Chiang Rai Photos



Waterfall



The waterfall with Remi



At Mah Fah Luang University



Hot Spring Spa with Remi the girls and other French men

Pictures



My new hairstyle



The Kings Temple



Central Trip with other YE's



The White Temple



Dancing the night away



Just goofing off



Buddha Cave with Aymerica, Charlotte and Carolina

A short note on fortunes

Thais take all fortunes very very seriously. They take them so seriously that one of the other exchange students host mom divorced her husband because the fortune told her to. They still live together but legally are not married. They also all believe in ghosts something I'm not used to.

My Time in Lampang

On Wednesday I went to school in Lampang with an exchange student from Germany named Charlotte. After school Naiyana the lady were staying with made us dinner and we walked to an ice cream buffet. You can eat as much as you want even toppings for only $1.50. However I don't need ice cream and the toppings were gross jelly things so I just sat and watched Charlotte eat 4 bowls of ice cream. After that we went back home and went to bed. The next night we rode bikes with the two little grandson's and went to get rodee then came home and went to bed. Thursday we went to school and went to one class and then were were done for the day so we went to the big grocery store and I bought some Nutella and a new phone charger. We went home had dinner and then Naiyana called a person to come give us a Thai Massage at the house right before bed. She was so nice and paid for us and it only cost her three dollars per person for an hour long massage. It was crazy cheap. Friday we had a photo shoot at school. Complete with a graduation gown and tons of ugly and wrong colored makeup. The school will be using it in a brochure sometime soon. After that we got invited to go to a guys house for a Thanksgiving dinner. It was complete with turkey, stuffing and homemade pumpkin pie. It was the best thing I could have asked for. On Saturday we went on a horse carriage ride with the two grandsons and made a stop at the temple where the boys threw sticks at geese and then we came home. Lampang is known as the city of carriages so we had to go on one. We then went to the walking street that it right outside of Naiyana's house and then had a sleepover with a girl from Colombia and Mexico. We spent all day weekend with them. On Sunday we went bowling with the Rotary Club and then went to walking street. After that the other two girls left and we went to bed exhausted from the weekend. Today I'm at school finally able to update my blog. Tomorrow I will get picked up by my second host mom and I have no idea where I will be going.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Loi Krathong

On Saturday, Britany had a fun run at her school. All I can say is that it was very hot and not so much fun. So we finished 5 out of the 9 stations and then left and walked to a coffee shop. After that Jocelyn's mom came and picked us up and took us out to lunch and then dropped us off at Britany's host moms coffee shop. At the coffee shop I got a free iced coffee and a piece of cheesecake, made fresh at Britany's home by the three maids every night. We hung there for about three hours and then went home to get ready for the nights celebrations. At 7 we went out to dinner and a new restaurant on the river with some friends and a maid. We ate and did fireworks (I would only call them sparklers but the Thais think there fireworks). We also lit Krathongs (the thing with the flower from an older post). We also let three of the big balloons go and played some arcade games. It was a late and crazy night. We didn't eat a single thing at the restaurant that was not deep-fried, we had chicken, vegetables, cheese and fish all deep-fried. If I gain weight I will know where its coming from.
On Sunday we went to the mall and finally got to see Harry Potter 7. It was fun and was in all English not even subtitles in Thai.  We looked at clothes in the mall but didn't buy anything and then took a tuk tuk the famous more expensive taxi with three wheels back to the coffee shop. We met up with Britany's little host sister and then took a taxi to walking street. We didn't really get to buy anything because the parade that is every night during Loi Krathong was on walking street and it was crazy and hot and busy. After that we walked back to the coffee shop and met up with Britany's host parents. They took us on a drive through downtown to see all the festivities and then took us to Duke's and amazing restaurant with only western food and a menu in only English. I had the best hamburger ever and a salad with buttermilk ranch, something unseen here in Thailand. We went walking around and saw some actual fireworks and then went home and lit candles around the house. Not sure why we did, when we asked they just said it was tradition and they weren't sure either.
Monday we went to school and then home to change and then went to the last night of the parade and had dinner at these tables under a bridge. We were the only foreigners there and it was really cool. There was even a float in the parade from the American Embassy and it had an American family dressed in Thai clothing it was so cool. I think they were Norwegian because they all had blonde hair and blue eyes.
On Tuesday I was supposed to get picked up at noon but I didn't get picked up until four and then instead of going back to Chiang Kham like planned I went to Lampang and stayed with the head the the YE's for a week.

Pictures from my time in Chiang Rai

White Temple



Black Temple



The Funny Dog at the Black Temple



Black Temple



Night Bazzar Entertainment



Black Temple



Fun at the Night Market



Fish Spa



All the Girls



The Black Temple



Our tour guide, aka a host mom



Life size version of the Artist of the White Temple



White Temple



My First Bug



Thai Dancing at Walking Street



Buddha Cave



The View



The French YE and Me



My Snake Friend



My Friends from Remi's School and Caro another YE

Thursday

After leaving Chiang Rai we drove to Chiang Mai. We first stopped at a coffee shop along the river to get some pie. I ended up getting some cheesecake and an iced coffee. Soon after we arrived at her Bungalows in Chiang Mai and we dropped off her dad.  We picked up the niece from Chiang Mai University and we were off to the mall, for an all girls day of shopping. At first she said we were going to pick up her nephew but when a girl got in the car I realized it was in fact her niece. I got my first Dairy Queen cone at the mall. A small for only 30 cents.

After all the shopping we dropped the niece back off at the University and I went to Britany's house and had a delicious dinner. When I said goodbye to Ajan Paradee she told me not to be a bad girl. She's so cute and I will miss her.

Loi Katong...Sneak Preview

Handmade Loi Katong

The view from the ground



No celebration is complete without fireworks

Sending off the balloons

Entertainment

Last Day of School in Chiang Rai

Today I put off going to school until 11:30...I'm getting so good. I went to school and we only had one class and then we sat around doing nothing until the guards let us out of the school. I learned how to knit a scarf using a starter kit. I actually ended up totally messing it up, and just leaving it because I couldn't fix it. When they were talking about how to fix it I just pretended to not understand. It was great. Leaving school I got a ride from my friends motorcycle to the coffee shop again. I sat had an iced coffee and finished reading my book before ajan Paradee (my current host) picked me up. She went to a party for a new house that was recently built in the village and when I asked her about it all she could say was that we was so full. I kind of wished I could have gone, but she told me about it and then said OK let's go to school, so I followed. Remi left with a group of girls...not unusual at all. He didn't even say goodbye, since I won't see him until the Northern Trip, I was hoping to just say goodbye but o well. I wasn't going to go on the Northern Trip and save 11,000 baht but when I asked for my money back she informed me that she had just payed the day before. I guess my decision came to late, it will still be fun. The only reason I wasn't going to go was because of needing some financial freedom and because I have done all but two things on the itinerary. I was invited to go to Bangkok to watch the premiere of Harry Potter for free, since some other YE's just bought IMAX tickets, but unfortunately I'd have to be there by early tomorrow night and that just won't happen. I'm bumbed it would have been so much fun. I can't complain I'm going to Chiang Mai and may be able to see it there. I am asking my host mother if I can maybe bring 3 friends back for the rest of next week to see my school and house. They would just come with me on the bus and then take the bus back together. I figured if there going to let me, they should let them it's safety in numbers. I guess my host mom doesn't get back until Monday so we will have to wait and see. I hope she is nice and says yes. It will be so much fun if it works out. I just want her to understand that she doesn't have to take extra care of us, she can pay less attention to me because I'll have others to talk to. We will see what goes down. I leave tomorrow morning and will not be able to Skype anymore so if anyone wants to I will be on until 1 pm Minnesota time. I got to Skype with Allison Armstrong this morning and when we saw and started talking to each other we both started crying...were such girls. I'm glad to know our friendship can stand the time and distance and can't wait to run to her and others when I arrive back in Minnesota. Today ended good because I got to finish the rest of the cheese and crackers, something I was greatly missing. I can't wait for the festival and will make sure that my friends take tons of pictures.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Tuesday

I very happy to announce that last night I taught my host mother how to eat cheese and crackers. She enjoyed it and plans on eating this regularly. I have always been trying Thai foods and she got to try a westerner food, it was really cool. As for today I woke up and went to school for a little over an hour. After that we had lunch with the teachers and then school was over. I guess every Tuesday is a half day. So I walked to Doi Chang coffee shop after school. I noticed pictures from a coffee convention in 2008 that was held in Minneapolis. It was so cool, because Doi Chang won an award there for best character of a coffee. I'm not sure what that means but I was like, that's where I'm from!!! I had an iced coffee and a delicious blueberry muffin. After my host finished her paperwork at the school she came to pick me up and we had a long talk. Apparently the email that I sent the head of YE's here the night before this lady came to pick me up to my house was forwarded to my club president and then my host. Anyways they called this host last night and told her they were frustrated and mad. When I heard this I started crying. Not only because I didn't want my hosts to get upset but that I trusted Knaiyana and she let me down by forwarding my email. This might be the last time I go to her. Instead I will go to my host here. After all this we stopped at a ladies house and just said hi. After just saying he she offered to host me some weekends. So my mood has been lifted. I also might be changing to the Chiang Kham Public School. I don't know, I don't want to leave the friends I have now but I might be able to take some cultural classes there. I don't know for sure, but the director of the my school said I could switch if I wanted to. I'm also excited to say that this weekend I will hopefully get to see either Eat, Pray, Love or the new Harry Potter in Chiang Mai. I'm so excited. We are waiting for the rest of the family to get home and then we will find some place to go for dinner. Just school tomorrow and then off to Chiang Mai on Thursday. On Friday I will be joining my friend at her school. As for getting back to Chiang Kham after this weekend, there letting me take the bus by myself to Chiang Rai and get picked up by my hosts from there. If this works fine, I can convince them to let me travel more on my own, because Rotary knows and is fine with this. Just when things are looking down, they turn around.

Everything is great, Dacotah Smith

My email back to my sponsering district

So far my experience in Thailand has rendered me speechless at times, frustrated me, made me grateful for what I have, and made me love a new family and culture more than I ever thought possible. I'm not even sure where to start. So I'm going to start from day one, getting off the plane. Unlike the United States where most exchange students are greeted by their host families and even some Rotarians, I was greeted only by my mother. This was the first sign of one of the hardest things for me to get used to. I soon realized that most Thai's are too busy. They all work very hard to make minimal amounts of money. For example my host mother and I were talking one night she said the average wage per month for someone with a bachelor's degree is 12-14,000 baht. The equivalent of about $400. This is meant to pay all the bills and feed and educate an upwards of 5 or 6 people. At times I found the amount of my hosts mom's work even too much for me to handle. My host family runs a factory that produces some kind of corn product and uses 20 trucks to ship throughout Thailand. My host mother has to call and check up on all twenty trucks every day. So she is always on her cell phone. She relies so much on her phone that on trips to Chiang Mai where the road is windy and through some mountains she will stop before a certain turn and talk on the phone for about an hr before continuing on. This sometimes gets on my nerves. She has taken me to visit some places but been on her cell phone the whole time, and when no one is there to enjoy an experience with you it's not as much fun.




I have also discovered and learned to respect many other aspects of Thai Lifestyle. One of the YEO's lent me a book titled "Why Thailand" and it couldn't have answered more of my questions if I were talking to it. It explained everything and anything. For example it explained why every restaurant has little pink napkins and why there are so many lady boys and why Thai's are obsessed with Whiskey and Chang Beer. It was perfect.



I have discovered that there are many more lesbians and gays in Thailand than in the USA or at least a lot more that are open about it. I have five boys in my class and 3 exclaimed that they were gay within my first ten minutes with them.

Some other cultural things I've learned:

-Unless retired all Thai's are very busy

-The regular restaurants serve food way faster than the fast food restaurants

-You can feed a family of four in a Thai restaurant for 3 dollars or less

-Most Thai's don't cook, because in most cases it's cheaper to buy it on the streets

-There are night markets, morning markets, Sunday markets, floating markets, night bazaars and walking streets in almost every town.

-The rivers are a source of vitality and wealth for every village near them.

-Thai's never waste food, if they don't eat it they cover it and leave for later or feed it to the dogs, but food is never thrown away.

There are many more that I just can't think of at the moment.



As for my Thai. It is slowly coming along. I didn't study any before I left. It turned out to be OK. I learn the most when I'm around other exchange students. I can now understand about 50-60 percent of what other people are saying to each other and me. It may sound like a little, but for me this is a huge accomplishment. Most of my Thai has developed in the past month. At first I was just trying to stay awake while listening to others speak. Now that I've gotten past the initial culture shock everything is coming much easier. I have finally developed the laid back lifestyle.



Some of my favorite experience so far include:

-Visiting the famous White Temple

-Visiting the famous Black Temple

-Elephant Riding

-Eating deep fried Grasshoppers

-Holding a giant 150 lb anaconda

-Going to school with my friends

-Visiting markets

-Offering food to the monks

-Making a meal and serving 9 monks at my house and many many more.



I'm making memories and friendships that will last forever. I was invited to celebrate Christmas at a church with a friend from school, as an overnight thing about 1 week before actual christmas. I can't wait the same guy also recently invited me to watch the male cheerleading practice after school. This weekend I'm off the Chiang Mai about 4 hours south of my town. I'm going to stay with another YE and celebrate Lao Katong on Sunday. It is one of the two big celebrations in Thailand. They build boats out of banana leaves and put candles in them and float them down the river. This is there way of thanking the goddess of water for everything. There are fireworks and big air balloons, the fill the night sky. It should be a fabulous once in a life-time experience. My host family is amazing, although they don't always have time for me, they take great care of me and always have my best interest at heart. My second and third hosts are my first host mothers two sisters. So it is all one big family and this I enjoy. They do everything together and all three families have my best interest at heart. I have gained weight but every night that I'm able I do aerobics outside the grocery store with 50 or so older ladies. It is so much fun and they have all kindly taken me in and taken care of me. My host father is really shy but sometimes brings me back goodies from his trips into town. Other than that he just smiles and laughs but never really talks. My host mother is tiny and I have become the closest to her. We talk about everything and anything. We bonded over watching the Twilight Series one night in Chiang Mai. We had to sleep in the same bed in the town house, it was about midnight and she roles over and asks "Would you rather date a vampire or a werewolf?" It was so funny we both burst out in laughter. My little host sister is 10 and her name is Ping, she is also very quiet. But she is so cute and is always nice. I brought her back gifts from my first Rotary Trip and she loves them. My second host sister is 15 and is an exchange student in Wayzata this year. The family hasn't really heard from her but from what I hear she's loving it. David if you could maybe try to get her hosts phone number to me and I will relay it to my family. They think it would be cool to meet her so she could see where I come from. I lived with her for about two weeks before she left. She has never called home so I have no way to get it. So far this experience has been a self-developing journey that I can't wait to continue.



Thanks for everything Rotary, Dacotah Smith

My Best Weekend Yet!

On Friday I didn't go to school. Instead I slept in and went to eat Cow Soi at a restaurant and met some of my new hosts friends. After lunch they invited us to a little party on Tuesday so we will see how that goes. After that the two girls from Lampang arrived. One for Germany and one from Colombia. We picked up Remi from the school and we were off. We went to visit a hot spring spa. Unfortunately no one told us to bring a swimsuit. So we payed to wear some Thai style pants and a t-shirt. We went swimming. It felt soooo good. After that we dried off and went to get iced coffee. After that we drove back into town and were dropped off at the Night Bazaar in Chiang Rai. We found dinner. I had Mexican food!!! With that I also had two passion fruit smoothies. They were so good. We met up with the other french guy from further south. We didn't know he was coming for the weekend but it was a great addition. After walking through the market we had more food with the Colombian girls hosts for the weekend. After about an hour with the family we gently left and went to finally try the Fish Spa. It was so cool and as soon as my friends post the pictures I will post them on here. It felt tingly like my feet were asleep. At first it tickled and I screamed. That part was very embarrassing. After all this we got picked up and brought back home. My host is also hosting the French boy and the German girl. So we watched the movie Shutter Island and went to bed around 2 am. We woke up this morning and got ready to go and headed to the Colombians girls hosts house. She was the one taking us to travel. We got to her house and then went to one of her friends house and picked up a woman who could speak English to us. She was so nice, they both were. Anyways after the stops we were on our way. First stop was the Black Temple. It was made by a famous artist in Thailand and all over the world and was meant to represent hell. It was so beautiful and dark. It took two hours to walk around to everything. After that we stopped and got noodles for lunch, and after that we went to the famous White Temple. Again it was built by a different famous artist and is meant to represent heaven. My camera is temporarily not working so I left in in Chiang Kham. My friends took lots of pictures and if you can wait to see them, you can look up each temple by the name I gave it and say that it's in Chiang Rai. They were both so beautiful but on totally opposite sides of the spectrum. The famous artist of the White Temple was drinking coffee at the coffee shop outside the temple and he is practically a celebrity here. So we all got a picture with him and I ran and bought some postcards for him to sign. He's really nice and his artwork rendered me speechless. After all this we went to the Walking Street. We didn't realize how long it was, until after about  3 hrs we hadn't even finished one side of the street. We met up with some of my new friends from school. They bought deep-fried insects and I ate them. To my surprise they were actually delicious and I ended up eating about 20 more. I'm glad to be able to say that I tried the insects and I like them. We even went to a place where a bunch of people were doing Thai dance and we danced with the locals. It was so much fun and we didn't get back until about midnight. This morning we got up early and headed back to the other ladies house. She took us to once again ride elephants and I held and got a picture with a 150 lb Anaconda!!!!!! It was soooooooooooooooooo cool and something I can say I've done. I have pictures and my friends have pictures of everything and when I can I will post everything. Anyways after that we went to get lunch and my Colombian and German friends left for home. The french guy named Aymeric stayed for a little while longer and we went to visit another famous temple, where the famous Emerald Buddha which is now in the Royal Palace in Bangkok was found. After this we went and got some iced coffee made from the most famous coffee in Thailand (Doi Chang) it costs about 80 dollars for one kilo of the beans. It is so so so good, I think I might ask my temporary host to take me tomorrow before school again. Well I'm exhausted happy and off to watch Parent Trap and relax for the rest of the night.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Thursday

Last night instead of being able to Skype with Allyson who slept through our date I got to Skype with Kylie and it was great. Besides the fact that the Internet connection timed out and I lost her. After that I was so happy I just couldn't sleep so I stayed up and watched some tv. I finally went to bed around 3 a.m. I woke up at 9:30. After I got ready I ate some breakfast and we were on our way. When I was dropped off at school Remi came and got me. He was really nice today and didn't pry or try to give me any more advice. It was nice, he was actually really nice today. After school he even walked me down to the entrance and then he left to go play soccer with his buddies. I got picked up and went to the grocery store to get some fruit and some good old chocolate. The chocolate was delicious. My host mother left to go to a funeral and since I don't have anything with me to wear I didn't go. I am staying home making myself dinner and watching CSI Miami. I will be online talking to my friends and watching tv in English. I will again be able to sleep in tomorrow and won't be going to school. Tomorrow two other YE's are coming up and we are traveling around all weekend. It should be great. This past week has been fabulous and I can't wait for what next week brings.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

What a day

When I asked when I needed to be ready to leave for school my new host said (sabai-sabai) meaning whenever your comfortable. She said just when you get up and are ready to go we will go. So I stayed up late talking to friends and then slept in. I slept so good, I think I even drooled. After getting ready and eating breakfast I went to school. I waited for Remi to finish eating lunch, since I had just ate I didn't need to do it again. My new host said she called my real  hosts and they said I could go to Chiang Mai for La Katong Festival next weekend. Or I could stay here and see it from Chiang Rai. Either way I get to travel some more! I then joined Remi in French class and then math class. Then class was over and we walked a down a few blocks and had very very spicy noodles. They were so good. The group included Remi, about 8 Thai girls and myself. It was a lot of fun. The only thing that had me down today was Remi. His Thai is so good and after arriving at school he sat me down and gave me advice. First he told me my English was horrible...I was like huh? Then he went on to tell me a ton a somewhat annoying and frustrating information. It got to the point of me almost in tears. As if that wasn't enough he took me aside again and told me I wasn't doing exactly everything he told me too etc. It got to the point where I didn't want him around me because he was always judging everything I said or did. He pulled me aside a total of about 10 times in my three hours at school. I did however call my host to pick me up and only spoke Thai. I also had her only speak Thai to me at home and I am surprised what I'm able to understand. I also can understand a lot of what the kids at school are saying. It's exciting and I know Remi is only trying to help but his constant judging got me down. I told him this and were going to once again have a talk tomorrow...Whoop De Do. Now I'm waiting for Allyson Klitzke to hopefully remember our planned Skype date so I can talk to my bestie. Everything is going great, I just have to figure out how to deal with Remi.


Until Later, Dacotah Smith

I got to ride an elephant!!!

Today I woke up at 8:30 and got ready and then drank some coffee. When I went to add milk to it I found that chunks rose to the top of my coffee. I looked then looked at the expiration date and found it expired 12 days ago. To not be rude I drank my coffee but I was fighting a serious urge to gag the whole time. After that I switched to Chinese Tea. I got to Skype once again with my brother and then it turned out to be with my entire family. It was so nice to talk to my brother. After that we made Thai tea and then went to 7-Eleven to buy ice to put it on. All Thai tea is served on ice. After that we picked up our party from the school and we were on our way. We stopped first at a cave with a Buddha statue inside, like a temple. It was really coold. Then we first stopped in the village to see a giant anaconda. It was soooo gross. After that we drove down the street and I got to ride an elephant. It was only three dollars and I rode it with Remi. The guy "driving" the elephant thought we were dating and he kept turning around and giving us weird stares and telling us to sit closer together. It was a cool tour of the village from the top of an elephant but the whole constantly telling us to get closer when we were already smushed together made the ride a little awkward. All in all it was so much fun. After that we went to Mae Fah Luang University and saw the lake and a temple. We then stopped for dinner and came home. It was a great day and now I'm exhausted and watching Wipeout (cros and family you should be proud!) I do have to go to school tomorrow, for the whole day I think, so I better get to bed.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

The day just got even better, if that's possible!

After school I sat around and watched Biggest Loser Asia and then an old episode of Oprah. We waited for the daughter and her husband to get home and then we went to eat Mocota the Thai equivalent of  Mongolian BBQ. It a metal bowl on top of a fire and you order pork or fish or beef or squid and put it on the dome to cook and around it you pour water and put in leafy vegetables and noodles made out of beans. Those steam while the meat is cooked and then you eat it all together with a spicy sauce and lots of garlic. My breath probably smells so bad right now. Luckily the whole family ate it as well. After that as if the night couldn't get any better we went and got Swensen's ice cream, which was delicious. We then came home and I found out that I don't have to go to school tomorrow. I just have to wait for Remi to get done with his half day and then were going to visit the hill tribe village. It should be a great day and a great two weeks I'm looking forward to it all. Unfortunately I won't be home to get my package with my camera battery for a while. So if I do get pictures they will not be from me.

My First Day In Chiang Rai

So after Skyping with my family last night I went to bed and got up at 9 a.m. I got dressed and then my mock host mother took me to a very very nice coffee shop and I got an iced coffee and a panini. After that I headed to school where I made lots of new friends and learned Thai all afternoon. I got picked up at 3 which was so nice to get done so early. At lunch I was the first to sit on this very old bench and it broke right under me. It was so embarrassing but o well. I was invited to go to the Walking Street this Saturday but I'm busy with the other YE's that are coming. I guess we will be traveling around. So next weekend I will go with them hopefully and maybe on Sunday I'm going to go bowling with my new friends from school. Tomorrow is a half day so after school the lady I'm staying with is taking me and Remi to go visit a hill tribe village. This is sooo cool. She has a daughter in Bangkok and said that when her daughter has extra time she will let me know and I can go stay with her in Bangkok. She also said if I learn more Thai I could maybe talk Nayiana into letting me take the bus to come up to Chiang Rai or to Chiang Mai etc. This has given me new hope I just studied Thai all day at school today. I hope I can pick up a lot so that I can partake in the opportunities presented.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

P.S. I'll be on Skype every morning for U.S. time zones so if anyone wants to talk just give me a call!

Huge almost Pretty Gecko

My 3 Birthday Celebrations

On the Night Cruise on Central Trip

At RYLA

With My Host Mother

Pool Party at the 5 Star Hotel on Central Trip

What a day!!

So a YEO aka Youth Exchange Officer from Chiang Rai came to my house today with her daughter and friend and Remi a french exchange student. She talked to my host father and third host mother and we decided that I'm going to live with her in Chiang Rai for two weeks while my host mother is gone. I will be going to school with Remi and be in the French Program with him at school. It was such a relief she is so nice. After we spent at least an hour straightening it out. We were on our way. We stopped at the Phu Sang Waterfall and Remi and I climbed up the waterfall. He took off all his clothes except his boxer briefs and climbed up, I however stay perfectly dressed. It was so much fun, the waterfall was so warm. After this we got crepes and coffee and then we headed to Chiang Rai. Once we dropped Remi off at his house and we went to the night market where I got fried chicken, sticky rice and a waffle for dinner. It was so delicious and I have wi-fi. So I can Skype anytime I'm home. This all turned out for the better I just hope my host parents are mad or offended in anyway.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

My Country Officer in Thailand

I informed my country officer on the happenings at home. She said that she is going to the intercity meeting next weekend in Chiang Rai and if I want to come she'll find some way to help me go. I think some other YE's from the Bangkok district might be coming because I was talking to some of my plane friends on facebook and they asked about it. It would be so cool if I got to meet up with some of them. She said she will try her best to get me there. So once again things are looking up. I'm expecting a package from my mom any day now, it's taking longer than normal. On Wednesday or Thursday I'm expecting another package from my grandparents with goodies and a new camera battery since my camera won't turn on. I'm praying that the new battery works or else I'm going to have to buy a new camera. I could always ask if I could borrow one of my hosts ancient and huge cameras. But hopefully I won't have to. Today it's actually getting pretty warm again. I missing the cold. I did yoga and lifted weights this morning so that sitting around all day I won't feel totally unproductive. Last night to calm down I did yoga and sure enough it cleared my head. I also watched the Holiday to get my taste of snow. I guess today I'll just be watching movies and lifting weights and playing with the puppies. I hope I don't get to bored. My host father I think is bringing me some fried rice for lunch, it's better than nothing. I can't wait to get to school and study Thai tomorrow. The little first graders are so cute. They come up and talk to me in Thai and I have no idea what they are saying so I just shake my head. They want to talk to me but they don't know any English. Every morning this little girl comes in and says good morning and then goodbye. They all like to watch me as I'm learning how to write. It was annoying at first but it's actually kind of cute now. Well I'm going to go make some Milo the equivalent of hot chocolate, way better than ovaltine and sit down and relax and watch a movie. I'm glad I decided to go to my country officer about all of this because she has cheered me up and given me hope for next weekend.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Never Mind

I was just told that my host father has no time to take me to aerobics. Even though all he's doing is standing around smoking a cigarette. So I guess I'm staying home all night and will not be able to get on Skype...:( I was told that I wouldn't be going tomorrow either. So I am about to lose it, I have no one to talk to all weekend and spend all weekend just by myself. Going into town for aerobics and being able to socialize was my one saving grace. My dinner was cold Rodee which might I add is no very tasty. It's only good when it's steaming hot and gooey. My host fathers dinner looks disgusting and there is nothing to make in the house so I guess that was my dinner. I don't know what to do I was looking forward to being able to Skype and talking to people at aerobics. I was also looking forward to talking to aunt Aun since she speaks English. I guess this weekend will be all by myself, I can't wait for Monday to come around. Being bored makes me tired so I take a nap and then can't go to bed at 10 since I have nothing else to do. I'm gonna go crazy.

Just Another Weekend

So getting up semi-late today (9 a.m.) I tookd a shower and then came into the house and had breakfast. After breakfast I swept my room/ guesthouse and found tons of spider webs. After sweeping I mopped and cleaned my bathroom and scrubbed my bathroom floor. It feels so much cleaner. Being allergic to dust I'm suprised I wasn't very ill. After this my host father brought home KFC for lunch and I ate that and a pear. After lunch I played with the chubbiest puppy. So So So precious. Just fat and fluffy. Then I read some of my latest book and now I'm updating this. After this I'm going to go lift weights and then do 15 min ab workout and then just chill until aerobics. I can't wait to Skype tonight. Besides that nothing is going on today.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Feeding the Monks

This morning I was invited to join the family in feeding 9 monks their one meal for the day. They came to my second host's house and sat outside on fancy carpets. When I got there we just set up the food on roller tables. After that they prayed and I lifted my hands and Y'd but didn't pray. The we started to pass the food around. I have never seen so much food offered at 8 in the morning. They each had a fish steak, fruit, milk, yogurt, chocolate, coffee, rice, shrimp, bamboo shoots and a ton of other stuff. After we gave them food we retreated to the house and ate the leftovers. I'm still not used to eating shrimp etc. for breakfast so I had some grapes and a delicious Thai fruit and of course some chocolates and chocolate milk. After all this I was sent to school and went to my Thai lessons. After that I went back to my classroom to try to get on facebook to talk to my friends back home. It didn't work, even the computer teacher couldn't get it to connect. So I instead watched 3 episodes of Gilmore Girls and hung with my friends. A few girls had a music video playing on YouTube and were dancing with the backup dancers. There were two guys playing guitar and one singing, it was quite an eventful day. After school I walked to my third host's house and went on the computer for a few minutes to check my emails, then walked to aerobics. The aerobics teacher was super happy and she kicked our butts, she kept yelling yay...luckily it only lasted 45 minutes. After that I went back to her house and had fried rice and Rodee for dinner. Just got home and now I'm updating my blog for the day! It's Friday and I'm super tired even though I missed one day of school this week and even when I'm at school we do nothing. I never knew how tired being bored can make you. Good news I will be on Skype tomorrow night at 7:30-8 if anyone wants to talk that would be 7:30-8 am on Saturday in Minnesota. I will be talking to my dad and hopefully my bro. But after that if anyone wants to talk I will be on. At my third host mothers house I can connect my laptop and finally be able to Skype!!! I'm so excited.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

My day in Mae Sai

So we left at about ten for Mae Sai. My third host mother and her mom took me. We stopped for lunch once we got there and had Cow-Soi. A noodle soup made with coconut milk it was my first time eating this famous food of Northern Thailand. To my suprise it was actually very good and we got 5 dishes for 3 dollars, it still seems to amaze me. After eating her dish my third host mother ordered just regular Thai Noodles. I guess I was staring at the purple chunks weird because she asked if I liked them and I said no. She then told me that they were congealed chicken blood and then proceeded to put one in her mouth. I just about lost my lunch right then and there. Anyways after lunch she took me for ice cream at Swensen's the Thai equivalent of Hagen Dagz. It was delicious but I'm not an ice cream person and after I ate my two scoops of chocolate peanut butter ice cream I saw mango sorbet and wished I'd had that instead. After all this we went to get my visa taken care of which turned into a mess. We had to cross this bridge over the highway three times to go get different pages of my passport copied and then the letters from the school were addressed to Chiang Mai. Which is where we went the first time and then they told us Phayao province has to go to Mae Sai. So we had to call the school and eventually they let us finish it and we promised to have the school fax over the letters. What should have taken fifteen minutes took 3 hours. After that we stopped for business stuff and then stopped at the bad equivalent of a Costco. My host grandma is having 9 monks over tomorrow morning and feeding them. I just learned that they only eat one meal a day. So she bought tons of fruit and fish to feed them. I'm invited to go but it's at like five in the morning, I'll see if I can get up for it. It doesn't help that my host mother left this morning for 15 days of meditation at the temple. She didn't tell me until this morning and now I'm kinda doing my own thing. Eating whatever the maid makes for dinner...could be interesting. I am walking to my third host mothers house after school and hanging here until aerobics. She will take me to aerobics and then take me home.
Anyways after all this yesterday we came home and went to a restaurant in town and had a delicious meal where my third host mother told me that she's allergic to the cold. (Is that even possible?) During Thai lessons today I witnessed for the 5th time a teacher hitting kids with a ruler and books and her hand. It's so weird if this happened in the US a teacher would be fired, I feel like I'm sitting and observing Matilda from the movie. Anyways that pretty much does it for what's going on in Dacotah Land.


Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Two Interesting Things

After about two months of school I finally found out why we sit outside the room on the floor for 5 minutes every day after lunch. I was finally told it was for meditation, which just made me laugh. No on is silent, everyone is talking and fighting and doing homework during this time. I would have never guessed it was meditation time. Another thing is that Thai roads have no speed limits. It's drive as fast or as slow as you want and pass whenever you feel like it. My host father even passes on the curve and every time there is a car coming at us and at just the right moment he pulls back into the lane. It gets my heart racing every time. I also found it weird that they put blinkers on to pass other cars but no to turn. This makes every drive very dangerous. For my host mother the only two speeds are way to fast or slammed on the breaks. This is especially scary because no one wears seat belts. I'm trying my best to remember mine every time so I don't get out of a good habit. Also there are motorcycles everywhere and they don't just hold one person. Sometimes a family of four will be on one. The toddler standing holding the handles the rest sitting. I find it crazy and not healthy at all. Anyways these are my revelations for the day! I'm off to Mae Sae today to do my Visa stuff, so no school! The head of the Youth Exchange here invited me to stay with her if I can just get a ride to her town past Chiang Mai. We will work out the details and then maybe I can go stay with her and on the way back pick up my friend in Chiang Mai to come stay with me for a little bit. I'm super excited and things once again are looking up!

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

Tuesday

Last night I changed and we went to aerobics. After aerobics we went to the grocery store and I bought a sweater, because I'm actually freezing now most of the time. Before school started today I weighed myself and I'm proud to say I'm the same or less than what I was when I left. Although I think fat has replaced muscle my weight is not as bad as I thought it was. I don't trust the scale 100% so I will weigh again on a different scale. This news cheered me up big time. Aerobics is nice now, it's getting so cold that I barely sweat. So I don't have to go to dinner completely drenched in sweat. My class just returned from lunch with three or four unhealthy snacks each, and yet there all so skinny. I am thinking about asking my host mother if I can invite some kids over to see the puppies and maybe watch a movie with Thai subtitles. However, I don't know if we will still have all the puppies by the end of the week. I will be going to Mae Sai or the border of Thailand and Burma to renew my Visa either Wednesday, Thursday or Friday this week. It turns out we are not needed at the outbound orientation like we were told at the inbound orientation, so it will be another six weeks until I see any of the other exchange students. BUMMER... I'm actually freezing now, and it's only high 50's I'm turning into a baby!!! I didn't think it would happen so quickly. Well besides learning some words that I won't use often in my Thai  class I have learned nothing useful from my Thai teacher. But O well I can't get everything, I will still be teaching myself most of it. I found that I learn the most Thai when I am with the other exchange students. I also learn Spanish, Russian and Portuguese when I'm with them. Tonight I will go to my Rotary meeting and hopefully receive my monthly allowance. It's nice when my 2 hours of boredom end with 2700 baht in my hands. It wouldn't be so boring if I could understand and if it wasn't all retired men not even talking about anything useful.


Until Later, Dacotah Smith