My last month in Thailand, but I will return again...

"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly." - Richard Bach


While I was packing away some of my belongings that I had collected over this year I felt great pain. As if the box I was packing was not just my possessions but apart of my life here in Udon Thani. Packing my life away in a box...This year is nearly over and I am leaving a piece of my heart behind. Though I have had many difficulties to overcome this year, without them I could not have grown and matured into the young lady I am today, like my auntie Sabrina McKenna says,

"...people who haven't experienced adversity have little to prove."

I am so grateful for this past year and I will never forget it. Time goes by so fast and in many ways this year felt like a dream; flowing through my mind and filling it with adventures, trials, and crazy moments then drifting away as I return to the real world around me.

Though my year as an exchange student is ending, I know I will be returning to Thailand again, someday...

Khon Kaen, again...Let's go!

I went to Khon Kaen again but the main purpose of this trip was to meet/welcome the new AFS exchange student from America. It was a good short trip because Daniel, from Maha Sarakarm, was able to make it and P'Boss, from Korat. I also got to meet one of Kate's Thai friends, P'Apple.

Suzy in Nakhom Phanom with cha kai mok! ขาไข่มุข

My friend Suzanne and I.

Cha kai mok ขาไข่มุข Bubble tea.....heaven my favorite drink in Thailand. Though they have it in America it just seems to taste WAY better here. ^_^ Hands down, the best place for cha kai mok is in Nakhom Phanom (Suzanne and Emma don't know just how good they got it!) =)

I took a short holiday to Nakhom Phanom again to visit my good friend, Suzanne. It is always fun visiting her in the small, quite, and beautiful town. Sometimes I wish Udon Thani was like that. ^_^ I rode on the bicycle with Suzanne! (two people on one...) very scary.... ;p Well the second time we went out I got my own bicycle but it didn't make much of a difference because I am not very good at riding one in the first place.

สุขสันต์วันสงกรานต์ Happy Songkran Day!

Celebrating my first Songkran festival in Korat or Nakhon Ratchasima was an experience of a lifetime! The first day of Songkran was the most exciting and by far the most intense days of my life! I went with P'Boss, P'Beer, P'Sun, and P'Say. We walked around for a long time with water guns in one hand and powder in the other. The Thai children enjoy Songkran the most because of the water and being able to splash anything and/or anyone! As we were walking around we past my friend's house. Rika, an exchange student from Japan came with us because the first day she had no plans for Songkran. Around 1 P.M. or so we went to P'Boss's friend's house which was right next to the main road where Songkran was taking place. There we played loud music, splashed water everywhere, and ate till the late afternoon. The day was so hot but because of all the iced water it felt much more cooler. =) Some other exchange friends join us at the house too, Caity and Josh. Both are from America. Josh came all the way from Chantaburi for Songkran. Songkran last for three days in Thailand, but after that first day, none of the other days really compare. ;p The only thing about Songkran that I don't like is the crazy random Thai that come up to you and cover you in baby powder, ugh!

intro to songkran....

Songkran or the Thai New Year is celebrated every year for three days (April 13th, 14th, and 15th.) Water plays an important role in the Songkran festival because it represents cleanse and purification for the new year, that is why Songkran is also referred to as the Water Festival. During Songkran people with get buckets of water or water guns and drench each other on the streets. Many times they also use powder and cover each other head to toe with a mixture of water and white baby powder. I am regretting not having my mother bring me water proof cameras when she came to visit me because now I have to figure out how to keep my camera safe and enjoy Songkran at the same time...

Orchids, moleskin art, and the road home....帰り道

Since I have returned to Udon Thani the days are calm and quiet. I retreat to the small garden in front of the house and listen to my Thailand. The world becomes a more seldom place as I realize that I am only in Thailand for a short time more. Udon Thani has become my home this past year and I feel a piece of my heart is slowly being torn from me. It will be very hard to leave in May... I also know that it will be many years before I can return to Thailand. One exchange student said that, "When I returned to my home country it felt as if everything the year before had been a dream..."

When I am in the States again the summer will be full of activities; graduation, family get togethers, friend's grad party's, grad night at Disneyland, Kristy's wedding, and moving to California for college. While these things are all very fun, I am worried that I will be unprepared for this step in my life. It is also painful to think that I will only be home in Kona for a short time and then, once again I will have to pack up and go somewhere, its just that now I have no clue how long it will be before I return home.

The southern tour reminded me so much of Hawaii and when I would go to the beach with all my friends. I am amazed at myself for wanting to go home so badly but not wanting to leave either. Conflicting emotions are never easy to describe. Well, I thought I might put up pictures of some of my pages from my moleskin journal. When ever I was overly emotional, thought too much, or just wanted to pass the time I would either write or draw. So out of my head and on to paper, creativity and boredom reign! Just kidding.

There have been new orchids blooming recently. Small, fragrant yellow ones fall from the tree and hang lightly in the wind. Those are my favorite of all the orchids at my house. I really fancy trees and flowers that hang down, almost like they are trying to touch the ground instead of reaching for the sky.

I feel more at ease now, so I can get to work on finishing so very difficult essays and sort out all my scholarship "to do" list.

South of Thailand! Sun, sea, & stories!

Krabi was the frist stop on the tour and it was by far my favorite part of the whole trip. The whole day was spent visiting Mu Kopoda by boat. The islands there were so beautiful and different from eachother. I also enjoyed the day because our boat turned into a dance party! ^_^ Music, sun, water, and friends! It was so funny when some of my friends saw and held their first sea cucumber! There were also black vana in the water alittle ways out and it reminded me of the times when Kaitlin and I would go to the beach and eat them! Good times.
I felt that most of my time was spent either on a boat or a bus for a large amount of time. The boat ride to the Similan islands took way more than three hours...more like five! We slept a Ko Si island in tents... I am so happy that I remember to bring a pillow! I really did not like the sleeping arrangments at the island, tents no sleeping bags, communal showers, rats EVERYWHERE, and giant mosquitos!!!!
At one point in the tour we went to a tourist attraction with tons of Korean tourist! Couples with their matching outfits and old couples with polo tops.

Phuket was not what I thought it would be at all in one way or another. For some reason I thought Phuket would be more of a metropolis and condensed. Instead it was spread out, small buildings, and vegetation everywhere. It was still like the rest of Thailand (excluding Bangkok and Chiang Mai) despite international popularity.

No voice, coughing, and heat

Recently in Udon Thani, there was the Rotary District Conference at the Charoen Hotel. I was the MC for the District Governor's Banquet, but it is my luck that I loose my voice that very day. I was, lets just say, very upset. I still don't have my voice back if your wondering, it has been about four days. Now I am beginning to wonder if I will have to live the rest of my life without my voice, very scary thought.

I am at home, bored, and wondering what I could do to pass the time. I would go for a walk but the heat outside makes it unbearable. My host mother and aunt are taking naps at the moment.

While I do love Thai music, I have become engrossed in Utada's upcoming English album, This is the One. FYI

Next week I will be leaving for the Southern Paradise tour to Phuket. I am excited be at the same time it will be a reminder of home.

Graduation

This morning the M6 and M3 classes graduated, there were also awards for the student representatives, and the students at the top of their class. All the students that were graduating gave out pins with contact information, candy, pictures, and messages. They also give out necklaces with hearts, candy, and photos as well. Mr. John's students all gave him pins and necklaces!
After the ceremony I met up with my friends Biak, Khom, and some other M5 students.

"What people are you?" Said the girl in 5/3

Yesterday I went to help Ms.Mee with her last two classes of the day, 5/3 and 5/7. The first number is the grade and the second number is the class they are in. I roam the school everyday and I spend a majority of the time with my homeroom class, but still, after six months of living and going to school people still don't know that I am an exchange student. One of the first questions that students ask me is, "What people are you?" in their heavy Thai accent and grammar to go with it. Everyone thinks I look so Thai and not Japanese-American. People have also told me that I look Chinese or Korean, on my part I am not too pleased. Many Thai people are surprised that I am Japanese but I come from America. They don't realize that America is full of many different people and cultures. I consider myself to be full American and full Japanese. I am fourth generation American, not first or second but fourth! In Japan I would not be considered Nihonjin but Nikkeijin instead. It is true, however, that in Hawaii I celebrate my heritage and keep many of my Japanese values.
I also find that being Asian in a country like Thailand and being an exchange student do not mix very well with me at all. People who are Falang or posses Falang features tend to receive more attention, respect, and in many ways are put into a status which is higher then the normal Thai person. While I blend in with the people and receive the same treatment as a Thai student, I am, however displeased by the thought that, based on the looks of a person, they are automatically greater than others. Looks mean so much more in Thailand than in America.

Ubolratana - Lake, Garden, and Dinosaurs

Ajarn Narin wanted to take myself and the foreign teachers to Ubolratana for the day. Ajarn Narin, Ajarn Jojo, Ajarn Jingwu and he girlfriend, Zixi, and I all went to Ubolratana. Zixi has been visiting Udon Thani from Beijing for about three weeks now.

We first stopped at a garden in the mountains of Song Nang where there were also dinosaurs! Now real ones of course but before many years ago there were.

When we got to the lake I was in a way disappointed that it was so muggy. I believe it was due to the fires up north. The day was not clear at all, but a haze...

วันมาฆบูชา....The First Instructions

Do good

Don't do bad

Purify yourself

The first instructions given by the lord Buddha to his followers on this day many years ago. The Thai people remember this day every year with prayer and celebration. My host family took me to a Wat outside of Udon Thani. Many people were there, some slept at the temple while others came just for the night. My host mother, father, and aunt all went this night to pray and later we lit a khom (floating lantern) into the sky.

The instructions given by the Buddha were, as best I can relate it to, similar to the Eightfold Path in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. For those who do not know, I am a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist and the eightfold path, for the most part, is similar to the first two instructions given, Do good and Don't do bad.

Highlights from the Northern tour! LOOK LOOK LOOK!

DANGER! NO POKE! ~ I have no idea why they put that there... This was at a national park outside of Ubon. The hill tribes near Chiang Rai, in North Thailand. The tribe seemed to be more touristy than ethnic. At the zoo in Chiang Mai they had two giant Pandas, on loan from China. I bought key chains made of panda poo at the zoo. ;p They spelled it correct in Thai but in English it is completely wrong! Poor English skills they have at the Chiang Mai zoo.Women have limitations in Thailand....a lot. This picture was taken at a wat in Chiang Mai. The women were not suppost to enter because of their monthly periods. That is what the tour guide told me.

Nakhom Phanom

I went to Nakhon Phanom to visit my friend Suzanne for the weekend. Nakhon Phanom is a small town located on the banks of the Mekhong river. In Nakhon Phanom a person can see Laos and Vietnam! When I arrived on Friday there was a beautiful view of Laos accross the river and further away were the mountains and Vietnam. Sometimes I wish Udon Thani was that close to another country.

BUBBLE TEA!! My favorite drink in Thailand has been bubble tea (cha kai mok) and while I was in Ban Klang (Suzanne's village) we went to a bubble tea shop. My bubble tea was a green tea flavor, very good and not too sweet!
Suzanne, her host brother P' Pong, and I went around the village and stopped at a school, Wat, and the local noodle shop. At the school we made jumping pictures, played with really small merry go round, and took pictures of little Thai children. Suzanne is very tall so when she was on the merry go round it was very entertaining.

Chinese New Year!!!!

Udon Thani has a fairly large Chinese population so there has been a lot of parties, fireworks, and community gatherings for the Chinese New Years. I went to one with my friends from school and another exchange student who was visiting me, Stephanie. A well know Thai singer, Waii, came to Udon Thani that night and preformed.

Thailand...sorry I havent updated in a while...

I went on a two week trip to the north in December, went camping with friends from school for New Years Elephants in Thailand are so loving! When I went to Chiang Mai the Rotary took all the exchange students on an elephant ride and there was also an elephant show. The trip was so much fun. Some of my most memorable moments were on the trip.

Thailand is beginning to get hot again...and it is only January!!! oh no!! I have been told that March, April, and May are the hottest months. Scary...mosquitos.

new years in Thailand with my friends!

The sky lit up with beautiful colors from the fireworks on the night of New Years. I was on the balcony of my room gazing at the sky. For a moment a felt unbelievable sadness, alone on the balcony, no one to share the night with. A sad experience. I miss to mochi, fireworks, and family around New Years night. In Hawaii, I miss being together with everyone and celebrating together. Don't get me wrong, I was very happy to celebrate with my friends a night earlier. We went camping and the next day, hiking. That night before New years we had a party, danced and sang. To be with other to celebrate and have fun is a lot more enjoyable. The hike was intense, we went up a mountain and our goal was to get to the top where there was a water fall and a cave with bats in it. But we never made it. Everyone got so tired about three fourth to the top, so we went back down the mountain. There wasn't even a trail, so it took longer going up and going down. There were however wild orchids growing all the way up the mountain. They were so beautiful, and some of my friends were picking them on the way up and down. The view from the top was beautiful and the nature around us was so calming. It reminded me of the mountains in Hawaii and how I use to go camping for one week up in the hills of Mauna Loa.