Last Night

Last night my host mother informed me that she didn't have time to take me into town for aerobics and that I was to eat dinner with my host father and sister. What was served for dinner was fish meatball in a curry sauce and mushrooms with shredded fish lung. Needless to say I didn't eat dinner and ate a huge breakfast. This morning however, I got up and was locked out of the house for 20 minutes. Giving me ten minutes to eat breakfast. I hate being locked out. I was then informed that the after school classes have started back up so instead of getting picked up well before 4 it will now be 4:30 once again.
Last night I went out to see the puppies again and only the runt of the bunch came out. I picked it up and put it in my lap and within two seconds it was fast asleep. It was so precious. I really want to bring one home, but know that I can't bring it to college. I just realized I have less than 9 months left here, it's all going so fast. I went to Thai class today and the little kids called me PFah meaning that they called me sister, it was so cute. It will soon be lunch time and I will go eat, because I'm still starving. I was fine for a few days and now I want to eat everything in site, and I wonder why I'm gaining weight. Well after school I will go to aerobics and out to dinner and to play with the puppies and then do the same thing again tomorrow. I will be going to the border with Burma sometime this week to extend me Visa. So it won't be a full week of boredom in school. My friends are back!

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Flat Stanley

Another cute thing that my neighbor Anna Arntz sent me was her school project. She read this book in class and made a paper version of Flat Stanley. She stuck him in an envelope and is supposed to send him on trips and the people who receive him are to take him on trips and take pictures with him and then write a letter and send the pictures to someone else who could take him on vacation. Flat Stanley has to be returned by March 2011 when the project is over and they share where they have been. I was so honored that she sent it to me, so the first thing Stanley is going to see is the new puppies and I will take a picture to send with it. I don’t know where else I will be going to bring him along, but I will keep him for about a week and see what I can do. If anyone else would be interested in taking Stanley for a vacation, please send me your address. I’m sure Anna would appreciate it as she is going to be the coolest kid having sent Stanley all the way to Thailand and back.

Just another day in the neigborhood

This morning I woke up at 9:30 which is within a few minutes of the latest I've ever slept in here. It just feels so awkward with my family up and working so early in the morning. Even though when I do get up I make my breakfast, wash some clothes and it's not til noon that I actually see someone in my family. So I don't think they really care if I get up late. I did have a great chat with my parents and grandparents last night and then proceeded to watch half an episode of Gilmore Girls and fall fast asleep. However the air conditioner has been giving me allergy issues lately. On the Central Trip one of the girls always asked if we could not turn on the air because her eyes started watering and her nose got super stuffy. Little did I know that I would wake up at 4 am with the same problem and reach to turn of the air-conditioner this morning. This is the second time it's happened. Luckily it is cooling off a lot here. Just sunny weather with crisp air and a nice breeze. So the air wasn't totally necessary. However when summer roles around and temperatures climb above 100 I hope I don't have the same reaction. The lizards are disappearing with the cooler weather and so are the mosquito's. However I have bites all over my legs. Also my camera won't turn on. So after writing this I'm going to take my dad's advice and look up ways to fix it. I hope it can be fixed because I need to take lots of pictures and don't want to buy a new camera, I don't have the money for it, if I did need to.  I will be looking up and trying to fix my camera, playing with the puppies and watching Dirty Dancing and going to aerobics tonight! Finally learning how to deal with being so so so bored. School tomorrow and hopefully my friends will actually be there.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

A Saturday In Chiang Kham

Last night after writing my blog I went out and played with Lola and the only white puppy in the bunch. They both ended up asleep on my lap, it was the cutest thing ever. But then I had to go to aerobics which surprisingly wasn't rained out. It was fun and energizing. After aerobics we went and had dinner and then went to 7-Eleven to buy more credit for my phone and of course got some Rodee since it's right outside 7-Eleven. We then came home and watched New Moon. With my little host sister as well (we put on Thai subtitles for her). Although she is not allowed to watch any kissing scene so my host moms hands were over her eyes quite a bit, it was hilarious. But I think she really enjoyed it and will be watching Eclipse with us tonight. After that I walked to my room and fell fast asleep. I'm so excited it's actually cooling off a lot. It was cold enough to make me want a sweatshirt last night as well as this morning. Linda Hentges suggested I ask if I can take Lola back to the U.S. with me and for one my parents don't want a dog since I can't bring her to college and one of the workers little daughters wants Lola. My host mother is trying to give them all away to someone who will feed them. I'm bumbed, I haven't seen a puppy yet this morning. I got up late and took a cold shower. We do have warm water but today it was all gone. Then ate a bowl of frosted flakes and then sat down at the computer to get everything done. I will just be sitting at home all day and I'll probably watch the movie A River Runs Through It. I bought it in Bangkok for 3 dollars, and it reminds me of Montana so I had to get it to watch. My uncle Jeff would be proud, he first made me watch it this summer at the cabin.
The maid took two days off and my host mother doesn't have time to wash dishes or the clothes so they are piled up. Nothing from my twelve days of vacation has been washed yet. It's been four days since the maid left and for the past two days we haven't heard from her. My host mother is starting to worry. I might wash some dishes for my host mother today. Well I've got to send some important emails.


Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Last Night

Before aerobics last night I saw that the puppies were out and playing. Before I left they still had their eyes closed. So I went and played with them and found out they love to chew on my shoes and crawl on my feet. I just walked away and they all followed and then piled on top of mt shoes once again. It was so cute. But it was soon time to go to aerobics. Before aerobics I met a 33 yr old lady that wants to work on her English, so I agreed to talk with her if she could help me with my Thai. She is so tiny it's kinda funny to both be standing up and talking. But she's so cute and she asked if we could be friends. She said something about being here only two days and I wasn't sure if she meant at aerobics or in Chiang Kham. Anyways after aerobics was over she said she couldn't wait to see me tomorrow. Which by the looks of it won't be happening, as it's raining right now and aerobics is in an hour.
After aerobics I went back in the dark and sat and played with the puppies. After they all got done feeding they went under the fence and fell asleep. All except for one which I named Lola who fell asleep on my shoe. The cutest little thing ever. I tried to put her back under the fence but she crawled back and sitting up fell asleep with her head resting on my leg. I finally got her back with her siblings and her mom. Today after school I tried to find them and I only found one, I will look for the rest when I'm done with this. Tonight my host mother promised me that we could watch New Moon together, we will see if this really happens.
I'm hoping that my friends are finally back at school on Monday because it was one long and awkward day. The kids were talking about me and all I could understand was Falang which means foreigner, and they said it a lot. My friends are much more outgoing and don't laugh when I don't understand something, they try to help me understand it. Well I'm off to change for aerobics (it just stopped raining), and go play with the one puppy I have found.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Rodee

Putting the Egg to make it Rodee Sai Kai or Rodee with egg

The sign in Thai

Getting Crispy

Finished Project

Central Trip

Outisde famous Emerald Buddha Temple

Outside King's Summer Palace

Famous Buddha Statue

First Hotel on the River

Night Cruise in Bangkok where these creepy Turkish guys were trying to dance with us so Tino the one in black came for an intervention.

Coolest Museum on Thai History

The Grand Palace

Historical Park in Sukothai

Bangkok Subway

RYLA

The famous lake created by the famous dam

One of many lectures all in Thai

The bridge over the river by the camp

Team building activities

Bruna and I an exchange student from Brazil

My turn at the can challenge

Bruna from Brazil, Maria from Mexico and Me

My birthday fireworks

My team for the team activities at RYLA

Krystina from Canade, Charlotte from Germany and Carlos from Mexico

Thai's wanted one more picture
(Amanda from Brazil, Felipe from Columbia)

Beautiful Drive To Chiang Mai

Cows on the road

View over the entire province

Thai Funeral

Temple where the funeral was held

People who attend the funeral everynight for 7 nights

Sunny and the next minute rain!

Me debating if I should just stay in the guest house or get soaked trying to get to the house without an umbrella

School

My friends from school

Vendors Outside the School

More Trip Details

The next day we woke up and all the girls went swimming. Then had breakfast at an international breakfast buffet. We got on the bus and went to the Kings Summer Palace and then went to a market where we were given money and could get whatever we wanted to eat. We went back to the hotel that night and did the same thing as the night before. We all hung out on the beautiful beach and then headed to bed. We left the hotel and headed to a different province and had dinner at the hotel and then we were supposed to go on a river cruise but it started pouring rain so we all grabbed an umbrella as soon as the boat docked and ran to our seperate houses. We woke up early the next morning and were giving the chance to offer food to the monks. The next day we left the hotel and went to Bangkok and visited the WW2 train and the Kings Palace and the famous Emerald Buddha. It was all gorgeous but soooo hot. We had the rest of the day to take the subway and explore Bangkok, we ended up going to the mall and eating A&W for dinner. We all hung out on two joining rooms that night and then headed to bed. The next day we went to Hua Hin and went on a ride to the floating market and visited an ancient city, kind of like the Thai version of the Rennisance Festival but a lot smaller. We were given money for dinner that night too and then we all hung out and went to bed. The next day we woke up filled out our monthly reports and then they gave us the whole day to do whatever we wanted in Bangkok. We took the subway and then the sky train to a big mall and had a blast all day. The next day we woke up bright and early and got on the bus and headed home. I stayed overnight at my friends house again and her mom took us out for the wonderful pizza that I had before we left and we ate the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. My third host mother came and picked me up and we went to the mall to buy some earrings and eat KFC for lunch. Then got pictures taken to renew my visa and found out we can't do it in Chiang Mai. So she dropped the car off at the school for her children and we took the bus back to Chiang Kham. It was quite an expierence. I came home with a gift for my host mother and my host sister. Along with the last two movies of the Twilight series so that my host mother and I can watch them. I took today to rest up and tommorow I will head back to school. I guess the puppies are big enough to walk around so were going to find them today and take a picture with them! This week was amazing I'm past my 25% mark on my year here and it's going so fast.

First Two Days of Central Trip

We woke up bright and early on Monday the 18th. We were at our meeting point at 5 a.m. Where we waited for an hour for the bus to show up. Once we got on the bus we all fell asleep and we had four stops along the way to pick up the other kids in other provinces. So eventually the bus got more crowded and it livened up a bit. We stopped for dinner and just sat and had a bunch of Thai food brought to us. After this we made it to the hotel and it was the cutest hotel. Each room was a little tree house. It was right on the water so we had a good view and some cooler air. We all just hung outside and talked until late hours of the night and then we went to sleep. We woke up the next morning and got back on the bus ready to go bamboo rafting. We got there and got changed and life jackets and got on the raft. They then told us that the river was clean and we could go swimming so we all jumped off the raft and pretty much floated the whole way, not much rafting was actually done. It was so much fun. After that we had a buffet of Thai food and burgers! We got back on the bus and went to our second hotel which was a five star hotel on the beach. It was gorgeous. It had a pool and across the street was the beach. We went out to a seafood restaurant and then back to the beach where we all hung out. It was so much fun and completely breath taking.

My Time In Chiang Mai

So my host mother ended up driving me to my friends house in Chiang Mai on Friday Oct. 15th. She dropped me off and even gave me a big hug goodbye. I then sat down and ate some lunch with my friends. I was super thirsty so I grabbed the water they gave me and took a sip and they started laughing. It tasted so bad, but I didn't want to be rude so I just set it down and kept on talking. Later that night I found out they had put tons of salt in it and that was what they were laughing about. After lunch we went to the mall and met up with a girl from Brazil. That night the girl from Canada came and we went and had the most delicious pizza. After all this we went back to the house and watched Dirty Dancing, which I had bought at the mall.

The next day we went to a different mall and I got a Thai foot massage that gave me bruises because I bruise so easily. Then we went to a famous restaurant on the river to celebrate my birthday. The last day before the trip we just packed and chilled out and rested for the long trip.

Off to Chiang Mai

So there was some drama with the mother of the YE who I'm going to stay with and she sayed if I took the bus she wouldn't pick me up and wouldn't send anyone to pick me up. My host mother has my best interest in mind so she agreed to drive me there herself. I'm so grateful, this way I can still have my birthday celebration with my friends. So in about ten minutes we will be out the door to start my twelve days of fun. Three days in Chiang Mai and then the Central Trip and then 1 more night in Chiang Mai before heading home and starting school again.


And were off, Dacotah Smith

My birthday!

My host mother told me to be ready to leave by three, we had to do some errands. Unfortunately 6:15 rolled around and we finally left the house. She apologized profusely and we only got one of our errands done. Bringing books to the library wasn't done because it was closed by then. So today we are going to do all this and go get a bus ticket and go see a newly rebuilt temple all before aerobics. For my birthday dinner we went to a restaurant with a singer for entertainment. I went with my host mother and her sister. We had stir-fried vegetables, tom yum (famous spicy soup) and fried fish with a pineapple and peanut salsa, two plates of rice and three bottles of water for 310 baht or 10 dollars. It was delicious. After that they pulled out a birthday cake that they bought for me and we lit 19 candles and the singer sang happy birthday to me 4 times and a lot of pictures were taken. This random guy pulled out a camera from his pocket and took a picture it was hilarious. My host mother then gave me green pearl earrings from her trip to Vietnam. She told me she has a matching pair so whenever she wears them she'll think of me and they are gorgeous. I'm so happy. I wasn't expecting anything and it turned out great. I still haven't received my allowance from Rotary and since I'm leaving tomorrow were going to try and get it today. I also need to pay for more minutes on my phone. So I really need the money. I'm actually excited for school to start back up so I can see all my friends. I leave at nine thirty tomorrow morning and won't be able to blog for about 12 days so you'll have to forgive me and have to wait and read a ton when I get back.


Hope all is well, Dacotah Smith

My Second Birthday Celebration

Last night we were supposed to have a Rotary meeting but at the last minute it got canceled. So my host mother and I went into town for dinner. We had these deep fried veggies served with the famous som-tum or papaya salad that is very spicy. It was delicious and we also had shrimp stir-fried with peppers, onions and black pepper. With two bottles of water, two plates of rice and an extra dish to bring home for my host father to eat all for 9 dollars. It still amazes me how cheap things are here. The one thing that is spendy is texting, I found out it costs 5 baht per text which can add up quick. Dinner was great and then when we got back home we watched the movie When In Rome and again it was good bonding time. She also informed me that tonight her and my third host mother will be having a birthday dinner for me. I'm not getting my hopes up but I am excited. I thought it was really cute that they planned this for me. Before we do that however we have to return the shirt that I got, bring books to the library to donate, and buy my bus ticket. I can't wait for Chiang Mai, I guess one of the other YE's has the day planned for my birthday! Three celebrations I can't complain, I even had fireworks, turning 19 is turning out to be great!!!

Running

I just went out for my first run and since I haven't run since I left Minnesota it was more a half run half walk sort of thing. It doesn't help that the sun is shining and it's about 90 degrees with no shade. But I ran to the next village and met one of my classmates on her bike. I wish I would have brought my camera because I ran right past their villages beautiful temple. I also ran into the rice fields and got a beautiful view of the fields and the hills I wouldn't call them mountains. I will run it again sometime and be sure to bring a camera. I came back dripping sweat and I turned the air conditioner on in my room right before I left so I would come back to one room that was cool and my host mother yelled at me to turn it off and save energy. So there you go I will not be leaving it on any time soon. That's about all my adventures for today.


Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Great News

There is a gigantic lizard not just a gecko but a lizard. Every time I see it I run to get my camera and it's gone. Last night I actually got a picture and will post it as soon as I can. I have a video on my facebook wall for anyone interested. It's a slide show made of RYLA by the photographers that were there. It does a good job of showing us all very happy not cranky from the heat like we were most of the time. Nothing eventful happened last night other than my host mother bought me a really cute shirt and I brought it home to try on and it doesn't fit. Tonight it another Rotary meeting where my host mother and I try not to fall asleep every time. Most of the members are retired so the meetings can last two and half hours if no one does anything. They have nothing to do but stay and talk to there friends where my host mother has to work and I have to go to school the next day. I'm hoping to get my monthly allowance and then buy my bus ticket tomorrow. I can't wait to go to Chiang Mai. There is so much to do there. I do like Rotary meeting days because it's one day off of aerobics and I can actually dress up and wear makeup and earrings.

A Monday in Chiang Kham

For lunch today my host mother made chicken nuggets and french fries!!! She even ate some too with rice of course. She sat at the table and ate lunch with me which shows that she cares. She is so busy I normally eat dinner with her but only about three times have I got to sit down and eat lunch with her. We attempted to watch New Moon last night but we borrowed a copy from her friend and realized it was all in Thai no subtitles so instead we attempted to watch Prince Of Persia and about an hour into it we were both asleep. So she woke me up and we took it out and went to bed. Just not my type of movie. We will try to get a copy of it tonight in English. After aerobics of course. I'm so full or as you would say in Thai (Im laeo ka) meaning I'm full and ended in ka for respect and khab for males. I'm am still tired from the RYLA as I only got about 7 hours of sleep in the four days I was there. Which after three cups of coffee a day didn't effect me until I got home. I sleep in until about nine and then get up even if I could sleep later and don't have anything I need to get up for. Thais don't really sleep in, they are always up early. My host mother for example is up at 3 or 4 every morning. So after getting up and hand washing clothes I take them outside to hang dry, go back inside and shower. Thais take two showers a day so I come accustomed to doing it as well. However most of them only wash their hair every other day. If I did that my hair would be so nasty. I get up and stay busy until lunch and then to catch up on my sleep I take a nap. I wake up in time to read or something and then get ready and go to aerobics and dinner etc. The past few nights I've been watching Thai Soap Operas with my host family. It's a good way to pick up Thai and to learn about the culture. They are so funny and very over dramatic and cheesy but I enjoy them. I also have started to watch the news and my host mother translates for me so I can keep up on the happenings of Thailand. I started watching the movie Leap  Year yesterday and only have about half an hour which I will go finish now and then take my daily nap.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Great News!!

Over dinner tonight my host mother says she has four days off over New Years and will plan a trip to take me on! Which also means that I probably won't be switching houses til January instead of the expected November. But its ok, here I have three extra bedrooms to have friends over in. So maybe some other YE's can come visit before I switch houses. This was great news! She's excited too.

At Home

I got dropped off at home by my club after RYLA and my host mother greeted me with a big smile. She then took me just down the street and we had shrimp for dinner. She asked all about RYLA and when we got home my host father asked her about everything I told her. I thought it was really cute that he cared too. My host mother just got the movie New Moon and said she will make time to watch it with me tonight so I'm very happy. I'm back to aerobics every night until I leave for Chiang Mai. We snacked a lot at RYLA and so I think I gained a few pounds. I leave on Friday for Chiang Mai on a bus. I will go and stay with another YE before the trip that we leave for on next Monday. My birthday is on next Saturday and we are going out to eat and going to a fish spa and to get a thai massage. I can't wait, and on Sunday we will visit the famous Walking Street Market that is only open on Sunday's. Bright and early on Monday morning we will leave for the Central Trip. I can't wait for the trip and to be with all the other YE's. A girl from Columbia and a boy from Mexico just got here yesterday and so we will be meeting them for the first time on the Central Trip. All the other YE's are my new family and we are starting to create unbreakable bonds. I'm soooo happy here and can't wait for my other thai experiences.

Later, Dacotah Smith

OOO... RYLA

On wednesday I showed up bright and early at the school to leave. As the Thai culture goes we waited for about half an hour for the other kids to show up. We rode in a sweet van with karoke and a big screen t.v. I took pictures and will post them as soon as I can. I rode with my club president and secretary and three boys and one other girl. When we arrived I found out I was put in a room with 4 other Thai girls. The problem was we didn't have enough beds so after all the stuff that night I asked and was able to switch rooms. I roomed with a girl from Germany, two girls from Brazil and a girl that went to San Francisco last year and is back now. We had sooo much fun. Every night we stayed up til atleast 3 am just talking. The whole camp was in Thai and not geared towards us at all. There were about 150 Thai kids there and only 29 YE's so we fell asleep in most of the lectures. The kids were all super nice. It was also so nice to be with the other YE's. At orientation we were all just getting to know eachother but now we have become a family. I was greeted by two boys from Mexico with a kiss on both cheeks and a big hug. Something I would never get from my host family. We had alot of lectures and things that would take way to long to write about. But the last night we had a talent show were we the YE's danced to Soulja Boy, the Macarena and Waka Waka by Shakira and tought the others how to dance too. After the talent show I along with two other YE's and some Thai girls were brought on stage for a birthday celebration. We were sung happy birthday in Thai and English and they set off fireworks and we got to all blow out the candles on the cake together. It was so thoughtful and so much fun. The hotel was right by a famous Dam and the last day we all went there and took a group picture and then pictures with all the Thai kids that wanted to take pictures with us. It was really cute and we had a closing ceremony followed by goodbye hugs from all the YE's and then I left for home. It was so much fun and all the kids from my club were really nice and we bonded. If you want to see pictures look at my facebook. Other friends have put some up and tagged me. I will put mine up when school starts back up because I can't get internet on my laptop.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Busy Day

I'm happy to announce that I actually got to explore a little bit today. At about noon my host mother took me into town for lunch and to the public library. The only English books were on computer programs and we asked if they would like a donation of all the books that I've read here and don't want to bring back home. They were very grateful and said they would take anything and everything. Just think my books will be the only English ones in Chiang Kham Public Library. Then we went to a temple on top of a hill and my host mother talked to the monks about the ceremony happening November 14th where she will donate clothes to the monks. It only happens once a year and I get to join in the festivities. I went to my rotary meeting tonight and no money...o well I think I have enough to make it through RYLA. I'm sad to say that there is no room in the car for me to go with my friends to help build houses for the hill tribes. So instead I will take a few days to do laundry and relax and repack and head to Chiang Mai on the 15th just in time to celebrate my birthday with my girls. It's getting late and I have to shave my legs for the first time in a over a month tonight and get to bed so that I can get up early to leave for RYLA. Gross I know but no one shaves here so I only do when I'm around other Americans who actually find it weird to not shave regularly.

Night, Dacotah Smith

Money!

Tonight is a rotary night. So I'm hoping to get my money for the month, so that I can replenish my wallet for RYLA and the trip. The actual meeting will be pretty boring but at least I get dinner there. Last night after aerobics my host mother took me shopping for groceries and after we were going to eat at the food court but it was closed by then. So she said we'd stop and get some Rodee but she forgot and just went straight home. When she remembered she promised we would go get some tonight.So my dinner consisted of two pears and some iced coffee. I'm very excited about the juice she bought me. I got mango, pineapple, passion fruit juice and mangostern which is a fruit here that I have yet to see. I also stocked up on snacks for the drive to RYLA tomorrow. I leave bright and early and I can't wait. Tomorrow I'm leaving at 7 from the school in a van with three other younger students from my school. It should be an interesting ride.I have also mastered my first Thai sentence Pa Fah Pai Du Look Ma Noi Ka (Can you please bring me to see the puppies) or in Thai พาฟ้าไปดลุทนน่อยด่ะ. I still have to ask the maid to show me them, but I haven't seen her around yet. I ate chocolate filled croissants for my breakfast and a pear, and my new iced coffee. Today is another day of nothing, I packed yesterday and so today I plan on watching Gilmore Girls, reading and studying my Thai. I fit all my clothes for RYLA into a book bag, I've become the queen of light packing. I'm super excited to see all the other inbounds, there are two that just arrived so they will be new and I can't wait to meet them. I'm wearing the earrings the I got at the Sunday market today with a skirt and makeup that I will put on later. No aerobics tonight since we have Rotary so I can actually dress up. It's nice.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Sunday Night Market

We drive past the market every Sunday but my host mother never has time to stop. I'm guessing she had to go out of town because Lunku the manager took care of me all day. He was nice but speaks little English so there was a lot of awkward silence. He took me to KFC for lunch and then at night to Aerobics. After aerobics we went and ordered dinner to bring back home. He stopped and bought me and his wife some Rodee! Then we went to the Sunday Night Market, which happens to be a lot bigger than I thought. The front part is food vendors and he bought me an iced coffee. Then you keep walking and you get to the clothes, accessories and hula-hoops. I am proud to be an owner of a hula-hoop, which is very popular here thanks to Lunku. We walked though the clothes section and he kept asking if I wanted anything. I found a really cute bracelet and earring and he payed for them both. Something very unexpected and very kind. My host mother feels that I should pay for that with the allowance the club gives me and I totally agree. I brought money and offered to pay for all of it but he insisted. I got both for just over a dollar but still it was a kind gesture. I have to start teaching myself how to hula-hoop so I can beat him next month when we have our competition. I actually stayed very busy today and it was a nice change. Between cleaning, watching Gilmore Girls, checking E-mails and going into town I had a great day. My spirits are high and only two days until RYLA where I get to see all the other YE's!!!!!

Later, Dacotah Smith

3 Days Til RYLA~

So I got a friend in Chiang Mai to host me for the week of my birthday and before our big trip. Sadly today she told me she just found out there going to build houses for a Hill tribe so I will either have to come later or maybe help them build the houses if it's OK. Anyways, I'm going to Chiang Mai so I only have about 6 days left of break where I'm actually at home. This is great news, I can only be bored for 6 more days. After the trip is over, school starts back up so I will be busy at least going there, not necessarily doing anything at school. Today however I am planning on reading the magazines that my grandparents sent in a care package, maybe some of my book. Watching Gilmore Girls, because it always makes me laugh and doing Yoga, Aerobics and maybe a run if I feel brave enough to run on the side of the road. The maid helped clean my room/house. It was disgusting and being allergic to dust mites I'm surprised I wasn't very ill. Spider webs everywhere and tons and tons of dust. She saw the picture that I have hanging up my family and my friends and told me I was Suay (beautiful in Thai). She doesn't speak any English so she is the one person I can practice Thai with. One of the dogs had puppies about ten days ago and she knows where they are, so as soon as I can figure how to ask I'm hoping she will show me them.
I finally did Yoga last night for the first time since being here with the DVDs from home that my mom sent and it felt amazing!!! We had been driving for about 13 hours in about two days so I was all cramped. After Yoga I felt taller and stronger and more relaxed. I have decided that I'm going to do Yoga everyday, to get some strength, flexibility and peace of mind. That's my uneventful day. It is bright and sunny but there is a nice breeze to keep things cool. Yesterday was the hottest day I have experienced. I was sweating just tying my shoes. For lunch today Lunku the manager took me to KFC and I had the best chicken nuggets ever! He also said that he will be taking me to aerobics tonight and after he will take me to the famous Sunday market. I can't wait! He said he will buy me a hula-hoop and next month we will have a competition to see who can do it longer. I told him I can't even get one twirl but I will teach myself and am determined to beat him. He's a nice guy and is always smiling. It should be fun. I also showed the maid my pictures


Until Later, Dacotah Smith

The Funeral

We arrived at the funeral which was so full of visitors that we had to park outside and walk all the way back to the temple. It was the most beautiful temple I have seen since my arrival and I took lots of pictures. We were greeted by the family and then walked in and took a seat. After this the monk started praying and then had a teaching and then another exchange student rescued me from the last hour of praying. It is her host grandma who died. It was a lot of fun to see a Buddhist funeral as well as talk to another YE (Youth Exchange). A little bit about Thai funerals. One the person has died if they live in a village the family keeps the body in a casket in the house for either 3,5,7or 9 days. During this time every night one monk comes to pray and give a teaching until the last day which is when they go to the grave site and have the proper burial. In a big city like Chiang Mai the casket is at the temple not a house so this is where we went last night. It's tradition that the family of the deceased has to feed everyone a meal that comes to visit every night. A family can go through 50 kilos of rice a night. But traditionally if it is held at a temple they just serve drinks and snacks. The YE's host mother who owns a coffee shop supplied iced coffee drinks and they were amazing. The only coffee I've seen is instant coffee and this was real espresso. It was fun to talk to Brittany and another Thai girl who is 24 but looks 12. A great night and I took lots of pictures to put up once school starts again.

Going to Chiang Mai

After the late start yesterday we left. We had to take a different road, a longer but less curvy route because my host mother had to stop and do some business along the way. This is not the route they usually go and we ended up getting a little lost. It took us about 6 hours to make it to Chiang Mai and when we did we stopped at a department store, which is just a mall, but that's what they call it. We had a somewhat American meal at Sizzlers. Who knew I would eat there in Thailand. The meal wasn't the best but they had a salad bar with dressing other than salad cream (aka mayo) that Thais put on salad. They also had fresh fruit so I was all over the salad bar. After our nice dinner we went out onto the top level of this store and explored the Friday night market. I ended up buying ribbons for my hair, since they are part of the uniform that I was not given, a ring made by the hill tribes and some key chains to bring back for gifts and 5 DVDs for about 15 dollars. It was great the the DVDs were to good to pass up. I bought Remember Me, Leap Year, When in Rome, Four Christmases and another one that I can't remember the name of. After all this shopping my host mother found a place that she said she would take me to next time we go there to get a manicure for 5 baht a nail. Equaling less than 2 dollars for a full ten fingers. I can't wait, we didn't have time or else we would have done it then. We rushed back to the house and my host mother changed into her funeral outfit and we left to go to the temple for the funeral.

Chiang Mai

When I came into the house at about 10 I was told we were leaving for Chiang Mai at 11. Well here it is 12:30 and we still haven't left. I guess funerals aren't formal so I'm wearing the only black I have, black yoga pants and a long sleeve cross country t-shirt and black sandals. I wasn't sure but my host mother said it will be fine and wearing all black is better than dressing up in something else. However wearing all black when it's about 90 out is not the best idea. I'm so hot and will be fine once we leave and get in a car with air, but while I'm waiting I'm dying. It should be an interesting funeral though. I'm sad that we are coming back tomorrow morning so I won't get to do anything but go to the funeral. I will make it back in time for aerobics which will be great. At a Buddhist funeral I guess the family feeds all the guests so we will be having some authentic Thai cuisine, which I hope I like. If not Chiang Mai has a Burger King, McDonald's and Pizza Hut. However they all have somewhat Thai menus. McDonald's serves fried chicken and green curry. Pizza Hut has pasta, salad, pizza and Thai dishes. It's fun to compare. I'm just waiting for my host mother to tell me it's time to leave. Then I get to go get lunch and watch Gilmore Girls that my mom just sent on my laptop for the 5 hour drive to Chiang Mai. I would love to spend it talking to my host mother and my third host mother but they are always on their cell phones so I've found a way to stay busy. Sometimes watching Gilmore Girls makes me miss my mom but ooo well. My friend that was going to ask her host mother about me staying with her before the trip still hasn't asked. But she promised she would today. We will see. I hope it works out. I would get to be with other kids for my birthday which would be nice. My entire host family here except my host mother and father and third host mother are all leaving for a 17 day trip to Italy next weekend. So no one will be home to celebrate my birthday here and my host mother and third host mother will be super busy. They have to run three businesses and when they are only running one they don't have time for me. It should be interesting. I don't have much else to write about at the moment so until later.