Commuting

I take the sky train for almost the whole line, wait for up to 30 minutes to catch my bus, take the bus for about 40 minutes, then have a 5 minute walk to school. Because these bi-daily journeys are so long, they have become quite eventful.

I love the part of my trip involving the sky train. Regardless of traffic, the sky train is always about a 25 minute ride. I can't say the same about the buses, and likewise Bangkok traffic.

The traffic was so terrible today that my bus driver got out of the bus and disappeared for at least 5 minutes. The whole time I was wondering what would happen if, although highly unlikely, traffic started moving?

Sometimes what I like to call "Bus Enforcers" get on the bus and make sure everyone has a valid ticket. This has happened about once a month, not very frequently. When they get on the bus, everyone straightens up, quiets down and searches for his or her ticket. Considering this happens almost never... I was not expecting it and didn't know which ticket I got that day. I simply held my collection of tickets in my hand and smiled.

Cambodia - Post 2

My original plan was to stay in Cambodia for 2 nights and 3 days then go to Hua Hin, a beach town just outside of Bangkok, for the next couple days. That plan was short-lived. I ended up staying in Siem Reap, Cambodia for 4 nights. On the last day in Siem Reap, we were at a loss of what to do. Our passes to see the temples were expired, and we had already exhausted all of the hot spots in the downtown area. There were two exciting options: boat tour of the "floating forest" or a boat tour of the "floating village." Both of these sounded cool, but the floating village was less expensive- decision made!

A tuk-tuk driver from the hotel took us 30 minutes outside the city to the boat dock, where we departed for our adventure.

First, we were swindled into buying drinks before we got on the boat. (-$2)

Once on the boat, our guide (who was 14, by the way) warned us that the village people would see us coming, jump in their boats, and try to sell us things. Next thing we were bombarded by a stealth boat, from which a 5 year old girl jumped into our boat with a basket of drinks. These drinks were more expensive, of course. (-$4)

Then our guide asked us if we wanted to see the floating school. We said yes. He told us that since the school doesn't have any funding, it would be rude to visit without gifts. We stopped at a "store" where bundles of notebooks and pencils sat.
"You both should buy a pack of notebooks."
"Sure, how much?" I asked
"$15 each," he replied.
"How much for the pencils...?" (-$10)

We dropped by the floating school and, very awkwardly, gave the 20 pencils to the teacher for her 50 student class.

On the return, more boats approached us, trying to sell us drinks, postcards, and even pictures with a large python a child had around his neck. We refused. We were already down $16.

Upon our arrival to the dock, the guide asked for a tip for him and the driver. I couldn't refuse. I just spent $10 on a bundle of pencils, and he was a pretty good tour guide. (-$8)

That's enough, I thought. This is costing more than my travel to and from Cambodia.

As we were approaching our tuk-tuk to take us back to the hotel, a girl said, "Lady! Mister! You want? 5 Dollars."

We turned to see...



Not knowing how these were taken, how they were made during our short 45 minute boat trip, I had to buy them.

And the grand total of swindled money...... $34.

Cambodia - Post 1

I've got to hand it to them. Cambodians are the best hustlers in the world. Not only are they incredibly warm and friendly, approachable and unthreatening, they are intelligent. Cambodia, being a 3rd world country, has a true working class of merchants, tuk-tuk drivers, vendors, hotel/hostel staff, servers... you name it, they probably have it.

A common conversation...
Cambodian boy: Hello lady.
Me: Hello.
C.B.: Would you like to buy a pack of postcards? Or how about this bracelet? Only one dollar.
Me: Oh, no thanks. I just bought postcards at the temples yesterday.
C.B.: Where do you come from?
Me: America.
C.B.: What state?
Me: Massachusetts.
C.B.: Capitol is Boston. America's capitol is Washington D.C., and America has two neighbors: Mexico and Canada. America and Mexico are not getting along very well right now around the boarder. It is very dangerous.
Me: Wow, impressive. I come from America, but I am living in Bangkok teaching English right now.
C.B.: Oh, Thailand is very nice. But Thailand and Cambodia are fighting over a historical temple at the moment.

Side notes:
-Cambodia has their own currency, but the dollar is used more than their own. The ATMs dispense US dollars.
-English is not their native tongue, yet people in Cambodia speak nearly flawless English.
-These children merchants, usually between 6 and 14, know practically every state capitol in America. Most high-schoolers in America couldn't do this.
-Cambodians are really cute.

Bagged Beverages

With every 7-11 drink purchase, you get two things:
1. a straw
2. a grocery bag

The straw was a little strange to get used to at first, but the bag seemed completely normal. And it seemed normal for awhile until I switched my beverage choices.

When I first moved to Asia, I stuck with familiar choices: water, Coke, orange juice. But then I decided to branch out and try new drinks. In the morning before work, I started to drink a combination of Ovaltine and iced coffee.

What surprised me so much was that my new drink, complete with a lid and straw, was still given to me in a grocery bag. Pretty confused, I left 7-11 holding my open container in a plastic bag.

This went on for several more mornings until I finally asked Brendan, a co-worker who has lived here over a year, why they do this extremely illogical thing. He proceeded to tell me that the Thai women get "cold hands" when they hold cold drinks, so opened (and unopened, apparently) drinks are always served in a grocery bag with a straw to save you from bitter, cold hands.

Random Numbers

Simone, one of my favorite students, walked up to me. In her hand, she held a sheet of notebook paper where she had written a bunch of numbers.

She said something to me in Thai and smiled as she pointed to the paper and said, "Teacher, for you."

For me? She proceeded to rip the page out of her notebook... but she tore it.

"Teacher, nooooo..." she cried.

I didn't understand why she wanted to give me this paper so badly. Nonetheless she walked back to her desk and re-wrote all the numbers a second time on a new, fresh piece of paper, which she handed me at the end of class. Completely confused and strangely grateful, I said thank you and left class.

Recent Experiences Relating to Teaching

Experience Number One
Setting: 7-11
5 year old Thai boy looks at me and says, "Hello, teacher."
My school is all girls, so I was obviously not his teacher. He sure made an accurate assumption...

Experience Number Two
Setting: Leaving school in the afternoon
1st Grade Girl says, "Good morning, Teacher Audrey" and waiis me.
1. It is the afternoon.
2. I am not Teacher Audrey. (The only other Western female working at my school)
3. This still made my day.

OK, I'm going to blog again

I've had several requests to keep a blog about my adventures while living abroad. I have been living in Bangkok, Thailand for almost 2 months, but I have only had regular access to internet for a couple of weeks. I haven't updated my music or advertising blogs regularly for several months. BUT ALAS! All will change. Starting now. Enjoy and stay tuned for updates!