A New Year...and new dirt

Well, i'm home in bed after the accident...so i have some time on my hands to write! although, it is uncomfortable with this shoulder brace and sling...i will do my best. :) here's some funny memories and 'thailandisms' of the present and past year:

*nicknames:
I have a million of them - in the States and in Thailanld. i don't know why, maybe i look like a good candidate for multiple names. regardless, it's pretty funny. Some of my favorites here in Thailand: Furniture (an old joke at work), Pjenny (by my street kids), Jenjira (from Thai people), Ba-Jenn (means Auntie), I-Jenn (it's rude, like saying: 'hey you'!), Teacher (my Sunday school/English Class kids), The Trafficker (in honor of my last name by the 5 year old son of a co-worker...very ironic considering my work!)

*BKK with dan: an old friend of mine from boston (holla!) came to thailand for a work project and wanted to hang out. i took a flight to see him in Bangkok (BKK) and scheduled to meet him at his hotel. well, i sat, i waited, i went on the internet, i went to the bathroom, i knocked on his door, i called his room phone, i left him a note, i waited outside, i waited inside - i read a book, i took a nap...3 hours i waited for him and no phone call, so i finally decided to leave! i was confused and irritated and hungry - so i took a cab to the mall. when i got there, dan called to ask where I was?! uhm, hello - i was there for 3 hours! where were you?! ironically, he was in the 'other' lobby - yes, there apparently was 3 of them!?? who knew?! and why would i think that there would be multiple lobbies? i took a cab back to him and finally were reunited! (minus 5 hours) needless to say - it was nice to see him again and catch up! :) we went for a nice Thai meal with music and walked around downtown at the night bazaar - bargaining for goods! transportation is always a treat too...i think he thinks i'm rude now after seeing me deal with the tuk tuk and taxi drivers...but hey, i live here - i know how it works! it's crazy and it's annoying to try to get around and not get scammed. you're always on your guard for someone to take advantage of you - sometimes you get lucky and get a good guy, but mostly - it's a game you have to play to survive (and stay sane)! anyways, dan - "thanx for stopping by"! :)

*speaking of transportation: in BKK there is a four and 1 lane road downtown! it's weird to have tons of traffic on one side and one lane on the other!? they also pass on the right (right lane is the fast lane here). and nothing irritates me more than not only getting scammed by a driver, but when they pick you up and don't know where they are going?! i had a cabbie agree to take me to the hotel and said he knew where it was...and proceded to stop on the highway to ask me if i knew where it was!?! i told him to call one of his taxi friends for help...after 10 minutes i finally called information myself and got the hotel number to get directions! i did that - by myself - a stranger in a strange land! annoying!

*World Toilet Day - I don't even totally understand what this is, but it's funny to me, nonetheless! :)
i saw an ad for this in BKK and it made me laugh so hard!! all joking aside, i'm glad that Thailand takes their toilets and hygiene seriously though! this is from the write up on the event: "The World Toilet Expo & Forum (WTE&F) is a series of events created by the World Toilet Organization (WTO) to cater to the specific needs of mature cities. Each of the events addresses issues that will be of particular significance to the host city.

Showcasing the latest toilet-related trends, technologies and products, the exhibition will feature a wide range of products and services from leading industry names. It will enable visitors to learn about the latest trends and innovations in the hygiene and toilet-related industries.

According to UNICEF, over 1 billion people struggle without safe water and a staggering one in three lacks even a basic toilet. In Thailand, the government adopts a proactive strategy to improve its public toilet facilities through nationwide campaigns and public education. The Thai Ministry of Public Health has outlined its public toilet development strategy based on three guiding principles - health, accessibility and safety.

The staging of the World Toilet Expo & Forum in Bangkok is in line with the Thai government's vision to create clean, accessible public toilets. Catering to the specific needs of mature cities like Bangkok, the event will serve as a platform for international and local communities to explore ways to improve the living environment, exchange ideas, network and to source innovative products and services in the hygiene and toilet related industries". Rock on, Thailand! :)

*English Graduation - the students (adults and kids) from church had an end of the year English Graduation.
it was great to be a part of the hard work that the students and teachers have done throughout this past year. my 3 friends have been instrumental in teaching and planning and helping them grow in their english skills. i just help out once a week for the kids - gosh, i love them! the kids and their parents even gave me a diamond necklace and matching earrings! yes friends, i've got some serious bling now! :)


*Dunkin Donuts! - i couldn't believe my eyes - there are more and more D&D's lately in this area! it was strange to see, but i guess everywhere is getting more westernized every day.... the 'signature' donut is the "Siam Square" - it's a square powdered jelly donut with two different jellies inside! :) there is already ketchup on pizzas, and samari pork burgers, corn, pineapple, and taro pies at McDonalds...what will they think of next?!


*Mustaches for Kids - i found this website by a friend to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation - you got to check it out for the Rules, not just the Sweet Staches! it's soooooo funny! :)www.mustachesforkids.com. "Each year, participants ("Growers") raise money by growing sweet, sweet Mustaches between Thanksgiving and Christmas. They shave their faces, except for the Mustache, a minimum of one time per week. The Growers solicit donations from friends, family, co-workers, and people in the community. At the end of the Growing Season, Mustaches for Kids hosts a Mustache Contest where the facial hair is evaluated by an independent panel of judges, and one Mustache is declared to be the "Sweetest." :) how funny is this?! i think all you men out there need to do this contest at some point in your life - for the kids - and for the laughs! if it was acceptable for women (and if i could grow one so sweet) - i would do it! although, maybe i could start a "mullets for kids" foundation!! interesting thought...i'll sit on that one for a bit...hahaha

*Speaking of Mullets - there are many women here in Thailand that have them!? i don't quite understand the facination or desire to have one. i mean, it is essentially 'business up front, and a party in back', but that's not a good excuse anymore! :) just an observation - discuss amongst yourselves.

*Just another personality observation - as long as i've been here now, and all the conversations i am a part of or witnessing - i can still say that there's a lot of talking...but no one is saying anything...haven't figured out how things get so lost in translation, but it's frustrating nonetheless....?

*There are millions of tourists lately - for the King's 60th Reign Celebration and the Royal Flora Expo (i still haven't gotten there yet!?) anyways, there are ginormous tour buses all over the city - causing accidents, polluting the air, and crowding the streets. tourists - go home!! :)

*The street festivities are almost nightly, if not every weekend it seems. always a market open for business and street performers and fire balloons - it's getting pretty old now, sad to say. i guess too much of a good thing always gets tiring....except for massages! :) *Here's a pic of my good friend Dawn and I at one of our favorite massage places before she left to go back to England. Oh how we'll miss your loud laugh and silly antics, Dawn! Lazy man, smiley guy, my "geek", owner with the awful t-shirts, and all the ladies say "Choke Dii"! :(





*Malls in Thailand are so much bigger and nicer than in the States! there is so much to choose from - they even have Aunti Annies Pretzels, Famous Amos Cookies now! and they have a million electronic stores - i think that is the hottest commodity here, thai's and their cell phones...they are always on them!
*At 7-11 you can pay your phone bills! it's awesome - you just give the money and bill to the cashier and they deduct it from your account - one stop shopping at it's best! :)

*Roti is a popular dessert here - it's like a greasy fried dough delight with sweetened condensed milk and sugar all over it! you can get corn, banana, chocolate, coconut in it too. sweet - literally!

*Snooker is the game of choice in bars - not Billiards...i still don't really understand the difference besides the sizes of the tables, i'll ask my dad!

*I still haven't figured out how to appropriately tip here...i always tip too much because i'm used to 20% at home in the States. but in some cases, it's rude to even tip!? the work they do for so little money makes me feel bad - i never know what to do!

*TV shows in Thailand are awesomely bad! i can't even describe it - it's just awful - take my word for it!

*Speaking of TV - the government got rid of MTV ALL throughout Thailand!!?? can you believe that!? it's crazy - some big wigs just decided that it wasn't good for kids to watch and shut it down. supposedly it ruins the family - i agree it has it's negative points, but what about all the prostitution and sex trade that is rampant in this country?! let's work on that first, shall we!

*Hospitals have their nurses dressed in old fashioned white uniforms - complete with the caps! it's kindof cute actually. all the receptionist staff wear powder blue too! my mom would not like to go back to that, i'm sure! :) *and the hospital gowns tie in front!

*At the local department store, they have employees that we would call "runners" in the states - they go get items that need a price check or clean up an aisle, etc. Well here in Thailand, they are on rollerskates! i wonder if they call them "rollers"?! it is funny to see them skate around getting stuff for people - gliding around the store! :) fun job! also, there are usually TOO MANY workers in the stores - i mean several in one aisle asking you for help - it's annoying!

*Just an observation - there is always too much ice in glasses here! not enough drink and too much ice!?

*High heels and shorts...!? 'nuff said.

*Seeds in oranges and grapes - i can't take it anymore!! :( i'm tired of spitting them out all the time!

*Gift Baskets for holidays...too funny not to mention. they are beautifully wrapped up and filled with a bottle of Whisky, Ovaltine, crackers, oranges, cookies, maybe some chocolates...it's hysterical! :)

*Saying God Bless You after someone's sneeze is NOT acknowledged here! i say it all the time out of habit and no one responds! my coworker finally asked me why i say it but she didn't seem to understand, and still doesn't say Thank You!? hahaha

*I saw one of the Princess' at the local supermarket one day! it was funny - there were tons of security around, a nurse, a secretary, body guards...everyone in the store just stood there and stared at here...like she was an exhibit. it was weird. i ignored her and went into an aisle to finish shopping and she came down the cracker aisle with me! i just smiled and kept walking. people were in awe! they apparently love her and respect her alot. it was cool to see.

that's all for now...isn't that enough?! :) i'm sure they'll be more soon - keep posted!