I'm in Thailand!!
I just finished my second Thai class in Bangkok at the Union Language School. My mind is SWIMMING!!! We are learning the five tones: mid, low, high, rising, and falling. I find it difficult to distinguish between them all. I will need MUCH practice!!
I am sitting in an internet cafe close to the language school. It is very conveniently located next to the sky train that I will take for the first part of my journey back to my apartment. Hopefully I will be able to get internet service at my apartment, but until then my news may be rather sporadic.
My trip into Bangkok took 1 1/2 hours this morning--I left at 5:45 to be sure to be on time for my 8:00 class! Yesterday I left at 6:00 and arrived at my class too close to 8:00 for my comfort! Traffic is absolutely AMAZING! The trip home yesterday took only an hour; time of day makes all the difference.
I am living in a nice little 5th floor apartment-airconditioned-closer to the area we hope to target. The rest of the team is staggered not far off the main road (Tepharak) over a stretch of ?? quite a distance. My closest team members are the Mast family. Tom and Candice and their little girls live about a 10 minute taxi ride from me.
Wow, the sights and sounds and yes, the smells, are quite different from the small town of Plain City, Ohio! I walked down my main street last evening and passed a street vendor selling deep fried grasshoppers and worms and who knows what else! I am praying I will never have to eat those--God will have to give me a STRONG stomach!
There is much I could write about, but I must close for now. I hope to take a taxi to Tesco Lotus, a store much like a Super Walmart or a Meijer, and pick up a few items. And later this afternoon, the lady who made me my curtains will be delivering them to my apartment.
Comments
Hi, Sharon,
Sounds like you're losing no time adjusting to life in Thailand. We hear that the traffic in Bangkok that amazed you so is lighter since the coup, but I assume that is a very temporary phenomenon. On TV here (at the Red Cross cafeteria while eating lunch), it was interesting to see the women handing yellow roses to the troops on tanks on TV here. I didn't see you passing out flowers though.
If you're using an Internet cafe, does that mean that your laptop is now working and you're using their connection or that you're using their computers, too? Hope you like your new curtains--sounds like having them made was a speedy process.
Posted by: Dennis Rice | September 21, 2006 09:57 PM
I hope all is well with you. I want you to know that I am praying for you during this time of political tormoil. Most times, I probably wouldn't have thought much of what happened in Thailand. But now you're there. Funny but understandable how personal connections can make one take more notice of what is happening in a foreign land or even just a different locality. Be blessed.
Posted by: Tim Rice | September 21, 2006 04:32 PM
Hi Sharon,
It was fun reading your blog and hearing an update on what is happening with you in Thailand. I guess you are an early riser these days, eh? Language study does sound overwhelming. I guess you will have a "wonderful ear" for sounds when you've learned Thai? Have a GREAT day!
Renee
Posted by: Renee Rice | September 17, 2006 09:46 PM
I was wandering how your first few days of school have gone. I hope you can connect with someone at the school that you can relate with if you have questions on assignments, etc.
Posted by: Twila | September 17, 2006 01:43 PM
Dear Sharon,
THe girls talked about you all day the day you flew to Thailand and picked you off our m board to pray for that week. It is good to hear from you in this blog to know you made it safely.Keep working on the language, I'm sure it's hard, but you'll be amazed how soon you'll pick it up when you hear and use it all the time. We'll keep praying!
Love, Sue
Posted by: Sue Zerkle | September 15, 2006 11:52 AM
Hi, Sharon. Good to hear from you. The language does sound like a challenge but give it time, you'll do it. I read somewhere that many times in learning a new language it will feel like one is getting nowhere; but then one day all at once, she or he will see that she or he has made good progress. It will take time; but you are living in the Thai environment. You will be able to see and hear the language in its proper context. That helps.
Again glad to hear from you. It sounds like you are doing well. You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
Love, Tim
Posted by: Tim Rice | September 14, 2006 05:32 PM