Friday, January 14, 2011

January 14, 2011

Sowatdiika!  (Hello!)
So, PC is keeping us busy!  Yesterday was full of biking information: we received our mountain bikes (yay!) as our main mode of transportation, learned how to change flat tires, oil chains, get rid of wild dogs (they are everywhere in Thailand - being a primarily Buddhist country, they do not euthanize.), and driving on the opposite side of the road....the way they do it everywhere except America - still don't get that one!.  After that, we had our welcome ceremony and dinner. The ceremony is a ceremony for special guests in which they do this thing on your forearm with a string to wipe away any bad/negativity and welcome the good, wish us a great stay in thailand and thanked us for coming to their country to help their people.  The room was dark, only lit by candles....it was really nice.  Then we had a big feast by the water and sang karaoke, which, apparently, Thai's are crazy about!  Not necessarily my thing, but when in Rome, right?!  So, I joined in on a song by bon jovi with my dinner table and somehow stayed far away from the microphone so I didn't ruin anyone's meal with my voice! 

Today (Jan 14) was a big day.  We met the Governor of Attuthya, the province in which our 3 months of training will take place.  This was a big deal as we had to get dressed up appropriately ('riap roy') for the big event.  The governor and our Country Director both gave speeches and we had to individually stand up and wai (the Thai bow) and say hello and introduce ourselves.  We were all so nervous!  The Thai's seem to have much respect for those of authority - it is very much a cultural thing that I think is nice in many ways.  It's something I think that lacks a bit in America, at least for our politicians/governmental leaders - pros and cons to both, but either way, meeting him was a very big deal for all of us!  The rest of the day was more biking - we all passed the test (yay!).  Just fyi - i was sweating up a storm at 4:30pm during the cold season!  God only knows what the hot season will feel like!  We also had our first language lesson - much of my time will be spent practicing.

Tomorrow afternoon I move in with my homestay family who I will be living with for the next 2 months.  I will live with them, eat with them, practice Thai with them, eat good Thai food with them, share my family and American life with them, etc.  I am feeling many things about meeting them, but certainly excited and anxious to know what they are all like.   Internet service may become quite limited so will try my best to keep you all  posted.  Please know that thus far, I have been enjoying everything: the people (both volunteers and PC staff), the Thai people, the training, etc!

Again, thinking of you all and hoping all is well :)
 

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Officially in Thailand!

January 12, 2011 (2:30am)

We have arrived in Thailand!!!!  We are just getting to our hotel that we'll be staying in for a few days before we head off to our homestay.  Training begins tomorrow bright and early at 8am so will be going to bed shortly.  But, just wanted to let you know that we are here - 1 day late due to many delays. We had to stay ove in Japan which was cool, as I've never been.  Good news is that we are here and getting ready to begin!  Although the delays were tiresome, the extra time enabled my fellow colleagues to all get to know each other and begin the bonding!  PC did a great job preparing us for what is to come during our staging and made us all very excited.  My group seems to be full of positive, energetic and ambitious people and I look forward to getting to know them even better :)  I am the only New Yorker, so will be representing for all of us!  Hope all is well back on the home front.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

January 5, 2011

So, the unsavvy tech girl has started a blog!  This shows how excited I am to begin the Adventures of Thailand with the Peace Corps and my hopes to share it all with you!  I will be leaving on Saturday January 8, 2011 for orientation in Philadelphia where the 68 new Peace Corps Volunteers of Thailand (PCV's) will be meeting for the first time. We leave the following day and arrive in Bangkok on January 10, 2011. 

During the first 3 months, the PC will teach us about Thai culture, Thai language and the skills to succeed in our new homes, lives and jobs.  I will live with a Thai host family who will take me in for 3 months so I can be fully immersed in the language and culture!  After that, I will be placed to live in one of the many beautiful regions of Thailand to begin my 2 year service and to officially become a part of the Thai community.  During the 2 years, I will be a part of the Community Based Organizational Development (CBOD) project.  This project is quite flexible, but I will basically work with the community to learn from them, share each others lives and together make a difference in some way.  Those words are like heaven to me - I simply can't wait to begin this journey!

Although I have been preparing for this adventure for more than 1 year, I am still finding it difficult to part from the amazing family and friends I am blessed with - their support has been everything to me.  With their support, I look forward to meeting amazing new people, learn about a new culture and way of life, become a part of the Peace Corps and Thailand family and to begin a new and exciting chapter in my life.