In the land of ratchaphruek trees

Sawatdee krub! I have been in Thailand for about four days now and haven't had a chance to update due to me being too lazy to venture far to find an internet cafe/my computer failing to connect with wi-fi. It has been a full few days, and I have been attending many lectures on Thai politics, economy, and education. My Fulbright cohort is amazing. All of the other Fulbrighters are brilliant and passionate about being in Thailand. They have also taken care of me during my first bout of food poisoning yesterday. I feel almost 100% now, so all is well. It's funny, because the food poisoning was not caused by street food, but by a fancy restaurant. Ironic, right? I expected the weather to be unbearable, but it has been pleasantly mild, likely due to the frequent downpours. We haven't visited too many sites besides for the shopping malls to get some essential stuff at MBK, Paragon, and JJ Market. I was successful at bargaining for a nice, new Samsung phone for 800 baht, approximately 25 bucks. I feel so fortunate to be in this program and the staff at the Thailand-US Educational Foundation has taken extremely good care of us. I will expand more later, but here are some photos to capture my experiences so far:

On the Delta Flight to Tokyo

First lunch outing together at MBK

At MBK with Gina and Ari

On the street outside of our dorm

Heading to the skytrain station

On the BTS Skytrain

Lecture room

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