Adventures in Asia

Orientation began on Wednesday near Dulles airport outside of DC. Ironically for dinner we had amazing Thai food. Thursday we ventured into DC and went to the Asian art museum, Holocaust museum, and Union Station for dinner. Although I've spent a significant amount of time in DC, I had never been to either of these museums. The Asian one was intriguing, but the Holocaust museum was very sobering. It kind of put things in perspective as we're going to be living around and working with exploited and marginalized people. A quote from the wall on the museum was directly from scripture. Deuteronomy 4:9 says, "⁹ Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." I hope to carry this through as a goal for my time in Thailand. Pretty amazing stuff.

So back to the travel... we endured a 12 hour flight to Tokyo followed by a layover in the freezing airport there. Next we flew to Bangkok and I enjoyed red beef curry, som tum (papaya salad) and mango with sticky rice. Most everyone slept during that layover, but I didn't. In fact. I've only slept 4 or 5 hours since Thursday. I'm a zombie writing this pretty much. So we arrived in Chiang Mai (oh, fyi, Thai airways is incredible!) We were greeted by our student life coordinators (SLCs) annd other faculty with amazing-good-smelling flowers. Then we drove to our campus (shared with a bivocational school for the Lahu hill tribe people.) It is incredible!!! unfortunately, I lost my camera battery and charger so no pictures for a while. BUT I'm soaking it all in. We're surrounding by fields of rice and thai chilis. All of the art and architecture are so intricate and beautiful. We went on bike rides to explore. The weather is UNBELIEVABLE! It has been so much fun and our group of girls has had a blast and bonded so well already.

We had a brief orientation time and then went to the Chiang Mai night market. The public transportation is a blast! The night market was so cool and food so cheap. Like my full dinner cost about $1. This place is incredible. I know, I know, totally in the honeymoon phase of culture shock, but I never thought I would love it this much. I love the food. Every sense is awakened when walking through the market. It's wonderful.

Random fact: there are a lot of small domesticated dogs everywhere and they all wear t-shirts and sweaters. hehe.

Random story: one of my friends/housemates/classmates whatever we call ourselves.... and I laughed hysterically as we tried to ride a bike with two people on it. Balance is hard and we almost fell into a soaking rice field.

Random Quote: "One cannot consent to creep, when one has an impulse to soar."

much love,

T. noel