Two Months and No Post!

I’m really bad about updating the blog. REALLY BAD!! 

At this rate there will only be two more entries before I come home! I have plenty to talk about, fight night, trips to the beach and other various experiences that leave me dazed and confused. 

I miss home….. a lot. 

True Beauty!

When I first arrived to Thailand, I had my nails freshly shined and polished a bright pink. My hair and makeup were done to the best of my limited abilities. This honeymoon lasted about ten days.

I didn't do any variation of physical activity for approximately 30 days after arriving in Thailand. Additionally, I was eating all the fried, oil, sugar and MSG enhanced food available. Most of my meals were paid for by my sponsor, as long as I was willing to eat when and what he wanted to eat. On top of that I was homesick, uncomfortable, nervous and in distress. Unsurprisingly, I began to eat my feelings.  I found comfort in cookies, soda, potato chips and snicker bars. As I mentioned before, I rarely eat these things when I am at home….sweet Colorado. The weight gain was underway and my complexion looked awful! Also, don’t forget I am hairy, covered in mosquito bites with chub rub and a marvelous heat rash that I can’t stop scratching…I’m a sight for sore eyes! I am already massive by Asian standards and was on the fast road to becoming the hulk minus the incredible! Of course, lack of activity and poor nutrition has an immense impact on the mindset as well. I began to wonder, what is true beauty? Even though I felt terrible about myself and looked dreadful, all my students still smiled at me and told me I was beautiful! Beautiful!!?  Who were they kidding? Were they blind? Maybe they were hoping for a better grade or extra points?

In Thailand, they believe white skin is beautiful. The features they believe make a person beautiful are uncommon in the general Thai population. In Thailand, the majority of people have plastic surgery to become “beautiful”.  The customary surgeries to become beautiful are nose jobs to obtain a more prominent bulbous nose and shave the jaw line to create a V shaped face. All the stores, including 7-11, sell whiting body wash, lotion and vitamins. Most lotions are not even really lotion, its sunscreen. “Vitamins” are pills that offer the promise of becoming a white beauty after ingestion. I have all the features that the Thai culture considers beautiful.  Meanwhile in America, I am just another average woman. The students in America don’t tell me how beautiful I am. Most of the time I get asked, “What is wrong with your hair?” or “are you tired?” Are you tired is code for, I don’t think you checked in the mirror today. So, what is true beauty?  In America, it seems most of the population wants to be thin, tan and in constant pursuit of obtaining an immaculate appearance. In spite of the American obesity rate being over 30% and climbing rapidly, we still constantly chase fads in hopes of becoming slimmer. Just about every strip mall is complete with a tanning salon, nail salon, hair salon and some kind of fitness operation.  So why do we decide everything we’re not is the image of beauty?

This mentality is commencing the battle on self-acceptance.   The wanting mind is never satisfied. The wanting mind is the belief that something outside of ourselves is the key to happiness. If we obtain the object of our longing, we replace the previous object with a new desire. In reality, there is no permanent happiness outside of oneself, it must come from within. I grew up like most young American females, watching the media portray and glamorize desirable sexy female figures on TV. I believed these women were beautiful and wanted to be and look like them. My coveting only led to my own disapproval and discontentment. My mother was powerless in teaching me about true beauty, as she herself has felt disapproval and inadequate for most of her life. It is hard to teach something you don’t know yourself. In actuality, my mother is one of the most beautiful women I have ever met. Not by societies standards, but by my own. It is now at my most hideous exterior, I am beginning to understand true beauty.

A beloved friend back home wrote me after reading my pants post and told me it didn't matter what I wore or how my legs looked, I am beautiful either way. True beauty comes from within an individual and can be seen in the character of the soul. Compassion and humanity are the essence that gives a human being depth. These attributes illustrate true beauty. So my recent struggle has been self-acceptance. Self-acceptance is the ability to unconditionally love oneself no matter what traits or flaws exist. For a perfectionist with an insatiable attitude, self-acceptance and humility are difficult undertakings. Mistakes, errors and imperfections are easy to come by when you are an alien. Every day presents a new possibility to become more beautiful. 

Muay Thai- IN THAILAND!

My love, my passion, my dream, my…you get the point.

Let’s be blunt, I came to Thailand because I love Muay Thai. I began doing Muay Thai about four years ago. If you read my past post on Muay Thai, you will learn how it literally saved my life. I love Muay Thai so much I want to be in the land of its origin!

In America, I taught Muay Thai at a high school and local martial arts gym. I pursed the art with several different instructors. As I told my students, it is not uncommon to outgrow your instructor. Students all have different learning styles just as instructors have different teaching styles. If you truly love something, why not explore all the different systems and perspectives of your love? Opportunities are a revolving door and if you spend too much time looking at the closed doors, you will miss the ones opening.

During my Muay Thai training, I have encountered several closed doors. Some doors slammed in my face and some stubbed a few toes, but now I am exactly where I want to be. One of my friends was beaten very badly by her martial arts instructor and boyfriend, this is a man I trained with under the same master. After hearing her story, I immediately told my master I could not continue to be associated or train with the instructor whom had beaten my friend so mercilessly. My master’s response was crude and cold. He told me there is always more than one story and I should not turn my back on my family. Hmm….sorry, but anyone with the skill and position of a martial arts leader requires responsibility to uphold integrity and to be held accountable. If any of my “family” beat someone the way this man did my friend, I would report them to the police.  This was door number one slammed in my face; my master’s response was appalling and disgusting. I chose not to support nor participate in a system that protects martial artists that beat women.

The high school I taught at has a program called, Fund for Teachers. This is a grant or scholarship program that allows teachers to write proposals for projects believed to enhance teaching during the summer months. I wrote a proposal to go to Thailand for 3 months and train in Muay Thai, since I was after all teaching it to high school students. My principal at the time would not even sign her name on the paper. She had another agenda in mind and had requested other teachers to write a proposal for a project she wanted to support. She didn’t even want me to be entered in the assembly of applications!! This was door number two that subbed a few of my toes. I was down but not defeated.

 About two months later, one of the teachers at my school put me in contact with a Rotary Club member. This man spoke about his ten year history of work in Thailand. I was all ears. The possibility that I could make a trip to Thailand excited and frightened me! Eight months later I was boarding an aircraft to begin my Thailand adventure.

 I didn’t actually start doing any Muay Thai until mid-February. When I went to the camp in my providence, I was actually scared! I began sweating profusely, either from nerves or the hot weather, but most likely both. I couldn’t believe all my efforts led to what was right before my eyes. My current reality is an outdoor Muay Thai camp complete with Thai boys from ages 7-16 in their small shorts making strange sounds as they kick the hanging bags that must be filled with cement! I am the only American woman that speaks English. As I stepped out on the floor to perform my shadow boxing routine, my heart rate quickened to a pace that made me dizzy and almost ill. I kept telling myself not to pass out and just control my breathing. The owner of the gym was impressed, he told me…in Thai. Mae translated. After a few sessions of shadow boxing, they let me hit some pads. I finally began to accept the situation and feel more comfortable.

When most people hear about me being in Thailand, they think of beautiful beaches and lively parties. In actuality, I live in the center of Thailand in a small rural farming providence.  My Muay Thai camp is not one that has the fame or big name for training foreigners like Fairtex or Tiger. They train me like they train Thais. I do my clench work with a 14 year old boy who is stronger than most of the infrastructures around my providence and he does not hesitate to put me on my butt either. This is not new to me, right Montana?

The champ who has won three belts is 16 years old and a student at my university. He has been training in Muay Thai for 10 years and is incredibly kind, helpful and respectful. My workouts consist of three shadow boxing rounds, five pad rounds and five punching bag rounds. The time is set by my trainer. Afterwards, I have 10 minutes of clench work and conditioning. Everyone keeps asking me when am I going to fight? I promised my mother I wouldn’t fight; however, it is only a matter of time before my camp asks me. Sorry mom. I run 3 miles every morning before work at Bamboo Park. Mae’s father has become my morning workout partner as he drives us to Bamboo Park and rides his bike while I run. After work I head to Muay Thai for about two hours of training, this is my routine Monday through Friday.

 Some people say they are passionate and love Martial Arts and some people show it. I left a steady job of seven years, a house, a family and friends for my pursuit of Muay Thai. 

Details, facts, particulars, and specifics….who needs ‘em?!

My Laotian is worse than my Thai!

Mae recently purchased me for 3,000 Baht. I think that is rather decent considering it’s less that $100 dollars American money!

When I arrived to Thailand I received the 30 day tourist visa. Wait, I’m staying for a year right? So I needed to obtain a working visa and a work permit to stay in the kingdom and teach. Easier said than done, thus leading to my voyage to Laos.  My contract for working at the University was completed on January 31^st, even though I started teaching January 13^th. My visa for Thailand expired on February 5^th. On January 31^st I was sent to the labor office to get my work permit. I was told I needed the work visa first. On February 3rd, I was told I was leaving the next day for Laos to get the work visa. However, I wasn’t informed how many days I would be gone or what to expect so packing was a challenge.  I can survive just about any situation as long as I have clean underwear, my pillow, sunglasses and headphones.

 I was picked up at 9am on the morning of February 4^th. After riding eight hours with two women from the University, we stayed one night in Nong Khai, Thailand. The next morning we were picked up by a driver to take us across the border into Laos.  Our destination was Vientiane, the capital of Laos, also the home of the Thai Embassy. I am the first American the University has ever had the pleasure of indulging in this experience, so I tried to be very patient and understanding. Oh yea, and not cuss or bite my nails.

 As an American citizen, I needed to first obtain a Laos visa. The cost of a Laos visa is 800 Baht. However, if I did not want to wait in the horrendous line, I could pay an additional 1,000 Baht for a more speedy process. The line of people was about 60 individuals deep, averaging 20-25 minutes per Laos’s visa. Seeing as how I needed to be at the Thai embassy before 11:30am, I of course paid the additional money and waited 15 minutes. The driver then took us to the Thai Embassy, or should I say to the stand of men filling out paperwork in front of the Thai Embassy. One man filled out all my paperwork for me and then told me 200 Baht….WHAT!? The forms are in English! I could have done that!! Ugh….fine, I gave him the money.

I walked inside the Thai Embassy to get the queue number. The number they call to check your paperwork and tell you if it is all correct, you can get the visa. More times than not, you are turned away. The embassy has the right to request additional documents if necessary. I felt pretty confident since I had my application filled out by a “professional” and the rest of the paperwork was prepared by the two women from my University. Once my number was called, I strutted up to the window thinking…I got this in the bag. The man systematically checked my paperwork and asked for the president’s card…in Thai. I looked back at the two women I was traveling with and my distressed face was clearly the red flag signal. They came up to the window to speak with the man. Ok, I will go sit my pouty baby butt back down.

Since the contract is prepared by the University and signed by the president of the University, the Embassy requires a copy of the identification card of the president with his signature. One of the women immediately got on the phone to call the University. Remember the Embassy closes at 11:30am. It was now 11:20am. The other woman asked if they would give us 5 extra minutes to get the paper, a firm NO was given…in Thai. Once the line is finished, that is it.  Someone at the University got a copy of the card and signature and emailed it immediately to the woman that called. She ran to the nearest hotel and asked to print the email and then ran back to the Embassy, remember it’s HOT outside!  Sweet baby Jesus or Buddha, I’m back in line at 11:29:30. All is good. I’m approved. Leave my passport and pick it up the next day at 1:30pm with a completed Kingdom of Thailand working class B visa.

I know the United States Government told me to never leave my passport, ever, but what happens in Laos, stays in Laos.  Unless of course you are writing to everyone back home about it. So night number two of our stay on this adventure, I hope I packed enough clean underwear.

Afterwards, the two women from the University wanted to have some fun and I completely understood. Babysitting the farang is hard work and they deserve some type of reward for their time and effort. So we were carted off to varies shopping centers in search of souvenirs to take back home for the people these women actually enjoy spending time with. I usually waited in the van or sat in front of the store.

 Don’t forget I said Mae purchased me for 3,000 Baht, because this voyage was not cheap. Here’s a recap- I paid 3,000 Baht for a driver to chauffeur us in Laos. I paid 2,000 Baht for my Laos visa. I paid 200 Baht for the pleasure of watching some man scribble my name on paper and would have to pay 2,000 Baht to pick up by passport with the Thailand visa. The University did pick up the tab on my hotel stays, meals and fuel for the woman that drove to the Laos boarder. We had to hire a driver in Laos since she does not have a Laos’ license.  These kinds of details can either be beautiful or dreadful, depending on your patience and pliability. When I signed up for my Thailand trip, I was told I would not need to carry much money with me and I would be paid at the end of January for my teaching. Naturally, I did not listen to the first part because when traveling many times money is the only thing that can talk when you cannot. Logically, since I didn’t have a working visa until February, I wasn’t going to be getting paid at the end of January. The unexpected trip and expenses were a bit of a shock since I needed to make my money last until the end of February. Good thing bananas grow on trees at the University so I won’t starve, but at least then I could achieve an Asian figure!! So lucky for me, Mae and her family spotted me 3,000 Baht for the trip.

 After waiting in several shopping centers and barely holding my head up for dinner, I retired for the evening in my Laos hotel room. I will say it was one of the best showers I have had since I made the trip to Thailand, naturally, it was in Laos. The next morning we checked out at noon and headed to the Thai Embassy. We arrived at about 12:30pm and waited in the sitting area. At 1pm they would distribute the queue numbers so you can pick up your passport. One farang ran into the Embassy frantically begging in English for the Embassy to let him submit his paperwork for the visa. In Thai culture, making a scene is a no-no. This infuriated the man that took my papers the day before and he kicked everyone out of the sitting area.

All the patrons now stand outside the shiny barred gates that barricade the front of the embassy. I stood in the sun until the queue numbers were given, I love sunglasses. I recognized most of the people from the day before and we all shared the same frustrations so at least we collectively joked about our experience.

 I met one woman from Seattle who was moving to Thailand to take care of her mother. Her father was an American military service man who married a Thai woman and eventually retired in Thailand. Now her father had passed away and she was taking care of her mother. She was getting a visa for her daughter to attend school in Thailand. They were super cool people and it was refreshing to talk to another American.  They live in Chang Mai which has the elephant reserve that I will see before I leave Thailand, so hopefully I will see her again.

At 1:08pm, the polished barricade opened and queue numbers were given, I was number 9! We could now sit in the waiting area until 1:30pm when the embassy workers would start calling numbers. The waiting area is outside under a shaded canopy with seats and the pick-up window is in the air conditioned building. Thank goodness for my water bottle, I spent the next 22 minutes downing as much water as possible to replenish what I had lost standing in line.

Finally all the patrons were ushered into the air conditioned building to pick up a newly improved passport, hopefully complete with a visa! However, no instructions were given of what order or systemic method should be followed. Naturally the majority of people just rush the one window that is open. So when number 35 gets to the window, the women just gives the number back and looks at the next person. I held up my number to show everyone I was number nine in hopes of establishing some sort of numerical positioning. It worked! See dad, I can do math or count at least, in Thai, Spanish and English! What a great headstone quote that would be, better than Sweaty Betty.

Once it was my turn to pay 2,000 Baht and receive my passport and new Thailand visa, I was told to check three things. First, the name on the passport, just to verify it was actually mine. Second, the type of visa and ensure I received the right category of visa and third, the spelling of my information on the visa.  Seemed logical and all were accurate so it was finally time to leave the Thai Embassy and head back to Thailand! As I practically skipped off the Embassy compound, I made sure to wave to my new Laos friends who had taken me for 200 Baht for filling out my paperwork. They were occupied with an intense game of poker and arguing who was next to drive the tuk tuk. I knew this because the loser of the game threw down his cards and crossed the street to start offering tuk tuk rides to the patrons leaving the Embassy.

 The women from my University were busy looking for our own driver. They called his phone and no answer. We searched the surrounding area for the van and no luck. Hmm….maybe he had to go home for number two? We walked one block to the hotel that had graciously printed the email the day before for my visa paperwork. I could tell my travel companions were not thrilled to be waiting and receiving no response from calling the driver. It was 2:15pm and 45 minutes later the driver arrived to pick us up, I thought for sure he was going to get strangled. 

We headed towards the Laos boarder and I asked if we would be traveling home tonight. Definitely not, we were going to drive for about four hours and then stay the night. I certainly did not pack enough clean underwear, but at least I had snacks and those were coming in very handy right now since we had not eaten since breakfast.

As we approached the Laos boarder, the driver dropped us off to walk through customs. I had never seen my pillow be fondled so crudely, I thought to myself, “I’ll be washing my pillow case twice as soon as I get home!” After passing a thorough inspection, we returned to the SUV belonging to one of my travel companions and started the drive back to Phetchabun. The two women are very close friends and have worked together at the University for over 10 years. They had a lot to discuss, in Thai. Headphones on, dreamland here I come.

When I woke up we were in Khon kaen, the half way mark. We were at a bus terminal. One of my travel companions was taking the bus back to Phetchabun that night. She was given a very important last minute project and needed to ensure her attendance at the University bright and ugly the next day. I said a very heavy eyed sluggish good bye and lay back down. We headed to our hotel to check in; our Laos trio was now a duo. After checking in, we dined at the ever famous 7/11 for dinner and returned to our room. Before going to bed for the evening, I washed my underwear. My mother always told me clean underwear makes a person complete and these days I can’t afford to have any more fallacies.

 The next day we planned to wake up by 6am, have breakfast and be on the road by 7am. The woman from the University asked me if I would be able to wake up at this time. I have this stubbornness about me…. shocking, I know. Whenever someone asks if I’m capable of something, I generally try to blow it out of the water. I want to prove I’m not only capable, I’m exceptional. Therefore, I woke up at 5am, showered, packed and ate breakfast before 6:15am. We were on the road to Phetchabun by 6:45am and arrived at 11am, just in time for me to go home and change into my work “uniform” and teach my afternoon classes. At 4:30pm, which is quitting time, all I could say is, “TGIF!”

Who wears the pants?

Do I even need to answer?

I wore pants to work!! Who cares, right? They were nice dress pants that I believe make my rump look favorable. However, as a female teacher at the University, the dress code for women states knee length dresses and skirts are the ONLY acceptable professional means of dress. That detail would have been great to have prior to my arrival. All right, no more pants at work. Remember the cold showers and how I’m not shaving? Remember I’m covered in bug bites?? Hey, if the University doesn't care, neither do I!! Knee length skirts and dresses ONLY from now on. Oh wait, I only packed two skirts. Packing for this trip was definitely an ordeal. So naturally I procrastinated to the last possible second, throwing things in a suitcase at 3am the morning I was scheduled for departure. I asked all my friends, if you were leaving for a year, what would you take?? I was so conflicted between being a female that needs four of everything in different colors and being a minimalist that didn't want to pay for a suitcase over 50 pounds and look like a ridiculous American! Well the ridiculous American ship has sailed. Also, I was told I could buy whatever clothing I needed once I arrived.

Of the two skirts I brought, one is a jean skirt and unfortunately jean skirts are unacceptable. Alright, now I’m down to one skirt and I do work five days a week. Once again, Mae and her family rescued me. Mae’s mom gave me four of her skirts and they fit! I also received a super cute Thai style skirt from Mae and her family for my birthday. Next time I wear pants to work, I will be writing a letter to the president of the University stating why I wore pants. I don’t think he cares about stubble, bug bites or chub rub. Every time I Skype my mom in the morning before work, she cheerfully says, “you’re wearing a skirt!” I remind her that it is a part of my “uniform” and I must wear a skirt every day. I appreciate her joyful demeanor and it can’t be entirely bad if it excites my mother.

Militant Students.

Actually the students are very obedient, respectful and well-trained. I wanted to talk about this…but after further review, this might be a better topic to discuss after I am no longer an employee of the University. I will say this though, Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall, Part II”.

Coming soon, the long awaited MUAY THAI UPDATE! 

Thailand Bound to Thailand Found!!

First off, I want to say thank you to everyone. All the great people who have helped me get to where I am in some way or another. I’m so rich with many great friends and friendships in my life. Secondly, I’m not a professional writer and while I am an English teacher in a foreign country, try not to take my typos and grammar mistakes to heart. I have only written a little bit about my experiences so far and I will try to keep my blog updated more regularly!!

The Farang has arrived! Farang is the Thai word for foreigner and I hear this word often. I don’t really blend in so I’m really easy to spot. I usually just smile and wave. I have learned some Thai so I say, “sawdee ka, sabye di mai?” (Hello, how are you?) Truthfully, it freaks most people out and they run away.

January 6^th, 2014-I boarded an airplane at 11am headed to Narita, Japan. 19 hours later and a 14 hour difference in time zone, I found myself in Bangkok Thailand. I arrived on January 7^th at 11:30pm. Three weeks later, I now have a full teaching schedule and an apartment. I currently reside in Phetchabun Thailand.

This is my experience so far-

Comfort food, when you are surrounded by foods you are not use to eating, you find certain foods to be comforting to you. I rarely eat candy or drink soda at home (Colorado) but lately I can’t get enough potato chips, snickers bars or soda. This is somewhat of a problem considering I am already a “big” person by Asian standards and have not had an established routine to allow for workout time. Most of the meals in Thailand consist of MSG, sugar, oil, rice and fried something or fried everything. This did cause my body to have a few bad reactions, like vomiting and diarrhea. I know one man at the Tamarind Festival whom was not pleased with me on one of these particularly memorable occasions. I was riding with my friend as she was driving down the main roadway. I asked her to pull over so I could throw up. I got out of the car and stood in front of this poor man’s booth and proceeded to violently vomit all over the place, including down the front of my own clothes. He was setting up shop to begin selling Tamarinds in the morning. I didn't go back to buy any.

Bathroom experiences, simple lifestyle amenities are one of the first things that change when you enter unfamiliar territory. Toilet paper is a luxury and you must carry your own as most places do not offer it unless you buy it. Plumbing can be tricky and many times you are the plumber as you have to “flush” the toilet by using the bucket full of water and bowl provided. By pouring water down the toilet you “flush” your own waste. There is also a hose located next to the toilet, similar to one that most Americans use in the kitchen sink. This is to wash your butt after you finish your business as the sewer system cannot handle the amount of toilet paper that most Americans use to wipe themselves. If toilet paper is still your preference, then you need to use the waste basket to throw away the wad of soiled toilet paper since it cannot be flushed. This process can be tricky if you have to go number two somewhere besides your own bathroom!  Soap is another luxury item that should be carried with you or you will be going without. The common greeting in Thailand is the Wai. The Wai is placing the hands together in different positions and bowing the head. Different hand positions are used to show respect to friends, elders and Buddha. This is the Thai culture; however, I believe it is also a way to greet people without touching since soap and toilet paper are usually non-existent.

Showers, there really is no need for hot showers in Thailand. Unless of course you are an American girl that likes to take hot showers so you can shave your legs! The water is so cold I can’t even shave. I have chill bumps from head to toe so the purpose of shaving is null. I don’t mind the stubble, in fact it provides a nice barrier for the chub rub I experience when my hot sweaty skin rubs and chafes. Most showers are located in the same room as the toilet. The shower is just a simple box with a hose at head level. Mounted right there on the wall, same room, no separation by door or divider. I’m still trying to manage showering in the cold water and not soak the toilet paper and trash can.  However, a good friend did show me a trick for getting the water hotter, 40 Baht and I’ll tell you.

Mosquitoes! They are angry!! The weather is hot and humid and they love my blood. I figure it is their way of dining at a different restaurant then the typical meal they usually feast upon. However, I do appreciate spiders more since they eat the mosquitoes. I am beginning to look like I have the chicken pox or Elephantiasis with all the bites I have. I counted 15 bites on my right foot, this means the ankle and below. I even have three bites on the bottom of my foot. Hey, just because Thais believe feet are foul and filthy, doesn't mean the mosquitoes do. My new perfume is a mixture between the profuse amount of sweat I produce and the constant stench of bug spray I bathe in regularly. On the plus side, my reaction time is getting much quicker as I become a skillful master of mosquito slaughter. Eventually, I will be catching them with chopsticks! OK, maybe not.

Mae, she is my bright light. She is the sunshine in my sky that keeps my days filled with grace and makes everything manageable. Our story is interesting as she is a different kind of Thai woman. She was purposely kept a secret in my first two weeks of meeting my new colleagues, teammates and associates. Most people find her “scary and aggressive”. We formally met at an event that the University was hosting. I didn't want to sit at the table with the same people that I had been surrounded by the past few weeks and chose to sit at her table. She introduced herself and we actually had a lot in common! We are the same age and she is also a teacher at the University. She is a sporty type with a bit of an attitude.  Without her, I would probably be home by now, sorry dad. Her kindness and ability to speak English and Thai has been an immense help to me. Oh yea, and she challenges me every day to not cuss or bite my nails! This is a test since those are the two things I resort to in times of nervousness and frustration.  With Mae’s help, I have a furnished apartment, softer bed, built in family, bicycle, four dogs, and my daily cup of coffee. Mae lives with her family and they own a restaurant next to their home. Her father and mother are also teachers and run the restaurant as a part time job. The restaurant is complete with a coffee shop, kitchen and bakery. Mae’s family provides students a place to come relax, eat, drink and hang out without spending much money.  I spend more time at Mae’s then I do in my own apartment. I enjoy helping Mae and her family by baking, cleaning, speaking English to the students they tutor or taste testing the cookies and brownies for quality control! It is extremely important for me to feel helpful and like a contributing member to society. I hate being a leech! It’s awkward to have people running around doing everything for me all the time. Since I don’t speak the language, most people treat me like a baby. I pride myself in being an independently owned and operated woman. I believe part of the beauty of learning is the struggle.  Recently, my days are filled with many learning opportunities. Seems after I conquer one thing, it is right on to the next challenge. That’s just the way life is, it doesn't matter if it’s Thailand, America or Palau. Some days you win, and some days you learn.  

On deck for next time….my voyage to Laos for obtaining a working visa, wearing pants to work, and militant students.