I am a nomad

I have only one day left before leaving for Thailand, and I suddenly don't feel ready to leave yet. The whole summer, I've been looking forward to the day that I board the Delta flight and wishing that time would go faster. Though I am still excited about leaving tomorrow, I feel apprehensive at the same time of leaving LA, a place I called home for 3 months. I've gotten into the rhythm of things here with my family and just when I've started appreciating this place and developing a daily routine, I have to leave. But that's life I guess. Transitions, transitions, transitions. I have been living the life of a nomad for many years now, moving from home to home and country to country. I guess only when the heart is forced to contemplate the fact that it is going to be thousands of miles further away from home and family, it begins to beat stronger. I do know I need to go to Thailand. There is something about the series of fortunate events that led me to the Fulbright fellowship that makes me feel like there are going to be big changes coming in my life this coming year...good changes. I am really looking forward to meet my Fulbright cohort, the program officers, and the people of Thailand.

The view I wake up to everyday

Thai culture lesson #1

I haven't left for Thailand yet, but I have learned quite a few things already from my Thai friends in the states. Here is one usage that a friend told me is one of the essential ways of communicating by Thai people online.

555

Three numbers? What? What's a triple five and why is it on so many photos and walls on Facebook?


Here are scenarios where I've seen it used:
1. There is a photo of someone who is apparently on a trip somewhere and has fallen asleep in his seat with his mouth hanging like a grouper in an awkward position.   555

2. An older lady comments on her birthday that she is one year younger on her Facebook wall.    555

3. You are laughing so much that you can't open your mouth, but to communicate that what is happening is ridiculously funny, you flash your five fingers three times 555. (okay, I confess I haven't witnessed this before, but I do think it is entirely possible)

The first thing I thought of was that people were referring to 555 cigarettes. I have never seen them sold in the US, but they were everywhere in Burma. I used to even go to the cigarette store often when I was little with no intent of purchasing cigarettes, but to persuade the storekeeper with my cuteness (now gone according to my mom) to give me little calendars advertising the cigarettes. I don't know why I liked these things so much and I can hardly recall why I needed several calendars, but I would go to that store often.

In any case, 555 does not refer to cigarettes.

I am proud to say that I figured out what these numbers meant without anyone's help. I slowly started counting in Thai to five (because I still can't say what five is in Thai without counting from one first), and HA! The number five is Ha. Nung, Song, Sam, Sii, Ha.... So 555 = ha ha ha.

Completely ingenious and much more so than LOL.

I hope 555 enters American culture and displace LOL someday. 555

So, 555 = ha ha ha 

Two Weeks and Counting

I feel like writing a new post even though I don't have too much to say. There are exactly two weeks left before I leave for Thailand. The excitement and anticipation that I had since the beginning of summer hasn't worn off. I just shipped 34 pounds worth of books and teaching materials by diplomatic pouch to Thailand. It is a convenient (and cheap) method of shipping for me and the books will be waiting for me when I arrive at my town, or at least that's what I was told. I think I'm going to end up bringing two suitcases, but I'm trying to pack as lightly as possible. I've gotten basically everything that I believe I'll need for a year long stay in Thailand; it feels strange to think that I can live out a whole year with only two suitcases of stuff, but I'm kidding myself, because I'll have a ton of household stuff to purchase when I get to my apartment.

I have to confess that I'm looking just as forward to the plane ride as my arrival in Thailand. I used to be slightly phobic of plane rides, but in the past few years, I've enjoyed planes. I'm not sure why. Perhaps a reason that I associate plane rides with pleasure is not in the plane ride itself, but the places they take me. Traveling is liberating to me because there are no obligations or deadlines involved. One of my friends interestingly pointed out that the happiest she has seen me was when I was abroad traveling. I feel free when I travel, and I tend to go along with the flow of things much more than when I'm at school or the like. It takes my friends a lot of energy to push me out of my apartment or library when I'm at school and almost impossible to make me go on their crazy adventures, because I'm usually at my wit's end meeting deadlines to projects and tests.

In all this, I have come to associate plane rides with pleasure. It's nice to read a book and when bored, be able to look out to see puffy white clouds floating past, or if I'm lucky, see the ocean below or other natural formations. I've arranged my seats on my two upcoming flights so that I'll have two seats to myself for both rides so that's a plus. It's kind of like business seating in economy class. It makes sense that the plane I'm riding isn't full, because it is an American carrier that is departing from Los Angeles. Since there are so many cheaper alternatives of international carriers available in a major city such as LA, I didn't think people will ride as much on an American carrier which all are rated at the most 3 stars out of 5 by Skytrax. A lot of the other international carriers are cheaper and can be upwards of 4 or 5 stars with usually great in-flight entertainment and good service. I am riding an American carrier though, because the Fulbright program has generously provided me with the tickets!

Here are some photos from my past flying adventures:

Thailand

Chicago

Barcelona

Italy

Seattle