Booyakasha

Day 13 of living with host fam, day 7 of thai lessons. Culture shock may be setting in now that I am not a tourist.

First week was really interesting, considering I did not know a word of thai and my family did not know a word of English. We both got really good at speaking with our hands. I live with MaeToy (Mother Toy), PoCha (Father Cha), and Fa (my 18 year old autistic little sister Fa). MaeNoi (Mother Noi, my aunt) lives next door and she knows a little bit of English. My parent’s 14 year old son, Fruk, is very tall and plays volleyball in Bangkok…I have yet to meet him.

Sunday is laundry day, so Fa showed me how to handwash my underwear…it was actually quite sweet of her. She also showed me how to wash the dishes. After this, MaeToy went to school. PoCha drove Fa and I to the gym, got out of the car, and spoke in thai and gave me a running motion. This still baffles me…did he want me to run?

Then PoCha left to Phuket for 5 days, apparently on a business trip.

Living in a homestay and being lost is translation is a lot like being 12 years old again. You never know what is going to happen next! Your parents plan your every move--from the time you wakeup, when you shower and brush your teeth, to the time your go to bed. The first night of my homestay I found myself at a Thai funeral. The next day PoCha tried to take me to the gym. For the first week of school, my neighboring American friends Banana (real name Hannah) and Angela and I somehow were driven to school by someone’s parents every day. This past Saturday morning, Banana and I found ourselves at a 7 hour thai meeting. At this meeting we realized that we dont enjoy Thai dance…at least the slow form that I believe is meant for older people.

Though week 2 has definitely been more solo. Banana, Angela and I ride the yellow taxi and walk to school by ourselves! I told my mom that I liked orchids, and on Sunday Banana, Angela and I found ourselves at the Chiang Mai Botanical Garden. Things are definitely running smoother. Thai class is helping me understand alot more. I have realized that the overprotective vibe that I feel from my mother is all for my own good, to keep me within the thai “family circle” and to show me the “thai way of life.”

I am also beginning to see the hierarchy that thai families have between the older vs younger and the husband vs wife. MaeToy always seems to be running around doing something for the family, for school, or for her job. Every family friend that I meet manages to say (in English) that MaeToy is a very smart, strong and kind woman. And let me just add that I have met A LOT of family and friends, of course as the token farrong (tourist) daughter. My father on the other hand, goes to work, does some occasional cooking, drives the family to places if necessary, and holds down the couch. I’ll post more on family relations in another blog.

Last Friday we had class at Crazy Horse Buttress—a sweet limestone rock climbing spot in the mountains. We climbed, went caving, zip lining, and repelling. Altogoether it was a successful sweaty bonding experience. And let me just say something for Ally, BOOYAKASHA!

Culture Shock:

• Use fork in left hand to push food onto spoon in your right hand
• Dont shake hands or give high fives with your left hand (gross!)
• the "Wai" =thai way of saying hello by putting your hands in prayer position and bowing your head to them
• Wai 3 times when you pass a monk
• Take your shoes off before you enter any home (love this, but I still mess this up at least once a week)
• Thais dont say "bless you" after you sneeze
• Eat 3 rice meals a day with at least 2-3 snacks in between
• Wai your elder to say hello and goodbye
• Smelling someone's cheek = "thai kiss" (this whole time I just thought that MaeToy was giving me the smell check)
• Women must walk like China dolls (no running)...even in the pouring rain
• Never sit higher than an elder. Example: if an elder sits on the floor, you must move to the floor. Or if you pass through a room where an elder is sitting, you must hunch by.
• Thais dont cry or seem to show sadness in public
• Funerals are not somber, they are more like social events
• You may only wear short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve, or long sleeve shorts and knee length pants/skirts.
• Never touch someone's head (the most sacred part of the body)
• Thais will talk good and bad about you (in Thai or English) infront of you.
• It is okay to call someone fat
• Parents dont encourage their children to diet or eat healthy (happy IS healthy)
• no rules to the road--you can drive on the opposing side of traffic if it is convenient
• Its okay to throw rocks at or kick a dog if they deserve it
• NEVER wash your underwear or socks with clothes (always handwash and hang in a concealed area)
• Thais believe all Americans are rich
• No kissing, holding hands, or touching of opposite sex in public (even if you are married)
• Stop eating before you are hungry to save room for that extra food parents will put on your plate
• Shower with toilet seat up
• Cold showers wearing flip flops
• Women must always sit with legs properly crossed
• Always seem happy or your parents will really worry
• Picking your nose in public is OK
• Wash feet before you go to bed
• No privacy whatsoever. Example: Fa will constantly peak into my room, talk to me through the bathroom door, stare at me while i eat, or watch me pluck my eyebrows.
• My neighbors take showers and sing in the back yard
• Cars are not afraid to run you over (hit and run = OK)
• Schoolgirls will ride motorcycles side-saddle style (if they aren't driving)
• There are stray, mangy, and friendly dogs at every corner
• No homeless people in sight
• Thais constantly sweep their floors but dont clean ceiling cobwebs, windows, bathroom, sink, kitchen countertops, dust, use clorox or 409
• I am constantly sweating
• Women must usually sit in the back of bus
• You WILL be bit my mosquitos, bed bugs, and other strange insects...get used to it!

Strange Eats:

• Yellow watermelon = tastes just like red watermelon
• Deep fried frog (Angela likes this, but I nearly vomited all over her mother's kitchen table)
• Silk worm (didn't try this, but Ally did and they were apparently soggy)
• Fried bamboo worm = surprising alright, crunchy
• Mangosteen = the most delicious fruit
• Fried squid = not a fan
• Shrimp potato chips = wierd
• Liver = eating this was an accident, never again

Sorry this was such a long post. I know I'm a terrible writer, so I hope I'm not boring you too much! Still trying to figure out how to add photos...