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...

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.

One month and counting....

This month of August has been busy for me, I arrived in Thailand on Saturday August second and right when I met my host family they put me in a van and began the eight hour drive to Udon Thani. It was eleven at night and we drove the whole way home. I couldn't really sleep much that night, while I was in the car I kept thinking about why I was in Thailand... Its hard to explain, Thailand was not one of my Top Three choices but everyone said that it is the best place for me. I still have to wonder about that even now sometimes but I want to treasure the short time that I am here. I never saw myself going to Thailand but now that I am here it has been starting to grow on me.

I started school on August fifth, and I was so surprised by everything! My homeroom class was so warm and welcoming to me. They helped me with everything that day; getting lunch, my schedule, everything. Let me just say that the lunch here is first class! :] I understand why an exchange student here would get fat. But anyway, my first day I had to leave school to help the Magkang Rotary club hand out eye glasses to students at another school. My counselor, Kun Pichit took me to the school and we gave out, about hundred and fifty glasses.

That night my host family and I went to the Rotary meeting where I introduced myself in Thai. My host brother, Toomtam, also talked about his anticipation to be an exchange student in Indiana.

On Friday I went to the Complex with my host brother to hang out with his friends. we ate at a place called MK which was very interesting because every hour the workers would come out and do a dance... After we ate, everyone took pictures together in a booth. There were six of us, three girls and three boys, I don't remember the girls names but the boys were, Max, Best, and Toomtam. The guys went to B2S a music, book, and stationary store. I bought a CD by an Artist named Oak Smith. I might meet him while I am here in Thailand.

We left Udon Thani that Saturday at about 5 a.m. to drive to Bangkok. We met his cousin Pe Egg and stayed with him at his apartment building. His mother came with us to Bangkok. I met his girlfriend, I can't remember her name but she is really pretty and very nice. They took Toomtam and I to eat then she and I ate dessert. Toomtam left for America on Sunday at 5 a.m. in the morning. While we were at the airport sending my host brother away, I met another rotary exchange student from America who is staying in the same district as me. She seemed excited to talk to me and we were talking about our time in Thailand so far. After my parents took my to the temple of the Emerald Buddha. I it was so amazing! That day it was very crowded though and it was so HOT! Everyone was pushing and they were all sweaty.

On August twelve I met the exchange student from Germany, Nina. She is very nice and we talked for a long time. I ended up sleeping over her house and spending time with here. At first she was having a very hard time because she missed her family and friends back home. But she has bee very happy now. She is so pretty and I enjoy being able to talk to someone like her.

I went to Ban Chiang on August sixteenth with my host mother and our maid plus her son.

On Monday August eighteenth my friends and I went to Khon Kaen University for science week. It was my first time in Khon Kaen and I was so excited to see a Thai university. The campus is very big and I was surprised to find an "American Corner"! :]

I went to Nakhon Ratchasima on the twenty third with my counselor because there was a meeting there that he had to go to. I went on a tour with other YEs and one was from America too but she is living far from Udon Thani.

The Magkang rotary club had gone to nine Wats on the twenty forth. Nina and I were so tired that day but we discovered a Thai snack that is really good! :] My favorite wat was the one up in the mountains. it was so beautiful and clean!

Yesterday the Robinson store had a fashion show and Nina, her mother and sister were in it! she got her hair done and danced with famous Thai actors! I took a picture with one but I don't know who he is... But it was still very exciting! I think he is very cute too. :] I yelled Nina's name when she was on the catwalk and everyone stared at my after but it was worth it. There was this transsexual who was the MC at the event, and that day I had saw him on the TV.

D3340

There has been some stress over my student visa this past month and I am just hoping that everything will work out in time. The travel agent had emailed that August 1st will still most likely be the day that I leave Kona but I will have to be traveling for about three days. On the bright side, I have a copy of my school guarantee form. The name of the school that I will be going to in Thailand is called, "Udonpichairakpittaya".... I am trying to figure out how to pronounce it.... Sad I know, I should know how by now but Thai is very difficult for me. The uniform is very interesting, with a pink button down top and navy spotted pants. I saw some pictures of the uniform and the school on the Internet the other day. I am very curious about the students and everyday life at school since...I will be there a majority of the time. I have also contacted my host family in Thailand. The problem is that they don't use their regular names!! In the emails that I have gotten they have been using their nick names or something cause the name Tooman doesn't ring a bell in my mind! I'm already confused and I'm not even in the country yet! Well anyway the district that I am going to is Rotary District 3340. They are so organized and seemingly really intense! But its good because my mother can be equally intense and I know that she loves how organized they are.

I had my Bon Voyage party this past weekend. I enjoyed being with my family the most. Its sad when I think that I won't be seeing them for ten months. But going to Thailand is something that I can't give up for anything. A lot of people came to the party, but that wasn't what I wanted at the beginning. I wanted just my family and maybe one or two friends and ended up with so many people..... But in the end it was okay. Most of my friends came and I stayed up really late with some of them just talking and having fun. I loved how Steph and Nana came all the way from Hilo for my party. I was so happy to see them both and it made my party that much more enjoyable.

Udon Thani, Thailand

I am going to be living in that red area seen on the map, Udon Thani. I have been told that the Thai culture is very conservative and very strict when it come to the Buddha or the royal family. One thing that I believe that I will have a hard time with is communication. I have been trying to learn Thai but it is a very difficult language. I want to get the basics down before I leave for Udon Thani so that I won't be totally lost when I get there. The weather will be really hot and humid, not like Hawaii where there is cooling trade winds. Many people take more than one bath a day there because it is important to be very clean. Also we aren't supposed to touch the head or point the bottom of our feet at anyone because it is a sign of great disrespect.

I cannot wait to leave! I want to learn how to cook Thai food! Thai food is very delicious but people have been telling me that I will get sick of eating Thai food though. I still have to talk to more Thai people about the culture and everyday life. I also have been thinking about getting a cellular phone and the option of bring my lab top or not.