Gotta love Thai nicknames (yes, these would be my students):
I'm thinkin' this is the top 20 list -
Pancake
Disgo
New
Jamebond (note the omission of the letter "s")
Jetty
Name & Nine (little tyrant twins)
Dung
Jam
Term
Pan
Pip
Big & Bike (more twinsies)
Big Boss (yes, when I call roll, I have to say, "Big Boss")
Luk-Pad
Captain
Penny
Aim
Pear
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
bangkok means....
When I think of Bangkok, I think of:
1. the monsoon-like downpours that faithfully grace each afternoon with their presence
2. an abundance of gelatinous desserts
3. smiles from strangers
4. dirty, dirty "soi dogs" that roam the city streets
5. beautiful fruits in deep hues with funky shapes and textures
6. long days at a slow pace
7. SHOPPING - from outdoor markets to powerhouse malls, shopping is inescapable in this city
8. interesting city layouts - temples rub shoulders with modern, massive structures and sit next to run-down housing, all across the street from a 7/11 and a Starbucks
9. Thai massage parlors every few hundred yards
10. fascinating cuisine - pig's blood, shark fin soup, black bean ice cream, lots of octopus and squid dishes, crispy insects, delightful curry dishes with a kick, green papaya salad (personal fave), mini muffin-like cakes that taste like flowers, coconut milk, and lots more. my taste buds have been slapped on occasion with a new culinary oddity, but they have also been delightfully entertained on my quest to sample eastern flavors.
11. generous people
12. the importance of family
13. mai pen rai - a brilliant Thai phrase, which translates to mean: no worries
14. unimaginably horrendous traffic jams that oftentimes make me want to pull my hair out, but on rare occasion, cause me to take a few deep breaths, pop in my headphones, and reflect
15. cats without tails
1. the monsoon-like downpours that faithfully grace each afternoon with their presence
2. an abundance of gelatinous desserts
3. smiles from strangers
4. dirty, dirty "soi dogs" that roam the city streets
5. beautiful fruits in deep hues with funky shapes and textures
6. long days at a slow pace
7. SHOPPING - from outdoor markets to powerhouse malls, shopping is inescapable in this city
8. interesting city layouts - temples rub shoulders with modern, massive structures and sit next to run-down housing, all across the street from a 7/11 and a Starbucks
9. Thai massage parlors every few hundred yards
10. fascinating cuisine - pig's blood, shark fin soup, black bean ice cream, lots of octopus and squid dishes, crispy insects, delightful curry dishes with a kick, green papaya salad (personal fave), mini muffin-like cakes that taste like flowers, coconut milk, and lots more. my taste buds have been slapped on occasion with a new culinary oddity, but they have also been delightfully entertained on my quest to sample eastern flavors.
11. generous people
12. the importance of family
13. mai pen rai - a brilliant Thai phrase, which translates to mean: no worries
14. unimaginably horrendous traffic jams that oftentimes make me want to pull my hair out, but on rare occasion, cause me to take a few deep breaths, pop in my headphones, and reflect
15. cats without tails
Friday, September 11, 2009
tid-bits of the present and snapshots of the future
Hello all!
SO glad it's Friday. I'm sitting in one of the offices at school, safe from the monsoon outside. Man, Bangkok in rainy season is one wet place. Thank you to everyone who responded with so much encouragement from my last blog. I was kind of surprised by how open I was, but I think there's something freeing about sharing what you're really going through. I am excited to keep growing and walking in the freedom of knowing that as a mere human, I don't have to shoot for perfection. I'm going to mess up everyday and that truth is not something to despair over; rather, it should be a reminder of God's mercies that are new every morning.
---
As far as life plans go, I have been toying with some interesting options. I was recently reminded of an interest I had a couple of years ago that had somehow been pushed aside. I think it'd be so fun to work in the hospitality industry. First of all, I love working with people, second, I would definitely not mind working in a spa, boutique hotel or resort setting (I mean, who wouldn't right?) and third, I've always dreamt of owing a B&B someday, and going to grad school for hospitality and tourism management would for sure be a solid step toward that goal. Florida International University has a great program that I'm really interested in! Their campus is on Biscayne Bay in northern Miami and the hospitality program helps out with the annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival - that would be so fun to attend! I'll defnintely keep you all posted as I continue to research prospective life plans :)
---
On another note, I'm off to Australia and New Zealand in a few short weeks! We get our mid school year break in October, and Ashley and I will be heading down under on Oct. 3rd! We have a really exciting itinerary as we'll be going on a "Savannah Walkabout" in Melbourne where we'll get to see koalas and kangaroos in their natural habitats, we'll be touring the infamous Syndey Opera House, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef in Townsville, and taking a three-day island tour in Auckland, New Zealand. I am so excited and blessed to be able to go on such a journey! Our itineray is the result of a couple months of planning and researching the cheapest and best means of seeing all that we hope to see. We'll be spending about three to four days at each stop and will be taking a total of 10 flights to get everywhere! We'll definitely be on our toes, but it's going to be a blast! Then, before I know it, my sweet family will be visiting in late December, and I'll be back in the States by March! What a whirlwind this journey east has been so far. My dad lovingly reminded me that although it's important to look ahead, it's just as important to enjoy the present and savor every moment. My pops is a wise man :)
Well...I hope things are just splendid back in the land of the free and I would LOVE to hear from each of you!
SO glad it's Friday. I'm sitting in one of the offices at school, safe from the monsoon outside. Man, Bangkok in rainy season is one wet place. Thank you to everyone who responded with so much encouragement from my last blog. I was kind of surprised by how open I was, but I think there's something freeing about sharing what you're really going through. I am excited to keep growing and walking in the freedom of knowing that as a mere human, I don't have to shoot for perfection. I'm going to mess up everyday and that truth is not something to despair over; rather, it should be a reminder of God's mercies that are new every morning.
---
As far as life plans go, I have been toying with some interesting options. I was recently reminded of an interest I had a couple of years ago that had somehow been pushed aside. I think it'd be so fun to work in the hospitality industry. First of all, I love working with people, second, I would definitely not mind working in a spa, boutique hotel or resort setting (I mean, who wouldn't right?) and third, I've always dreamt of owing a B&B someday, and going to grad school for hospitality and tourism management would for sure be a solid step toward that goal. Florida International University has a great program that I'm really interested in! Their campus is on Biscayne Bay in northern Miami and the hospitality program helps out with the annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival - that would be so fun to attend! I'll defnintely keep you all posted as I continue to research prospective life plans :)
---
On another note, I'm off to Australia and New Zealand in a few short weeks! We get our mid school year break in October, and Ashley and I will be heading down under on Oct. 3rd! We have a really exciting itinerary as we'll be going on a "Savannah Walkabout" in Melbourne where we'll get to see koalas and kangaroos in their natural habitats, we'll be touring the infamous Syndey Opera House, snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef in Townsville, and taking a three-day island tour in Auckland, New Zealand. I am so excited and blessed to be able to go on such a journey! Our itineray is the result of a couple months of planning and researching the cheapest and best means of seeing all that we hope to see. We'll be spending about three to four days at each stop and will be taking a total of 10 flights to get everywhere! We'll definitely be on our toes, but it's going to be a blast! Then, before I know it, my sweet family will be visiting in late December, and I'll be back in the States by March! What a whirlwind this journey east has been so far. My dad lovingly reminded me that although it's important to look ahead, it's just as important to enjoy the present and savor every moment. My pops is a wise man :)
Well...I hope things are just splendid back in the land of the free and I would LOVE to hear from each of you!
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