This month, I fell in love with the kids that came to English class every night. They were so eager to learn.
Instead of napkins, a lot of restaurants would have a roll of toilet paper on the table. However, in bathrooms, it wasn’t guaranteed you would find TP in the stalls. You were however guaranteed to find a hose…
Bubble tea was everywhere!
All 6 of us girls lived in a house: four walls, one bathroom, and a tin roof. We nicknamed it “sauna house”. We made a point not to be inside between the hours of 9 am to 3:30 pm. When we were, we had 5 fans blowing at all times. We slept under mosquito nets. We caught two mice. (I named them Gus and Jack.)
I had never been a teacher before. I got a glimpse of what my older sister does every day. Even though she is on the other side of the world, I gained a new level of respect and admiration for her and everything she does. But more importantly, I got a big taste of WHY she does what she does.
Culturally speaking, you should not wear the same thing two days in a row.
One day, I got to swim with elephants and pet tigers. That was cool!
Local shops would pour drinks in little plastic bags with handles that way you didn’t have to worry about returning the glass bottle later on. My favorite iced coffee to-date was served in a bag.
Everyday, we went to the market to by a snack for class. I love the market!
It was culturally accepted/required that you take multiple showers a day. Yes, please!!
Street food was the best! And so cheap! The average lunch cost $1.25. My favorites are Dtom Yam, Pad Thai, Garlic Chicken and Rice, Kaao Pat, Pat See Iw, etc.
Around the corner of the office was Smoothie Lady. She made the best smoothies in all of Bangkok! Fresh fruit, freshly made, anything you wanted, all for just a mere $0.78.
We met a couple that blessed us beyond belief. They invited us over to their house for meals. We spent one morning swimming in a pool at their condo. They even took us out for Hillary’s birthday. (They bought her a cake and a present.) They went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable, loved, and at home in a country that sometimes felt like it was a million miles away from everyone and everything familiar.
Two words: BUBBLE TEA!
Every night, after class, I got to walk a little girl home. Her name is Aun, and she’s 10 years old. We laughed as we jumped over each “speed bump” between her house and the library. We played that same game every night. The last night I walked her home was the longest walk I’ve ever taken. I knew as soon as I reached the end and said goodbye, I would probably never see her again. Halfway there, I looked over and saw a tear in the corner of her eye. When we got to her house, I hugged her and told her I loved her. I’ll never forget her…
We spent one weekend painting the interns’ office. The interns have signed up for a two-year program. They are all learning the language and the culture. It’s inspiring to see their commitment and selflessness. They are living halfway around the world just to share what they believe. They understand where Thai people are coming from. They see a need for the people to have hope and freedom. They have given up so much. I admire each of them for what they do.
The afternoons were sweltering. On multiple occasions, I said these words “the shower wasn’t cold enough”. Words I never imagined I would utter after experiencing the Arctic temperatures of the showers in Central America.
When you pass people to say hi, you put your hands in front like you’re praying and say “Sah Wah Tee Ka”.
Going to the movies costs $5. The best part is the caramel popcorn and commercials before the movie. Also, right before the movie starts, everyone must stand up as they play the king’s anthem.
I bought a pair of “Thai pants”. I also discovered that the only people that wear Thai pants are not actually Thai people but tourists that come to Thailand #confused #touristpants
My favorite means of transportation was taking the Khlong. It was a waterway where you would take a boat. The smell wasn’t the best, but the wind in your face was exhilarating.
I discovered that the main ingredient for the best desert is buttered toast. One weekend, a couple of us went to a mall where each floor was a different city: Caribbean, Rome, London, Istanbul, Tokyo, Paris, and San Francisco. All the shops on each floor were typical to the city. The best part was the bathrooms. Each one uniquely and extravagantly decorated. We were real world travelers!
Tuesday night was prayer night. Both teams would gather together, World Race and Servant Partners, and pray for each other and the community. It was incredible to me to watch us come together as strangers and be so united by our faith. I’ve never felt more like being in a church than I did one those nights. We were open, honest, genuine, and real. No pretense. No expectations. Just love.
I rode on my first sleeper train! They are the best. Go to sleep in one city, wake up and you’re halfway to your next destination. Sleeping has never been so productive.
