Welcoming in the New Year Falang-ly

The week of New Years was FULL [like, more than usual]  of new experiences which, although they KIND OF made me realize how dull Lamphun is [it was all in Chiang Mai], they were still incredible and I'm so glad they happened. Last Friday, I went to my exchange friend Carol(from Brazil)'s house because she was making Brazilian food. Pauline (from France) was there as well, and I met Clara (from Germany). It was SO great to see these girls, we immediately pounced into a huge group hug the moment we saw one another. Even though Carol apologized for the food because it she messed it up and it `wasn't Brazilian anymore`, it still tasted amazing (probably because it had potatoes). Then we hung out in the front porch/yard for the rest of the evening and early morning. Exchange students ARE the best. The huge amount of fun we had was also aided by something else, however there are Rotarians who read this blog, so you'll just have to use your imagination.

Sorry Carol, I love this picture too much not to add it.

These girls are absolutely wonderful

but we require lots of sleep

In the morning, we went into Chiangmai, where Clara went back home and the rest of us hung around the mall. Pauline and I practiced our Thai with a saleslady while Carol bought a camera. Then we at at McDonald's. Yes, it was a very falang thing to do, but it's okay because we're all falangs and the first burger after 5 months tastes like heaven, McDonald's or not. However, when they asked "large or small size", we figured they'd be Thai serving sizes, so we said large. And they were large. They were very, very, very American-large. I didn't even think it was possible to make cups and fry packets that large. But guess what? We finished every last bite!!! (but only half the juice). Then we shopped some more and.... guess what I did!! :D You'll have to keep guessing because, once again, Rotarians read this blog. After escorting Pauline to her songtaew home, Carol and I took a different songtaew into the middle of the city. Here we explored parts of the city, visited an old temple, took pictures, admired the Christmas decorations, bought drinks, and then went home.

The original plan was just to stay one night, but I ended up staying three. The next day we slept until early afternoon, and then hung out on the floor of the living room drinking coffee and eating clementines with those weird-but-delicious little brown nuts. In the later afternoon, we walked around her home in the countryside (because SHE'S ALLOWED), and found our way to Ban Tawaii, a woodcarving town. We explored here a while, and then headed back for another movie, food, and bed again.

The next day, we got up around the same time and went with Carol's family for New Years!! We went to the Chiangmai Rotary dinner at someone's cabin the woods. It was beautiful! Before more people arrived, we explored a little bit, around the banana orchard, down the lane, around the yard, and looked at the giant pond. As people started arriving, I recognized a couple as rebounds from RYLA a few months before. Anyways, the night was incredible and so... normal! The other teens were really... unlike my host family/school and a lot more like North America, which could have been either because my brain was being weird or because the Chiangmai Rotary is a lot more involved in youth exchange than Lamphun, and has adopted a lot more foreignness. We had a barbecue (Thai style), some cake, chips, a big sing-along, played limbo, took pictures, talked, set off some paper lanterns, and just had a wonderful time. Before midnight, Carol's family and I left to go to the Chiangmai Royal Gardens for the countdown. The gardens themselves are gorgeous, with shrubs of various colours trimmed and arranged perfectly, a giant green hill out front, and a beautiful, delicate garden with statues and a path down the middle leading straight to one of the most beautiful temples I've ever seen (and in Thailand, that's saying a lot). The temple was mostly dark wood, but had various gold decorations as well, and a giant set of stone steps leading up to it. We walked up to it and took pictures, but as we were walking away, it reached midnight and fireworks started erupting behind it!! They were so big and so bright, they illuminated the temple perfectly. Everyone was cheering and so happy! When the fireworks stopped, and I turned around to see thousands of paper lanterns being released into the sky at the garden entrance behind me. The whole feel of the moment was special and wonderful. While walking back through the garden, we passed a monk offering a prayer and had to duck quietly because everyone else was standing perfectly still and participating in the prayer. Then Carol leaned over and whispered to me "In Thailand, everyone's praying; in Brazil, everyone's dying because it's the third day of partying so hard", after which I had to try REALLY hard to stifle my laughter.

The next day, we woke up at the same time and hung around the house doing the same thing. Later in the evening, when Carol and I were home alone, we sat on the road outside the front gate and watched the land grow darker and darker. It felt so calm and quiet and peaceful. We also talked about travelling after we get back home, and she told me all about how beautiful and entertaining Sao Paulo is. Brazil is going to have to be on the travel list in the future; maybe with a volunteer program or something. My host dad came to pick me up around 8, so we said good-by with a huge hug, because it's still another month before we can see eachother again...

Arriving at home, I discovered Pii Oi had brought her delicious cooking supplies to our home and we were all going to have our New Years dinner that night! As usual, Pii  Oi's food is fun to make and delicious to eat. Better yet, my host grandma looked at me and told me it was okay to get drunk today because I'll just go to bed [rest assured, Rotary, I clearly had permission]. My host grandma, of all people. Ning and her sister came to visit too and we ate, talked, danced to old country music (like OLD old Texas music), took pictures, and just generally had a great time with everyone. Except my host dad, who went back to work pretty early, and my host mom who went to bed, but I think they enjoyed themselves too. It was a really great night. Before they left, Pii Oi gave me a huge hug and said "my daughter!". I love Pii Oi so much.

In the evening a few day later, there was another new experience! Pii Nah, Pii Oi's boyfriend, showed me. It involved learning to drive a moped, but ... without driving... of course.

Oui oui, and that was the wonderful start to the year.

Sawatdee choooooow

Anneke :)

Going to the Sea

In mid-December, I had the chance to travel south with my school class, M5/1. It was a LOT different than travelling with the Rotary Inbounds.

The day before we left, the entire class made a service trip to one of the schools at the foot of one of the mountains. We brought bags of clothes and candy for them, and played with them for a while. The language barrier was a bit of an issue, but it's easier with children. The kids were so sweet, but very shy. Nan and I also had a lot of fun running off.

With Bas and Nan with bags to give to the kids.

In the Kindergarten room

With Mo Tui, a student, and Bas in the Kindergarten room

The next day, the trip began. We drove through the night for two nights, in a hotel one night, and packed in many more activities than one would think possible. Our first official stop was in Ampawa, at the floating market for breakfast. Unfortunately, we arrived before the floating market began so we didn´t actually get to see it. However, we did explore the market around it, the old building where the monks live, and explored the open market around it. A short walk away from the floating market, was a beautiful garden we walked through, taking pictures of the flowers, old statues, and river. Exploring the garden with my Thai friends was not as exciting or lively as with the exchange friends, but it was more involved with the surroundings and we weren´t the awkward odd ones out.

The whole gang :D Well, a large part. Me, Fly, Bank, Noon, Name, Bas, Fame, Kik, Beer, Ao, Mo Tui, Bus, and Kat is taking the picture

Old statues in the beautiful garden, with Bas and Faem.

Crocodile hunter :o With a friend, Bus, Name, and Bas.

We drove to one of the old king´s castle and looked around. The castle itself was beautiful, but I love how Thai people have an unshakeable awe for the royal family, which added so much to the castle. It was like we were walking on holy grounds and we were so blessed to be there. In the top floor of the castle, we formally offered a donation and a flower to the late king. The surrounding castle grounds were beautiful as well; the trees were arched and warped around each other. We took many pictures.

Before arriving at the hotel, we made three more stops. One was at a small mall-like area where we looked around a some of the stores. Some of my friends bought hats and I bought a cheap Thai flute [which plays very similar to the pennywhistle], and a few of my friends taught me a Thai song. The second stop was for lunch and the third one was a quick 20-minute stop to explore an army base. I skipped this one to sleep, along with a few others, because it really was a long day and we hadn´t had any sleep on the bus the night before, plus I really wasn´t too interested in the army base.

Our final stop was.... Chaem, the seaside city! We put our things in the GIANT hotel, changed, and then headed out to the beach. It was so beautiful! I forgot how wonderful it feels to look out as far as you can and see only water, feel the breeze, and smell the salt. We swam and hung out and rode the rafts for hours, until it began to get dark, and we bought dinner on the beach from small vendors. After heading back to the hotel to change, we went out to explore the small city of Chaem for a while. Walking around at night, in any country, truly is wonderful. The darkness, the breeze, the mysteriousness of everything, and heightened sense of hearing make everything so much more exciting. Plus my class is like a family.

Swimming in the ocean with classmates Beer, Name, and Fly.

They buried me xD Bas, Beer, Kat, Fly, me, Bank

!

In front of the hotel with me, Fly, Bas, Faem, Kik, Beer, and Bank

The next morning, we had breakfast at the hotel buffet. Okay, as someone who´s eaten at hotel buffets before, this was exactly like any other breakfast buffet. They also served European breakfast food though, which was a great release from the constant rice and noodles for a morning. For my friends, however, it was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Then we played pinball and headed out on the bus again.

We went to a giant garden with a wax museum in the centre. Inside the museum were models of various historical Thai leaders and Mother Theresa. In the garden outside, there were many, many giant, ancient Buddha statues surrounded by beautiful and gardens and walk-through history stories. We stayed here for lunch and then carried on by bus to a smaller park in another town. Here we watched a swordfighting demonstration between four young boys. It was so much fun to watch because it was very complex and the swords hit each other REALLY hard. We took a tour of the building, which was the site of an ancient castle where many battles took place. After a while, straining to understand about 20 percent of the tour guide is exhausting, so I separated from the group and learned about ancient elephant battles. This was really interesting too!

With Kik in the Buddha garden.

In front of a waterfall in the Buddha garden with Bus.

Other various stops before driving through the night were: a temple with a giant Buddha, an incredibly huge dragon, a large bulk market for dried fish, and dinner. In the bus, we watched various ghost and redubbed movies, and karaoke. Oh goodness... karaoke. I REALLY hope Canada adopts this sometime. This wonderful, shameless passtime is a ridiculous amount of fun for everyone!

Temple with a giant Buddha

A really. Big. Dragon.

We arrived back at Suanboon around 3 in the morning, where Bas gave me a ride back home.