour train to LA then a 1/2 hour bus to the airport. I don't know how it happened but my flight was leaving in 40 minutes and the security line was over an hour long. I caught eyes with one of the workers and for some reason she came up to me randomly and said, "Are you traveling alone?" when I said yes she brought me to the front of the line and I just made the final boarding call. Haha no matter what plane I take I am always the last one to get on. From LA was a 15 hour flight to Hong Kong and they gave you a fresh pair of socks and a toothbrush when entered the plane. It was a surprisingly comfortable and quick flight with good food and free drinks. From there was a 3 hour layover in Hong Kong then a 2 1/2 hour flight to Bangkok and when we landed at midnight it was 85 degrees.. A guy from Israel sat next to me and told me some great stories about his travels in Thailand. I was pumped and ready to explore. After landing was a long process of of immigration and baggage check and I guess I had someone from my volunteer project ready to pick my up but I didn't she her and took a cab to my hostel. They drive on the opposite side of the car and street so I was sitting passenger (which is normally the driver seat) as we zoomed through the city. Apparently its normal to drive in the middle of the road- haha. We got lost through alleys looking for the hostel but finally we found it. The area reminds me a lot of neighborhoods of Tijuana with stray dogs and people running businesses out of houses. It was nighttime so I couldn't see much, so it was great to wake up this morning and see the view.. I checked in and then had some drinks with the people in the lobby. The hostel is in a great part of Bangkok away from the hectic tourist areas. I met Jessie, Carrie, and Aaron and they were visiting from China as they are teachers as well. They funny part is that they were from Chicago- even though I'm so far away I still gravitate towards mid westerns! haha Good times, I'm off to explore until Sunday when I get picked up for my language and culture class.
laa Kawn!

No more count downs, last day in San Diego!

2008-01-30T03:04:00.000+07:00

It’s always easier to leave town when you are fed up and sick of your situation at that moment, however, these last days in San Diego were great. That doesn’t mean I’m not ready to leave by any means, I need a change of scenery and an escape from my overly structured life to let loose for awhile. Whenever I become too comfortable I feel like I’m not challenging myself enough, in order to keep my mind alive I need to put my soul to the test. That test is adventure and it is what I have been mentally preparing myself for these last few days. I am really interested to see how this trip is going to change me and if I will even come back in May. Thoughts keep running through my head that I might meet someone who will offer me a job I can’t resist or opportunity to continue traveling or better yet fall madly in love and change the course of my life around. Optimistic? Of course, but who knows what will happen. Next time I post I will be in Thailand (well, knock on wood)! I’m ready for this trip to begin, there have been too many “last” things, haha for example last Friday, last Saturday, last day at work, last night in my apartment, last time here or there- I’m ready to switch it around to be “first” this and “first” that.

This is my packing gear- to anyone who knows me this is nothing because I tend to be a pack rat (Right James?) Anything else I need I am sure I can buy while I'm there but I can't travel without a few cameras. The bulkiest of what I am bringing is first aid- I bought heavy duty mosqito repellant and this stuff to spray on your clothes. I have over 100 pills for malaria, a bottle of pepto, advil, 12 horse size pills for stomach sickness, and so on. That waterbottle is amazing, it filters water from any river inside of it and makes it ready to drink. I figured that might come in handy in the jungle! We'll see what all comes back with me.

Ten days to go!

2008-01-21T02:26:00.000+07:00

Everything is finally coming together for my trip to Thailand, I just received my visa, my scholarship, and placement details for the volunteer project. I will be traveling with Global Crossroad with the help of the Gilman Scholarship. I am ready for the journey to begin as soon as I take care of a few last minute errands. Before now I was a bit unsure about the whole trip, not knowing if it would work out or if I'd be comfortable leaving everything here in San Diego but now I am ready. In ten days I will be on the opposite side of the planet.
Living in a non-Western country is what I am most excited for so I can really open my mind and learn something new. I'm ready for the culture shock to really make me question everything I do and expose me to a new concept of the meaning of life. I love to travel and push my limits of comfort to the threshold. This trip is going to take my independence to the next level and hopefully assure me that Cultural Anthropology is the major I want to continue with. This is a time for me to see the world and see things with new eyes.
I just got a new toy that is going to help assist me in making this blog worth checking out, an underwater digital camera with video. I hope that I will be able to show everyone who checks out this website a glimpse of what life is like in Thailand, the land of smiles. I'm incredibly interested in seeing everything I can and being about to share those experiences. I will be in Bangkok for about a month and from what I have heard there is Internet access available almost everywhere. However, while I'm staying with a host family I don't know what kind of access I'll have in Chaing Mai- We'll see!