Apartment Shopping!

The time has finally come to move out of the homestay...I am very sad but happy to be getting my own space and to be able to stay out after 9pm. We all went apartment shopping, and I served as translator...it made me realize how far my language has come, and also that I NEVER want to be a simultaneous translator..much to confusing going back and forth between two languages. But, me and the other girl on the trip, Sasha, are staying in the same building, on this cute street that has lots of shops and restaurant (like a Thai Elmwood for those of you from NY, or a Thai State Street for those from Wisconsin). The apartment is a one bedroom, with a large balcony, and the best part, an amazing pool with views of the mountains!!!! (Don't worry mom, I won't go swimming alone and drown because of a cramp like Martha Jackson). And all of this in a newly built building with 24 hour security guard (I am safe too) all for like 150 a month, (I love Thailand prices). I move in this Saturday, but I can still visit my family since they live actually inside the university, and my mom said I was welcome back any time. Nothing else much going on besides the apartment hunting and LOTS and LOTS of reading and research. But in a few weeks we are all taking a field trip to Chiang Rai (by the Golden Triangle where Opium is produced next to the Laotian border), so I will have more fun adventures soon!

Trip to Waterfall...follow links for pictures

Yesterday I went to this beautiful waterfall with two Thai student friends and Sasha and Pat. The link for the pictures is:
http://wisc.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2282902&l=b25c5&id=8633037

What is crazy about this waterfall is that it is right next to the school, only about a ten-15 minute walk...great place for picnics

Hike up Doi Suthep

Today, me and two friends went hiking up this mountain next to the school...we had a hard time finding the place to start, but once we found the track (after almost entering private Thai government territory) it went well. It was me, Sasha and Brad (two of the other students studying abroad) and we were decked out with backpacks, and even walking sticks (curtosy of Brad). The hike was pretty up hill and tiring, but I only fell once! (quite an accomplshment for me, although my one fall almost took me down the waterfall). We passed two waterfalls, and a temple on the hill. It was beautiful, but I was sacred the whole time of seeing giant spiders. I didn't see any spiders, but I did have these branches hit my head that were covered in ants, and that was alittle freaky till I got the dozens of ants off my face! Last night I had some food that was blood stew...filled with pigs blood and some kind of organs...strange texture, and not that delicious, so I hope my family won't be bringing blood home for me to try again any time soon.

Teacher Breta (I'm not so good at it)

On Sunday, I went with my Dad to go teach english to some children of the Burmese labors that he works with. He teaches them Thai, and he wanted me to try to teach them english. There were about 15-20 kids, ranging in age from 4-12. They were all sooo cute and excited to be learning english. They already knew the abcs, and hello, and I was tranlating some things from Thai to English for them. It seems pretty impossible and I know that I am a horrible teacher, but they are so excited and really wanted me to come back, so next week I am! My family for my home stay this time is incredibly different than last time. They have two cars, two motorbikes, and about 5 tvs. Its pretty crazy, my mom works all the time, and I guess is in a pretty high up position in the teaching school, and my Dad seems to be some sort of contractor, cause he said he built buildings, but I'm not to sure...

There are three questions that everyne always get asked by thai people:
1. Do you have a boyfriend? (I have gotten plenty of set up offers from my mom's friends for their sons or friends)
2. How old are you?
3. Do you have diarreha yet? (This is espically asked when you say say that you like to eat spicy Thai food)

Having a great time, looking forward to class tommorow! (and looking forward to the cool season cause its like mid 90s and 70-80% humdity....damn global warming!)

Hello from Thailand

Hello everyone...I am witing a blog because it is just too crazy to send emails to everyone, espically since wiscmail doesn't like to work here! Well, Thailand is great so far...the area that I am in is right next to the university ( actually inside it) and all the resturants and little stores remind me of Madison acutally...just hotter and more crowded. There are also crazy dogs all over the place, and they would actually be cute is they weren't all strays and probably rabid...but they all look really funny because they are all mutts. The university is all surrounded by trees and beautiful landscapes. It is really too hot to walk around too much, but even when I do walk places instead of taking the red trucks, everyone looks at you like your crazy because Thais don't walk anywhere. I love singing kareoke...in both Thai and English, the Thai is good practice for reading fast. My family never speaks English which is good for me, and Thai tv is crazy and melodramtic soap operas. It is so good eating Thai food and Thai tea all the time! Update more later!