GRAND OPENING

My friend and I went to the mall yesterday and the first thing we did was go and eat some food at McDonald's and normally I would never go for it but just because it wasn't Thai food I was all over it. Then we proceeded to the bottom floor with the international market where I bought all of the stuff to make spaghetti. I'm so excited and plan on making it when I return to Chiang Kham. Then my host family had free tickets to see a Thai movie and so my friend and I went. It was the first and hopefully the last Thai movie I will ever have to see. It was close to 4 hours long and was in only Thai no subtitles or anything. I just couldn't sit still and my friend next to me was biting her nails the entire time. Driving me crazy. Anyways I made it through the movie and then around midnight we headed home. It was a pretty uneventful day. Today I was going to stay in Chiang Rai just to do Yoga but that's only one hour out of the whole day and I miss my friends back in Chiang Kham. So I'm waiting for my dad to come get me and bring me to the bus station to head home!


All is well, Dacotah Smith

Yoga Day 2

Today I went to my friends house around noon and we walked to the coffee shop and then came back to her house and watched a movie. After that my host mom picked us up and we went to day two of yoga. I was majorly sore but by the end I was stretched out and feeling great. It was a different teacher today and we did different stuff. It was nice to work some other muscles. One of the ladies came up to me after class and told me I did better than yesterday! O and the mall opens tomorrow with a movie theater, McDonald's and Starbucks!

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

YOGAA!!!!

Today I experienced my first actual in studio yoga class....and it was amazing. I worked hard and can already feel the sore muscles but I say "Bring it on." I know I need excercise and I know that yoga will help my knee and my spirits. I loved it and happened to meet another girl from Colorado. I gave her my number and she will call sometime to take me our for coffee. I'm so happy that my host mom invited me to do yoga with her and greatful that she is the one paying. Other than that I just layed around and read my book all day and then went to my friends house for an hour or so before yoga. She also joined me in yoga her first time and she was in pain the entire class.


All is well, Dacotah Smith

Going home

It was nice to go home for two days and my friends and family pulled out the red carpet. The first night we drove to Phayao just an hour away for dinner on the lake. It was delicious and really kind and thoughtful. Then my friends took me to a Walking Street with live music. The next morning my host mom took us to the waterfall and we had a picnic and then we hung out at my friends house and then later my host mom picked us up and took us out for Thai bbq. We ate with my host mom and the baby and my host brother.Today we took the bus back to Chiang Rai and I think we will be staying here until Southern Trip to Phuket on April 16th!!!

Earthquake

Last night I experience my first earthquake. Since our house isn't very sturdy I thought it was just my host brother jumping around with the baby. It wasn't until it was almost over that I realized what it was. It was a 6.7 and I am fine along with all the other exchange students. I will attach a link so you can watch the news about it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12852237

My two days back in Chiang Kham

The family in Phayao at a temple with Ana Carolina

Baimon and I by Phayao Lake

The Family

Girls

Sunset

At a grilled pork and beef stand at the walking street

Live music at walking street

Phu Sang waterfall for a picnic

The picnic, Som-tum, meatballs and grilled chicken

First of many pictures to come

Sorry I'm not looking at the camera there were hundreds to look at....anyways me in a traditional Thai costume for our dance at District Conference

Chiang Rai on the wild side!

The final destinatio

n

My new host sister and brother and Remi, Caro, Ana Carolina and J

Pictures from my Scenic Drive

The streets

Some of the houses

Nature (Jungle)

Nicer House

Sunset over rice fields

Mini Temple

Sunset again

My friend that took me on the drive Saifon

Me unfortunately Saifon didn't know how to zoom

Sunset

Nice Burmese Style House

The drive

Last minutes of the sunset

Gorgeous mansion right on the river

My friend

Last night my friend Saifon took me on a motorbike tour of the country side. I was supposed to teach but none of my students showed up so I went on my friends motorbike with her and she took me to see the beautiful countryside that I have never seen before. I really have no idea where we went but it was all rice fields and the sun was setting it was beautiful. We then stopped at the night market and bought dinner and then came back to Joe's house and ate dinner. It was a nice peaceful and quiet night. When I got home I had a package from my grandparents and Emily Mueller!! That made my night even better. Today marks 7 months in Thailand for me and I couldn't be happier of how far I have come. I'm fitting in and when I walk to my friends house every morning the neighbors ask me where I'm going in Thai and I answer them back in Thai. Everyone accepts me now and it's nice to even have the neighbors support. I can't wait to finish my year and get back to my friends and family!

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

My Favorite Meal!

Today I walked all around town to get the ingredients to make my favorite Thai dish. It is big noodles that are fried with soy sauce and garlic. Then you make a gravy like broth with vegetables and pork and pour it over the noodles, just add lots of pepper and there's a meal.

After that I cut up some green mango that I bought at walking street last night. Two kilos for only one dollar. They were (aroi mak mak) very delicious!

The kittens have their eyes open!

Good Times!

So I was supposed to join my host mother and go to Chun to visit her day for the night and until tomorrow night. But I have been there more than once and didn't feel like sleeping under a mosquito net with a room full of people snoring. I also had to teach and have a friend making me french toast for breakfast in the morning before I teach. So I simply explained this to my host mother and she let me go, no problem. Now I'm just hanging out with my friends. I'm pretty sure she still went to Chun but I'm hoping she took the baby with her. The baby has kept me up every night this week into the early hours crying. I can't wait for my breakfast and I have to teach in the morning but then will be hanging with my friends. I'm also excited for the wedding on Sunday and am hoping I can understand some it since it's an American man getting married. It didn't get as hot today but still wasn't too comfortable just 91 degrees. Everything is going well. I'm eating all the mangoes I can and enjoying life, trying to not get too sweaty everyday.

Until Later, Dacotah Smith

RAIN!!

At about 11 last night there was a major rain storm. It rained harder than I think I have ever seen it rain before. It was intense. I had to close my windows quick and I still proceeded to get sprayed through the gap in my walls. Thanks to a old house that wasn't built very well to begin with. It was interesting, I'm laying in bed getting sprayed, needless to say it didn't make for a good nights sleep. I am now at Joe and Nui's house where they have wi-fi. Normally I would sleep in but he's off to teach and she is going to Chiang Mai so in order to hang out here I had to get here before she left. I bought some movies on Itunes so I'm excited to watch those, read and maybe take a nap. I'm enjoying my ripe and green mangoes everyday. I figure as long as I can eat mangoes I can     take the heat.
The cutest thing happened last night when my host brother was watching my baby host sister while my host mom was taking a shower. She was crying, throwing a huge fit and my host brother is just laughing at her. He gets sick of her screaming in his ear so he sets her down and she runs into my arms. She immediately stopped crying and started smiling and giggling. I guess I'm becoming a bigger part of this family than I thought. My host brother was so surprised that he yelled it to my host mom while she was showering. Just trying to escape the heat by staying by a fan all day. I am walking everywhere so I'm getting exercise that way too.

All is good, Dacotah Smith