What's new Morgan?
Posted by Richard Vanderzee
Sahwatdeeka!
I have a pet in my room. He is a screaming lizard. I don't always see him, but he is always there. I didn't really care until he started screaming. I can't tell you what kind he is, because I'm not sure, but he's the kind that nobody likes because he screams all the time. I accepted the fact that while on exchange I will not sleep as much as I usually would due to some fun new experience (like feeding monks breakfast in the mornings or something along those lines). I never thought I would be losing sleep due to the fact I have a screaming lizard in my bedroom that screams at all odd hours throughout the night! I haven't named him yet, but I'm thinking maybe something like "Screech" would suite my new friend very well.
On Sunday, I got to be a part of a very life-changing event. I got to attend a ceremony where a boy became a monk. It was very neat! A really beautiful celebration with family and friends in a very beautiful temple. It was not at all what I had expected it to be, which was a lot of praying and listening. We actually walked around all of the houses where the monks live and all of the temples close to the area. We sang this one song over and over, and at the end everyone shouted "oooo-eeee!" in very funny voices. There was lots of laughing, and after a little while, the new monk stood with his back towards the crowd and threw coins beuatifully warpped in ribbons into the crowd. It really was like a parade where they throw things to the crowd! The coins mean good luck, and I collected lots. If I share with family and friends, everyone will have a good and happy life. It's very cool!
I am still being amazed every day, and I don't think it'll stop.
Another exercising story for you all: I have found a nice little outdoor gym that I go to, and there is always one man there who NEVER exercises, he just talks. He is a very social person! So anyways, after running in the sticky hot Thailand air for a fairly long time, I go to this gym. Obviously, I'm pretty sweaty and super hot, so I really just want to do my thing. But there he was! With a big grin on his face and waving he went! Waiting for me to reach the gym. He is a very nice man! So I get to the area and he starts talking to me, pointing out how red my cheeks are and asking me all these questions. I think everytime I see him he asks me if I have a boyfriend. We always arrive at about the same time, and he always leaves without ever actually exercising. Mind you, he does talk A LOT, so I guess that can work up a sweat. It's really funny.
I also go to a yoga class with my host mom twice a week now! I am the youngest in the class by at least 40 years, and I am the ONLY one in the class who can't do the splits or put one leg behind their head as if it were perfectly normal.
I had a very nice surprise this week! Sine, a girl who came to our district last year for exchange who stayed with my family for a few days, came to visit me. It was so cool seeing her during my exchange, because I saw her during hers. I got to meet her parents, where she got to meet mine. It was so cool to compare, and now, instead of speaking mainly English, we spoke mainly Thai. It was really neat! It's so great when you realize that you have friends all over the world.
This weekend I will go to Sukothai, a walking street market, and MAYBE a waterfall... Should be fun! Next week will be my last week of classes before holidays, so all of my friends are starting to plan to take me places during the time off. Yay!
I am still enjoying the beautiful, one and only Thailand!
Kop-khun-ka, Sahwatdeeka!
Have a great week!
-Tubtim
I have a pet in my room. He is a screaming lizard. I don't always see him, but he is always there. I didn't really care until he started screaming. I can't tell you what kind he is, because I'm not sure, but he's the kind that nobody likes because he screams all the time. I accepted the fact that while on exchange I will not sleep as much as I usually would due to some fun new experience (like feeding monks breakfast in the mornings or something along those lines). I never thought I would be losing sleep due to the fact I have a screaming lizard in my bedroom that screams at all odd hours throughout the night! I haven't named him yet, but I'm thinking maybe something like "Screech" would suite my new friend very well.
On Sunday, I got to be a part of a very life-changing event. I got to attend a ceremony where a boy became a monk. It was very neat! A really beautiful celebration with family and friends in a very beautiful temple. It was not at all what I had expected it to be, which was a lot of praying and listening. We actually walked around all of the houses where the monks live and all of the temples close to the area. We sang this one song over and over, and at the end everyone shouted "oooo-eeee!" in very funny voices. There was lots of laughing, and after a little while, the new monk stood with his back towards the crowd and threw coins beuatifully warpped in ribbons into the crowd. It really was like a parade where they throw things to the crowd! The coins mean good luck, and I collected lots. If I share with family and friends, everyone will have a good and happy life. It's very cool!
I am still being amazed every day, and I don't think it'll stop.
Another exercising story for you all: I have found a nice little outdoor gym that I go to, and there is always one man there who NEVER exercises, he just talks. He is a very social person! So anyways, after running in the sticky hot Thailand air for a fairly long time, I go to this gym. Obviously, I'm pretty sweaty and super hot, so I really just want to do my thing. But there he was! With a big grin on his face and waving he went! Waiting for me to reach the gym. He is a very nice man! So I get to the area and he starts talking to me, pointing out how red my cheeks are and asking me all these questions. I think everytime I see him he asks me if I have a boyfriend. We always arrive at about the same time, and he always leaves without ever actually exercising. Mind you, he does talk A LOT, so I guess that can work up a sweat. It's really funny.
I also go to a yoga class with my host mom twice a week now! I am the youngest in the class by at least 40 years, and I am the ONLY one in the class who can't do the splits or put one leg behind their head as if it were perfectly normal.
I had a very nice surprise this week! Sine, a girl who came to our district last year for exchange who stayed with my family for a few days, came to visit me. It was so cool seeing her during my exchange, because I saw her during hers. I got to meet her parents, where she got to meet mine. It was so cool to compare, and now, instead of speaking mainly English, we spoke mainly Thai. It was really neat! It's so great when you realize that you have friends all over the world.
This weekend I will go to Sukothai, a walking street market, and MAYBE a waterfall... Should be fun! Next week will be my last week of classes before holidays, so all of my friends are starting to plan to take me places during the time off. Yay!
I am still enjoying the beautiful, one and only Thailand!
Kop-khun-ka, Sahwatdeeka!
Have a great week!
-Tubtim