Good Luck

This weekend came at the perfect time. I had reached pure exhaustion by the time I finished teaching my last class and was looking forward to seeing my “family” for the weekend. I went to my PA’s house where I was warmly greeted by an excited Donah (whom we called ling, monkey, all night long). It was wonderful to be taken care of and fed a yummy meal. Glaeo brought home some kind of wax and alcohol mixture in a cupcake wrapper and we lit it off on their patio. I met my phee saow’s (older sister) younger sister who was visiting for the night. And the best thing about her visit was that in the morning she had turned on the hot water compartment of the shower, I haven’t been able to figure out how it works. It was true heaven to have a warm shower, yet it was the strangest feeling to have the warmth trickle down my body- almost feeling like I was wetting the bed- none the less WONDERFUL (not that wetting the bed is wonderful but you get what I mean)!!!

The day was full of catching up on emails, lesson planning, sleep- 1hour long nap-, a trip to the hospital – Donah fell off her bike and split open her chin-, a not so yummy lunch, a trip to Big C –the grocery store-, and a cooking lesson –I helped make dinner-.

Glaeo's flame project

Thai Chef Rita

Sunday followed with another hot shower still just as amazing as the first day!!! Then I helped prepare the family “money tree” to bring to Temple. We drove quite a distance, my phee saow, the three kids, Mah (my mother/the kids grandmother), and one of Mah’s friends. At temple we first went to the front and took pictures. Then went out to walk around the Temple but were a little delayed because someone took my phee saow’s shoes (you take your shoes off to go into the Temple). She bummed some older lady’s flip flops though for the walk and found her shoes later on (don’t ask how because there were hundreds of people there and lots of shoes of all shapes sizes and colors). We walked around the temple 3 times in the blazing hot heat carrying our money tree offering and of course pants are the dress code. I got lots of stares and attempts at taking my picture (I don’t really like the attention so I would look the other way as to not feed the paparazzi). Following the walk we went back into the Temple and had the service (I was completely clueless). There were lots of prayers recited by monks and the people around. The monks them came around splashing water on us – I got soaked - (quite similar to when the Priest at home walks around blessing the clergy with water, so I at least related in some way), then they threw money that is out of print and ground up finely, dried bits of flowers, rice and beans to us. You try to collect as much as you can as it is a sign of good luck and put it in a bag for keepsake. More or less I felt like a kid again going to the parade where you try to catch and pick up as much candy as you can off the street. We then ate a feast and because I, the Farlang (I detest that term but it is reality), was with them we got a mat to sit on and a huge tray of food that some random person came up and gave us. Little girls also kept coming up to me and giving me flowers. To end the HOT event where I received lots of stares and didn’t understand a word of what was going on I treated myself to an ice cream cone! All in all I think the Monks raised about 1 million Bhat to help build a new part of the Temple.

Temple: Orwen, Rita, Mah, Glaeo, Donah

 

Three Laps



Good Luck Money

Water blessing

Fiest and Flowers

I came home and watched 3 episodes of “How I Met Your Mother” a perfect fix for my exhausted self and my little bits of feeling homesick. I took a cold shower –WONDERFUL for the hot afternoon- and made my “How are you?” poster for my lessons tomorrow. I also got to meet Sutassa’s (my roommate) father. She tried to tell me about him last week but the meaning wasn’t really conveyed well – I thought he was a priest since Catholic was a word she used but didn’t really understand. As it turns out he is a Monk. I didn’t really know how to why him but he was just a peaceful, gentle, kind and caring man that I wasn’t really nervous that I most likely didn’t why him in the most proper way. He never spoke a word of English to me yet asked me many questions and I was able to understand and answer what he asked about me. Sutassa brought me back into our house and gave me a beautiful green scarf and some little hard candies. Last Tuesday was her birthday and I gave her a turquoise scarf which is not typical in Thai culture to receive presents rather you give presents on your birthday as a way to make merit. I really think her giving me a scarf in return was her way of saying thank you and making merit. I then went to my typical dinner spot and helped cook Phat Pak Pow (some dish with chicken, a veggie like a green bean only they are about a yard long, red and yellow peppers, and seasonings) and Kai Tiao (Thai omelet- one of my favorites). It was Alroy mak mak (delicious) or Sap Sap as they say in Isan!!!

Being away for the weekend was relaxing yet exhausting because I really struggled with wanting to talk but being to exhausted to try to think hard enough to attempt at a conversation. I was also frustrated by all the attempts to have my picture taken and being called a Farlang that I just shut down and was silent. I really wish I could communicate better so that the family could see my true color and joy I have from being around family like I do back home. Coming home to my ban (house) in Chok Amnuay revived me and helped me to see that I can make it through a year and that there are many things I love about Thailand that overpower what frustrates me. Just being greeted by my roommate and then a nice meal that I was taught how to make (and the reasons why I was ready to escape for the weekend) made me feel so lucky to be living in this remote Thai village. I guess making merit at Temple this morning and receiving the old money as a good luck token really paid off this afternoon/evening because I truly lucked out with having joy brought back into my smile.