Home for the Holidays - Questions

During my recent visit to the US, my family and friends had many questions about my past year living and serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions...

1. Have you gained weight?

Barely. In the past year, I've gained exactly 2kg (roughly 4.5 lbs), which is barely noticeable on my small frame. Those familiar with my Peace Corps journey may know that my application/medical clearance process was complicated and prolonged due to my perceived "underweight condition" and that I'd been actively trying everything to gain weight since then and even after I arrived in Thailand. This became an unhealthy obsession for me, yet and still, my efforts did not yield much. I've since decided to just eat as normally and as healthily as possible, appreciate my genes and metabolism, and not worry about my weight.

2. Can you cook Thai food?

Unfortunately, No. I have picked up a couple things along the way, but the majority of my meals are prepared behind the scenes. I take opportunities to observe and even help in the cooking process when possible, but more often than not, I'm shooed away to sit and wait until the food is finished. I suppose I could be more insistent on learning how to cook/prepare Thai meals, but really and truly, I've never had the gift/inclination or whatever it takes to actually cook, so... I think I'll make more of an effort this year though, because I don't think that I can return to a life of microwaveables and takeout... We'll see...

3. Can you speak Thai?

Yes, I can. I wouldn't consider myself fluent, but I know enough to get around comfortably living and working among non-English speakers, I also know enough to travel out and about the country by myself, and of course, shop and get bargains. About 90% of my everyday interactions (including classroom management) are in Thai. My reading and writing skills aren't too great though, but I can read most street signs and complete forms with my basic information. (Thai has actually been categorized as being one of the most complicated writing systems in the world, this video explains why.)

4. Are inter cultural relationships common in Thailand? (Sometimes phrased as "Are you dating anyone over there?")

From my observation, most Thais seem to "couple up" among themselves at a fairly young age, but it is not uncommon to find old white retired foreign men with very young Thai wives or girlfriends. I have yet to see a Thai man of any age with a foreign (non-Asian) wife or girlfriend. (And nope, I haven't explored the dating scene either. I'm very focused on my roles as a Volunteer.)

5. So really, what do you do?

As a Youth Development Volunteer, I do activities and programs with youth in my community to help them to develop life skills; this includes making healthy choices, promoting positive self image, addressing gender norms and biases, improving communication skills as well as English language skills. This satisfies the first goal of Peace Corps to help interested countries in meeting specific needs. The second goal of Peace Corps is to promote a better understanding of the United States to the people in the country of service, so I find ways to share aspects of American culture with my community and students whenever possible. The third goal of Peace Corps is to promote a better understanding of other peoples and cultures among Americans, which I do through blogs and emails.

6. What are your plans for Post-Peace Corps?

First and foremost, I would definitely get my social work license. Beyond that, there are a few options that I may explore. I vowed to dedicate my 20's to service, but I may take a shift from volunteerism to take advantage of my NCE (Non-Competitive Eligibility) Status. This gives preferential consideration for employment with the US Government for up to one year after completion of Peace Corps service. Veteran's Affairs has been on my mind, or Family and Children Services at the state level, I've also considered returning to AmeriCorps or doing international service work with my church. I plan to explore each of these options more carefully towards the end of my service.

7. What do you miss the most about America?

My family, having a car, and the wide variety of foods.

8. What will you miss the most about Thailand?

My host family and community, the people in general, and their tremendous hospitality. I will also miss how inexpensive everything is! 

9. How much longer will you be in Thailand?

Until the close of my service in March 2016. 

10. Can I come to visit you?

Yes!!! Just let me know when!

My family. I miss them the most!

I'm always happy to answer questions about my life/service in Thailand.  Feel free to comment below if you have any!

Home for the Holidays - Highlights

It has been about a year since I left home to begin my service in Thailand, at that point, I was uncertain as to whether or not I would return home (or to the USA) at any point during my twenty-seven months of service. I knew that I would miss my family and numerous celebrations/life events of loved ones, but I also knew that I could just immerse myself completely into this new life for two years and that my family and friends would still be there when I return. All the same, during the year leading up to my departure, I made it a point to save enough for at least one trip back home, just in case.

"Just in case" came in the form of an invitation to a dear friend's wedding, which would take place during the holiday season and would be perfect for   spending time with friends and family, and just enjoying the holidays with loved ones. Although I didn't technically go "home" for the holidays, it was close enough. I spent my vacation surrounded by folks near and dear to my heart; after all, home is where the heart is.

My parents and siblings traveled from their different locations to meet me, so in a sense, "home" came to me. The timing of this trip translated into the perfect opportunity for a family vacation, which we haven't had in over a decade. This was actually our first family vacation since my brother was born, so really, our first full family vacation. We toured four cities in ten days, visiting family, friends, theme parks, and just enjoying our togetherness. It was a great time.

All of us. First Family Vacation.  Last Sabbath of 2014.

My two week retreat and family vacation was nothing short of wonderful, here are just a few highlights from my trip.

The Union Of Mr & Mrs Louis. I had the opportunity to witness the beautiful union of my dear friend Tasha and her love, with the company of great friends. Tasha and I became friends during our AmeriCorps service and we have maintained a great bond and friendship even as life has taken us on various separate journeys. I am so happy that she has found a life partner, and I'm glad that I was able to be a part of their special day.

Celebrating Love and Friendships

"Keep Calm and กินข้าว" These souvenir t-shirts were great conversation pieces. กินข้าว (gin-kaao) translates literally to eat rice, and really refers to just eating a meal in general since rice is a given for just about every Thai meal. Lately though, I had been longing for breakfast foods and pasta. My first stop was supposed to be IHOP, but we settled for Denny's and it was just as good to me. Pancakes at midnight, so yum, followed by more of my favorites at Olive Garden, Boston Market, Chipotle, Cheesecake Factory, and homemade Caribbean food at relatives' homes. I kept calm and enjoyed many rice-less meals for the remainder of my trip, and it was amazing!

Enjoying a variety of meals with my family. Pancakes, Pasta, and Caribbean Cuisine. Loved it!

Santa's Enchanted Forest, World's Largest Christmas Theme Park, so magical! My siblings and I have enjoyed the magic and enchantment of this park for the past few years, but this is the first time we all went together.  The weather was a bit chilly, but we rode every ride, watched every show, and had countless hours of fun.

Enjoying the enchanted forest with the siblings. We had a fantabulous time.

Bro's first trip to Universal. My sisters and I had our Disney and Universal adventures when we were pretty little, my brother missed out on a lot since he is so much younger than we are, but we felt that he was due his chance to experience the magic. We spent two full days exploring Universal Resort and Studios, and even with the rain and chilly weather, we had a blast! Next time, Disney!

We spent two full days exploring the parks, in the wind and the rain, and we still had an awesome time.

Gifts from Thailand, with Love. When my community members learned that I was going home for the holidays, they brought gifts and souvenirs for me to share with my family. They came bearing gifts right up until the morning that I was leaving. The gifts were all produced in my community, my family loved and appreciated every one.

Gifts from my community, all locally made/grown in our villages. My family loved them!

Congratulating Mom. My mother had a year of great academic achievements, she completed her nursing degree earlier in the year and recently top-scored the national certification/licensure examination on the first try. This is a tremendous accomplishment! My aunt and uncle organized a lovely celebration in her honor, and I was happy to share this moment with her.

In the middle of her celebration, my mother decided to give me a wonderful surprise. See my sister's video for her documentation of our vacation, including my big and wonderful surprise at 5:30. Stay tuned for more!

To be continued :-)

Long Live The King

On December 5th, we celebrated the 87th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, also known as Rama IX (the ninth king of this dynasty), and affectionately referred to by Thais as po kong prathet (พ่อของประเทศ)   which means Father of the Country. Many Thais wear yellow all month long in The King's honor (yellow is the color-of-the-day for Monday, the day on which The King was born). The King was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts while his father studied at Harvard,  he is the only living monarch to be born in the United States. In 1946, when he was only eighteen years old, Rama IX began his reign, and has been on the throne for the better part of the past century (over 68 years). He is currently the longest-serving head of state in the world, the longest reigning monarch in Thai history, and for the vast majority of the Thai population, he has been the only reigning king of their lifetime.  (Side note for history buffs, the history of the Siam/Thai throne is quite interesting, right down to the series of events that led to Rama IX's ascension.)
 

The King is greatly revered in Thailand, the level of respect and admiration that people hold for him was described to me by a Thai colleague as compared to what many Westerners may feel towards a modern-day Jesus Christ/Mother Theresa/Princess Diana/Michael Jackson, all in one person. The King is most known for his kind heart and his generosity; he is also an artist, photographer, accomplished musician, and very intelligent; he holds patents for his invention of rain cloud makers, he has been involved in social and economic projects and has made tremendous contributions in the medical and agricultural reform of the country; he led the country into its democratic state; and everyone agrees that he is quite handsome. The King's portrait can be found in just about every home, school, office, business place, market place, courtyard, and major street intersection across the country. Despite laws that prohibit anything (spoken or written word, forms of art, music, movies, etc) that may be deemed as insulting to the throne, the love that Thais have for their King seems to be quite genuine. 

 

This year, the King was unable to make his much anticipated birthday address due to doctor's orders. It was stated that he is not in fact ill, but rather recovering from recent illness and medical procedures. The King's health has been declining for the past several years and everyone hopes persistently for his improved health and wellness. The King is truly loved and has done a tremendous lot for the country and for the people throughout his reign, understandably, most Thais cannot imagine a Thailand without the beloved King and I cannot imagine the state of *indescribable emotion* that the country will be in if when he is  no longer with us. To the King, and for the sake of the people, I join the country to sincerely wish him many more birthdays, and the best of health, strength, and sound mind to the very end of his days.

 

 
 
This year, the King's birthday fell on a Friday, there were various activities throughout the week, however my time was spent primarily in the schools. On Thursday, I spent my morning at school and the afternoon at a cultural/agricultural exhibition/festival in my district, then Friday, which was a national holiday, was all about preparing for the evening's ceremonies. Below are some pictures that from the festivities that I attended in my district.


With Kru Toi at our community's booth

 

A troupe from our community dressed in traditional gear for the opening performance

The leader of our district and his team at our booth to inspect and judge for the competition



Some items from our booth



Produce grown and decorated in our local villages

Such lovely arrangements!



And guaranteed deliciousness :-)

 


Different strains of rice



Craft items, clothing, and purses for sale, all locally made



More clothes and a photo display of various community events

We also brought fish from our pond at the local government office where we've been raising fish and frogs

Teachers passed through with their students to check out our display and identify the various plants and fruits

Our Nayoke/Mayor collecting the prize, our booth won FIRST PLACE!!

  

With one of my school directors, We are #1!

The leader of our district opening the day's events

 

District leader doing a demonstration of the afternoon's first activity.
First you shake the rice grains off of the stalks

Then toss the stalks over to your partner

Now let the games begin! I called it "The Rice Games"

Stalks are separated to be rebundled for feed



Rice is mortar and pestle'd out of the husk



Then the husks are sifted away

Check it out! I don't think we placed in this competition after the rice was weighed, but I sure learned a lot!

 

They told me to give it a try. But I wasn't fast enough or strong enough apparently lol

I was resigned to taking pictures and having my hand held

 

The stage all set for the evening's events



With Pii Baow, our community development officer,
who has recently been assigned as my counterpart.

Pii Baow and Pii Noi (my host mom) assisting the Nayoke/Mayor
in paying homage to the King

 

Paying homage to the King on behalf of our community


 

Government officials, community leaders, and other representatives from every
community/subdistrict lined up to pay respect to The King

Once everyone had gone, candles were lit and national songs were sung

Officials from my community

All officials were dressed in various forms of traditional Thai-wear

The candles were all placed onto this sand table. This is part of Buddhist merit making ritual,
and usually when I see this, I think of it as resembling a giant ash tray,
but this night, it most certainly resembled a giant birthday cake

All of the tributes to the king

And then the performances began



Performers from the secondary school in my community




Maw-lam-sing -- regional song and dance -- performed by our local government office.
We won SECOND PLACE!

 

The celebration was wonderful, and lasted well past my bedtime, but it was incredible. As Father of the Country, The King's birthday also doubles as Father's Day in Thailand. The Father's Day aspect of the day seemed to have been overshadowed by all of the celebrations of the King's birthday though. I believe that some schools had ceremonies, but I was not able to witness any this year. Nonetheless, I wanted to close off by giving a Father's Day shout-out to all of the father's reading my blog, especially my own! 

Happy Father's Day Daddy!
Thank you for your love and support.